Cut the Cord and switched to an Antenna for TV

[TractorGuy]

To update this thread, we've found that a lot of the "free" channels that we where getting where timed for a month or two, and then they started locking programs. A show might have ten seasons, but we could only watch half of them, and then it went down to maybe two seasons out of ten.

My wife was getting us some paid for channels through her AT&T cell phone account, but it was limited to what was on at that time, and only about a dozen channels.

We looked at what was out there and decided to pay $20 a month for Philo. Welcome to Philo

This is kind of like cable or Dish in that you can watch a variety of channels, but it's also better because you can go to that channel and look up older shows and entire seasons. For example, I like that show called FantomWorks on Motor Trend. It's no longer on the air, but they still play old episodes. I can click on Motor Trend and bring up all their shows, then click on FantomWorks and pull up every episode. I like to state with Season 1, Episode 1 and just go through every episode of that season, and then do the same with the next season. My wife loves Who's line is it Anyway, so we're watching every episode, from season one to the end. We just started Season 3 and will watch one or two episodes before going to something else. This gives up so much variety to chose from depending on what we are in the mood for.

Do you get commercials on Philo?

 

[lman]

I noticed some of those streaming programs will not allow you to skip the commercials. I can't handle the lengthy commercials so I use an OTA DVR. I can't see paying to watch commercials.

 

[kcflhrc]

I noticed some of those streaming programs will not allow you to skip the commercials. I can't handle the lengthy commercials so I use an OTA DVR. I can't see paying to watch commercials.

My trick to that is to pause during the commercials and then Fast Forward through them.

 

[EddieWalker]

We mute the commercials. Some are very repetitive. We've counted the same commercial run six times in a row. For us, it's comical.

 

[ultrarunner]

The freebie rabbit ears that would come with new TV痴 back in the 60痴-70痴 is what I have and 60 channels and half are English!

 

[goeduck]

My trick to that is to pause during the commercials and then Fast Forward through them.

Do they still get you for all the data? If your monthly data is capped, it would help if you do not.

Speaking off data, I noticed ROKU started playing a channel in the background even if you do not select something. So if you turn it on and get a phone call, you are still using data.

 

[kcflhrc]

Do they still get you for all the data? If your monthly data is capped, it would help if you do not.

Speaking off data, I noticed ROKU started playing a channel in the background even if you do not select something. So if you turn it on and get a phone call, you are still using data.

I wouldn't be streaming anything if I had a Data Cap

 

[Oaktree]

Most folks don't realize that the TV channels advertised are not the actual channels they are on.
In this case, WJBK in Detroit (ch. 2) is actually on channel 7.
WLNS Lansing (ch 6) is actually on channel 25.

And they are subject to change during the various "repacks", the most recent of which is still going on at least in some markets, which is why you need to periodically rescan. Agreed, the channel numbers are strictly for marketing purposes today.
This game of musical chairs is because the cell companies are gradually snarfing up much of the UHF tv spectrum.

To update this thread, we've found that a lot of the "free" channels that we where getting where timed for a month or two, and then they started locking programs. A show might have ten seasons, but we could only watch half of them, and then it went down to maybe two seasons out of ten.

Yeah, I've noticed that too. I think it's a trick to get you to subscribe to one of the pay services.
Last year we discovered the tv series "House". I forget which (allegedly free) service had it, but we were only allowed to see the first 8 or so episodes, then it gave a message that my subscription didn't allow it and to contact my cable company. Cable co. had no idea what the deal was, but insisted it wasn't anything on their end. Tried to contact the streaming channel, but only received auto-replies basically saying that my complaint may or may not be read and/or acted on.
Ended up saying "screw it", and bought the DVD box set for something like $50.

The only stream we regularly watch anything on is the Roku channel, and I haven't found the amount of commercials inserted to be bad. Sometimes there are only 3 or 4 15 second ones in an entire show. Until last week most of them were political ads for the same couple of candidates over and over again, but now that the primary is over they're gone (thankfully!).
I have noticed that the commercials seem to get inserted at random times, not necessarily corresponding with the commercial breaks in the programs.

 

[TractorGuy]

Do you get commercials on Philo?

We mute the commercials. Some are very repetitive. We've counted the same commercial run six times in a row. For us, it's comical.

I made a pact with myself when I got rid of DTV. I will not pay a subscription and still watch commercials. I may watch commercials if it's free over the air or streaming. If I gotta pay to watch I ain't gonna sit though commercials. One or the other is enough support.

 

[NorTracNY]

Do you get commercials on Philo?

Yes, Philo has commercials, but it's hit or miss. If you watch a show live you'll definitely get the commercials. Most of the time it tells you how long before the show returns, so it allows you to go get something done and know when to return. If you don't watch something live, sometimes you'll have commercials that you can't fast forward through, but most of the time you can fast forward through commercials. One item that I have enjoyed and taken advantage of is periodically watching a show/movie on my phone when I'm stuck alone waiting for something.