Is it time to cut the cord?
I know this forum has had countless cutting the cord posts, but I'm hoping someone who's done it (and not local) can tell me if they regret it or not. DTV costs me about $120 a month during the offseason (for TV content that I never watch). During the season it goes up to $170 a month to pay $300 for Sunday ticket in 6 payments. So between August and January, I pay $1,020 just to watch the Vikings. Is that insane or what? And then I pay for $720 for six months of TV that I never watch. Seriously, almost never.
But I have to watch the Vikings. No choice in that. With that in mind...
Vikings look to be on broadcast TV about 8 times this season. For the times they're not, I can go to the bar. I estimate I'll average $30 a game on beer and food. $30x8=$240. I'll also need local channels. You can get an indoor antenna that gives you local channels for about $40, one time cost. $240+$40=$280. I also have to be able to record the games, at least the ones that are broadcast. So I'll need an independent DVR for that. I've estimated $250, one time cost. Now we're at $530. I have to figure out a way to get the night games on ESPN and NFL Network, but I'm sure someone has figured that out, right?
Bottom line is this:
$530 < $1740. And next year with antenna and DVR in hand, unless I ring up a $187 bar tab each game, the equation goes to...
$240 < $1740.
What am I missing?
“A gentleman is someone who can play the accordion, but doesn't." - Tom Waits
@"MaroonBells" said:@"StickyBun" said: I'll tell you, Comcast Xfinity is unbelievable. Has the remotes you talk into to watch any show on demand. Its intuitive and a big technology upgrade and convenience. I love it. I just say 'Netflix' or 'Youtube' and boom, up it comes.Yep, its expensive. But for me, its a massive upgrade over DirecTV and their antiquated systems.
In my opinion, DTV led the field when it first came out in terms of technology, simplicity, programming, customer service. Made Dish and Comcast look bad. Now it's a joke IMO. Ever since they merged with AT&T, they habitually overcharge and everything else went downhill. Their interface, technology, equipment, programming and customer service is just trash now. I'll toast the day (coming soon) when I kick them to the curb.
Just thinking about them and AT&T makes me mad. They're such a massive rip off. When Sunday Ticket is available in another way, I'm canceling in a heart beat.
@"KingBash" said:@"MaroonBells" said:@"StickyBun" said: I'll tell you, Comcast Xfinity is unbelievable. Has the remotes you talk into to watch any show on demand. Its intuitive and a big technology upgrade and convenience. I love it. I just say 'Netflix' or 'Youtube' and boom, up it comes.Yep, its expensive. But for me, its a massive upgrade over DirecTV and their antiquated systems.
In my opinion, DTV led the field when it first came out in terms of technology, simplicity, programming, customer service. Made Dish and Comcast look bad. Now it's a joke IMO. Ever since they merged with AT&T, they habitually overcharge and everything else went downhill. Their interface, technology, equipment, programming and customer service is just trash now. I'll toast the day (coming soon) when I kick them to the curb.
Just thinking about them and AT&T makes me mad. They're such a massive rip off. When Sunday Ticket is available in another way, I'm canceling in a heart beat.
I went round and round with DTV! They kept asking if I had AT&T Cell Service and then tried to get me to uprade at a $70 cost to me so I coukd save $25 off my DirecTv bill.
I kept having to tell the woman that I am trying to cut down on my total cost, not add to it. She would always say, But you are going to save $25.
I ended up talking them down to a reasonable price with Sunday Ticket for free, but they wouldn’t wave the Genie fee of $3. I was only going to have the one receiver and didn’t need the Genie. Then they told me they could send me a regular HD DVR but would have to charge me $100 dollars for it.
That was pretty much the last straw, I canceled then and there and haven’t looked back with regret.
The $1200 I saved over the last year paid for just over half our trip to an All Inclusive Resort in November that my wife loves.
https://support.us.playstation.com/articles/en_US/KC_Article/PlayStation-Vue-Supported-Devices
list of supported devices: Apple TV, Roku, PS4, Apple TV, Android TV and Chromecast
I actually learned you can stream 5 steams simultaneously... maybe I need a Roku?!
@"BlackMagic7" said: https://support.us.playstation.com/articles/en_US/KC_Article/PlayStation-Vue-Supported-Deviceslist of supported devices: Apple TV, Roku, PS4, Apple TV, Android TV and Chromecast
I actually learned you can stream 5 steams simultaneously... maybe I need a Roku?!
The 5 streams was one of the reasons I went with Vue.There are 4 of us living in my house, so it made sense to have that many at first. However, I found that my 2 sons rarely watched anything on Vue.
I went with Vue because it was available on PS4, and ours is hooked up to our main set in the living room. "We can get cable on this thing?!" Boom, we were hooked.
For $35, that's doable just to experiment how the app runs on one vs. the other lol... Having it on a second television in the house would be off the chain, yo.
I would have cut it already if not for my wife. She likes to just turn on the TV. I stream movies and shows. I'd chrome cast to the TV's if my HDMI's weren't in use with the boxes we were forced to get after the digital switch. At an additional $6 per. She pays the cable bill so if she wants it. I'm slow to tech stuff. She's even slower. Not that I know what I'm doing. I got a friend who does. I just handed him my phone and tablet. I say wow all this is free.
Call me low-tech.
He loaded app on my wifes phone. Caught her watching movies this weekend. Maybe she'll break. I stream games on Reddit which ain't great but is free.
Always open to better suggestions.
@"Riphawkins" said:@"KingBash" said:@"MaroonBells" said:@"StickyBun" said: I'll tell you, Comcast Xfinity is unbelievable. Has the remotes you talk into to watch any show on demand. Its intuitive and a big technology upgrade and convenience. I love it. I just say 'Netflix' or 'Youtube' and boom, up it comes.Yep, its expensive. But for me, its a massive upgrade over DirecTV and their antiquated systems.
In my opinion, DTV led the field when it first came out in terms of technology, simplicity, programming, customer service. Made Dish and Comcast look bad. Now it's a joke IMO. Ever since they merged with AT&T, they habitually overcharge and everything else went downhill. Their interface, technology, equipment, programming and customer service is just trash now. I'll toast the day (coming soon) when I kick them to the curb.
Just thinking about them and AT&T makes me mad. They're such a massive rip off. When Sunday Ticket is available in another way, I'm canceling in a heart beat.
I went round and round with DTV! They kept asking if I had AT&T Cell Service and then tried to get me to uprade at a $70 cost to me so I coukd save $25 off my DirecTv bill.
I kept having to tell the woman that I am trying to cut down on my total cost, not add to it. She would always say, But you are going to save $25.
I ended up talking them down to a reasonable price with Sunday Ticket for free, but they wouldn’t wave the Genie fee of $3. I was only going to have the one receiver' and didn’t need the Genie. Then they told me they could send me a regular HD DVR but would have to charge me $100 dollars for it.
That was pretty much the last straw, I canceled then and there and haven’t looked back with regret.
The $1200 I saved over the last year paid for just over half our trip to an All Inclusive Resort in November that my wife loves.
I wonder if that's another reason my bill (unannounced) just increased again. I've always had AT&T cell service and finally went to Verizon simply because AT&T where I live NEVER gets a signal. Half of Santa Monica is a complete "no service" dead zone. They probably saw I didn't have their shitty cell anymore and increased my rate.God what a scumbag company.
I ended up getting a Roku as well. Wow this is fun. It's like a brand new toy.
I'm weak. I'M WEAK!!! Just called DTV to cancel my subscription. I did all my research, weighed all the options, knew exactly what was expected of me. Get the retention dude on the phone and tell him I'm done. Just send my your boxes, I'll pack all my receivers and send them back to you, along with a check that equals $20 a month for each month left on my contract. We've been together for 15 years, but I'm cutting this cord. We can still be friends if you want. I just never wanna see you again.
Within 30 seconds I had an offer for $50 off each month for the next 12 months, plus an upgrade to Sunday Ticket Max. Essentially, this is equal to getting Sunday Ticket free, Max for free, plus a check for $300 to pay for the rest of the year.
Sold.
Not sure how to feel about it. Part of me is relieved I don't have to buy out the contract, buy an antenna, buy a Tivo, subscribe to PSV, and find myself chain-drinking at the Vikings bar for 8 games. Part of me feels like I just answered a booty call from an ex who cheated on me.
Today, i turn on the PsVue, and surprise! I now have local WDIO (ABC) and Fox21 at the begining of my program listing.
might as well subtract the cost of an antenna from a Roku for TV upstairs now...
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