Sling TV- cut cable

[Tinkerdreams]

I'm going to look into this. Not sure even $20/month is worth it for so few channels. If they offer like 30 to 40 channels for that price, then I think that would be a great deal.

One thing holding me back is that I can get almost every show through couchtuner now. Just not live TV.

 

[coastalhh]

I'll probably look into this Sling service when and if they actually add AMC.

Sling announced amc this week along with bbc America and some other stuff. aMC will be part of the core 20$ package so you will not need to pay extra for it over the base service. They press release said added in the coming weeks but so did amazon fire support and the Amazon fire app came out three days after they announced it was coming soon. So I would expect amc to pop up fast.

I am currently running from my Amazon fire TV but also have a free amazon fire stick on its way as part of their promo. If you prepay 3 months (60$) you get a free fire stick or ruku stick. Or 50$ off fire TV or ruku 3. I choose the free fire stick for upstairs since I already have the fire TV for downstairs.


I have a antenna for local networks. Pbs and pbs kids apps come in clearer than time warner pbs ever did and Hulu gives me on demand access to every major network show. Sling got us back the espns and disneys which we needed

Between Amazon prime, Hulu, Netflix, sling and free apps plus time warner Internet only we got our bill down well over 100$ a month and do not miss anything at all yet. We were watching more apps then anything anyway.

I need fox sports 1 for football season so if that's not added by fall maybe I will look at other options. I imagine it will be though.

 

[Dacky619]

Yeah, Sling TV is a lifesaver for me because of sports, and sports only. That is the only thing I ever watch live. For regular TV, we rely on Netflix, Hulu, and a QAM tuner/DVR card in our computer.

Agree. I think this is the best legal way to get ESPN without a cable package. If you don't want/need that, I don't see any advantage to using sling.

 

[richierich2323]

We have it and love it. We bought a Roku 3 and just noticed the offer for half off of a Roku or Amazon Fire TV.

Any pros of going with an Amazon Fire for the half off instead of keeping everything with Roku?

 

[coastalhh]

We have it and love it. We bought a Roku 3 and just noticed the offer for half off of a Roku or Amazon Fire TV.

Any pros of going with an Amazon Fire for the half off instead of keeping everything with Roku?

I don't see any major cons other than keeping track of how to use two systems. Amazon fire will come with some free time with amazon prime and when apps are exclusive to one or the other you will have the option on either one. Go for it. If you think you will keep sling 3 months you might as well get a free stick or 50 off the full one out of it. Worst case you can sell one of them and still come out on top. In retrospect maybe I should have got the roku stick for upstairs instead of the fire stick since I already have the fire TV.

 

[4myBenandEllie]

If you are looking for a different dvr option, check out tablo. After initial purchase of tablo device and hard drive, I can now stream both live tv and recordings through my roku device or my iPad/computer. So with the addition of hulu plus, amazon prime and netflix, we have everything pretty much covered. We finally disconnected directtv last week.

 

[Tinkerdreams]

SlingTV is going to add an EPIX package soon. It will include Epix, Epix2, Epix3, and Epix Drive-in. From the article

new VOD titles, live movie channels
Dish Network’s Web TV service, Sling TV, continues its quest for content this week, adding a new deal with Epix that will serve up over 2,000 video-on-demand titles, as well as bringing yet another add-on bundle of channels to the table including Epix, Epix2, Epix3, and Epix Drive-in.

As for the new VOD options, Epix makes available newer features like The Hunger Games, Star Trek: Into Darkness, and Wolf of Wall Street, a collection of older titles, and a growing catalog of live concert recordings. Sewing up popular on-demand programming will be key to the new service’s success in the burgeoning Web TV marketplace, and the latest titles join an already robust catalog of content from Disney, along with a wide selection of old and new movies, from Guardians of the Galaxy to Reservoir Dogs. Rental costs are currently set at $3 for SD, and $4 for HD.

 

[Iowajes]

I'm going to look into this. Not sure even $20/month is worth it for so few channels. If they offer like 30 to 40 channels for that price, then I think that would be a great deal.

I agree. I can't see it being worth it for $20 a month, maybe for $5 or $8.
I really miss HGTV, but not for that price.

I'll just stick to no-cable. I still watch a surprising amount of TV, really.

 

[alymae1010]

How does TIVO work. We were cord cutters for about a year and I also missed my DVR...I'm seriously thinking of going to Sling but I have a Fios contract until June...though the cancel fee is only $10 a month so I can get out of it now for $30 or $40, which may be worth it..

A Tivo is just a DVR that also has features of a Roku/Fire. It can record shows off of your antenna, and you can also stream from Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, etc. There are other stand alone DVRs out there too if you're looking cheaper options.

 

[coastalhh]

Sling TV Just added AMC and IFC networks to the base 20$ package. "Hollywood Extra" is also added as an optional 5$ add on pack- Which Includes- EPIX, EPIX 2, EPIX3, EPIX Drive In, and Sundance TV

It now has 16 channels for 20$ and four add on options- Sports Extra, Kids Exta, News and Info Extra and a Hollywood Extra

Base Package (20)
ESPN, ESPN2, AMC, Food Network, HGTV, Disney, TNT, EL Ray Network, Travel Channel, TBS, Maker, Adult Swim, Cartoon Netowkr, CNN, IFC, ABC Family, Globalvision

Sports Extra (5)
ESPN U, SEC Network, ESPNNews, Universal Sports, ESPN Goaline, BEIN SPorts, ESPN Bases Loaded ESPN Buzzer Beater

Hollywood Extra (5)
Epix, Epix 2, Epix 3, Epix Drive in, Sundance TV

Kids Extra (5)
Disney JR, Disney XD, Boomerang, Baby TV, Duck TV

News And Info Extra (5)
HLN, Cooking Channel, DIY, Bloomberg

 

[perditax]

I'm not ready to bite, still waiting to see what HBO's a la carte packages will look like (and I notice TWC is desperately sending me offers to turn on "Starter TV + HBO" for $20/mo for 12 months--I guess they finally realize the tide is turning), but I appreciate you keeping this thread updated with details. It's not quite at a tipping point for me.

 

[coastalhh]

Reported yesterday "HBO NOW" package will launch in April for 15$ a month.

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertai...-streaming-service-april-15-article-1.2137663

 

[perditax]

Reported yesterday "HBO NOW" package will launch in April for 15$ a month.

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertai...-streaming-service-april-15-article-1.2137663

Appreciate it, but that doesn't look official yet. Following back to the source, IBT, "according to sources familiar with their plans."

 

[jstbcuz]

I would like to see the History Channel added. We watch alot of Pawn Stars & American Pickers.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

This looks very interesting! Our directv contract is up in the next 30 days too and I have long wanted to get rid of it. We haven't b/c of the sports...need ESPN and sec network.
I am going to research this for sure!
My only concern after reading the thread is that there is not a dvr type option, correct? So you HAVE to watch everything live? Haven't done that in years! Any way to get around it?

 

[coastalhh]

This looks very interesting! Our directv contract is up in the next 30 days too and I have long wanted to get rid of it. We haven't b/c of the sports...need ESPN and sec network.
I am going to research this for sure!
My only concern after reading the thread is that there is not a dvr type option, correct? So you HAVE to watch everything live? Haven't done that in years! Any way to get around it?

Not as of yet. They have a look back optio where you can pause and rewind + watch anything that has been on the last 4 days. But it's only on a few of the channels right now. Like food network, travel channel and a few others. Espn(s), tbs, tnt the disneys do not have that option. It's up to the channels individually if they want to activate it and only a few have. AMC said they will be adding that function in the coming weeks. You can watch any even that has been on the espns through the watch espn app..that you get access to from your sling account sign in.

But DVR is the major drawback right now but not worth a extra 100 to me considering I watch most of our shows through Hulu, Netflix and Amazon anyway.

 

[perditax]

Not as of yet. They have a look back optio where you can pause and rewind + watch anything that has been on the last 4 days. But it's only on a few of the channels right now. Like food network, travel channel and a few others. Espn(s), tbs, tnt the disneys do not have that option. It's up to the channels individually if they want to activate it and only a few have. AMC said they will be adding that function in the coming weeks. You can watch any even that has been on the espns through the watch espn app..that you get access to from your sling account sign in.

But DVR is the major drawback right now but not worth a extra 100 to me considering I watch most of our shows through Hulu, Netflix and Amazon anyway.

Disclaimer: I am not trying to pick a fight, as I am also a cord-cutter and I have been for years. But, because I AM a cord-cutter I'm really interested in this subject so I have a lot of trivia about it in my head. If you're already paying Hulu + Netflix + Amazon + Sling monthly prices (nearly $50), you already well within the range of what you could get a 'normal' TV cable package (in my region, from TWC) with a DVR or a cablecard/TiVo pushing it up about $10/mo past what you pay now. It wouldn't get you premium packages, although right now TWC in my area is offering HBO for another $10. (I'm not being hyperbolic, I've got their offer page in front of me right now and believe me I know how to do Time Warner's shady math.)

I guess the only point I'm really making is: it's a great time to be a cord-cutter, but at the same time those companies are all busy figuring out how to get roughly the same amount of money from us in other ways instead. And Time Warner, at least, is slashing their prices. The $40 offer they have right now for me includes:

A & E*
ABC*
ABC Family*
AMC*
Animal Planet*
Azteca*
BET*
Bravo*
Cartoon Network*
CBS*
CNBC*
CNN*
Comedy Central*
CSPAN*
CSPAN 2*
CSPAN 3*
CW*
Discovery*
Disney*
E!*
ESPN*
ESPN 2*
Food Network*
Fox*
Fox Business News*
Fox News Channel*
Fox Sports*
Fox Sports 1*
FX*
Galavision*
Golf*
HGTV*
HISTORY*
HLN*
HSN*
Lifetime*
MSNBC*
MTV*
National Geographic*
NBC*
Nickelodeon*
Oxygen*
PAC 12*
Palladia*
PBS*
QVC*
Spike TV*
SyFy*
TBS*
Telemundo*
The Weather Channel*
TLC*
TNT*
truTV*
TV Guide Network*
TV Land*
TWC DEPORTES*
TWC SPORTSNET*
Univision*
USA*
Velocity
VH 1*

Again, though: I hate TWC, I hate their equipment, and I will never buy their bundled TV packages again. I'm just leery of essentially re-buying all the same stuff chopped up into smaller packages from other companies. Especially Hulu, who will just make me pay for the privilege of sitting through commercials too.

If you are looking for a different dvr option, check out tablo. After initial purchase of tablo device and hard drive, I can now stream both live tv and recordings through my roku device or my iPad/computer. So with the addition of hulu plus, amazon prime and netflix, we have everything pretty much covered. We finally disconnected directtv last week.

Interesting, but this one only works if you live close enough to the broadcast channels' 'antenna farm' in your town. Somehow no matter where I am I always end up living about 30+ miles away, which is a bit too far unless you're willing to mount a giant channelmaster antenna on your roof. Although I can tune PBS locally since it's being broadcast from a different/closer location than the networks.

 

[GAN]

Throw in History and TCM for an extra $5 and you've got me interested. I think for anyone who watches a lot of ESPN its worth thinking about ....anyone else, I can understand being on the other side of the fence. We've got AppleTV, Netflix, and Amazon Prime and a TiVo. But going this route basically renders the TiVo useless -No? If there was a tie-in to Sling(or anything else for that matter) where you could record off the internet that would be huge. Obviously, I could still record OTA channels.

 

[perditax]

As a former TIVo *fanatic* for years I finally had to give up on them when I gave up on bundled cable. And be wary of buying a new one: that $15/month service charge comes with a yearly commitment and an early termination fee. Found that one out the hard way the last time I gave cable "one more chance".

 

[coastalhh]

Disclaimer: I am not trying to pick a fight, as I am also a cord-cutter and I have been for years. But, because I AM a cord-cutter I'm really interested in this subject so I have a lot of trivia about it in my head. If you're already paying Hulu + Netflix + Amazon + Sling monthly prices (nearly $50), you already well within the range of what you could get a 'normal' TV cable package (in my region, from TWC) with a DVR or a cablecard/TiVo pushing it up about $10/mo past what you pay now. It wouldn't get you premium packages, although right now TWC in my area is offering HBO for another $10. (I'm not being hyperbolic, I've got their offer page in front of me right now and believe me I know how to do Time Warner's shady math.)

No doubt I could get a cable package for about the same- but I honestly I was sick of Time Warner raising rates on me every time I turned around. I have had many disagreements with them and everytime I have one they put me on HOLD for HOURS!.. Why is it I can add a channel in 5 minutes but if I want to disconnect a channel its a 4 hour wait.. they are doing nothing but trying to wait out the average person and I do not want any part of that business practice! I have dealt with it and been taking advantage of for years! You can do anything from TwC online chat BUT downgrade or cancel service..why in the world is that? Because they have data that shows people give up if you wait them out.

I, like you, had my eye on Sling because of those very reasons and the obvious savings. I pulled the trigger after a lowered Rate with Time Warner only lasted 3 months before they raised me again(they told me a year) so I cut it. We got the amazon fire stick with 3 months of sling(and we wanted another streaming box for upstairs-(watch a lot of PBS apps, youtube, netflix etc..) So I justified it that I got 3 months for 10$ considering I would be the Fire Stick Anyway(maybe shady math on my part)

It is not perfect but when I have had problems sling answers the phone and fixes it instantly. I can cancel at any time after my three months and am not locked in for a year or more like DirectTV, Dish, TwC etc will make you for their best rates.

They are adding channels all the time but if I cannot get FoxSports1 by College Football Season I will probably sign up for a traditional service.

For now- I am enjoying to be free from rate hikes, equipment rental fees, and bad customer service.

I love the option that Hulu, Sling, and Netflix can be canceled at any month or any time if we arent watching then picked back up again at any time.

It may seem like it, but I have no loyalty to this service. I am just very excited someone if finally doing it

What we watch most now-
-13 channels over the air.
-SlingTV
-AmazonPrime
-Hulu+
-Netflix
-PBS App (free)
-Pbs Kid App (free)
-Watch ESPN App
-Youtube

P.S. Sony is launching a similar service to Sling soon that is Viacom backed- so it may have better channels- something to keep an eye on in the future.