Please help me cut the cord.

[procon]

We have a higher end Dish package with a couple of premium add ons. We also have Amazon Prime, Netflix and Roku, also a wifi connection to the internet. With both of us retired, the costs for all these entertainment venues seems to be always increasing and we're looking at ways to scale back.

We aren't very tech savvy, so we don't know where to start. What do we need? Like how to either scale back or get rid of Dish and still get the TV shows we enjoy? Can we still watch the current season of popular shows, or is there a delay? Are news programs like on MSNBC or CNN available live, and what about local channels?

Any advice for me?

[madaboutharry]

1. You can stream both MSNBC and CNN

live right from their websites. You need WiFi and you do need some kind of satellite or cable. There may be other streaming sites that don't require anything other than WiFi.

[yellowdogintexas]

35. How do you stream MSNBC and CNN if you don't have cable subscription?

I always run into the 'indicate your service provider' and I have no internet.

I have an antenna for the local channels

[Proud Liberal Dem]

2. Hulu is fairly up to date on current shows (with maybe a small delay)

We got rid of our Dish because we weren't regularly watching it and now just use Hulu, Netflix, and HBO Now (gotta have it for Game of Thrones and Westworld) and are paying only $35/month for all three and feel pretty content with. We also buy a lot of movies so we are almost never without options for viewing entertainment. We don't miss our DISH. Also, I believe that Showtime now has a streaming service and Disney will be coming out with their own exclusive streaming service soon.

[SoCalNative]

3. Hulu also has a Live TV option

that has many of the popular cable channels as well as local channels for $43.99/mo for commercial free viewing of non-live selections.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

4. I forgot about that

Thanks for sharing. Which, reminds me that You Tube is also now providing Live TV for a similar price. A la carte programming seems to more or less be the future

[Floyd R. Turbo]

6. Just got it and canceled directv!

[onlyadream]

20. We have Hulu live, with no commercials

We also added on HBO and SHowtime and are spending so much less than cable. And, the bonus is I can watch live, or recorded, TV on my iPad and pause it! Couldn’t do that with cable. Note that some shows we watched are on channels that we no longer get, however we decided to purchase those shows when available.

We also have PBS passport, $5 a month, but it’s not easy to watch it on TV (easy on the iPad).

[vlyons]

5. Then there's also the library

Rumor that you can check out books FOR FREE

[Sherman A1]

7. and Dvd's

at least at our County Library, along with access to lots and lots of stuff online.

[bettyellen]

8. And many states have search and reserve for a whole group

Of libraries, renewals online and also streaming channels. Worth checking into what you can do w just a smart device.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

9. I haven't had a TV for over 10 years now

and don't expect to ever have one again.

I have Hulu, Netflix both streaming and DVD, and Amazon Prime. Plus, various networks will stream at least some of their content.

And that mysterious entity known as the Public Library will also have DVDs to rent.

There are other systems that allow you to watch pretty much everything you get from Dish or any other cable package, but I don't know anything about them.

Also, whenever some sort of breaking news happens, google TV stations in that city. Invariably at least one of them will have gone to live streaming, and you'll get much better information from any network.

[AllaN01Bear]

10. howdi. i cut comcast a year ago. went to their office with their gear and said youre fired.

gave me a $9.00 rebate . i mainly use the telly for videos , exercise programs , etc. i cant do antenna tv as i live in a apartment complex and we are sorounded by high mountains . good luck.

[jpak]

11. I have Roku and Sling ($20 a month)

That about covers everything I need on the TV.

[Squinch]

12. Can you pretend I just got here from Mars and explain how

that works? Does it need a smart tv?

[jpak]

13. I had to buy a new flat screen TV when my old tube TV died.

They don't sell tube TVs anymore - and anything analog won't pick up digital signals anyway.

My Roku stick (that I bought at Best Buy) cost $39 - period.

It allowed me to buy into Sling ($20 a month) that has a lot of channels on it (AMC - Walking Dead )

I can get local news in the Am and PM.

I can get the Weather Network - and Local Now (Weather Channel)

I can sign up for Amazon, Hulu, Netflix, HBO etc. at extra $$$ but don't want to,

Hope this helps...

[DinahMoeHum]

16. What's the brand of your flat screen TV ?

Is it a HDTV? a "smart TV"? etc.

Thanks.

[jpak]

17. It's a Samsung that I bought as an "open box" special - $100 off

and yes it is HDTV and is "smart".

I stream off the internet.

[Squinch]

18. It does. Thank you. I am techno idiot, so bear with me. Do you hook up the Roku and the Sling

to the TV? Are they sort of like the cable box?

[suegeo]

25. You get a streaming device (Roku, Amazon fire stick)

Plug the device into a connection on the TV. You obtain a subscription to e.g. Hulu live, watch show via hulu

[Squinch]

28. Thank you!

[suegeo]

32. You need internet service and wifi

I think the shows, movies etc. Fly around on your Internet super highway, make their way to the Roku device over wifi

At least, that's what I think is going on

[Squinch]

33. Your explanations make this seem much more accessible to me. I'm going to do it. You're

saving me a bundle!

[suegeo]

26. Or subscribe to sling, direct TV, or find something free

Like pluto

[suegeo]

24. TV needs an HDMI connector

Last edited Thu Jul 26, 2018, 03:40 PM - Edit history (1)

My Amazon fire stick plugs into the HDMI opening on the back of my TV.

The connection looks a little like a USB connector but it is larger

On edit: the streaming device has 2 connections, one to a power source, the other to HDMI on tv

[suegeo]

27. Then use the TV remote to set the input

To the HDMI connector.

[Squinch]

29. Thank you so much! I'm doing this!

[suegeo]

30. People with no TV...

At all, maybe just plug the device into a monitor, stream that way. Or, you can stream to a tablet or iPhone. No regular old TV necessary

[yellowdogintexas]

36. A large monitor works very well for streaming

that is how my husband streams stuff in his office.

I

[suegeo]

34. Some subscriptions have original programming (shows)

Hulu has the hand maiden's tale and others

Netflix has orange is the new black

Amazon has some, I get this stuff with my Amazon prime subscription

I use the free Pluto app to watch cat videos. Because I need a break from watching the fascist GOP Russia coup unfold.

My local TV stations have apps so I can watch the local 10 pm newscast.

Free weather apps kinda, sorta mimic the weather channel

If you buy Roku device, they offer an occasional free movie or other content. Iike my Roku device better than my Amazon fire stick. Your mileage may vary

[LuvLoogie]

14. A few questions...

What are the internet service providers in your area?

Who is your current internet provider?

Did you get DishTV as a bundled service? Along with AT&T internet for instance.

My suggestion is to get an internet only cable connection

[procon]

21. Everything is separate.

ISPs are limited due to my rural area, so we use a satellite-based connection.

Dish is also a separate purchase.

[LuvLoogie]

22. So you have two satellite antennas, one for Dish, one for internet?

What speed/bandwidth is your internet connection?

[bettyellen]

15. Check out Terrarium streaming- there's a whole tutorial on s/terrarium on Reddit

It’s got a lot of great free content and is perfectly legal.
Also, go see what your local library has- many have networks to stream on and also downloadable tv and movies.

[TexasBushwhacker]

19. When it comes to streaming movies, there's a lot available

I pay for regular Hulu and HBO Now. Here are some of my favorite streaming sites.

Tubitv - All free. Occasional commercials but nothing like broadcast TV. Watched Jacob's Ladder yesterday. I had forgotten how good it was. Lots of older films, but also a lot of more recent indies. Films aren't edited for length or content. Recommendation - Diva (1982) and Hard Eight - early Paul Thomas Anderson. Very good.

Vudu - Some of the films are rentals for $3 or 4, but they also have a few decent freebies. Recommended - Dream On - John Fugelsang on the American Dream. Safety Not Guarenteed - quirky rom-com.

Crackle - Similar to Tubitv, but it's owned by Sony, so there is a lot of Sony product.

Kanopy - My newest discovery. It hooks into most of the public libraries in the US, so if you have a library card, you can sign up. Lots of classics, foreign films and documentaries as well as educational programming you won't find elsewhere. The only down side is that you can only watch 4 per month. Recommended - Blame - Loosely based on "The Crucible", written and directed by, and starring 22 year old wunderkind Quinn Shepherd.

[PasadenaTrudy]

23. We don't have TV in any shape or form

We watch Netflix, Prime, iTunes, on our desktop or iPads. My bf watches MSNBC somehow online. I haven't watched TV news in at least 10 years now.

[mrsv]

31. We cut the cord

We have Roku. We use Sling TV which streams our favorite channels i.e. TVLand, AMC, TNT, Food Network, MSNBC, CNN etc. Our cost is 37.00/month. Could be cheaper but we added channels. We had and kept Hulu and Netflix. Plenty of channels and much cheaper than our cable provider Spectrum. My husband and I are 58 and we cut the cord!