Cut the Cable!!!

[LOBALOT]

Our DirectTV subscription is expiring. With it we get the Tennis Channel and also we get all the courts at Majors.

That being said we really need to cut the cable.

I would say 99% of our TV Watching is:

- The Tennis Channel
- CNN
- ESPN, ESPN2, etc.
- Local Sports Channel (For local Baseball, Hockey, etc.)
- FoodTV
- Local Channels (Can get over the air)

I am sitting in a hotel room right now as my son's opening round match is 8AM (7AM warmup) and I am watching the Tennis Channel on our iPad so I do like the portability of our current provider.

I see AppleTV and YouTube TV have the Tennis Channel.

Have any of you cut the cable, what streaming service did you go with, and were you able to get the portability and channels listed above, and how is it going (We are talking options in the United States)?

I did a search and haven't seen recent posts on this topic.

Thanks!

 

[dgold44]

I did years ago
Just amazon prime and Netflix

 

[LOBALOT]

I did years ago
Just amazon prime and Netflix

So do you get the Tennis Channel, etc. as I described in my post?

How does it perform for you?

 

[dgold44]

So do you get the Tennis Channel, etc. as I described in my post?

How does it perform for you?

No
I almost never watch tennis but I have tickets to round of 32/16 in IW

 

[LOBALOT]

No
I almost never watch tennis but I have tickets to round of 32/16 in IW

Tickets sound great. We will get there some day.

We go to the middle rounds of the Western and Southern every year.

We do watch a lot of tennis in our house with my interest and my boys interest so getting the Tennis Channel would be key.

 

[Chace]

Try Direct tv now.... streaming directv, no satellite or cable

 

[dgold44]

Tickets sound great. We will get there some day.

We go to the middle rounds of the Western and Southern every year.

We do watch a lot of tennis in our house with my interest and my boys interest so getting the Tennis Channel would be key.

I went to Cincy last summer —my first time since 2004
Does it usually rain that much ???
Thurs and most of Friday was flooded out and barely got in sat

 

[dgold44]

I am 5 hr drive to IW
Been there 5 times and Cincy 3

 

[LOBALOT]

I went to Cincy last summer —my first time since 2004
Does it usually rain that much ???
Thurs and most of Friday was flooded out and barely got in sat

Well, it does. I was there last year and actually left early not using my tickets due to rain and needing to get back. The key for me is that when it is dry the tennis is amazing and the venue can't be beat for viewing up close tennis.

You take the good with the bad. I will say that last year was some amazing tennis and we are for sure getting tickets again this year.

 

[dgold44]

Well, it does. I was there last year and actually left early not using my tickets due to rain and needing to get back. The key for me is that when it is dry the tennis is amazing and the venue can't be beat for viewing up close tennis.

You take the good with the bad. I will say that last year was some amazing tennis and we are for sure getting tickets again this year.

IW is more corporate feeling and more older folks with zero chance of rain . What makes IW so expensive is the hotels nearby charge like 300 plus a night
On Sunday I went to kings island and tackled those beast coasters !!!
The banshee was the most insane!!!!
I did see fed play twice in a day

 

[dgold44]

Both IW and Cincy are superb and the best of the best
Which is better
Slight edge to IW because of no rain but it can be high 90s
The grounds at IW is 30 percent bigger I say but the food at both is so-so

 

[Sudacafan]

I am 5 hr drive to IW
Been there 5 times and Cincy 3

So you going to watch IW. Who’s taking care of your office those days?

 

[dgold44]

So you going to watch IW. Who’s taking care of your office those days?

I hired an older and more stable employee but needs 2 more weeks of training
I think I finally lucked out

 

[dgold44]

Then it’s back to getting beaten up by sweaty guys and girls lol

Besides my shoulder was too sore this week and I trainned him 20 hrs !!!

It takes only 50 hrs total

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

Getting my WiFi from xFinity but no cable service from them. Pick up a lot of local channels with some network & a few cable channels with an indoor/outdoor digital antenna.

Using an Amazon Fire streaming device for most of my other content. (Also have older Apple TV & Roku streaming devices that I still use for some content). Using this for access to Amazon Prime (member), Tennis Channel Plus ($5/month subscription) and a whole lot of other stuff (mostly free). Don't need access to the regular Tennis Channel programming for TC Plus.

Subscription to Sling TV via Amazon Fire app. and Their Sling Orange package ($25/month) gives me access to ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, Stadium (more sports), CNN, Food Network, BBC America and quite a bit of other live & streaming content. For an extra $5/month, can also add The Tennis Channel (a bit less than the regular $70/yr subscription w/o Sling TV).

https://www.sling.com/service
.

 

[LOBALOT]

Getting my WiFi from xFinity but no cable service from them. Pick up a lot of local channels with some network & a few cable channels with an indoor/outdoor digital antenna.

Using an Amazon Fire streaming device for most of my other content. (Also have older Apple TV & Roku streaming devices that I still use for some content). Using this for access to Amazon Prime (member), Tennis Channel Plus ($5/month subscription) and a whole lot of other stuff (mostly free). Don't need access to the regular Tennis Channel programming for TC Plus.

Subscription to Sling TV via Amazon Fire app. and Their Sling Orange package ($25/month) gives me access to ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, Stadium (more sports), CNN, Food Network, BBC America and quite a bit of other live & streaming content. For an extra $5/month, can also add The Tennis Channel (a bit less than the regular $70/yr subscription w/o Sling TV).

https://www.sling.com/service
.

That looks like a winner there. We can just up our Bandwidth. We already get TC plus so perhaps I can just go with Sling TV, pay the extra $5/month ($30/Month) for Tennis Channel and be good-to-go.

Does it perform well (i.e. picture freezes, this type of thing)?

Thanks!

 

[LOBALOT]

Both IW and Cincy are superb and the best of the best
Which is better
Slight edge to IW because of no rain but it can be high 90s
The grounds at IW is 30 percent bigger I say but the food at both is so-so

I agree the food in Cincy could be better. I now just get a hot dog or two and it is cheaper than the tents.

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

That looks like a winner there. We can just up our Bandwidth. We already get TC plus so perhaps I can just go with Sling TV, pay the extra $5/month ($30/Month) for Tennis Channel and be good-to-go.

Does it perform well (i.e. picture freezes, this type of thing)?

Thanks!

Get some picture smears and freezes with the digital antenna but no such problems with the Amazon Fire streaming stick (TC app for TC+) or Sling TV (Orange) for the sports and other channels. Not tried TC+ or Sling TV with my other streaming devices.

Can get even more channels with Sling TV with the Orange+Blue package for $40/Month plus an extra $5/month for TC.
.

 

[Turbo-87]

I spend an embarrassing amount of money on entertainment. I have basic and extended cable, Netflix, Amazon Prime, Amazon Prime Music, Hulu and Sirius XM radio. Honestly, I use them all every day whether I am at home, work, driving or at the gym. There are worse things I can spend my money on. Everything I like is spread out among streaming providers and I like having Prime Music so I can listen to everything on demand. As a society, we DEMAND everything these days.

 

[Chadalina]

They cut my cable back in like 2001 when they brought out the dvr boxes. I was getting free cable because i had a cable modem for internet (easy to do).

Moved on to torrents and now i just use an iptv.

I get 2750 channels, all the ppv's, hbo's, espn+ etc. I do not get tennis channel plus, but for $49 a year im not complaining.

All you need is an internet connection, they have an apk app (iptvsmarters pro) for your phone and tablet. I have computers in each room and just use their web browser. They sort everything for you, not one big list. Its nice because you can make your favorites list.

Sling is nice, but drm and not tru ala carte

 

[dgold44]

I spend an embarrassing amount of money on entertainment. I have basic and extended cable, Netflix, Amazon Prime, Amazon Prime Music, Hulu and Sirius XM radio. Honestly, I use them all every day whether I am at home, work, driving or at the gym. There are worse things I can spend my money on. Everything I like is spread out among streaming providers and I like having Prime Music so I can listen to everything on demand. As a society, we DEMAND everything these days.

See narcos and black mirror

 

[dgold44]

Tickets sound great. We will get there some day.

We go to the middle rounds of the Western and Southern every year.

We do watch a lot of tennis in our house with my interest and my boys interest so getting the Tennis Channel would be key.

Is the rain in Cincy like 50-50???

 

[Raul_SJ]

.

I spend an embarrassing amount of money on entertainment. I have basic and extended cable, Netflix, Amazon Prime,

I have Amazon Prime but haven't really watched anything on it. Saw some Twilight Zone episodes. Think they have all of the episodes on there.

 

[LOBALOT]

Is the rain in Cincy like 50-50???

No, we attend middle rounds each year. We have had years with no rain. Others with rain... How about 75-25 no rain?

 

[dgold44]

No, we attend middle rounds each year. We have had years with no rain. Others with rain... How about 75-25 no rain?

Those guys are so utterly amazing they make a great 5.0 to 5.5 player look like a clown
. To even reach 5 to 5.5 you are in the 1 percent of tennis

 

[dgold44]

After 20 yrs of hardcore playing , the best I ever reached was low 4.5
I must have spent 20,000 on lessons or more
When I hit age 40 my legs just could run down shots and with my weak serve I just quit last year
Now I grapple lol

 

[tigonian02]

I cut direct tv loose over a year ago. I use YouTube tv now and it literally has everything I would want to watch including the tennis channel. With any alternative to cable though, you have to be wary of where you live? If you’re in a big metro area all likelihood is that you’ll be fine with whatever you choose. If you’re in a small area, you need to do research to make sure that they actually supply your area.

 

[Mr.Lob]

"Hey ladies, ya want to come over and Sling tonight? Bring your mom! "

Those non -stop Sling commercials are the pits.

 

[Turbo-87]

"Hey ladies, ya want to come over and Sling tonight? Bring your mom! "

Those non -stop Sling commercials are the pits.

You aren't kidding there. It was borderline funny once but now it is very played out.

 

[ChaelAZ]

Try Direct tv now.... streaming directv, no satellite or cable

I just looked at this again over the holidays. The issue is now, most Internet providing companies are putting data limits on even home use now, especially the cable TV companies providing Internet. A not-so-subtle way to dissuade people from getting the same services cheaper. Like we have Cox cable and we now have a 1000GB limit per month on data. If you are a heavy TV watcher and had to stream services you could burn through 1000 gig in a few weeks. If you are a lighter user, say maybe just a few hours a day, no worries and it works out. But still, the Dish Now you are spending I think $80 per month for the package that includes Tennis Channel, which is one of the few networks I really care about. Add that to around $75 a month for Internet, and you are still in the $150 a month range.

Stupid expensive, but sooooo many people see it as a necessity and not an option, like it is.

 

[TheGhostOfAgassi]

Unlimited internet and online TV is about 100 dollar a month.
Not sure if many here uses cable anymore.

 

[Chace]

I just looked at this again over the holidays. The issue is now, most Internet providing companies are putting data limits on even home use now, especially the cable TV companies providing Internet. A not-so-subtle way to dissuade people from getting the same services cheaper. Like we have Cox cable and we now have a 1000GB limit per month on data. If you are a heavy TV watcher and had to stream services you could burn through 1000 gig in a few weeks. If you are a lighter user, say maybe just a few hours a day, no worries and it works out. But still, the Dish Now you are spending I think $80 per month for the package that includes Tennis Channel, which is one of the few networks I really care about. Add that to around $75 a month for Internet, and you are still in the $150 a month range.

Stupid expensive, but sooooo many people see it as a necessity and not an option, like it is.

I pay $55 a month for DirecTV Now, which includes tennis channel. I have an amazon fire stick, frontier for internet and at&t for cellular service. Regardless of how much tv I watch there is no impact on my data usage.

 

[Harry_Wild]

It been exploring other alternative to TC lately due to TC either doing switching over to other matches while first start out with the beginning match, so you never see the full match or they do not air the match I want to see. I have gone YouTube, Livestream, a couple of betting sites and to the country’s where the match takes place viva VPN.

I have DirectTV Now and I was a charter member so I get 105 channels for $35 a month and Cinemax for additional $5 a month.

I watch many of sub channel programming too with over the air antenna. I get around 40 sub channels. Never watch much of the national network anymore like ABC, NBC, CBS, etc... It just junk on now!

Watch Australia older TV series and other older U.S. programming on TubiTV streaming website. Tubi is free streaming!

I am big on free content and Youtube has many 1950, 60s, 70s, 80s tv series for bing watching as well as comments!

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

@Mr.Lob

You aren't kidding there. It was borderline funny once but now it is very played out.

When/where are you seeing these Sling ads? When watching Sling content? Elsewhere? Frankly, I hardly ever notice ads. Usually leave the room or check messages or TT forum posts during commercials.

 

[Mr.Lob]

@Mr.Lob


When/where are you seeing these Sling ads? When watching Sling content? Elsewhete? Frankly, I hardly ever notice ads. Usually leave the room or check messages or TT forum posts during commercials.

When? Just about all hours of the day and night. Where? I can't remember the specific channel. Seems.like all of them. Maybe a lot on ESPN. I have Direct Tv. Sex therapist, Dr. Ruth, has done a few Sling commercials where she suggests watching, "in new positions... like the armadillo" . The current blitz features a middle age couple who want neighbors and passerbys to come "Sling" with them. Is that term even used anymore, 'swingers"? LOL.

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

@IA-SteveB

When? Just about all hours of the day and night. Where? I can't remember the specific channel. Seems.like all of them. Maybe a lot on ESPN. I have Direct Tv. Sex therapist, Dr. Ruth, has done a few Sling commercials where she suggests watching, "in new positions... like the armadillo" . The current blitz features a middle age couple who want neighbors and passerbys to come "Sling" with them. Is that term even used anymore, 'swingers"? LOL.

I just watched over an hour and saw NO Sling ads at all -- ZERO, ZIP, NADA. Watched 25+ minutes of the Halep-Wiliams AO replay on ESPN. Was getting a couple of short ads during sit-down changeovers. But absolutely NO Sling ads. I'm getting access to ESPN with my Sling membership. But I launched my ESPN app rather than launching the Sling TV app to watch this. Don't know if that made a difference.

I then switched over and launched the Sling app to watch some "live" content -- King of Queens & Friends on TBS. For 40+ minutes. Still ZERO Sling ads. I'm getting Sling access thru an app on my Amazon Fire Stick (with xFinity WiFi). Wondering if this makes a difference. How do you get your Sling access?

Currently, I have the Sling Orange+Blue package. Maybe that makes a difference. Why would Sling need to sell me on Sllng when I already have it? Doesn't make sense. And it doesn't happen. I suppose they could try to sell me on add-on features -- but they don't. Any clue why you guys are getting bombarded with Sling ads and I'm getting NONE at all?

Cc: @LOBALOT

 

[mctennis]

Tickets sound great. We will get there some day.

We go to the middle rounds of the Western and Southern every year.

We do watch a lot of tennis in our house with my interest and my boys interest so getting the Tennis Channel would be key.

I try to go to the W&S every year. Always so stinking hot and humid every year at that time. You melt sitting in the seats.

I have not watched TC in a long time. I thought it was great some years back. Now I am not interested in seeing the fillers that they seem to put on or the lower tier tournaments. The baseline bashers are boring to watch actually. Not that much difference in the players if they all basically play the same way.

Sling was offered by Sprint , I believe, at one time.

 

[movdqa]

We get ESPN/3 with our Comcast broadband service. There's more ESPN with an OTT subscription but I don't know how much more tennis they add. I'm sure it doesn't include the TC. I think that we'd go OTT for a single channel.

 

[donquijote]

It doesn't make any sense to use cables for TV in this year and it doesn't really makes sense to pay for what you don't need or use. Plus you still get to watch a lot of commercials even though you paid so much for tv.
Here is Canada they sell internet+basic tv for about $80 but you need sports package too and that is extra 30 dollars. Still local TV will not cover a lot of tennis you wanted to watch or when you want to watch the NBA game on TNT/Espn or something from Eurosport. So the ultimate solution is to get a customized IPTV I guess but is it going to be stable?
Is there anyone here using customized IPTV over internet? Please share your experience.

 

[movdqa]

It doesn't make any sense to use cables for TV in this year and it doesn't really makes sense to pay for what you don't need or use. Plus you still get to watch a lot of commercials even though you paid so much for tv.
Here is Canada they sell internet+basic tv for about $80 but you need sports package too and that is extra 30 dollars. Still local TV will not cover a lot of tennis you wanted to watch or when you want to watch the NBA game on TNT/Espn or something from Eurosport. So the ultimate solution is to get a customized IPTV I guess but is it going to be stable?
Is there anyone here using customized IPTV over internet? Please share your experience.

In my area, Comcast is $80 for internet but I negotiated $50 though I'll have to renegotiate in a few months. Adding some basic television is probably another $10 for the service but there are a bunch of other fees which pushes the price up a lot more. Putting together things a la carte' is a pain and no guarantee that you're saving money. One thing I do for sports is watch highlights on YouTube. I watched the highlights of the Superbowl Final on Youtube (11 Minutes) and watch some tennis matches like that. I have to watch ESPN 3 at home and I can watch YouTube whereever.

I'm not familiar with IPTV but I assume that they put together channels and you get some kind of software interface to watch your selection of channels.

 

[Devil_dog]

I severed cable TV about 2 months ago and initially had DirectTV Now but had to drop them because they lacked a channel I especially wanted to watch sports.

Switched over to Playstation Vue since I could connect more devices, nice DVR features, seemingly better pic quality too. I sub'd Tennis Channel Everywhere.

So with Vue, TCE and Amazon Prime - I'm pretty much set.

 

[Chadalina]

I'm not familiar with IPTV but I assume that they put together channels and you get some kind of software interface to watch your selection of channels.

I can post a pic if you want. Mine sorts into usa/canada/uk, then breaks down catagory. News, entertainment, documentarys and sports for each region.

Then you have your nfl, mlb, nba, nhl, soccer and espn+ type sections. Also have a premium movie channel section with all the showtimes/hbo/stars type channels.

I like the ppv section, has the mma events. Get the wwe channel as well for my wraslin

Favorite channel menu and ability to record to your device is great, they also have a "tvcatchup" where you can watch stuff from up to 3 days ago.

Everyone has a different interface, my last one had a nice matchup center, orgainzed every sporting event in one section, just had to click the sport and saw everything live.

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

When? Just about all hours of the day and night. Where? I can't remember the specific channel. Seems.like all of them. Maybe a lot on ESPN. I have Direct Tv. Sex therapist, Dr. Ruth, has done a few Sling commercials where she suggests watching, "in new positions... like the armadillo" . The current blitz features a middle age couple who want neighbors and passerbys to come "Sling" with them. Is that term even used anymore, 'swingers"? LOL.

@IA-SteveB

I just watched over an hour and saw NO Sling ads at all -- ZERO, ZIP, NADA. Watched 25+ minutes of the Halep-Wiliams AO replay on ESPN. Was getting a couple of short ads during sit-down changeovers. But absolutely NO Sling ads. I'm getting access to ESPN with my Sling membership. But I launched my ESPN app rather than launching the Sling TV app to watch this. Don't know if that made a difference.

I then switched over and launched the Sling app to watch some "live" content -- King of Queens & Friends on TBS. For 40+ minutes. Still ZERO Sling ads. I'm getting Sling access thru an app on my Amazon Fire Stick (with xFinity WiFi). Wondering if this makes a difference. How do you get your Sling access?

Currently, I have the Sling Orange+Blue package. Maybe that makes a difference. Why would Sling need to sell me on Sllng when I already have it? Doesn't make sense. And it doesn't happen. I suppose they could try to sell me on add-on features -- but they don't. Any clue why you guys are getting bombarded with Sling ads and I'm getting NONE at all?

Cc: @LOBALOT

Update: Just watched a Johnny Depp pirate movie on TBS (Sling TV). Still, no Sling commercials. Have you figured out why you are getting inundated with Sling ads and I am seeing none?
.

 

[Mr.Lob]

Update: Just watched a Johnny Depp pirate movie on TBS (Sling TV). Still, no Sling commercials. Have you figured out why you are getting inundated with Sling ads and I am seeing none?
.

No idea. Maybe it's a regional marketing thing. Available only in certain areas.

 

[Shankadelic]

Quit DirecTV about 5 months ago and switched to YouTube TV. Has all the channels you are talking about but am not sure about the FoodTV as that is not a channel I watch. Currently $40/month, which is a lot cheaper than what I was playing for DirecTV.

It has been great so far for what we mainly watch; sports, especially tennis, and local. I do miss not getting multiple channels for the Grand Slams but not enough to switch back.

 

[movdqa]

Quit DirecTV about 5 months ago and switched to YouTube TV. Has all the channels you are talking about but am not sure about the FoodTV as that is not a channel I watch. Currently $40/month, which is a lot cheaper than what I was playing for DirecTV.

It has been great so far for what we mainly watch; sports, especially tennis, and local. I do miss not getting multiple channels for the Grand Slams but not enough to switch back.

Does YouTube TV avoid all of the little fees that you get with cable and satellite?

 

[Shankadelic]

Does YouTube TV avoid all of the little fees that you get with cable and satellite?

There is a $3.20 tax. The out the door cost is $43.20.

 

[movdqa]

There is a $3.20 tax. The out the door cost is $43.20.

That's not bad. The Comcast thing with the set-top boxes required is really off-putting. That they raise prices 3-5% a year is also annoying.

 

[thehustler]

Our DirectTV subscription is expiring. With it we get the Tennis Channel and also we get all the courts at Majors.

That being said we really need to cut the cable.

I would say 99% of our TV Watching is:

- The Tennis Channel
- CNN
- ESPN, ESPN2, etc.
- Local Sports Channel (For local Baseball, Hockey, etc.)
- FoodTV
- Local Channels (Can get over the air)

I am sitting in a hotel room right now as my son's opening round match is 8AM (7AM warmup) and I am watching the Tennis Channel on our iPad so I do like the portability of our current provider.

I see AppleTV and YouTube TV have the Tennis Channel.

Have any of you cut the cable, what streaming service did you go with, and were you able to get the portability and channels listed above, and how is it going (We are talking options in the United States)?

I did a search and haven't seen recent posts on this topic.

Thanks!

I had DirecTV as well. Somehow was paying almost $160 a month, didn't even have premium channels. Dumped it and got YouTubeTV. I pay $60 a month for it as I add in Showtime and Starz. Love it. Local channels. Tennis channel. Other sports channels. Stuff for kids. I also have HBO Now for about $15 a month. Throw on Netflix for another $15 and I'm paying about $90 a month, but have way more to watch than I ever did on DirecTV. As for someone else paying a tax on YouTubeTV, that's new to me. My rate is what I stated, never see any additional tax at all. Adding shows to your library is easy. It has an unlimited cloud DVR that stores shows for 9 months included in the price. Really really hard to top that.

 

[Deleted member 23235]

Our DirectTV subscription is expiring. With it we get the Tennis Channel and also we get all the courts at Majors.

That being said we really need to cut the cable.

I would say 99% of our TV Watching is:

- The Tennis Channel
- CNN
- ESPN, ESPN2, etc.
- Local Sports Channel (For local Baseball, Hockey, etc.)
- FoodTV
- Local Channels (Can get over the air)

I am sitting in a hotel room right now as my son's opening round match is 8AM (7AM warmup) and I am watching the Tennis Channel on our iPad so I do like the portability of our current provider.

I see AppleTV and YouTube TV have the Tennis Channel.

Have any of you cut the cable, what streaming service did you go with, and were you able to get the portability and channels listed above, and how is it going (We are talking options in the United States)?

I did a search and haven't seen recent posts on this topic.

Thanks!

subscribed! been trying to figure out how to cut the cord... except i mainly watch tennis channel...