The American Cable Cutter Thread

Discussion in 'TV, Satellite & Radio' started by SpencerNY, May 22, 2015.

  1. TheJoeGreene

    TheJoeGreene Member+

    Aug 19, 2012
    The Lubbock Texas
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    Germany
    I'll be interested to see who the survivors are. Paramount+ is already losing content and about to be sold if Sherri Redstone doesn't completely botch things. Peacock is doing a $2 increase on monthly subscriptions. Amazon is grabbing so much sports content that you almost have to have it, but a Prime membership is so expensive at this point I actually just dropped it and they want extra money to not have ads. There's also all the places where subscriptions are free through other services. At some point that all has to shake out.

    I'm currently getting Max free via AT&T internet, Netflix w/ads and Apple TV+ free via T-Mobile, have a ridiculously cheap annual deal for Paramount+ w/Showtime, got the $20 annual deal for Peacock last fall, and pay for a grandfathered Disney+/Hulu/ESPN+ bundle.

    If I had to pay for everything Apple TV+ (shows, movies, baseball) and probably ESPN+ for NHL, Texas Tech sports, Bundesliga, etc. would be my top 2. Peacock would fit in right after that with IndyCar and some other things I like enough to watch for a few months and Paramount+ would be around for whatever they keep carrying (Champions League, Star Trek). After that, it would get really seasonal with a lot of churn. With Ion carrying a good chunk of WNBA and NWSL content while being available OTA and via Tubi, Golazo Network existing on Pluto TV, and some interesting stuff OTA on CW in addition to the big 4 networks, there's more than enough to keep me occupied most of the time without paying for a bunch of streaming services to try and piece together every game from someone like the Washington Spirit or the other Big 12 teams.

    I wouldn't be too surprised if things like USA, FS1, and ESPN end up being sub-channels in most markets OTA or being placed in a paid tier on top of a FAST service.

    As much as I don't like the price to content ratio for MLS Season Pass, at least it's all in one place with no blackouts. That's something everyone else not named the NFL is probably going to have to consider sooner or later.
     
  2. Kryptonite

    Kryptonite BS XXV

    Apr 10, 1999
    Columbus
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    #527 Kryptonite, May 1, 2024
    Last edited: May 1, 2024
    I'll use myself as an example.

    I'm a season ticket holder, so obviously my MLS Season Pass is included in my tickets.

    As far as other pro teams, I'll occasionally check out my local/regional MLB and NHL teams. Very rarely do I watch a full game. I don't care at all about the NBA...but I'm not gonna pay for a season package for those leagues.

    I'd imagine there's a lot of others like me.

    I'd guess most season ticket holders to pro teams are either groups of friends (5-6 friends go in on a full season and divide tickets as appropriate), corporate holders OR partial plans. I can't imagine attending over 82 NHL games per year. I can't even begin to comprehend attending 162 MLB games per year.

    The problem being if the regional model stays, the TV channels won't allow someone to pay for out-of-market packages and get in-market games. Even if the local/regional option is a team-specific app or OTA channel, that option will still have rights in that area.

    Someone I know is absolutely convinced the following is imminent:
    1) "The contract with MLB.tv is ending."
    2) The large-market teams that have their own channels (think Boston, NYY, Chicago Cubs) will be allowed to keep their TV channels which will be available nationally.
    3) The rest of the teams will be swallowed up into a MLS-type situation.

    I laugh at the amount of sense this doesn't make. Using that situation, a NYY fan in Kansas will be allowed to pay directly for the NYY channel and watch every game that way, including games against KC. (Yeah right.)

    I do think what happened in Arizona and San Diego is fair. If you just want that team, pay $20/mo. Territorial restrictions remain, just the same as before. If you want the full MLB.tv package, pay the full price AND get your local team.
     
  3. TheJoeGreene

    TheJoeGreene Member+

    Aug 19, 2012
    The Lubbock Texas
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    Germany
    I get MLB.tv free with T-Mobile, but otherwise I would just try to catch Nats games on TV when they were good and I knew a few sites if I really wanted to watch. I was a season ticket holder for the Washington Capitals for 6 years, but I also lived 2 blocks up and 3 blocks over from their arena and could walk home in 20 minutes tops.

    The thing that is really going to be interesting is if Amazon ends up being the one that saves the RSN model and just runs them all through their service with location restrictions turned off but options to buy either just 1 or 2 RSNs or the whole package.
     
  4. Lovac1

    Lovac1 Member

    Jun 6, 2012
    One thing about amazon prime is that if you have amazon credit card and buy a decent amount of things on amazon like me, with 5-6% cash back on amazon shopping, it will pay for the prime membership.

    hopefully there will be one of those peacock annual deals soon.
     
  5. TheJoeGreene

    TheJoeGreene Member+

    Aug 19, 2012
    The Lubbock Texas
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    Germany
    I switched from Amazon to Walmart+. I'm saving more, the Capital One Walmart card does the same 5% for online purchases and 2% in store, and the deal includes up to $.10/gallon off on gas at a lot of places. I've actually dropped Costco as well due to the gas savings with Walmart+. I still order things from Amazon and you can still get free shipping from them for orders over $35.
     
  6. Kryptonite

    Kryptonite BS XXV

    Apr 10, 1999
    Columbus
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I didn't want to start a new thread, had zero idea where to put this one-off question and I figured someone here would know.

    I recently spent some time in an AirBnB. The TV didn't have a HDMI port that I could find, but it wasn't a huge loss. Anyway, they had Dish Network equipment with the Hopper box, Dish Network logos on the screen and all that...and yeah, it's weird to see the guide in reverse with lower channel numbers at the bottom...

    401
    400
    399

    And all that.

    Anyhoo...the only satellite dish I saw on the property had a big obvious DirecTV logo on it.

    I guess it's possible, although wouldn't Dish Network wanted to have installed their own dish? A quick internet search didn't turn much up.

    Thoughts/comments from people who might have had one of the two in semi-recent times?
     
  7. NaBUru38

    NaBUru38 Member+

    Mar 8, 2016
    Las Canteras, Uruguay
    Club:
    Club Nacional de Football
    I'm in the minority that thinks that higher channel numbers should be above in the screen. Otherwise, the remote controls are inconsistent, depending on whether you use the change channel buttons or the channels menu.
     
  8. Kryptonite

    Kryptonite BS XXV

    Apr 10, 1999
    Columbus
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    AFAIK, every other guide goes in the opposite direction with lower numbers up top.

    I have no idea why, but I suppose it's one of those things people are used to.
     
  9. ThreeApples

    ThreeApples Member+

    Jul 28, 1999
    Smurf Village
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Probably because they originated as replicas of TV Guide and newspaper schedule grids, which understandably were listed in numerical order starting with the lowest numbers at the top.
     
    Kryptonite repped this.
  10. Kryptonite

    Kryptonite BS XXV

    Apr 10, 1999
    Columbus
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    https://variety.com/2024/digital/news/disney-plus-hulu-max-bundle-1235996533/

    Disney+, Hulu and Max will have a bundle this summer. This is not to be confused with the WB/Disney/Fox bundle coming later this year.

    Also of note, I've seen that ESPN+ content (apparently live streams this time, IIRC) will be available in Disney+.

    This all couldn't be better AND more confusing, if such a thing is even possible.

    Content owners saw what Sling, DirecTV Stream, Fubo and Hulu (live TV) are doing and are doing it themselves. Now let's see what happen to prices/content. How much more will people be willing to pay if the channel/content count goes up more?
     
    TheJoeGreene repped this.
  11. Kryptonite

    Kryptonite BS XXV

    Apr 10, 1999
    Columbus
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    PJ234 and TheJoeGreene repped this.
  12. Kryptonite

    Kryptonite BS XXV

    Apr 10, 1999
    Columbus
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    https://variety.com/2024/digital/ne...-disney-fox-warner-bros-discovery-1236006111/

    The new venture between Disney, Fox and WB Discovery will be Venu (pronounced Venue) and it'll have the ability to be bundled with Disney+, Hulu or Max.

    It'll have ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, SECN, ACCN, ESPNews, Fox, FS1, FS2, Big Ten Network, TNT, TBS and truTV.

    Throw in Disney+ and Max (I'm not sure you'd need Disney+ and Hulu) and you might as well just subscribe to a full-fledged provider at that point. At least that way you'd get NBC and CBS with the same provider.
     
  13. NaBUru38

    NaBUru38 Member+

    Mar 8, 2016
    Las Canteras, Uruguay
    Club:
    Club Nacional de Football
    In Latin America, Venus is an adult-oriented channel...
     
  14. Kryptonite

    Kryptonite BS XXV

    Apr 10, 1999
    Columbus
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Fubo just re-upped with Diamond for the Bally RSNs.

    It'd be good if the other streamers did the same.
     
  15. Kryptonite

    Kryptonite BS XXV

    Apr 10, 1999
    Columbus
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Use code "STREAMTHEDEAL" for a year of Peacock for $19.99.

    If you want commercials removed from your archives, such can be added on to.
     
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  16. BocaFan

    BocaFan Member+

    Aug 18, 2003
    Queens, NY
    Is this also valid for current subscribers?. For e.g. I am already paid up through mid-June.
     
  17. Lovac1

    Lovac1 Member

    Jun 6, 2012
    code expires June 30th per terms and conditions, so yes if you don’t renew automatically and resubscribe after your subscription expires.
     
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  18. BocaFan

    BocaFan Member+

    Aug 18, 2003
    Queens, NY
    Great thanks!
     
  19. Kryptonite

    Kryptonite BS XXV

    Apr 10, 1999
    Columbus
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    #544 Kryptonite, Jun 6, 2024
    Last edited: Jun 6, 2024
    https://www.yahoo.com/tech/7-reasons-consider-cable-tv-073415340.html

    There's a list of reasons to consider a traditional TV provider over streaming. I agree with some of it, but society really needs to stop this mindset of "You can get cable TV through Dish."

    Ummm, no you can't. You never could.

    Under that mindset, is Hulu or Fubo considered cable because you pay one bill for a bunch of live channels? :rolleyes:

    But... I suppose the workaround might be some HOA that denies satellite service. You might be able to say "it's cable because society seems to think so" but I wouldn't want to go up a bunch of Karens who get their panties in a bundle because you're finishing mowing the lawn at 8:05pm when the HOA clearly indicates it can't happen after 8pm.

    What gets me though are the people who seemingly can't live without their RSNs, but refuse to get them via DirecTV Stream or DirecTV. I know someone who is an avid fan of an out-of-state baseball team. They use the MLB app to watch the games.. except for the three in-market teams. Apparently they're perfectly fine with Hulu. If I needed the RSNs, but absolutely refused cable, I'd be considering DirecTV Stream.

    Yes, the landscape is changing... but until it does in that area, it hasn't changed yet.

    (They're also convinced they'll be able to buy an app for their out-of-state team and watch nearly 100% of games that way...but that's so hysterically wrong and now I'm digressing.)
     
  20. Kryptonite

    Kryptonite BS XXV

    Apr 10, 1999
    Columbus
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
  21. TheJoeGreene

    TheJoeGreene Member+

    Aug 19, 2012
    The Lubbock Texas
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    Germany
    Multiple sources have Tubi's raw numbers ahead of Disney+, but Nielsen's Gauge still lists Disney+ first (maybe alphabetical due to tied percentage).

    Nielsen Gauge (May 2024)

    Gauge May 24.JPG

    I'm clearly an outlier as, other than YouTube, the vast majority of my streaming is done on the bottom of that list. I don't even have Prime anymore, Netflix is a last resort in most instances, and other than a couple of originals I don't watch Hulu. It would be nice if the folks at CBS and NBC would just go ahead and bundle Paramount+ with Peacock and maybe toss Pluto TV into the interface with Peacock's "live" channels as well.
     
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  22. Kryptonite

    Kryptonite BS XXV

    Apr 10, 1999
    Columbus
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    If it's not broadcast, "cable" (which obviously includes satellite and IPTV) and streaming..

    So I assume "other" is Hulu/Live, YTTV, Fubo, etc?

    Ugh. Cue 283928248 more articles about "how to stream SHOW without cable" and articles where the author insists YTTV is cable.
     
  23. Kryptonite

    Kryptonite BS XXV

    Apr 10, 1999
    Columbus
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
  24. TheJoeGreene

    TheJoeGreene Member+

    Aug 19, 2012
    The Lubbock Texas
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    Germany
    Actually, those are just considered broadcast or cable, as they're the same channels just via a different delivery method.

    The official definition Nielsen gives for "other" is:

    It's not longer there in the description, but it used to say things like other video-on-demand sites (Vimeo, Rumble, etc.), gaming, DVD/Blu-Ray playback, audio streaming, etc.

    They posted it on their insights blog back in January.
     
  25. NaBUru38

    NaBUru38 Member+

    Mar 8, 2016
    Las Canteras, Uruguay
    Club:
    Club Nacional de Football
    The key word is "bundle".
     
    TheJoeGreene repped this.

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