Table of Contents

Introduction

What this Book Isn’t

Time for a Consumer Revolution

The Art of the Teaser

Can I Save Big Without Cutting Ties?

Let’s Start Saving

HD Antennas

Get Connected

Speed vs. Cost

Stream Baby, Stream

Device Recommendations

Best Services

Where are My Sports?

But I Want Need a DVR

Sample Setups

Some Final Thoughts & Tips

Resources

Dump Cable TV

Cut the Cord and Get the Most for Your Entertainment Dollar

By Tom Galland

Copyright © 2012 by TG Digital Services

Introduction

If you are tired of paying ever-increasing rates for your television entertainment, then this book is for you. It will provide you with detailed information to help you make informed decisions to get the most bang for your home entertainment dollar. For many, that can mean a savings of $100 or more per month – over $1000 a year!

Over the course of the chapters ahead, I’ll be examining a variety of options available to consumers to help combat the “Do it our way” mentality of the cable and satellite TV conglomerates.

Did I mention that “their way” is an outdated model harkening back to the 1980s?

The technological advances in recent years have dramatically turned the tables in favor of you, not them.  They just haven’t faced that fact yet. The cable companies are fighting this trend tooth and nail in a desperate attempt to keep their archaic business model alive.

Remember how the music industry reacted to digital downloading of songs over the internet? They made it as difficult as possible, sued folks for piracy if they shared music on sites like Napster, and generally refused to rethink their business model for the new digital era.

How did that work out?  

In a nutshell, consumers won. And it didn’t really take that long.

Currently you can buy digital music from a variety of sources – iTunes, Amazon, and Walmart.com are just a few examples. Rarely do you have to put up with DRM (Digital Rights Management) restrictions. You buy the song and can play it on just about any device you want without the hassle of having to use some software tool to convert to a different format and remove the DRM. And if you would rather listen to streaming music, you can have access to an incredible library of songs at your fingertips.

The music industry has adjusted its thinking. The television industry hasn’t yet, to a large degree, but consumers like yourself can help force them to wake up to reality.

Whether they like it or not, the cable and satellite TV companies – as well as the content providers – are going to have to adjust to the demands of consumers in our connected world.

What this Book Isn’t

If you are looking for a guide to pirating television and movie content off the internet, you are definitely not in the right place.

This book is not about trying to rip off content providers by illegally downloading their shows. There will be a few mentions of “under the radar” techniques for watching what you want in situations where there isn’t a viable alternative. But that’s not the core of this book’s intention by any means.

As I mentioned in the introduction, it’s about getting the most bang for your home entertainment dollar.

So let’s get to it!

Time for a Consumer Revolution

In July 2012, DirecTV had a nine-day blackout of channels from Viacom after the two companies could not come to an agreement before their existing deal expired. A total of 17 channels went dark, including Comedy Central, MTV, and Nickelodeon.

Why you ask?

Simple greed. According to published reports, Viacom wanted upwards of $700 million per year to allow DirecTV to show their channels. In the previous deal, Viacom made roughly $500 million per year.

Uh…don’t commercials pay for the production of content?

Apparently not.

Viacom and other content distributors have this type of deal with all the major cable and satellite companies. So clearly they are pulling in some serious cash from these deals – above and beyond revenues from the commercials.

During negotiations, DirecTV claimed they spend $10 billion per year on programming. Assuming that’s largely true, do you think the price of their service will be going down anytime soon?

Not a chance.

Major content providers such as Viacom want the system to be preserved largely as is, and the satellite and cable TV companies fall right in line. Neither side really cares what consumers want, such as a la carte plans where you can choose specific channels rather than bump up to a more expensive “package” just to get the one channel you want. They don’t seem to be aware that with so much content available, consumers can find satisfying choices elsewhere for free or very cheap.

This fight between Viacom and DirecTV was just one of many recent battles. Similar face-offs between content providers and cable companies have been occurring with growing frequency – Dish Network, Time Warner, and others have been part of the fray in recent years.

A comment on a New York Times blog covering the DirecTV vs. Viacom showdown caught my attention and offers a good microcosm of how large entertainment corporations just don’t get it:

“What! The channels are back! I hadn't noticed, nor did we miss them.

Our kids are just as happy with ‘Perry the Platypus’ as they are with ‘Sponge Bob’. When the channels were removed, in our household at least, we didn't miss a beat… We simply watched something else.”

If you are reading this book, you get it.

Kudos to you!

The Art of the Teaser

Like most people, you probably received a special teaser deal when you signed up with your current (or most recent if you’ve already cut ties) cable or satellite provider.

Didn’t they sound like great deals? I bet they looked something like these:

Well, let’s give credit where credit is due. They really were good deals! But of course, the problem is:

·         The deals never last long enough, 6-12 months is the norm.

·         They often hide little details like the monthly “rental fee” for equipment. The price listed in big bold letters is frequently well below what you actually pay from day one.

·         There are often substantial fees (up to $250 or more) if you get out of your contract early. Keep in mind, your contract may run for two years even if the special pricing was good only for the first year.

For most of its existence I was a DirecTV subscriber before finally cutting the cord. As a huge NFL fan, I was on board from the very first year they offered the NFL Sunday Ticket package. Back in 1995, as I recall, it cost only $99 for the season. I was in heaven! It was like having my own sports bar as friends would gather each week to watch the games and keep close tabs on how our fantasy teams and pool picks were doing. My neighbors probably could have done without the occasional screaming at the TV but, hey, things were generally quiet at the homestead when an NFL game wasn’t on the tube!

In 2011 I paid a rather hefty $359 for NFL Sunday Ticket, but it did come with some slick features added over the years that made at least some of the price increase worthwhile. For 2012, the top tier deal was lowered to $299, as DirecTV started getting some heat about the price increases now that there are several prime time games during the week that are not part of the Sunday Ticket package.

Suffice to say, the Sunday Ticket charge was a large chunk added to my regular DirecTV bill. Since they would spread payments over six months during the football season, it wasn’t unusual to have a bill pushing $175!  That’s way too much when considering there were only a handful of shows that I watched, or recorded on the digital video recorder (DVR), on a regular basis. Plus, I only have TVs connected in two rooms so it’s not like my setup is particularly extensive with extra receivers, DVRs, etc.

Can I Save Big Without Cutting Ties?

There are certainly cases where sticking with some form of cable or satellite TV is the best option. I have cable TV myself, in fact, just at an exceptional price (more on this in the “Sample Setups” chapter of this book).

If you can’t imagine waiting to watch your favorite shows like Dexter, Homeland, Mad Men or others not available online or with an over-the-air antenna, you aren’t completely out of luck when it comes to saving substantially on your monthly bill. But it will take some effort on your part as well as a skill many of us don’t have – winning over the customer service rep on the other end of the phone!

There are people who are successful at coming out with similar deals to those offered to new subscribers. Often, it’s a matter of whether you get a rep that is new or one with experience that knows what kind of special deal can be offered to keep a customer.

If you decide to go this route and don’t have luck with the first person you talk to, feel free to end the call and try back later. You may very well get someone who you can strike a deal with.

If the rep isn’t swayed by a request to lower your bill, then the next tactic is to tell them you are going to cancel and move to another provider. It’s best to do your homework first and be able to quote specifics of the deal you are going to get if you switch. You might also ask to be transferred to the Customer Retention department early in the conversation. They will be able to offer the best possible deal in order to keep you as a customer.

Former Dish Network subscribers have reported being offered excellent deals on a base package of local channels and several others. It’s essentially a “hidden package” that isn’t advertised. Typically, it’s offered to customers who have cancelled service as part of the slew of “we want you back!” phone calls. But it also is available to the general public if they ask for it specifically. More info on this 40 channel package for $14.99 per month can be found here:

Dish ‘Welcome Pack’

DirecTV also offers deals when you call to cancel. When I did I was offered a variety of options, including a $20 per month base package for 12 months with HD and local channels (similar to the Dish Welcome Pack mentioned above). To quote the rep directly, “we can get your DirecTV bill quite significantly without having to sign any new contract or agreement.”

He even offered free NFL Sunday Ticket for the 2013 season and a package that included AT&T U-verse internet along with a higher tier DirecTV channel package, a few premium movie channels and HD service, for $99 per month. Definitely tempting but I had already committed to the package I now have with Comcast, which more than meets my needs on the TV side and has internet speeds nearly triple what I could get with AT&T U-verse.

The rep closed the call by saying “if you ever want to come back to DirecTV we’d always welcome you back with a great reconnection offer for you.” So if you are looking to cut ties with your current provider, realize that you can always go back and still get a great offer down the road.

The point to take from all of this? Prices are negotiable. If you know that going in, you can get a great deal if you do opt to stick with your provider.

 Tip: Some simple advice to anyone looking for better deals from their cable or satellite TV – check online first! I was able to find a significantly better deal with Comcast, as an internet only customer, by logging into my account and checking out the offers for existing customers. This same deal was unavailable at the local Comcast office.

Let’s Start Saving

OK, it’s time to do it. You’ve made the decision to cancel your cable or satellite TV service and start saving some money while enjoying plenty of entertainment choices. Let’s go!

HD Antennas

For most readers of this book, the first step will be to get hooked up with an over-the-air antenna. If you live in a major market, you may be able to pick up dozens of channels thanks to the switch to digital TV that allows your local stations to offer several channels at the same time. This multicasting means your local channel 7, for example, may put its main signal on digital channel 7.1 and then offer different feeds on 7.2 and 7.3. So you might get the regular programming on channel 7.1 and then some classic TV on 7.2 with perhaps 24-hour local weather reports on 7.3. Often these extra channels are available only when using an over-the-air antenna, so that’s an added bonus.

You can find a good digital antenna, able to pick up HD signals, for under $30. I highly recommend the Monoprice website, as they offer high quality antennas at very low prices. Plus, if you need HDMI or other cables, their prices are unbeatable.

I’ve tested two of their digital antennas and they both worked very well, even though I’m about 45 miles from the main market for me (Sacramento, CA). I was able to pick up all but one of the local network channels. The only one I couldn’t get reception for was the ABC affiliate. Its tower was located out of range or perhaps did not put out enough power for me to pick up. I’m sure having several large trees surrounding my home didn’t help matters. I was able to pick up over 20 channels when you count the extras offered by the digital spectrum. On my HDTV, the reception is crystal clear! You won’t see a better picture than you get with an HD signal and an over-the-air antenna. Not from cable, not from satellite.

Here are links to the two antennas that worked out well for me:

Monoprice Antenna #1

Monoprice Antenna #2

If you are in a particularly remote area and in need of an antenna with better range, Winegard is an excellent brand. It would be wise to also buy an amplifier to help boost the signal further. Here are links to both, through Amazon, for a total of right around $70.

Winegard HD Antenna

Winegard Amplifier

Certainly your local retailers will have antennas that will fit the bill as well, although you tend to get better prices online and a wider range of choices.

If you opt to buy locally, my advice is to stick with well-known brands and check out reviews online before purchase. Walmart, Target, Best Buy and other retailers should offer a variety of HD capable antennas and have reviews available on their website. Even if you did end up buying one that didn’t work out, you can always return it and try another. That’s a definite benefit to going the local route – easy, same day returns.

You can get a good idea of what local channels you can pick up by inputting your information at the antennaweb.org website. The site uses color coding to indicate the strength of signal for the stations in your market.

Get Connected

Unless you are fine with over-the-air channels combined with a DVD or Blu-ray player for your TV entertainment, you’re going to need broadband internet access. Chances are you already have a high speed connection, but if not, here are a few pointers for selecting the right internet service.

Speed vs. Cost

If you truly want to take advantage of the ever-expanding world of streaming video, you will need to pay for at least a mid-level internet connection from your Internet Service Provider (ISP).

For DSL, that will typically be a download speed of 3.0 Mbps (megabytes per second) to 6.0 Mbps. Depending on the DSL providers in your area, the cost for these speeds will be around $30 to $40 per month once any teaser rate period ends. If you have the option for higher speeds and it doesn’t bust your budget (after all, our goal is to get the most bang for your home entertainment dollar!), by all means go for the higher tier speeds. You’ll be able to view shows in HD quality with little concern for buffering issues. At the mid and lower tier speeds you just won’t get the best streaming video quality, although it certainly is acceptable.

My personal favorite provider is DSL Extreme. I have used them for the majority of the last 15 years, although at my current location their service is not available. They offer excellent deals on their internet access plans and the customer service is quite good. Plus, their tech support is based in the USA, which helps avoid any language barriers when you call.

Cable internet or digital ‘fiber’ internet services such as AT&T U-verse or Verizon FiOs are more expensive but will usually give you significantly higher speeds than DSL can offer. Plan to pay $50 to $65 per month for these services once promotional rates end. Personally, I pay $63 for Comcast (aka Xfinity) internet and use my own modem (purchased on eBay for about $25) so I’m not paying an additional $7 per month in perpetuity for using a Comcast supplied modem. I get crazy fast download speeds, often approaching 30 Mbps – well above the advertised speed for my package. It helps that I’m very close to the main Comcast facility in my town and don’t live on a heavily populated street where the neighbors might also be on Comcast and therefore sharing bandwith during peak hours. The end result is terrific HD quality when watching streaming video on my 47-inch television!

 Sneaky Tip: If you have internet through your local cable company, you likely have a “live” TV line as well. You can try using a splitter and run one to the cable modem and the other to your TV. Chances are you will be able to pick up their basic package of channels, which would be any that don’t require a receiver box. It’s worth trying, particularly if you aren’t in a good spot to pick up over-the-air channels.

If you have an internet connection, you should have a wireless router as well. In many cases, if you go with the modem provided by the ISP, it will be an “all in one” with a wireless router built in. If not, all the big box electronics stores carry wireless routers that will fit your needs, or you can purchase one on eBay (only buy from highly rated sellers!). Just be sure you purchase one that uses the current Wireless-N standard.

Stream Baby, Stream

Once you have your internet access all set, it’s time to get rocking with your entertainment options.

Device Recommendations

You have plenty of choices as far as streaming players are concerned. I’ll cover my personal favorite in detail and then touch on some of the other options currently available. I will also mention some new entries in the marketplace that hold significant promise.

Roku
My streaming device of choice is the Roku box. It does a phenomenal job of measuring the speed of your internet connection and providing the best possible picture accordingly. This is particularly nice with Netflix. I’ve set up several friends with this sweet little device and even with lower end internet speeds, the video quality provided through the Roku is quite impressive.

Photo credit: Roku.com

With the Roku you’ll have access to an enormous library of “channels” for video and audio. Of course they have the most popular ones like Netflix, Pandora, Hulu Plus, MLB.com, Amazon Video, and Crackle as well as an assortment of games. They also have many lesser known channels you can check out. From workout videos to classic television commercials, there’s something for everyone. And see the Resources section at the end of this book for a tip on how to add ‘hidden’ channels to your Roku.

Prices currently range from $99 for the top of the line unit that includes a free Angry Birds game, down to $49 for the basic 720p HD model. Roku.com often has great deals around the holidays as well so you may be able to save $20 or so and get free shipping. The device is also available at retail stores like Best Buy and Fry’s Electronics as well as the usual online outlets.  

You can review the features of each model on the Roku website:

Roku Product Comparisons

Apple TV
Similar to Roku, Apple TV offers access to Netflix, Hulu Plus, and many other streaming channels. Plus it can stream your iTunes videos and music to your TV and you can even use the AirPlay feature to play content from your iOS device (iPad, iPhone or iPod) on your TV.

There’s only one model of Apple TV and it costs $99. Not a bad deal but there’s nothing that makes it stand out by comparison to the Roku. And it’s unlikely to ever go on sale.

If you have iOS devices and would like to use those as part of your entertainment setup, then it’s an excellent choice. If you’re not particularly tied to the Apple ecosystem, then go for the Roku.

Other Choices
Western Digital, Sony, and Netgear offer devices similar to the Roku. But I haven’t heard of a reason why any of them is a “must have” device over the Roku.

New on the Scene
This next one could very well qualify as a “must have” device but has just recently hit the market.

The Boxee TV unit, which sells for $99, looks like a big improvement over the rather clunky earlier version known as Boxee Box.

The concept is largely the same as other devices (Roku, Apple TV, etc.) but with some truly enticing added features.

First, Boxee TV will let you connect an antenna (it even comes with a free one, although it looks rather cheap) so you can watch your local channels through the device.

But the big selling point is that it offers a “No Limits DVR” option that will let you record broadcast TV to their cloud-based system. After a 3-month trial, this optional feature does cost $9.99 per month. But it’s a slick add-on that also lets you watch the recorded shows on a variety of devices including smartphones, tablets, and computers. Since Boxee TV has two tuners, it’s capable of recording two channels at once, a nice perk that is rare in a low priced device.

DVR features are currently in limited major markets but they plan to expand over time. It’s definitely worth looking into.

Boxee TV

Other Information

You may already have built-in software with your TV or Blu-ray player that will let you watch Netflix and other services. If that’s the case, you don’t necessarily need to buy a separate device. However, I’ve found the Roku does a much better job of playing video smoothly, with no hiccups or buffering issues, whether you have lightning fast internet speeds or not. I’ve tested built-in apps from both LG and Samsung and been less than impressed with their performance, even with a wired connection and very fast internet speeds.

Part of the problem is that these devices – Smart TVs and Blu-ray players with built in internet apps – do not have very fast processors so the software is often sluggish. Just starting up the Netflix app on my Samsung Blu-ray player, for example, often takes a minute or longer to get up and running. Newer models of these types of devices certainly are faster but streaming is still lacking because it’s essentially a secondary or “add-on” feature.

In my opinion, the Roku wins hands down. It’s easy to use and built specifically for the job of streaming media so it handles that task very well.

Best Services

Once you have your streaming device of choice ready to go, it’s time to decide on what services you want to use. Of course, your viewing preferences will be the key determining factor, but I’ll cover the most popular choices as well as a summary of others you might find worthwhile. Many are free so you can check them out and see if you enjoy the offerings.

Netflix, Hulu Plus, and Amazon Instant Video

These three are the most popular paid subscription choices for good reason – they offer a ton of great content for less than $10 per month!

Netflix
Cost: $7.99 per month

Netflix leads the pack and has a very strong library of movies and television. I recently ran through the entire first four seasons of Breaking Bad and two seasons of Louie, both critically acclaimed television series, in little more than a week. It’s always great when you don’t have to wait to see that next show after a cliffhanger ending! There are several other series that friends have recommended to me that are in my queue to watch in the coming weeks / months.

If you love documentaries like I do, Netflix has a great selection to choose from. Likewise, there’s plenty of children’s programming to keep the youngsters entertained. And recently, Netflix signed a deal with Disney that will give them exclusive rights to streaming Disney films beginning in 2016. While that is a few years away, it does show that Netflix is willing to make big deals to provide their customers with the best possible programming. Its already committed to bringing back Arrested Development, a series from Ron Howard that had a loyal following that wasn’t quite big enough to keep it on the network airwaves, but the show may be a trendsetter for what’s to come in the world of streaming television.

If you chose only one paid streaming service, Netflix would be the choice. Keep in mind you can always cancel when you feel you’ve caught up on its offerings that interest you, then wait a few months and re-subscribe.

There are several websites dedicated to tracking what movies and shows are on Netflix as well. That way you can know when content will be dropped and when new offerings will be available. My favorite is InstantWatcher.com.

Hulu Plus
Cost: $7.99 per month

Hulu Plus provides mainly television series, both current and classic. It can essentially act as your DVR if you want. About the only key series missing are those from CBS (note: the network’s website at www.cbs.com will let you watch some of their shows in full). Otherwise, Hulu Plus has a very good selection of current shows and allows you to see the entire season (and often previous seasons as well) rather than just the five most recent episodes, as with the free version of Hulu, which is accessible through a web browser only on a desktop or laptop computer.

The library of classic TV shows is extensive on Hulu Plus. From The Mary Tyler Moore Show to Dragnet to Alfred Hitchcock Presents, you can spend weeks traveling down memory lane catching up with your old favorites.

Note that Hulu Plus does have commercials despite the monthly fee. They do this to keep the price for the service as low as possible. I’ve never found the commercials to be a problem as they are kept to a minimum.

Amazon Instant Video
Cost: $79 per year (part of Amazon Prime service)

Amazon Instant Video is included as a free service if you are an Amazon Prime member to get two-day shipping on all your orders from Amazon.com. So if you find yourself shopping with some regularity on Amazon and don’t think you want to pay for a streaming video service separately, this might be the best choice for you.

The Amazon catalog of movies and television shows is strong, with many similar offerings to Netflix. But it isn’t quite as extensive. Still,  it’s a no brainer as a freebie add-on if you already have their Amazon Prime service. Get the app and take a look.

Free Services
There are at least a few worthy choices among the free options. In most cases this means there will be some commercials but rarely are they more than 60 seconds in any one break, so they aren’t too obtrusive.

Crackle offers uncut movies and several TV series, its big television offering currently being Seinfeld. Check out www.crackle.com for more info.

Popcorn Flix is another that has a fairly extensive selection of movies and documentaries, plus a few original web series. The movies aren’t A-list quality by any means, but occasionally you can find that diamond in the rough. Visit www.popcornflix.com for more details.

Where are My Sports?

Have you noticed how much money cable networks are spending to secure rights to professional sports broadcasts? In major markets like Los Angeles and New York, the deals are into the billions of dollars.

Why so crazy?

One word: commercials.

Live sports are the only way many companies feel they can really reach their audience using the tried and true method of airing commercials. Content providers like Fox Sports and Yes Network realize that, so they are willing to spend lavishly to secure the broadcast rights for their local teams.

In the era of the DVR, people often skip commercials on their recorded shows. But viewers don’t typically record sports. They like to watch them live so they don’t accidentally hear about the score through all the instant info options offered in our connected world. Ever accidentally see a Twitter post that said something like “I can’t believe [insert your favorite team] blew that huge lead and lost!” Kind of makes watching the game pointless, huh? Although, in a case like this, I guess it also would save some aggravation!

For cable cutters, there is a bit of a dilemma since over-the-air stations don’t usually carry your local team’s games other than a few times a season or perhaps when they are on the national broadcast. So if you are a big sports fan who wants to say goodbye to cable or satellite TV payments, it can be scary.

Let’s look at some of the options available.

Major League Baseball
MLB.com offers MLB.TV (around $130 per season or $20 per month), which allows you to watch your favorite out-of-market games on the web, on tablets, and on most of the streaming devices such as Roku and Apple TV. However, your local team’s games will be blacked out during the live broadcast even if they are playing on the road. Therein lies the problem for most fans.

Tip: if you have MLB.TV you can still watch your local team’s games. Replays of all games are available through their system and blackouts are typically removed within eight hours of the original broadcast.

So what can you do if you want to watch the games live?

Well, if watching your local team’s games live is essential, there are a few “sneaky” options you can use to get around MLB’s restrictions.

Remember earlier when I said I’d mention a few “under the radar” techniques to view what you want if a viable alternative wasn’t available? Well, these would fall into that category.

1) First, there’s the magic of using a Slingbox, if you can talk a friend or relative into setting one up. The plan would be to have them set up the device on a TV that maybe isn’t used very often so that you could use it without interfering with their viewing. If your friend or relative is in your favorite team’s market and pay for cable or satellite TV, you can buy them the Slingbox device (about $200) and have them hook it up at their location. Then you would use the Slingbox software on your computer or tablet to be able to watch their TV as if you were sitting in front of it. So you could not only watch your games but even that occasional show that you might not be able to see first run through other means. The downside is it’s a bit pricey for this option and of course your friend or relative needs to have a fairly fast internet connection for it to work well. A heavy dose of bribery may also be required ;-)

2) There are software tools available to make it appear that your internet connection is coming from somewhere else. These tools use a proxy server to essentially hide your real IP address. Thus, on your computer anyway, you could watch your local team’s games since MLB.TV will “see” your connection as originating outside your local market. Since this is definitely a “black hat” solution, I won’t go into much more detail. A quick search online should give you all the information you need if you wish to go this route.

Neither of these options will let you watch through your television without going through some hoops. Unless, of course, you have a computer hooked up directly to your TV. That’s certainly easy enough to do with the connections available on most modern TVs. On my setup, I have a long HDMI connection that runs to the TV from my desktop computer. So anything I do on the computer can be shown on the TV. I don’t need to use that option much but it’s handy to have nonetheless.

NFL Football
The good news is that your local team’s games are typically available through the usual Fox, CBS and NBC affiliates in your market. Therefore it’s much easier to catch your hometown favorite than with MLB.

However, if you are like me and want to be able to watch all the Sunday games, you can still catch NFL Sunday Ticket from DirecTV without having to subscribe to their service. They have finally opened up, at least a little bit, and since 2011 have offered the package to PlayStation 3 owners.  If you are an NFL diehard, this is a fantastic option! You can catch the Thursday and Monday night games at a local sports pub if you don’t have a way to get them at home. I suspect in the not too distant future both the Thursday (on NFL Network) and Monday night games (on ESPN) may offer viewing online.

The price for the PlayStation version is typically the same as the top tier option offered through DirecTV, so plan on about $300 for the season.

NFL Sunday Ticket on PlayStation 3

NBA Basketball
For hoop fans, the NBA offers a broadband League Pass in much the same fashion as its baseball counterpart and there is an NBA TV app available on Roku, Apple TV, and many other devices.

Again, the trick will be whether you have a local market team you want to watch. If you are outside the broadcast area of your favorite team –the NBA blackout rules are nowhere near as draconian as MLB’s – then simply subscribing to the service (in 2012 the price was $189 for a full package or $130 for 5 selected teams) is all you really need. If you are within the blackout restrictions area, however, you will have to follow something similar to what was suggested in the MLB section to catch your local market team.

NBA League Pass

But I Want Need a DVR

One of the biggest selling points of satellite and cable offerings is the convenience of having a DVR that allows you to record hours of television to watch at your leisure. That’s what keeps many consumers from leaving their current provider. So, what can you do if you want to cut the cord?

Plenty my friend, plenty!

TiVo Premiere
This is probably the ideal option for anyone who wants to stick with the tried and true DVR technology they are likely familiar with. The only drawback is that TiVo does charge a monthly subscription fee of $14.99 for their service. However, in my opinion, the benefits are well worth it. So unless your primary goal is to spend the least possible on your entertainment, the TiVo Premiere is an outstanding choice.

Photo credit: tivo.com

The TiVo guide usually offers better detailed information for shows than you will get elsewhere and the TiVo Central dashboard offers great search functions, among an assortment of other slick features offered through an easy to use interface.

An added feature with the current models of TiVo Premiere (list price $149.99 with up to 75 HD hours recording – Amazon.com usually offers this model for a little under $140) is that they come with several of the most popular services built in. Netflix, Amazon Instant Video, Hulu Plus, YouTube and Pandora are available and more services are being added regularly. This means you don’t necessarily need a separate device such as a Roku (although, of course, an internet connection is needed if you want to use these services).

TiVo also comes with two tuners so you can record two shows at once and it works well with over-the-air antennas or cable. Plus, with apps for Apple iOS and Android devices, you can schedule recordings, share, or transfer recorded shows to your mobile device. Sweet!

For my setup, I have a TiVo in the main room and use the Roku on my secondary television. And with the small form factor of the Roku, I can easily connect it to the main TV whenever desired should there be something I can’t access through the TiVo.

All in all, it’s a nice solution for my needs and will likely fit the bill for most people looking to cut cable or satellite but not wanting to give up having a robust, easy to use DVR. Keep in mind that if you want to use a cable connection and get the digital channels, you will need to get a cable M-card from your provider to work with the TiVo guide properly.

Using a Computer
The most flexible option for a DVR is to use a computer. You can repurpose an older PC that is no longer being used or buy a new PC that can fit right into your entertainment center. If you are technically inclined, you can also start with a barebones PC and add your own components to finish the build. Windows Media Center is a solid choice for the software side of things, assuming you have a Windows based-PC. It will provide you with a free programming guide and does a good job recording HD video if you have a tuner card capable of receiving the HD signals. You can check out this link from PC World for a simple solution.

There are options for Linux and Mac operating systems as well. In my opinion, they just aren’t quite as straight forward as the Windows options readily available.

Simple.TV
You can also go for a new product that just hit the market in October of 2012. It’s called Simple.TV and it has many of the same features you receive from a DVR service – pause live tv, schedule series recordings, an electronic program guide, and more.

You can use your antenna for the TV reception or a basic cable TV connection (where no box is required) with Simple.TV. The base price is $199. You do have to provide a hard drive to go with it, so plan on another $75 or so if you want to go this route.

The concept is pretty slick and aimed directly at the cable cutter community. The main question is whether you want to commit to the upfront cost involved.

Boxee TV
I already mentioned the new Boxee TV in a previous section. It has a DVR option, available in limited markets at this time, which does sound promising. One advantage it has over Simple.TV is that it has two tuners so it can record two programs at once.

Disadvantages? Besides the limited availability, Boxee’s DVR service costs $9.99 per month. Still, when you consider the higher upfront costs for other options (other than an old PC that’s largely ready to go as a DVR), the Boxee TV option is very intriguing if you can get it.

Sample Setups

Low Budget
If your television needs are very basic, you can easily get by with just an antenna for over-the-air channels and then a DVD or Blu-ray player to complete your home entertainment system. If you have a Redbox kiosk nearby or subscribe to the Netflix disc service, your monthly cost can be under $10. If you add Hulu Plus or Netflix streaming, you can still keep your fees to under $20 per month (excluding the cost of your internet service, of course). If you have a Blu-ray player with built in apps no separate device is needed for the streaming options.

Midrange
Add a DVR solution and a Roku to a basic setup and you can still keep your monthly fees well under $40 for your entertainment viewing. You can even have a satellite service like Dish Network in the mix using the ‘Welcome Pack’ I noted earlier and still stay within the under $40 price range.

This is an ideal solution for many who can’t really see living strictly with their local channels via an antenna along with some streaming options.

My setup is in this range, well below the average $105 I had been paying monthly to DirecTV.

Here’s what I have in my main viewing room:

·         Comcast Digital Economy package for 12 months at just $7 more than I had been paying for internet alone. As part of the deal, I get 24 months of HBO included for free. In addition, there’s a wealth of on demand video included and some live network feeds I can watch online, including ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN3. So I get some premium sports programming without needing to bump up to the much more expensive package that would include these networks. It actually turned out even better than that once I got it all hooked up. I found that I receive about 20 additional channels through the TV, including ESPN and my local Comcast Sports, that are not part of the Digital Economy package I subscribe to. Most are the standard definition feeds but hey, I’ll take it. Free is free. In particular, I like that I’ll be able to watch my favorite MLB team without paying extra. Why do I get these channels? I suspect it’s because I use a cable card and my own Tivo, so some channels that would normally be filtered out by a Comcast receiver box are not with my setup. Regardless, I call that an unexpected bonus!

·         Tivo Premiere DVR service for $15 per month

·         Netflix streaming for $8 per month (which I start and stop as desired based on whether I feel I am “caught up” with programming that most interests me)

·         Redbox for DVD and Blu-ray rentals – roughly $5-10 per month

On my second TV, I use a Roku along with an over-the-air antenna. I also have a computer connected to it so I can watch anything available online through the TV; although generally I find that I’m covered using the antenna and Roku. There’s no additional monthly fee for my second TV. Now there’s a welcome change from the usual cable and satellite offerings!

Some Final Thoughts & Tips

Web and Software-based Tools
You may have noticed that I didn’t cover a lot of the web and software-based solutions for watching various programming. There’s a reason for that – virtually every one of those solutions stink!

One that I’ve noticed advertised “on sale” frequently at Fry’s Electronics is called Digital TV for PC 2. While it promises “unlimited viewing of over 1000 television stations”, the reality is that it offers nothing you can’t find using a web browser. And the bulk of the channels are garbage. Just check out the reviews on Amazon for an idea what a completely worthless product this is.

Others, such as Play On, do have some supporters. But I suspect these are usually geeks who enjoy playing around with all the tools available. I don’t believe Play On provides any significant benefit over the services covered in this book. For one, most of the video offered via Play On is in standard definition and looks bad on an HDTV. So why bother? The fact that they no longer offer a free trial on their website is also a tell-tale sign. NOTE: You can still get a 14-day free trial at this link if you would like to test it out. It’s only $40 for a lifetime subscription so if you think it adds something worthwhile to your streaming choices, it won’t break the bank.

I found that while the interface is nice (very much like Roku), the video quality simply wasn’t up to par. I’d rather watch through the websites of the various networks and get the higher quality video. And since most of the channels Play On offers are already part of Roku’s list of channels, where the video quality is much higher, I was never sold on the benefits of using Play On.

Be careful what you search for
When you are searching for free TV or streaming video online, be extra cautious. I find many of the tools claiming to give you “free TV channels” of some sort have websites littered with ads – never a good sign as to the legitimacy of the product – and require installing a “viewer.” Quite often that also means installing browser toolbars you would never want and other software that falls into the category of malware. The less tech-savvy among us, which is likely the majority of folks, should definitely steer clear of these types of tools. They are much more likely to cause headaches than to improve your TV viewing experience.

One website I can recommend, at least to some degree, is www.spreety.com. This site is a directory for the various free TV choices online and links directly to the content providers’ websites. I would, however, steer clear of the free toolbar offered on their website. Simply use the site as a directory of what’s available instead.

Redbox Streaming Coming Soon
Redbox recently announced that it will be offering a streaming service similar to Netflix, also priced at around $8 per month, in early 2013 (latest estimate is sometime in the second quarter of the year). This offers an intriguing solution since they have also indicated that users will be able to rent DVD and Blu-ray discs as part of their subscriptions (at a nominal additional fee), although details on this are sketchy at this time. For anyone who lives close to a Redbox kiosk, this could be a huge benefit and well below the cost of a combination streaming and DVD by mail subscription package offered by Netflix. Currently Netflix charges $8 for streaming and another $8 to have one disc out at a time.

Don’t Forget the Network Sites
All four major networks, as well as many of their cable counterparts, offer some version of online viewing for their shows. The selection is limited and rarely is more than the most recent handful of episodes available, but you can occasionally find a show not otherwise available elsewhere (especially in the case of CBS shows). Here are the ‘Big Four’ network sites:

www.nbc.com

www.cbs.com

www.fox.com

www.abc.com

The options that are available for your home viewing enjoyment nowadays are immense. And they will only be getting better in the years ahead. Hopefully this book has given you some solid insight to help put you in control so you can get the most bang for your entertainment dollar.

Join the revolution… and enjoy!

Resources

Readers of this book have FREE access to my tips and tricks newsletter that will help you stay on top of the latest news on this topic.  In addition, you have access to my series of exclusive ‘how to’ videos. Just sign up for the newsletter at the website address below:

http://www.tgdigitalservices.com/dumpcable

Here is a list of web resources that are personal favorites of mine:

Clicker.com – an excellent resource to find out what tv shows and movies are available on the various streaming platforms.

InstantWatcher.com – My favorite site for keeping up to speed on what’s available with Netflix streaming. Go for the premium service (just $9.95 for a year, with a free one week trial) and you’ll have a great personalized tool to maximize your viewing enjoyment.

Monoprice.com – Crazy low prices on a ton of tech goodies. I get all my HDMI, ethernet, and other audio/video cables from this site. Just about any accessory you might need for your home entertainment setup can be found here at a great price.

AntennaWeb.org – Want to get an idea of how many channels you can pick up in your area using an over-the-air antenna? This site will show you based on your address.

TiVo Blog – The official TiVo blog offers tips on what to watch each week (it did a great job of finding Christmas classics for the holiday season) and what’s new in the world of TiVo.

Zap2it.com – Excellent informational resource for television programming, including TV listings for just about any service (antenna, satellite, or cable). You can even set it up to link to your TiVo to schedule your recordings.

Adding hidden channels on your Roku
Developers can create their own ‘private’ channels for Roku that aren’t on the list of channels shown through the Roku interface. While this is something general users probably won’t need, it’s an option if you want to get under the hood a little. Instructions on how to add one of these ‘hidden’ channels can be found at the link below:

Streamfree.tv add private channel instructions

Table of Contents

Copyright

Introduction

What this Book Isn’t

Time for a Consumer Revolution

The Art of the Teaser

Can I Save Big Without Cutting Ties?

Let’s Start Saving

Get Connected

Stream Baby, Stream

Where are My Sports?

But I Want Need a DVR

Sample Setups

Some Final Thoughts & Tips

Resources