Potential good news for cord cutting sports fans

[UCFEE]

The NFL announced that it will be making one game available on a digital-only platform next season. The details on the platform aren't available, but this will likely be made available streaming on an app that supports a Chromecast-like device. If this is a precursor to a streaming subscription service for the NFL, I can see other leagues quickly following suit to make their content directly available on an on-demand basis. Great news for anyone that has (or is thinking about) ditching cable in favor of much-cheaper streaming on-demand content... Bad news for traditional content providers that are not adapting to the future quickly enough.



This post was edited on 3/23 3:08 PM by UCFEE

NFL will do digital only broadcast

 

[UCFRogerz]

The only problem is that cutting cable isn't nor will it be cheaper. With HBO's standalone service potentially getting green lit in the next month or so, we've been exploring cable cutting options. Brighthouse wants ~$80/month for an internet only plan, sticking with the internet speed we currently have. (15-20 Mb? maybe, I'm not sure). So with cutting cable we stand to gain, maybe $10-20 / month all while increasing the frustration of watching anything.

 

[UCFEE]

Yea, this is why fiber networks need to expand quickly and allow for more competition. It sucks that so many areas only have ISPs that are also cable providers.

I was able to get a 2 year promo rate internet for $50 a month after taxes, which is $93 less than what I was paying monthly for cable & internet. Knocking on wood that other independent options are available in 2 years where I'm at, otherwise it's back to being gouged.

 

[KnightedIbis]

Originally posted by UCFRogerz:
Brighthouse wants ~$80/month for an internet only plan, sticking with the internet speed we currently have.

Holy crap - that's robbery... My plan (similar speed) is like $50/month all said and told.

 

[ChrisKnight06]

So to the cord cutters...

Once you factor in your internet and subscription services what are you paying and how much are you saving. Bottom line.
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[Bob the Citronaut]

For the $120 or so I spend a month on TV/Internet it's just not worth the hassle of cutting the cord.
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[UCFEE]

I pay $67 all included for internet, Netflix and Hulu plus. Saves me about $75 a month (minus the bar bill for any live sports) for now.

 

[ChrisKnight06]

Factor in that bar tab son. Sports is my life.
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[UCFEE]

Hah, yea that's why I like seeing this NFL digital trial. A by-team or by-game subscription package on the cheap would be nice. We'll see how they implement it though.

 

[fabknight]

I pay nothing. My neighbor loans me his cable and internet.

 

[1ofTheseKnights]

For first 24 months I'm going to be @ ~ $85/month for 25 Mbps & FiOS TV Preferred (missing shit like Golf & Fox Business, bout all I'd watch that's not pretty much included w everything like ESPN) made about 0 sense to cut cord. FiOS gets you pretty hard on multiple outlets so only have the one HDDVR box then antennas & an el cheapo Wi-Fi blu Ray player n other rooms so I can watch RT TV to enlighten all the Copernici on here.
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[UCFRogerz]

Originally posted by KnightedIbis:

Originally posted by UCFRogerz:
Brighthouse wants ~$80/month for an internet only plan, sticking with the internet speed we currently have.

Holy crap - that's robbery... My plan (similar speed) is like $50/month all said and told.

To be fair, we neither pushed the issue nor explored other ISP options. I did, however, buy my own cable modem when they were on sale cheap to get out from another $4-8 fee. And I picked up an antenna...

 

[Steve A.]

Cut cable after the last thread here got me thinking. BH bill went from 139 to 73 for Internet only (Turbo 20 which isn't offered any longer).

We are freeloading with my parents DirectTV password for the apps on AppleTV which we already had. The only drawback is that AMCs website isn't partnered with them so I need to find a BH friend to get those last Walking Dead episodes in.

Have no problem doing Sling to get these legitimately and am encouraging parents to ditch DirectTV at which point I'll have to.

Other than that the worst part of it is how far broadcast signals for over the air stuff is from where I live downtown. Fox and ABC are not great and we can't event get CBS or NBC with the moderate antenna we bought. Hulu is likely going to be a required purchase too.

 

[UCF-icenhl-06]

NFL has offered digital only Sunday Ticket before. I think it was like $250 (maybe more?) and only applied if you lived somewhere that didnt offer DirecTV.

DirecTV pays a shit ton and the NFL wont just give that up to make their product more accessible across the board. Maybe them simulcast some national games online or whatever....but i wouldnt be too hopeful on digital only for under $150 ala every other sports league.

 

[Bob the Citronaut]

It would be cool if Directv had team channels at around $150. I don't care about all the other games and I can't justify $300+.
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[ChrisKnight06]

Too much bullshit to save $20.
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[HuffyCane]

Apple TV using neighbors wi-fi. Old Watch ESPN password still works three years later. Netflix $120 a year. MLS Live $79 a year. I probably rent 10 movies a year. So call it $20 a month.

 

[ReginaeUCF]

Originally posted by Bob the Knight:
For the $120 or so I spend a month on TV/Internet it's just not worth the hassle of cutting the cord.
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This - i don't see the benefit. We watch obscure channels and i get every damn live sorting event i can imagine. (except the always blacked-out Braves)

 

[ReginaeUCF]

Originally posted by ChrisKnight06:
Too much bullshit to save $20.
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You know what i enjoy?
Sitting on the couch and clicking on the TV using a remote control - it's just too simple.

 

[brahmanknight]

I've been a cord cutter for around right years now. I've only had it when some of my roommates demanded it, so I would go half on that.

Paying for cable does not affect other services I purchase ( Netflix and Amazon prime ). And I haven't channel surfed since DVRs were introduced in 03. The only channels I watch are cnbc, HBO, and sports channels.

 

[USFSucks]

Originally posted by ChrisKnight06:
Too much bullshit to save $20.
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This, although if it wasn't for sports I would cut the cords more than likely.

 

[1ofTheseKnights]

Ditto Sucks. ****ing garbage. IMO need fringers like dish network & fiber to keep fighting the good fight against the govt sanctioned monopolies.

****in BRIGHTHOUSE millions spent in advertising on "we're your friends" lol smh
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[brahmanknight]

Originally posted by 1ofTheseKnights:
For first 24 months I'm going to be @ ~ $85/month for 25 Mbps & FiOS TV Preferred (missing shit like Golf & Fox Business, bout all I'd watch that's not pretty much included w everything like ESPN) made about 0 sense to cut cord. FiOS gets you pretty hard on multiple outlets so only have the one HDDVR box then antennas & an el cheapo Wi-Fi blu Ray player n other rooms so I can watch RT TV to enlighten all the Copernici on here.
Posted from Rivals Mobile

It wasn't like that when I had FiOS in Tampa. It was much cheaper than that. I'm not sure if the Sarasota market is different or if Verizon changed it's price structure.