Cutting the Cord: Cable Alternatives
145 Harlow St, Bangor, ME 04401 207-947-8336 ext 120 www.bangorpubliclibrary.org [email protected] What do you need to cut the cord?
● Sufficiently fast internet connection ● Device capable of streaming ● Subscription(s) to streaming services
Streaming is a method of transmitting or receiving data (especially video and audio material) over a computer network as a steady, continuous flow, allowing playback to start while the rest of the data is still being received.
2 Internet connection: how fast is fast enough?
Netflix recommends the following
1.5 Megabits per second - Recommended broadband connection speed
3.0 Megabits per second - Recommended for SD quality (standard definition)
5.0 Megabits per second - Recommended for HD quality (high definition)
25 Megabits per second - Recommended for Ultra HD quality
3 Internet speed continued
Hulu recommends:
6mb for regular plan
8mb for live tv
4 How does this work in practice?
Your actual download speed is what matters.
Experience shows that 5mb/sec actual download speed will allow streaming with minimal interruption.
Higher speeds more likely to eliminate most interruption.
Note that higher speeds and a more capable router may be necessary to allow for multiple streams at once, e.g. watching two TVs at once or using a computer, smartphone or tablet at the same time.
Higher speeds absolutely necessary for ultra high definition/4k streaming.
5 How fast is my internet?
If you already have high speed internet (or if you get it in the future) you can test the speed by going to http://www.dslreports.com/speedtest or another online service.
You can also download a speed test app on your mobile device. E.g. https://apps.apple.com/us/app/speedtest-by-ookla/id300704847
Speedtest by Ookla works well and is available both in the Apple and Android app stores.
6 What internet service is available:
Consolidated Communication--$30/month
GWI--$50?/month
Redzone--$50/month
Spectrum--$65 month (less if you bundle, but we’re cutting the cord!)
7 Streaming devices
There are several competitors for streaming to your TV, with various models:
● Amazon: Fire TV Stick; Fire TV Stick 4k; Fire TV Cube ● Roku: Streaming Stick; Express; Premier; Ultra ● Apple TV: Apple TV HD; Apple TV 4k ● Google: Chromecast; Chromecast Ultra
8 Buy & Netflix Hulu Hulu HBO Amazon Youtube Youtube TV Sling Directv Playstation rent Live TV Video TV NOW Vue movies
Amazon Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Roku Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Apple Yes yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Google Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Playstation Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No No No Yes
Xbox Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes
9 What Streaming Device is best for me? Overall, the Fire TV Cube has the most features--it includes Amazon Echo voice recognition, 4k streaming capability, and can use most services except for Youtube and Youtube TV: $80 for refurbished 1st generation, $120 for new 2nd gen
Lowest price: Google Chromecast ($35),Roku Stick ($45), Fire TV Stick ($35)
Go with the service you are already invested in--if you love Apple, get apple TV. If you like Amazon Echo/Alexa, go with Amazon Fire TV.
Note: Apple TV starts at $150--there is no real additional capability with this higher price other than the Apple ecosystem and airplay capability from Apple devices
10 Which streaming device? continued
If you own a Playstation, Xbox, modern Nintendo, or other digital media player you can use many streaming services depending on availability. It’s worth checking the dvd or blue-ray player you might have to see if it has streaming capability.
TiVo DVR boxes also have streaming capability, but they require ongoing service to work, so you must maintain their monthly subscription or purchase lifetime service, which are both comparatively more expensive than getting a new streaming device. TiVo is a great product, but really only recommended if you continue to have cable service.
11 What’s the real difference between streaming devices?
Amazon has good voice recognition and Alexa integration
Google Chromecast does not have a remote, and must be operated from a mobile device
Roku has some voice recognition and some good universal search options.
Playstation funnels you to their live TV Service, Playstation Vue, so the other live TV services don’t work on their devices
Otherwise, everything works on everything
12 What Live TV Streaming Service has my Local Channels?
This often depends on where you live
In Bangor, Youtube TV, Hulu Live TV, Directv Now, and Playstation Vue all have the local channels NBC (WLBZ), CBS (WABI), ABC (ABC7) and Fox (Fox22).
Sling TV has no local channels in our area.
13 Check local channel availability in your area Sling TV: https://www.sling.com/
Playstation Vue: https://www.playstation.com/en-us/network/vue/plans/
Hulu Live TV: https://www.hulu.com/live-tv
Youtube TV: https://tv.youtube.com/welcome/
Direct TV NOW: https://www.att.com/tv/
14 What about getting all the channels?
Playstation Vue has an “Ultra” package for $85/month which has the most channels, including HBO and Showtime.
Direct TV NOW has a package with the second most channels for $70, including HBO and Cinemax. This does not include Showtime.
15 What if I want the lowest price?
Sling TV has plans starting at $25/month, but these have limited channels and force you to choose between ESPN and Fox, and have no local channels.
Getting both ESPN and FOX costs $40/month.
16 Basic plans for other services are as follows:
Hulu Live TV: $45/month (includes standard Hulu service, normally $6/month)
Direct TV Now: $50/month (with HBO)
Playstation Vue: $50/month
Youtube TV: $50/month
17 What if I care about DVR (Digital Video Recording)?
DVR allows you to record live TV and watch it later. The streaming service saves it for you and allows you to stream it on demand (sometimes for a limited time).
Most services also limit the space available.
Many cable services offer a DVR service which is usually stored locally on a DVR box in your home and played from that device.
Streaming DVR works just the same way in practice, but the recordings are stored on the service itself and streamed to you like any other program.
18 DVR Continued
Sling TV: 50 hours recording space, keep recordings forever while your subscription is active, fast forward most recordings,
Youtube TV: Unlimited recording space, keep recordings 30 days, fast forward most live tv recordings; minimal commercials for on demand
Hulu Live TV: 50 hours recording space, can upgrade to 200 hours for $15/month, keep recordings forever while your subscription is active, cannot fast forward through commercials even on live recordings.
Directv NOW: 20 hours recording space, keep recordings forever, fast forward through commercials
19 DVR conclusion
Youtube TV is best because of unlimited space and fast-forwarding of live recordings.
Hulu Live TV is best if you want to save recordings for a long time and don’t mind paying extra for more space (200 hours).
20 BBC America
Included in YouTube TV.
Offered in DirecTV plan for $93/month total.
Included in base PlayStation Vue package.
Not available with Sling or Hulu.
Can access through independent app with login information from subscription.
21 Conclusion Basic internet through Consolidated Communications is available for $15-$30 per month.
Streaming cable subscription alternatives average $50 per month.
Fortune reported that the average TV bill was $107 per month in 2018. This did not appear to include the cost of internet service. https://fortune.com/2018/11/15/average-cable-tv-bill-cord-cutting/
Together, cable alternatives are likely to cost approximately $65-80 per month including internet service and streaming TV service, depending on the specific services selected. Services which include the maximum amount of channels, such as Playstation Vue Ultra are likely to result in even higher savings compared to the cost of similar packages from Cable and Satellite TV providers.
Landline service is available from Consolidated Communications for $10-30 per month as well. All phone services should allow you to keep your current landline number when transferring service.
22 Conclusion, continued
Please note that if you are a Spectrum customer, they currently have a bundle known as the “Triple Play”. This includes internet service, cable TV service, and landline phone service. Currently, this is advertised for $99/month ($33/month for each of the three services when combined). This rate doesn’t include fees and taxes. This may also increase after an initial 12 month promotional period.
Spectrum offers this bundle discount to incentivise customers against cord-cutting, because Spectrum’s internet service when offered by itself without the bundled discount jumps to over $60/month for the same service. Thus, if you are currently a Spectrum customer with all three services, it really requires abandoning Spectrum altogether to effectively realize savings from cord-cutting.
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