Streaming services versus Direct TV

[NoTrespassing]

We currently have Dish Network and I'd like to switch to streaming. My problem is that it looks like it will cost almost the same for the same content. I refuse to watch live TV, I always pause the channel I'm watching before sitting down to watch it. Currently our old box has 2 tuners so pause one, watch the other and skip back and forth. I want local channels and the Big Ten network with DVR capabilities. My wife wants movie channels. Marquee network would be a huge plus but it's only available on a few streaming services.

Considering Futbol TV and Netflix right now. Futbol package with Marquee is $90/month and Netfix is what, $15/month. Neighbor has negotiated with Dish and pays $100 per month for 5 tvs but no Marquee.

 

[nybirdman]

I had Direct TV and now streaming when high speed internet became available.
Mine is 25mps down load,minimum in my experience.
Direct TV was $200+ mo.My internet is $110,subscribe to YouTube TV@$72.00.
Close to a wash but have the internet for the computer anyway.Still cheaper.
Lots of movie channels available for free with streaming,plus is I get ABC,NBC,CBS and Fox local channels.Still have and use an antenna(NBC not available local).

 

[JethroB]

I found Clark Howard to be a good source when choosing streaming services. I tried HULU but gave up last year due to their “home location“ issue and StarLink. Using YouTube TV now without any issues. I have put Roku devices (ones with volume control) on all my TV’s to standardize the remotes and interfaces.

Best Streaming Services for 2024: Every Option Explained

Is the ever-changing and increasingly crowded streaming services market leaving you confused? Team Clark helps you pick the right TV content!

clark.com

 

[ConawayFarms]

I've transitioned from traditional TV to streaming and found it much more flexible. I don't need to worry about bulky equipment or being tied to a single room to watch something. Plus, there are many free options online for movies and shows if you want to look around. For local channels, an antenna can help, but for movie nights and shows, platforms offering a variety of genres enhance the experience. I've stumbled across plenty of sites like that, and one I found recently, 123 Movies, has a vast library and doesn't require signing up, which makes it super convenient.

 

[NoTrespassing]

I've transitioned from traditional TV to streaming and found it much more flexible. I don't need to worry about bulky equipment or being tied to a single room to watch something.

I can't stand watching TV without the ability to pause one channel while watching another like I do on Dish Network. Are there streaming options that allow this?

If I'm going to watch any tv, I pause it before sitting down to watch, or I record the program. 30 minute programs take 20 minutes to watch, I can watch an entire football game in about 1:45 minutes rather than 3 hours.

 

[lman]

I can't stand watching TV without the ability to pause one channel while watching another like I do on Dish Network. Are there streaming options that allow this?

If I'm going to watch any tv, I pause it before sitting down to watch, or I record the program. 30 minute programs take 20 minutes to watch, I can watch an entire football game in about 1:45 minutes rather than 3 hours.

I do that with a Tivo 4 tuner Bolt and OTA broadcasting. I wouldn't pay for the streaming channels. We do have Amazon Prime.

 

[John0829]

We are in the process of transitioning to all streaming, DirecTV has gotten so out of line with their pricing for what you get. Hardest part so far has been figuring out how she can keep up with the programs she is most interested in and knowing when new ones are available.

I have figured out that for about the price of two months of DirecTV we can have all the streaming services for the channels we watch for a year. Which translates into BIG savings.

 

[mjonesnh]

Gave up on Dish Network years ago. Price was just getting ridiculous. Subscribe to Netflix and Philo TV which has most of the basic cable networks. Provides us with more tv than we want to watch. Also do watch some tv on Philo, free streaming but with some commercials.

 

[dmccarty]

For years we streamed with 1.5 mbps. Yes 1.5. We ended up with two 1.5 mbps lines to load share a bit but streaming was done on a 1.5 mbps line. At one point, streaming was done over a DVD player and we would get pauses while the buffer filled up. We had to replace that DVD player with a new one, and it must have had a bigger buffer because pauses really did not happen as often.

We surely were not getting high resolution stream but I we did not have a high resolution TV either. Eventually we did get a higher resolution TV and I guess the resolution was reduced but we did not notice. Eventually, we were able to get an affordable data plan over cell that worked for a year or two and then there were problems with the company. Thankfully, Starlink finally arrived and saved the day.

We canceled DirecTV a decade or so ago because there was nothing really worth watching anymore. The price had gone up and content quality was awful. Funny thing is, when we have traveled and stayed at places with pay TV, the problem of a gazzilion channels with nothing to watch has just gotten worse. Even overseas, this is a problem.

We stream primarily YouTube and Prime/Britbox. We have Netflix and Hulu which I would get rid of but the family uses those services. Even with paying for those streaming services, it is far cheaper than DirecTV full of nothingness. We do watch some over the air channels. The other funny thing is WHAT we watch. During the week, it is Big Bang Theory for 60-90 minutes, then either Andy Griffith or Star Trek. After those are over, maybe something on PBS, but there is less and less to watch on PBS, so it is mostly likey Star Trek Next Generation or YouTube.

Recently, we paid a bit more attenton to the streamng channels on the TV. There is quite a bit of content on the TV's streaming channels too.

 

[jk96]

We have moved from directv to youtube tv. We get the same channels including local. We also paid the extra 4k upgrade which gives us not only 4k content, but unlimited simultanious tvs at home, 3 streams outside of our home network, as well as streaming on the go from any mobile device. Also has no limit on the number of recorded programs, split screen for 2 to 4 programs on the same screen. I don't use the split screen but sports fans may like it. Our total bill is $85/month with no extra fees. Start or cancel service anytime.

With the 3 streams outside of the home we now use this same account for the bridal suite and grooms room at our wedding venue. We have been able to cancel 2 directv accounts and use 1 single youtubetv account saving me around $170/month.

The only thing I don't like is there are no tv numbers for channels in the guide, just names. After some frustration on this I found out you can custom arrange channels in the order you want from a computer so now all of my channels I watch are arranged at the top of the list.