Is it time to cut the cord?

[Guest]

I am cutting the cord very soon. I have a couple TVs with Google chromecast built in and a box for another one. I also have Hulu through my phone company. I have Netflix and Amazon Prime as well. There is so much available through streaming now. I am actually looking forward to it. 

[Guest]

two obvious separate issues.

-Vikings are not your "local" team in regards to local broadcasting.
-You don't watch nearly enough TV to justify the cost, but you do enjoy the access 'on demand.'

The latter could easily be solved with a service like Playstation Vue. It's a cable TV over-the-internet service. ESPN, NFLN boxes checked. It uses a Netflix style interactive menu system to make the experience a lot more immersive than a typical cable box. There is a standard TV guide that shows you channels, times and programming blocks. You can easily set any show you want to DVR, and a lot of channels have good chunks of their programming 'on demand.'

The simple flexibility of the service and payments is more what came to mind though. It's like Netflix; there's no prorate in your service/bill. You pay for a month, you get a month. You decide you don't want the service anymore, take a month or two off. It is absolutely perfect for someone who doesn't want to pay for TV they are too busy to use, but still wants flexibility to access it all when they feel they have the time. The packages go from $45-$65 (I generally do the $55 plan to get the sports channels + the usual "never watch those" channels), but you won't be multiplying that figure by 12 if you have months where no one is watching TV.

I've never used Sling or the streaming alternatives, but i'd totally agree that their service model is what you are after. Pay for what you use for 30 days, make a decision on if another 30 is viable, and go from there. You don't need to make phone calls, you don't need to set up installation, it's just on or off. You don't need to make another phone call when a prorated bill shows up... 

This is the least of your issue though...

....

I don't know how any of these solve the Vikings problem though. It's the biggest challenge to cutting the cord. There looks to be a Sunday Ticket streaming service provided by DirecTV, that doesn't seem to require owning or using the service. It says its $73.49 a month for 4 months. Don't know anything about how it works, but it's there... and there is a PS4 app.

$300 for 4 months of Sunday Ticket streaming.
$300 (one time) for a PS4.
$220 for 4 months of PlayStation Vue (call it September through December)
----------
$820 for a full Vikings experience and access to NFLN, ESPN, etc. the rest of the year.

Next year, it's just $55 for the months you decide you want to watch regular TV and then $300 in August for Sunday Ticket.

Personally, I think this is the way to go. You keep Sunday Ticket and you gain flexibility to cut the cord whenever you feel like paying for it is stupid. The biggest question would be whether or not a $300 investment into lowering bills makes sense.

[Guest]

You forgot to build in the $3,000 for the DWI from the bar when they clinch their playoff berth

[Guest]

@BlackMagic7 said:
two obvious separate issues.

-Vikings are not your "local" team in regards to local broadcasting.
-You don't watch nearly enough TV to justify the cost, but you do enjoy the access 'on demand.'

The latter could easily be solved with a service like Playstation Vue. It's a cable TV over-the-internet service. ESPN, NFLN boxes checked. It uses a Netflix style interactive menu system to make the experience a lot more immersive than a typical cable box. There is a standard TV guide that shows you channels, times and programming blocks. You can easily set any show you want to DVR, and a lot of channels have good chunks of their programming 'on demand.'

The simple flexibility of the service and payments is more what came to mind though. It's like Netflix; there's no prorate in your service/bill. You pay for a month, you get a month. You decide you don't want the service anymore, take a month or two off. It is absolutely perfect for someone who doesn't want to pay for TV they are too busy to use, but still wants flexibility to access it all when they feel they have the time. The packages go from $45-$65 (I generally do the $55 plan to get the sports channels + the usual "never watch those" channels), but you won't be multiplying that figure by 12 if you have months where no one is watching TV.

I've never used Sling or the streaming alternatives, but i'd totally agree that their service model is what you are after. Pay for what you use for 30 days, make a decision on if another 30 is viable, and go from there. You don't need to make phone calls, you don't need to set up installation, it's just on or off. You don't need to make another phone call when a prorated bill shows up... 

This is the least of your issue though...

....

I don't know how any of these solve the Vikings problem though. It's the biggest challenge to cutting the cord. There looks to be a Sunday Ticket streaming service provided by DirecTV, that doesn't seem to require owning or using the service. It says its $73.49 a month for 4 months. Don't know anything about how it works, but it's there... and there is a PS4 app.

$300 for 4 months of Sunday Ticket streaming.
$300 (one time) for a PS4.
$220 for 4 months of PlayStation Vue (call it September through December)
----------
$820 for a full Vikings experience and access to NFLN, ESPN, etc. the rest of the year.

Next year, it's just $55 for the months you decide you want to watch regular TV and then $300 in August for Sunday Ticket.

Personally, I think this is the way to go. You keep Sunday Ticket and you gain flexibility to cut the cord whenever you feel like paying for it is stupid. The biggest question would be whether or not a $300 investment into lowering bills makes sense.

Thanks for breaking that down. The more feedback I get the more it sounds like there are a hundred different options and combinations of options. Interesting about Playstation. I don't play games at all, but my son does and I was considering getting him a console for Christmas, and if that kills two birds, that might be the way to go. But right now I'm not seeing a streaming option of Sunday Ticket where it can be separated from the DTV subscription.

[Guest]

https://nflst.directv.com/

again, don't know really anything about it. It advertises with, "Don't have DirecTV?" and has "No Satellite Required" in the fine print at the bottom of the page. 

This could be the solution to getting away from DirecTV as a service.

lol glad you said your kid could add more value to a PS4 for you - I figured that would be a tough sell being known mostly as a video game system, but I still suggested it knowing how i've come to use mine over the last couple years. It is our primary video device and a gaming device second. My gaming life these days sounds a bit like your TV life - if the PS4 didn't have streaming capability I would have gotten rid of it a while ago as I rarely have that kind of time.

[Guest]

I have done the streaming Sunday Ticket for 3 or 4 seasons in a row.  It's a good service and there are a couple "packages" one can get.  I'm sure I've posted here almost every year for people to try it in these types of threads.  I can answer any questions you have about it.  I mainly used a PS3 with it, but also used my phone and tablet on occasion.

I haven't had cable for about 8 years.  I don't understand how those that do can pay $100+ a month.  Whenever I'm staying somewhere with cable, I swear I spend more time looking for something to watch than actually watching anything.

A mini rant: If people would stop paying for freakin cable, there would be even more channels available over the air, like ION which is a pretty good station.

[Guest]

It appears you have to be "eligible" for Sunday Ticket streaming. And it appears I'm not. 

NFL SUNDAYTICKET.TV service is only available to non-DIRECTV customers who live in select multi-dwelling unit buildings (apartments, condos, etc,) nationwide in the U.S. where DIRECTV service is not available, live in select areas within various metropolitan cities, live in a residence that has been verified as unable to receive DIRECTV satellite TV service due to obstructions blocking access to satellite signals, or are college students

[Guest]

@silverjoel said:
I have done the streaming Sunday Ticket for 3 or 4 seasons in a row.  It's a good service and there are a couple "packages" one can get.  I'm sure I've posted here almost every year for people to try it in these types of threads.  I can answer any questions you have about it.  I mainly used a PS3 with it, but also used my phone and tablet on occasion.

I haven't had cable for about 8 years.  I don't understand how those that do can pay $100+ a month.  Whenever I'm staying somewhere with cable, I swear I spend more time looking for something to watch than actually watching anything.

A mini rant: If people would stop paying for freakin cable, there would be even more channels available over the air, like ION which is a pretty good station.

There's a hitch to streaming NFL Sunday ticket games, correct?  You have to qualify to be able to get only the streaming service.  If you live somewhere that DTV is offered, then you can't just subscribe to the Sunday Ticket streaming without also getting their satellite service.  Here's an article, and it sounds to me that's how it works: https://www.tomsguide.com/us/get-sunday-...-3811.html .

When I plug-in my address here: https://nflst.directv.com/ , it says my address isn't allowed to use Sunday ticket streaming without a DTV subscription.

[Guest]

@MaroonBells said:
It appears you have to be "eligible" for Sunday Ticket streaming. And it appears I'm not. 

NFL SUNDAYTICKET.TV service is only available to non-DIRECTV customers who live in select multi-dwelling unit buildings (apartments, condos, etc,) nationwide in the U.S. where DIRECTV service is not available, live in select areas within various metropolitan cities, live in a residence that has been verified as unable to receive DIRECTV satellite TV service due to obstructions blocking access to satellite signals, or are college students

I've had it for my house, but I've never had DirecTV here, not sure if they keep track of that.  Just try to sign up for it.  If they tell you no, find another way.  

[Guest]

@HappyViking said:

@silverjoel said:
I have done the streaming Sunday Ticket for 3 or 4 seasons in a row.  It's a good service and there are a couple "packages" one can get.  I'm sure I've posted here almost every year for people to try it in these types of threads.  I can answer any questions you have about it.  I mainly used a PS3 with it, but also used my phone and tablet on occasion.

I haven't had cable for about 8 years.  I don't understand how those that do can pay $100+ a month.  Whenever I'm staying somewhere with cable, I swear I spend more time looking for something to watch than actually watching anything.

A mini rant: If people would stop paying for freakin cable, there would be even more channels available over the air, like ION which is a pretty good station.

There's a hitch to streaming NFL Sunday ticket games, correct?  You have to qualify to be able to get only the streaming service.  If you live somewhere that DTV is offered, then you can't just subscribe to the Sunday Ticket streaming without also getting their satellite service.  Here's an article, and it sounds to me that's how it works: https://www.tomsguide.com/us/get-sunday-...-3811.html .

When I plug-in my address here: https://nflst.directv.com/ , it says my address isn't allowed to use Sunday ticket streaming without a DTV subscription.

Same.