From Cable TV to Streaming
It’s time for me to give up my Fios TV (Cable TV cord-cutting) and turn to streaming services like Amazon, Sling, Direct TV Now, etc. to save some dollars back in to my pocket.
With 25Mbps Internet, Cable TV, HD Box it cost me around $149.54 per month including taxes. I can reduce this amount to $69.99 per month for Internet access and streaming service for $25 per month with no contract commitment. By the way, all companies should adapt to no commitment or no contract plan if they want more business.
Cost-cutting expenses. The Cable TV cord-cutting will cut my expenses down to $99 per month, a saving of $50 per month back into my pocket. Goal!
Though, still expensive due to the Internet fees. I’m still waiting for Google to bring the gigabit network in our neighborhood to make it cheaper or free. I don’t think it will happen soon.
What hardware to use to replace the HD Box? I don’t need to purchase additional hardware. I can use my existing Xbox One to watch streaming shows and I have Fire Stick TV, ready to go.
Streaming Services.
I’m using Amazon Prime services, so I have access to their streaming service part of my prime membership but not offering other channels like ABC, NBC, FOX, Bloomberg, CNN, ESPN, TNT, USA, and many others.
So, for TV shows I have to try Sling TV service for $25 per month (Sling Blue package) that comes with my favorites stations e.g. Bloomberg, AMC, TNT, Syfy, History, National Geo and Wild, Food Network, CNN, BBC America, and more. You can add more channels for $5 or $10, depending on your selected plans.
And from AT&T, they are offering Direct TV Now streaming service as of Nov. 30 with the 100+ Channels for $35/month discounted from the $60 per month Go Big Package. That’s a limited time offer only, not sure when they will stop it. This includes the ABC, NBC, FOX, Bloomberg, CNN, ESPN, TNT, USA, NBA TV, BBC World News up to 100+ Channels.
For a complete comparison of Channels, CNET provided this list.
DirecTV Now vs. Sling TV vs. PlayStation Vue (top 169 channels, see notes below)
| Channel | DirecTV Now | Sling Package | Vue Package |
|---|---|---|---|
| A&E | Live a Little | Orange, Blue | No |
| ABC | Yes or VOD | Broadcast extra | Yes or VOD |
| AMC | Live a Little | Orange, Blue | Access |
| American Heroes | Go Big | No | Elite |
| Animal Planet | Live a Little | No | Access |
| Audience | Live a Little | No | No |
| AXS TV | Live a Little | Orange, Blue | No |
| Baby TV | No | Kids extra | No |
| BBC America | Live a Little | Orange, Blue | Access |
| BBC World News | Go Big | News extra | Elite |
| beIN Sports | No | Sports extra | Core |
| BET | Live a Little | Blue (Orange lifestyle extra) | No |
| Bloomberg TV | Live a Little | Base | No |
| Boomerang | Gotta Have It | Kids extra | Elite |
| Bravo | Live a Little | Blue | Access |
| BTN | Just Right | No | Core |
| Campus Insiders | No | Sports extra | No |
| Cartoon Network/Adult Swim | Live a Little | Orange, Blue | Access |
| CBS | No | No | Yes or VOD |
| CBS Sports | No | No | No |
| Centric | Go Big | No | No |
| Cheddar | No | Orange, Blue | No |
| Chiller | Gotta Have It | No | Elite |
| Cinemax | PREMIUM ($5/month) | PREMIUM | PREMIUM |
| Cloo | Gotta Have It | No | Elite |
| CMT | Live a Little | Comedy extra | No |
| CNBC | Live a Little | News extra Blue | Access |
| CNBC World | Just Right | No | Elite |
| CNN | Live a Little | Orange, Blue | Access |
| Comedy Central | Live a Little | Orange, Blue | No |
| Comedy.TV | Just Right | No | No |
| Cooking Channel | Just Right | Lifestyle extra | Elite |
| CSPAN | Live a Little | No | No |
| Destination America | Go Big | No | Access |
| Discovery Channel | Live a Little | No | Access |
| Discovery Family | Go Big | No | Access |
| Discovery Life | Go Big | No | Elite |
| Disney Channel | Live a Little | Orange | Access |
| Disney Junior | Live a Little | Kids extra Orange | Access |
| Disney XD | Live a Little | Kids extra Orange | Access |
| DIY | Go Big | Lifestyle extra | Access |
| Duck TV | No | Kids extra | No |
| E! | Live a Little | Lifestyle extra Blue | Access |
| El Rey Network | Gotta Have It | Orange, Blue | No |
| Encore | Gotta Have It | No | No |
| EPIX | No | Hollywood extra | No |
| EPIX Drive-in | No | Hollywood extra | No |
| EPIX Hits | No | Hollywood extra | PREMIUM, Elite |
| EPIX2 | No | Hollywood extra | No |
| ESPN | Live a Little | Orange | Access |
| ESPN 2 | Live a Little | Orange | Access |
| ESPN Bases Loaded | No | Sports extra Orange | No |
| ESPN Buzzer Beater | No | Sports extra Orange | No |
| ESPN Deportes | No | Spanish TV extra Orange | Elite |
| ESPN Goal Line | No | Sports extra Orange | No |
| ESPNEWS | Just Right | Sports extra Orange | Core |
| ESPNU | Just Right | Sports extra Orange | Core |
| Esquire | No | No | Access |
| Euro News | No | World News Extra | No |
| Flama | No | Orange, Blue | No |
| Food Network | Live a Little | Orange, Blue | Access |
| Fox | Yes or VOD | Blue | Yes or VOD |
| Fox Business | Live a Little | No | Access |
| Fox College Sports Atlantic | No | No | Elite |
| Fox College Sports Central | No | No | Elite |
| Fox College Sports Pacific | No | No | Elite |
| Fox News | Live a Little | No | Access |
| Fox Sports 1 | Live a Little | Blue | Access |
| Fox Sports 2 | Go Big | Blue | Access |
| Fox Sports Prime Ticket | Just Right | No | No |
| France 24 | No | World News Extra | No |
| Freeform | Live a Little | Orange | Access |
| Fuse | Just Right | No | No |
| Fusion | Just Right | World News Extra | Elite |
| FX | Live a Little | Blue | Access |
| FXM | Go Big | No | Elite |
| FXX | Live a Little | Blue | Access |
| FYI | Go Big | Lifestyle extra | No |
| Galavision | Live a Little | Orange, Blue | No |
| Golf Channel | Go Big | Sports extra Blue | Core |
| GSN | Just Right | Comedy extra | No |
| Hallmark | Live a Little | Lifestyle extra | No |
| Hallmark Movies & Mysteries | No | LIfestyle extra | No |
| HBO | PREMIUM ($5/month) | PREMIUM | PREMIUM, Ultra |
| HDNet Movies | No | Hollywood extra | No |
| HGTV | Live a Little | Orange, Blue | Access |
| Hi-Yah | No | No | Elite |
| History | Live a Little | Orange, Blue | No |
| HLN | Live a Little | News extra | Access |
| HSN | No | No | No |
| IFC | Just Right | Orange, Blue | Core |
| Ion | No | No | No |
| Impact | No | No | Elite |
| Investigation Discovery | Live a Little | No | Access |
| JusticeCentral.TV | Just Right | No | No |
| Lifetime | Live a Little | Orange, Blue | No |
| LMN | Just Right | Lifestyle extra | No |
| Local Now | No | Orange, Blue | No |
| LOGO | Go Big | Comedy extra | No |
| Longhorn Network | Just Right | No | Core |
| Machinima | No | No | Elite |
| Maker | No | Orange, Blue | No |
| MGM-HD | No | No | Elite |
| MLB Network | Just Right | No | No |
| Motors TV | No | Sports extra | No |
| MSNBC | Live a Little | News extra Blue | Access |
| MTV | Live a Little | Comedy extra | No |
| MTV Classic | Go Big | No | No |
| MTV2 | Live a Little | Comedy extra | No |
| Nat Geo Wild | Go Big | Blue | Elite |
| National Geographic | Live a Little | Blue | Access |
| NBA TV | Go Big | Sports extra | Core |
| NBC | Yes or VOD | Blue | Yes or VOD |
| NBC Sports Network | Just Right | Blue | Access |
| NDTV 24/7 | No | World News Extra | No |
| News 18 India | No | World News Extra | No |
| Newsy | No | Orange, Blue | No |
| NFL Network | No | Blue | Core |
| NFL Red Zone | No | Sports extra (Blue) | PREMIUM (Core and up) |
| NHL Network | Go Big | Sports extra | No |
| Nick Jr. | Live a Little | Blue | No |
| Nickelodeon | Live a Little | No | No |
| Nicktoons | Live a Little | Kids Extra Blue | No |
| ONE World Sports | No | No | Elite |
| Outdoor Channel | No | No | No |
| Outside Television | No | Sports extra | Elite |
| OWN | Just Right | No | Access |
| Oxygen | Just Right | Lifestyle extra Blue | Access |
| Palladia | No | No | Elite |
| PBS | No | No | No |
| Poker Central | No | No | Elite |
| Polaris | No | Orange, Blue | Elite |
| POP | No | No | Access |
| QVC | No | No | No |
| Revolt | Go Big | No | No |
| RFD TV | Live a Little | No | No |
| Russia Today | No | World News Extra | No |
| Science | Just Right | No | Access |
| SEC Network | Just Right | Sports extra Orange | Core |
| Showtime | No | No | PREMIUM, Elite |
| Spike | Live a Little | Comedy extra | No |
| Sprout | Go Big | No | Elite |
| Starz | Gotta Have It | PREMIUM | No |
| Sundance TV | Go Big | Hollywood extra | Core |
| Syfy | Live a Little | Blue | Access |
| TBS | Live a Little | Orange, Blue | Access |
| TCM | Live a Little | Hollywood extra | Core |
| Teen Knick | Live a Little | Kids extra Blue | Elite |
| Telemundo | Live a Little | No | Access |
| Tennis Channel | Go Big | No | No |
| The Weather Channel | Live a Little | No | No |
| TLC | Live a Little | No | Access |
| TNT | Live a Little | Orange, Blue | Access |
| Travel Channel | Just Right | Orange, Blue | Access |
| truTV | Live a Little | Blue (Orange comedy extra) | Access |
| TV Land | Live a Little | Comedy extra | No |
| TVG | Go Big | No | No |
| Universal HD | No | No | Elite |
| Univision | Live a Little | Blue (Orange Broadcast extra) | No |
| Univision Deportes | Gotta Have It | Sports extra | No |
| Univision Mas | Just Right | Blue (Orange Broadcast Extra) | No |
| USA Network | Live a Little | Blue | Access |
| Velocity HD | Live a Little | No | Elite |
| VH1 | Live a Little | Lifestyle extra | No |
| VH1 Classic | No | No | Elite |
| Vibrant TV | No | Lifestyle extra | No |
| Viceland | Live a Little | Orange, Blue | No |
| WE tv | Live a Little | Lifestyle extra | Access |
| WeatherNation | Live a Little | No | No |
Notes
| For ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC networks, “Yes or VOD” means available in certain cities; otherwise major shows available on-demand 24 hours after airing |
|---|
Yes, it’s a big adjustment from Cable TV to Streaming, but saving some $$ per month is a big accomplishment. I will share my streaming experience in my next post between Sling TV and DirecTV Now. I have 30 days to check them both.
Sling TV is a simple to use service. I was able to watch using my XBOX One and Amazon Fire Stick. I ordered Roku device, and will check it too.
DirecTV Now, I tried to watch NBA TV and got this message “NBA Basketball is blacked out in your area on NBAHD. For more info, search for Error 70 in the Help Center“. The NBA TV game Washington Wizards at Miami Heat, I’m in Virginia. I’m not in the mood to do search, I just want to watch TV 🙁 I’ve got this message using Amazon Fire Stick device and what’s up with the “crackling sounds“? I uninstall the DirecTV Now app, deleted, and re-install still the same issue with crackling sounds.
I was not able to watch any shows with DirecTV Now using Amazon Fire Stick.
Score: Sling TV – 1, DirecTV Now – 0
After two to three hours of troubleshooting. I figure out on how to solve the crackling sounds using Amazon Fire Stick device. Go to Settings and turn-off Dolby Digital Plus as show below.
Settings > Display & Sounds > Audio: Dolby Digital Plus OFF
Now, I can watch using my Amazon Fire Stick with no sound issue and NBA TV.
Updated Score: Sling TV – 1 point, DirecTV Now – 1 point
Sling TV is easy to setup, while DirecTV Now comes with a few technical challenge. With my experience using these streaming services, hopefully will be a lot easier for you.
You can only have two sessions using DirecTV Now. I’m not sure about Sling TV at this time. I will update this article as soon as I find out.
Price comparison. Sling TV for $40/mo All Channels 50 (Orange + Blue) compare to DirecTV Now for $35/mo (a $25 discounted from $65/mo of it’s original price) Go Big Channels 100+. The channels/price comparison goes to DirecTV Now.
Updated Dec. 20, 2016: I decided to use DirecTV Now and take advantage of Go Big for $35/mo for 100+ channel and prepaid for three months to get free Apple TV worth $149.
