TV streaming, if you do it please help.

[Jinx]

I’m looking to reduce our cable bill by dumping all but internet services. I am currently running a cox contour DVR 6 system and would like to replace it with something similar that will allow us to save shows and skip commercials. We don’t do sports and rarely do movies on demand. How many streaming service am I going to have to pay for subscription service like “Discovery +”? Am I going to need Hulu or some other services as well? Please educate me.

 

[7991LXnSHO]

Do you use Amazon? The TV that comes with Prime membership includes IMDB tv, Pluto, others, and Amazon’s services. Some of the services run by on demand only, others have “live” that looks more like cable but better quality video and audio. Their HD adaptors are $19-25 each. Your smart TV or DVD will have access to many of the services.
I am looking into having a rooftop antenna again to get the local channels (10 of them!) for news weather and what we like to watch there.

 

[Jinx]

Do you use Amazon? The TV that comes with Prime membership includes IMDB tv, Pluto, others, and Amazon’s services. Some of the services run by on demand only, others have “live” that looks more like cable but better quality video and audio. Their HD adaptors are $19-25 each. Your smart TV or DVD will have access to many of the services.
I am looking into having a rooftop antenna again to get the local channels (10 of them!) for news weather and what we like to watch there.

I do have Amazon Prime. My Samsung smart TVs is no longer supporting their “widgets” feature which we’re capable of internet connection to things like YouTube and such.

I guess what I am really looking for is a device that I can use to record live streams as they happen through an app like ABC or CBS, but can also record streams that are scheduled to run at times like regular cable. Currently I do stream YouTube from my laptop to TV via HDMI output.

 

[HemiRick]

Most of the TV services have a recording option built in.....Hulu, Sling, Utube TV etc....the problem is recording local channels as most TV services do not offer them. Netflix is Hugh bargain at $15/month

 

[Jinx]

Ok, so I may run into recording issues with local channels but “premium” and “tier” channels (Discovery, AMC, FOOD NETWORK, Disney) can be recorded/saved through a digital service like Hulu or Sling etc. without a physical DVR?

im sorry if I sound like a total noob, but I’m so used to cable, I’m not sure how the new wave works. I also need it to run on multiple TVs in separate rooms. Is that all just account and stick driven?

 

[7991LXnSHO]

You can buy an OTA DVR. As most of any series is available in entirety to select play on, I am not seeing a reason for a DVR if you are not time shifting sports. Recording is not needed like with cable.
You really need to see streaming in action and have someone there walk you through it. At least use your computer or Kindle Fire to start exploring your prime streaming.

 

[Jinx]

From what I see as an example, since I already have amazon prime, I would have to purchase 3 fire sticks (one for each tv). At that point I am eligible for what Amazon offers. Then I can subscribe to other streams or stream services that are supprted by the fire stick? Recording is not needed for annual series as they can be favorited to watch at any time (and reminders be set)? What about national news networks.?

 

[HemiRick]

From what I see as an example, since I already have amazon prime, I would have to purchase 3 fire sticks (one for each tv). At that point I am eligible for what Amazon offers. Then I can subscribe to other streams or stream services that are supprted by the fire stick? Recording is not needed for annual series as they can be favorited to watch at any time (and reminders be set)? What about national news networks.?

Yes exactly you understand and yes DVR's are built in most of the services. Nat'l news services are on Prime and all the services.....Sounds to me like just need to investigate all ther services and pick one. I'm currently Prime, Netflix, and Sling Orange. Times of the year I dont need ESPN I drop Sling and get Philo to save $20 month

 

[Jinx]

Looks like Google chrome cast with Google play can help organize all your streaming apps so you don’t have to keep opening and closing different apps as you watch programming

anyone with chrome cast experience??

 

[Mustang5L5]

I haven’t had cable in a decade. I stream everything over my smart TV and have an OTA antenna in the attic that gets 50 channels (although most are QVC).

most everything I watch is available on one streaming platform or another. We share memberships between family members, so one might have Amazon, another netflix, another disney+ and another Hulu. Combine that with a good internet service in the home and our bill is under $100.

anything else not covered by streaming you can usually find via Reddit and some legwork. Really not much I’m missing regardless…other than the huge cable bill. Not having cable cuts out the “junk tv” as well.

 

[Jinx]

So do the available services have a way to notify you when new episodes of your favorite shows are available and do they keep track of what you have already watched so your not waisting time streaming something you’ve already seen?

 

[7991LXnSHO]

The fire stick picks up where you left off in a series.

 

[HemiRick]

So do the available services have a way to notify you when new episodes of your favorite shows are available and do they keep track of what you have already watched so your not waisting time streaming something you’ve already seen?

yes almost all of them.

 

[Ryuk]

I've got 2 Roku boxes and they work great. I've still got Directv for live sports because even though Sling had DVR, I couldn't pause and go to the bathroom.

 

[Mustang5L5]

We actually bought an Amazon firestick. It has all out subscription services on it (hulu, netflix, Amazon, etc) and when we go on vacation we take it with us and hook it up to whatever tv we have at the hotel or rental home. Comes in handy for rainy days or nighttime watching in terms of keeping up with our shows and not stuck watching lame hotel room programming

 

[General karthief]

We actually bought an Amazon firestick. It has all out subscription services on it (hulu, netflix, Amazon, etc) and when we go on vacation we take it with us and hook it up to whatever tv we have at the hotel or rental home. Comes in handy for rainy days or nighttime watching in terms of keeping up with our shows and not stuck watching lame hotel room programming

That's a thought!
We bought a 'fire tv' or whatever it is and also have the little 'firebox' for lack of another term, didn't think about taking it on the road.

 

[7991LXnSHO]

I have just used the Kindle as a streaming device while traveling, even to stream Charter or Dish on the road. My first Kindle had a HDMI port that has been basically disabled in updates since Amazon Prime TV came out. One of the Fire Sticks (the size of a big flash drive or dongle) would be no big deal to take along.

 

[Noobz347]

It sounds to me like you need a PS4 or an XBox.

You'll have to look and see which of their respective services offers the most of what you want.

Until recently, I would have said a PS3 but they're killing (or have killed) support for it.

The alternative is building your own box.

 

[Mustang5L5]

My PS4 gathers dust these days. A firestick can do everything it can other than the gaming and a smart tv sold these days doesn’t even need anything else. You can add apps for all the streaming services to the tv itself.

I do still play PS4 though. Always in the mood for a good shooter. Just no time

 

[Noobz347]

My PS4 gathers dust these days. A firestick can do everything it can other than the gaming and a smart tv sold these days doesn’t even need anything else. You can add apps for all the streaming services to the tv itself.

I do still play PS4 though. Always in the mood for a good shooter. Just no time

Except your Firestick doesn't have otherwise latent CPU cores, memory, and graphics chipset lying around that gaming stations do. Also, no storage capacity.

PS4s gathering dust is the perfect scenario for folks who are now looking for a good multi-media platform.