I Need A Primer On Streaming - Help!!!

[global1]

I currently have Direct TV (dish) and have a plan that satisfies my programming needs. I also pay a little more for HBO & Showtime - as they have programs that I've come to enjoy and look forward to new seasons of these programs.

But now I'm seeing all of these streaming services being offered and really don't know anything about streaming. I would appreciate it if someone could educate me on the positives and negatives of streaming.

I see Discovery +, Disney +, HBO Max, etc. Most of these streaming services advertise exclusive programming not available on my Direct TV channels and I'm noticing on award shows (like the Emmy's) many programs and stars getting awards and I know nothing about any of the shows they appear in.

In some ways - I feel I'm missing out - yet - there's not enough time in the day to watch all the programs I'm already addicted to on Direct TV.

I find myself DVRing programs and watching them late into the night so I don't miss out. I can't imagine now having to do the same with any of these streaming services.

Is streaming only available on the internet? They say download their app but I'm not even sure where to go to download and not sure if I have to download it to my phone, TV or what? How do I get these services to appear on the TV in my TV room?

Could I watch these programs on the same TV I watch Direct TV stations?
Could I record a streaming program for viewing at a later day or time? Could you fast forward, reverse or stop a streaming show?

Bottom line I have no idea how streaming works and would appreciate it if any of you that read this post - point me to where I could learn 'the art of streaming'.

Can one get by only by streaming or do I have to subscribe to streaming services and still maintain my Direct TV service? How expensive will this get for me?

Is cable and dish TV going to be phasing out and is streaming going to be the new future of TV? Have they found new ways to get into my pocketbook going forward? If it's like when pay TV started out and they advertised - no commercials - and now we even are subjected to commercials and ads on these cable, dish and pay TV services. They pull you in on promises and freebies and then once your hooked they begin raising the pricing.

I'm retired and on fixed income and watch every penny that I spend. I can't be sucked in on streaming and even spend more money.

Any help that anyone can give me on this would be appreciated.

[Ferrets are Cool]

1. I stream all my favorite shows on my Roku. It's cheap and easy to install.

No, you don't have to dvr. The shows are there as long as the streaming service (Netflix, Disney) keep them.

I watch about 2 hrs of anime every day and all my anime comes from streaming Crunchyroll, Funimation, Netflix and Amazon.

[mr_lebowski]

2. You (probably) need another device unless you have a Smart TV

Some popular devices are:
Fire Stick (Amazon)
Roku
Apple TV (this is pretty upscale)

The first two don't cost much and people sell them used all the time on like Craigslist. A basic one you can get for like $10 used, or $30-40 new.

These plug into an HDMI input on your TV just like the DirectTV cable box does. So switching to the streaming box is a switch of inputs on your TV. Your TV remote can do this. Then you'll have an interface presented by the streaming device, it will have TONS of pre-installed options for streaming services (netflix, amazon prime, HBO, etc), most of which are 'subscription' based there will be some that are free. The streaming device will have it's own remote.

If you have a Smart TV though you'll already have a bunch of these options on the TV, you just have to switch it away from the cable box input to the TV's 'native' state where it's running it's own operating system.

IIRC, Netflix is like $12.99-18.99/month or so, depending if you want it in Standard Definition, High Def, or 4k. Prime Video is included free if you're an Amazon Prime member, which is the main reason I am one of those.

IMHO both these services are well worth it, lots of great shows on both. Some are exclusive to the platform, some are network TV (or paid services like HBO) from year's past ... like Netflix might put the show Seinfeld on for awhile, and you can watch any episode of Seinfeld, on demand ... that sort of thing.

All the big networks (ABC, NBC, Fox, ESPN, etc) have streaming apps that will be on your smartTV or streaming device as well, and often you can avail yourself of these just on the basis
of having a DirectV subscription, no additional fee.

Streaming shows are, almost exclusively 'on-demand', therefore there's no need to DVR. You just pick a show and press play. And yes you can FWD/REW on them.

These are entirely different from cable service (though the DirecTV subscription can help you get some streaming 'channels' for free), and yes, requires the internet of course. The device will have to connect to your wi-fi network that's connected to the web.

[TruckFump]

3. I am thing about Discovery+

I enjoy a lot of the HGTV reno shows like Property Brothers.

[LuvLoogie]

4. Streaming is basically content

over the internet, whether live, pre-programmed, or on demand. Any internet connection with adequate bandwidth serves as the transfer medium. So whether you have internet via Fibre, cable, 4G/5G, or satellite, your stream will ride it to your computer or internet-capable TV.

The stream is independent of your ISP. You could run a video output from your internet connected computer to a video input on your TV. HDMI is probably most common. Audio and video are both carried via HDMI.

[global1]

9. What Is Considered Adequate Bandwidth And....

how do I know what my bandwidth is? Where do I check my bandwidth readings?

[LuvLoogie]

12. Well there is always the what you are getting versus

Last edited Thu Jan 28, 2021, 09:56 AM - Edit history (1)

what you are paying for. Bandwidth is most commonly stated as bits per second. Common consumer internet bandwidth, or "speed" will be
expressed in megabits per second, and these days Gigabits per second for the Gates and the Musks.

Adequate bandwidth will vary depending on the resolution of the stream content, e.g. 4K vs 720.

Also,the number of concurrent streams or connections desired at what resolution will determine whether what you are paying for is adequate.

You can test your current available bandwidth at any given internet connected device by going to a website like speedtest.net

Weigh that against what you are paying for.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

5. I don't have a regular TV, and I do plenty of streaming over the internet.

I have Amazon Prime, Hulu, and Netflix. I don't see ads on any of those. Those three provide me with plenty of content. There's also lots of other random places to catch stuff that's being streamed. I have a link to MSNBC streaming, so I get to watch Rachel Maddow every night, although since that's a live feed, I do get stuck with the ads. Sometimes other networks stream current shows.

I long ago learned that whenever some sort of breaking news happens anywhere, the local TV stations often go to live streaming, and what I get from those local stations is, in my opinion, often a lot more interesting than the network feed.

The somewhat sad truth is that we are really in a golden age. There is so much to watch that you absolutely must pick and choose.

I do hope that you get enough information to help you make an informed decision.

[ItsjustMe]

6. Here are a few websites for free streaming.

https://tubitv.com/home - The Best

https://www.crackle.com/movies

https://www.popcornflix.com/pages/discover/d/movies

https://pluto.tv/on-demand

[3Hotdogs]

7. You would need a wire from your internet input that will go into Roku or whatever device you choose.

Then, it will go out of Roku and into your set.

You need to set up a subscription payment for Netflix or whichever you choose.


Best Buys can show you the choices and --- if they have time, explain how to set it up. But the directions on the Roku box are relatively simple. Make sure you get a premium HDMI wire.

[LuvNewcastle]

8. I can tell you how it works in my case.

I don't know a lot about technical issues and I'm not all that literate with computers, but streaming is easy for me, and it comes out a lot cheaper than Direct TV. I had DTV for about a month one time, but I dropped them when they threw all these extra charges on me for stuff I didn't watch and would never watch. They hounded me a long time for breaking the contract, but I didn't care. The salesman told me I could drop it if I didn't like it, so I did.

Anyway, I bought a Roku TV a few years ago and I love it. It's very user friendly and it's easy to figure out where to download apps from. You'll need to have it hooked to the internet, of course, but it's just as easy as hooking up a computer or tablet to WiFi. You can get about 200 of those apps for free. They have apps that have western and some that are old sci-fi and plenty of other genres of old movies. Then there are the news channels, and you can watch most of those for free, although most of the streaming news isn't live. Some apps do stream live news sometimes, like they did when the Capitol riots happened.

I don't watch a lot of TV, and the only apps I pay for are Hulu and Amazon. I watch most of the content for free on Amazon since I have Prime and Hulu costs about 6 or 7 dollars a month. Amazon doesn't have commercials and you can get Hulu without commercials, but you pay a little more for that. Both have plenty of original shows as well as various old shows to go back and enjoy. You can binge for days and days, if you're so inclined, and still have plenty more to watch. Some people spend a little more and get Netflix and HBO and Starz and other channels, but I have all of the stuff on Hulu, Amazon, YouTube (free), and all those other apps to choose from, so I'm fine with what I've got.

As far as cost goes, you'll come out cheaper streaming than with Direct TV or cable. I would have an internet connection regardless, so I don't consider that an added expense. I pay $7 a month for Hulu and I get Amazon free with Prime, and Prime costs like $130 a year, so I pay less than $20 a month for TV, not counting the internet. You could get a lot more streaming services and still come out better than paying for DTV.

[intrepidity]

10. One thing to note: as an HBO subscriber, you already have access to HBOMax

but you must access it via their app.

Depending on your platform(s)--computer (windows? mac?)/phone (android? iphone?)/TV, you download and install the appropriate version of their software (app) and then you can "stream" all of HBO's content to that device,/platform.

For example, what are you using right now to read and post to DU? Depending on your answer, I can walk you through the process for that device.

[LPBBEAR]

11. alternative tv

We made the transition off of Dish Net several years ago. The price kept going higher and higher as time went on. Lots of crappy channels with not much to watch.

1. Depending on your area you may have access to many Over The Air (OTA) channels using a simple antenna. These are freely available with a simple antenna and a little effort on your end setting it up. I live in a rural area with only a few OTA channels available but they work fine and look decent since they are all digital these days. Our antenna came from Amazon and cost $45.
https://www.antennaweb.org/

2. Streaming is easily available with a decent Internet connection. Most areas have access to decent Internet. You can check your Internet connection speed at: https://www.speedtest.net/
Good Internet streaming TV does require a good connection. Not all ISPs are equal.
We use a Roku. A Roku is a small device that connects to your Internet connection to give you access to various streaming channels. https://www.roku.com

3. Channels I would recommend are:
Locast (by donation) https://www.locast.org/ (depends on location)
Hulu
Amazon Prime
HBOMax
Kanopy (free to some library users)
PBS (included if you donate to PBS)
FreeSpeechTV (free, can donate)
Hoopla (free to some library users)

The above are commercial free basically (except Locast which consists of OTA channels). On the other hand there are tons of other streaming services that base their revenue stream on commercials. If you don't mind watching commercials there is plenty of content available on these free streaming services.

Once you've made the switch you won't look back. TV is actually worth watching again with streaming.

[Auggie]

13. My advice: Identify what is important to you first.

Live TV? Sports? Cable News? Recent movies? Classic content?

Are you okay with giving up your favorite programming for a month or two or three at a time?

Would you "binge watch?" Binge watching is a great way to save money and not get "sucked in."

STREAMING:

Currently all the major streaming services are available on a month to month subscription. I identify a collection of content on one or two streaming services I want to watch and sign-up for a month and watch all the damn stuff I can. After a month (or two) I'll switch over to another service. You can pause, rewind, and FF streaming shows. No need to record them. Watch on demand.

The trade-off in jumping around is the wait.

LIVE TV

Currently YouTubeTV is my choice for live broadcasts. It includes local broadcasting and a large collection of cable stations and local PBS, plus an unlimited DVR service, for $64 a month. I watch it mostly for live sports and MSNBC. But just like other services, I "binge watch" throughout the year, pausing the live subscription, say, after football season and the Oscars. So by pausing five or six spring/summer months that $65 averages out to a more reasonable $38 a month. YouTubeTV also offers on-demand service of most content.

If you're close enough to receive television signals through the air you can invest in a digital antenna. I think that's a one-time cost of around $50. All the local broadcasts channels would be free of charge, though you'd miss out on the cable. You'd need to invest in a DVR if you wanted to record any content.

This is why I believe it is important to identify what is important to you. Choice is expensive. If you're willing to sacrifice that choice for a few months at a time you can save money.

YOU NEED DEVICES/APPS:

Roku, Amazon Stick, Apple TV, and/or whatever apps might already be on you "smart TV". This is covered upthread. Pretty sure any streaming service you subscribe to can also be viewed on a computer or mobile device.

BROADBAND

An unfortunate yet very required expense. I use Xfinity Cable. Despise AT&T.

PAID STREAMING:
Here's an idea of what we're watching and streaming right now, what we're planning for, and the cost:

Currently:
YouTubeTV (Live television and cable): $64
HBO Max: $12.00
Netflix: $14.00
PBS: $5.00
TOTAL: $95.00

By mid-February
HBO Max: $12.00
Netflix: $14.00
Disney+ 7.00
PBS: $5.00
TOTAL: $38.00

By mid-March
Netflix: $14.00
Hulu (no ads) 12.00
PBS: $5.00
TOTAL: $31.00

By mid-April
Hulu (no ads) 12.00
Amazon Prime: $10
PBS: $5.00
TOTAL: $27.00

Four month average (per month): about $48. By skipping around and binge-watching I'll be finding monthly savings. It's costing me some favorites like MSNBC and Live Sports but I can live with that for a few months.

Hopes this helps.

[Binkie The Clown]

14. I went to Walmart and bought a ROKU. Best entertainment investment ever.

Now I watch Netflix, Amazon Prime, YouTube, Hulu,.... etc. on my TV.