Cutting the cord

[Damelon]

Tired of overpaying for Directv, we’re getting into streaming and antenna tv. Looks like we’re going to have to put up an outdoor antenna. Indoor ones are too variable at our distance from the signals, about 40 miles. We get about 1/3 of what’s available.

I’ve cut out Netflix. Don’t really watch it enough. Added Apple TV, but am not impressed so far with the trial.

What streaming services does everyone use?

[Fist and Faith]

We have Amazon prime, so that channel comes with it, and our TV has the fire stick built in. Also pay for a few things. Hulu, Netflix, HBOMax. We find some old or new show to binge. West Wing, which Christy had never seen, was most recent. Netflix not as important since Disney took the Marvel shows.

[samrw3]

Primarily Amazon Prime and HBO max. Occasionally Tubi. Also enjoy Peacock.

[Damelon]

I forgot about Amazon Prime. We have that. I like keeping an eye out for what Great Course online they are running free for the month. There was one on the Native Nations of North America that was very good, following what is known about people like the Mound Builders. Problem is I normally remember to look for the free course around the 20th of the month so I have to binge watch.

[High Lord Tolkien]

I only watch Netflix.
The only reason is I can't stand commercials anymore.
That's $12 a month, maybe $14 now.

My wife have Hulu for a few show she likes.
But she keeps finding deals for $1 a month and keeps changing emails with it every year.

We singed up for Disney plus but never watch it.
We won't renew in a few months.

I watch a lot of YouTube on my laptop.
I have ad blockers on my browsers so I don't see commercials.
I'd love to watch it more on my TV but it's "dumb" so we use a Roku and can't use adblocks with it.
Crap ton of commercials on YouTube without it.

Otherwise I torrent anything I want to watch.
I have an almost full 5TB usb drive attached to my Roku and watch whatever TV and movies I have downloaded over the years.

[I'm Murrin]

I have given up on Netflix with the recent price changes. Their "cheap" option is reasonable but 480p resolution is an insult.
My main streaming service atm is Disney+, but that's not as good a deal in the US as it is here - outside the US Disney+ includes all of the Hulu and Fox content they own.

[sgt.null]

Our TV 📺 died a month ago. So
We canceled the cable. We were
Set to move anyway. So I will be
Looking at this thread for ideas
On what to do next.

[Avatar]

I hardly watch anything at all these days...would rather read or game. The GF torrents everything she watches.

--A

[High Lord Tolkien]

The GF torrents everything she watches.

--A

[Menolly]

I still no nothing about torrent for watching shows. I have no idea how to find it, what software or app I need, or how to search for shows to watch. Does anyone want to explain it to me in detail I might understand?

[Fist and Faith]

We did that briefly. We got a warning email for having downloaded, ironically, Homeland Security.

[sgt.null]

We have Disney plus. I can watch Marvel stuff.

[Fist and Faith]

Yes, Disney+ is far and away my most important channel.

[Avatar]

We did that briefly. We got a warning email for having downloaded, ironically, Homeland Security.

Use a proxy dude.

--A

[Fist and Faith]

It's not such a major expense that I care.

[Avatar]

Fair enough. I actually pay for a proxy. But like I said, the GF torrents everything. Streaming here can be a bit iffy, and I would either need to set up another PC for it, or else get a TV I could connect to the net, neither of which I'm keen to do.

--A

[aliantha]

Older Daughter (is she Batsutousai here? Can't remember) used to torrent a lot. Then Comcast, or maybe it was Verizon at the time, sent us a nastygram and I made her quit doing it. She's paying for her own interwebz now, so I don't care what she does.

I'm piggybacking on my kids' services and paying for a few myself, so I have access to a bunch of stuff: Prime (me), Paramount+ through Prime (me), Netflix (Magickmarker), Disney+ (Magickmarker), Apple TV+ (me), Wondrium (me). Paramount+ is for Star Trek; Disney+ for Marvel, Star Wars, and the odd Disney movie. Wondrium carries all the Great Courses stuff (more options than the ones you get via another app) plus some of their own programming.

We talked about dumping Netflix during the last increase, and especially since they're talking about bringing down the hammer on folks who share their subscriptions. I told Magickmaker that if she wants to dump it, I'm okay with that -- the only thing I watch regularly is the Great British Baking Show (and tbh, after Mexican Week, I'm kinda over them ).

I have a Roku TV, and there are now apps that carry local channels (heads up, Sarge!), which is good because antennas don't work so well here -- all the TV stations are in ABQ and there are mountains in between. My TV isn't huge by the standards of today -- 32" -- so it wasn't much more than $100.

The only things I can't get are cable-only channels, but that only bothers me occasionally.

[dlbpharmd]

Older Daughter (is she Batsutousai here? Can't remember)

"Batty"

My cell plan is through Verizon, so I'm getting Disney+ as a benefit. My internet is through AT&T, so I'm getting Hulu plus Discovery as a benefit.

I have Prime, but hardly watch it, as IMO it just doesn't have good selections. I'm paying for Netflix and HBOMax, and recently did the Showtime special offer, but I'm going to cancel that soon.

Everytime I mention to my wife and daughters that we (ie I) need to cut back on streaming expenses, I'm bombarded by "but we're watching _____."

So I never seem able to cut out anything that I don't want to pay for.

[Avatar]

Yeah, it's not up to you dude, don't even try.

--A

[MsMary]

I got Disney+ as a benefit when I signed up for internet in 2019. We started a new account under my spouse's name last month, but we haven't been offered that benefit. I was really hoping we would be.