slo’s MONDAY 4/7 poll - Streaming Services

[fla4fun]

I do not pay for any streaming services. I watch tv via an antenna, so no cable or satellite either. I do have the free Tubi app on my iPad and enjoy that when traveling. A friend got me a Netflix gift card for Christmas that covered three months of service, which I enjoyed, but once I watched the shows I was interested in, there didn’t seem to be enough new content of interest coming in for me to continue it on my own (although I may be tempted to get another gift card when the next season of Bridgerton comes out in 2026).

My main gripe with streaming is that they are in control of what is available to watch, not me. I like to rewatch my favorite shows a lot, and when a service decides to remove it I feel frustrated. That’s why I prefer DVDs over streaming, as I can watch them anytime without worrying that they might be on the chopping block next week. Also, there are more language options. I am trying to learn French, so I will often select the French dub if there is one available. With Netflix, they only gave me the option for English and Spanish even when I knew the show was available in French (I assume the language options are assigned geographically by the service). Besides, that extra bit of exercise I get changing the discs doesn’t hurt either . . .

 

[Lumpy1106]

7 including Apple TV that my Aunt pays for. I counted Amazon even though we'd have that even without the streaming (which we don't use much). Still cheaper than cable/Dish/DirectTV.

 

[tvguy]

That depends on what you are using to stream the services. My Roku has a speak to search option but honestly I rarely use it.

I am using the TV remote. None of the services I am aware of offer any other way to control their interfact.

 

[The Mayor]

We have 4.
Netflix (Included with my cable package)
Amazon Prime (because we pay for Amazon Prime delivery)
Apple
Paramount+

Even though we have cable we tend to watch more shows on the streaming apps lately.

 

[flyingdumbo127]

Dad enjoys Prime and Netflix. I enjoy watching Hallmark type movies on FRNDLY.

 

[Imzadi]

I use YouTubeTV for my "cable" TV.

I have Amazon Prime (but as others have mentioned, more for Prime than for streaming.)

Once in a blue moon I will get Netflix to do some binge watching.

I watch an incredible amount of YouTube and Instagram for art tutorials, craft tutorials, tiny homes videos, and a modern feng shui guy who is hilarious. And I prefer YouTube Shorts format over TikTok.

Free apps/services:
Tubi
Freevee
PlutoTV
Xumo
Roku Channel - not to be confused with the device. One can watch the channel without the device.
SamsungTV - same, one does not need a Samsung TV. Downoad the app & it has a few hundred channels to watch for free.

The only one I pay for - and I tried not to - is YouTube premium - the commercials just got out of hand and they are doing all they can to stop add blockers

Yes, I'm seriously thinking of paying for YouTube Premium as I watch YouTube so much. People who think YouTube is just a bunch of cute cat videos haven't really explored what other content is on YouTube.

Recently, I was gifted a free trial to watch YouTubes's Masterclass courses. (Separate fee for that.) I've often seen the commercials for it. They have gotten a lot of great, successful people teaching courses. I just didn't know if they were really worth watching.

Turns out, I was quite impressed. These people aren't just regurgitating superficial sound bites from various interviews they've done. They aren't saying info one can get from any academic class on techniques. Academic teachers usually don't have the level of on the job, career-defining or life-defining experiences these people have had to be able to talk about it all from a personal perspective and how it's shaped them.

These people go really in-depth with their processes, their years of experiences trying different things, their motivations and inspirations and their ways of thinking. They really do teach what they know. And if you know their body of work, while they are talking, you're running it through in your mind and seeing where what they are talking about correlates. And you gain real insights.

YouTube did ask for reasons why I'm not continuing with Masterclass after the free trial was over and I did tell them, if they go the route of other streaming services where we pay monthly and can come and go as we please and our schedule allows us to watch things, then I'd pay. But, they are structured as "only $10 a month, payable annually." (Meaning $120 total in one lump sum.) Nope, that doesn't work for me. If they go with paying $10 month and only $10 and cancel any time, I may do that.

 

[leebee]

Disney+, Netflix, Hulu. We only pay for Disney+, DD/SIL pay for the other two.
OH! Is Sling a streaming service? That's what DH and I use mostly.