Name:	lucky67 -	Reply
Subject:	Alternatives to cable
Date:	6/22/2022 2:06:53 PM

In my area ( Red Hill) the only cable provider is Troy Cable -we have their basis digital plan ( no boxes-their cheapest plan ); monthly bill is now almost $130 with taxes: we have 6 tvs-what alternatives do we have ? Wife hates technology , loves to just push #'s on remote to change channels

Name:	MartiniMan -	Reply
Subject:	Alternatives to cable
Date:	6/22/2022 2:38:29 PM

Depends on what you like to watch.  If you have good internet service you can cancel the TV portion and get somehting like youtubeTV.  I am testing it now and I plan to cancel my Uverse TV service at home.  I can take my "cable" with me and play it wherever I am using my iphone or ipad.  I have Spectrum for internet service and never had their TV service.  I now just connect YouTubeTV to my TV at the lake when I want to watch something.

Name:	GoneFishin -	Reply
Subject:	Alternatives to cable
Date:	6/22/2022 2:41:37 PM

Do you have internet? There are various options to cut cable but you need internet to connect.

Name:	lucky67 -	Reply
Subject:	Alternatives to cable
Date:	6/22/2022 3:00:37 PM

my internet is windstream but they only offer tv via dish which i have no knowledge of

Name:	MartiniMan -	Reply
Subject:	Alternatives to cable
Date:	6/23/2022 10:28:46 AM

So if you have decent internet service then I suggest you look into YoutubeTV.  It costs around $65 a month and you will need a way to display it on your TV.  If you have a recent smart TV it will probably have it loaded.  If not you will need a Chromecast or Roku stick.

Name:	MrHodja -	Reply
Subject:	Alternatives to cable
Date:	6/23/2022 11:07:07 AM

Does YouTubeTV get local broadcast channels?  My wife is addicted to one of the local Montgomery channels for local news and I have yet to find one of the subscription services that offers local broadcast channels.

Name:	Maverick -	Reply
Subject:	Alternatives to cable
Date:	6/23/2022 12:40:30 PM

Unless the dispcute has been resolved YouTube TV does not carry the Braves basebal channel. So if you have good internet and want to watch Braves baseball, would suggest DirectTV streaming, plu of course you would receive all the local channels.

Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	Alternatives to cable
Date:	6/23/2022 12:54:02 PM

Does anyone know who regulates which cable company can provide services to a given area? Is it like the trash collection?  If they would just let the various cable companies compete, those proces would go down.  My cable bil runs about 200 per month for internet and 3 TVs.   I was paying about 190, but it just went up again.  We have Spectrum.

Name:	MrHodja -	Reply
Subject:	Alternatives to cable
Date:	6/23/2022 1:02:52 PM

What is the cost for DirectTV streaming?

Name:	Lifer -	Reply
Subject:	Alternatives to cable
Date:	6/23/2022 3:13:59 PM

Most stations now have a streaming option for news, if not for all programming.  Stream it on puter and cast it to the tv.

Name:	Maverick -	Reply
Subject:	Alternatives to cable
Date:	6/23/2022 3:44:51 PM

https://www.directv.com/cf/package-wall/

Name:	MrHodja -	Reply
Subject:	Alternatives to cable
Date:	6/23/2022 5:00:40 PM

Don't see any local broadcast channels, e.g., NBC, ABC, CBS, Fox local affiliates.  As an example in Montgomery the NBC affiliate is WSFA, Channel 12, but I haven't found a pckage yet that has them.  I can log in to my spectrum account at the lake using the credentials from my Montgomery Spectrum account and can get a lot of the cable-based channels like Fox, CNN, MSNBC, HGTV, and so forth but not broadcast channels.  Spectrum jacked my TV rate at the lake up to over $100/month and as little as we are there it just doesn't make sense to spend the dough when we come up on average about once a month or less.

Name:	Lifer -	Reply
Subject:	Alternatives to cable
Date:	6/23/2022 5:33:12 PM (updated 6/23/2022 5:36:53 PM)

If you subscribe to dish tv you can use the dish anywhere app to watch dish anywhere.  Thats how my buddy watched tv for over a year was by using my account.  At the home you will use the dish but getr everything over the internet with the anywhere package. Check it out.  If you go that way I will send you my acct number and we will both get $100.  Its a $10 dollar credit for 10 months.  I would have to look up exactly what we are paying but it is less than $100 with a mid level package and DVR with 2 tv's. but we have negotiated away or severely ccurtailed a few price increases.  You just have to ask for a disconnect and suddenly everything changes.  When they don't cooperate I will switch back to direct and get all the new customer goodies.  Of course we get Spectrum internet for like $80 buck a month.

I forgot that you have to ask and pay extra for the "local channels"  but my bill incudes them.

Name:	George -	Reply
Subject:	Alternatives to cable
Date:	6/23/2022 8:04:38 PM

After reading the last part of your post my recommendation is pay the $130 and keep the wife happy.  YouTube TV is $65 and you will still need Troy Cable internet for $62.  Streaming really becomes a deal when you have 2 homes with 2 cable services.

Name:	MartiniMan -	Reply
Subject:	Alternatives to cable
Date:	6/23/2022 10:10:29 PM

Yes it does. It determines where you are and casts the local network stations. When I'm at the lake I get Montgomery local stations. 

Name:	MartiniMan -	Reply
Subject:	Alternatives to cable
Date:	6/23/2022 10:13:46 PM

Just checked by YouTube tv and it gives me WSFA 12 in Montgomery as my local nBS affiliate. 

Name:	MrHodja -	Reply
Subject:	Alternatives to cable
Date:	6/23/2022 10:51:07 PM

Hmmm, although I do my best to avoid using Google services, if they provide the one I need maybe the law of supply and demand trumps that.  I will check it out.  The Spectrum app is useless for locals if you aren't logged in to your home network. In fact the Spectrum claim "oh, you don't need a cable box if you have a smart tv" is a crock.  Their app has frequent outages and unexplained interruptions in the middle of a program.

Name:	Lifer -	Reply
Subject:	Alternatives to cable
Date:	6/24/2022 6:41:27 AM

The local governments give them exclusive contracts.  It is done by city/county officials.  In the early days it is how they got companies to come in and install the infrastructure.

Name:	Maverick -	Reply
Subject:	Alternatives to cable
Date:	6/24/2022 12:34:35 PM

Here are the local channels with streaming

CBS

WAKA

FOX

WCOV

ABC

WNCF

NBC

WSFA

Name:	MrHodja -	Reply
Subject:	Alternatives to cable
Date:	6/24/2022 12:43:07 PM

Roger, thanks.

Name:	MrHodja -	Reply
Subject:	Alternatives to cable
Date:	6/24/2022 12:48:47 PM

Roger, confirmed same, started five day free trial this morning, if unsat will try DirerctTV streaming option.  brought it up side by side with another tv on cable box and noted about a 30 second delay with streaming, but hey, if away from cable box how is one to know, lol?

Name:	Carlson -	Reply
Subject:	Late to this party but
Date:	6/25/2022 1:49:23 PM

We have Troy cable and internet.   After analyzing all the options I just pay the bill since we have TVs everywhere in each room for the kids and grandkids and Troy does not bill for extra TVs and you don't have to have boxes for the non- smart TVs.  A big no to direct tv, had it in Pelham and always problems.  Unfortunately Troy is best option for us.  Soon to be acquired by c-spire which is highly rated national corp.  good luck 

Name:	lakngulf -	Reply
Subject:	Late to this party but
Date:	6/25/2022 2:05:03 PM

I am  with you on Troy Cable.  Got TV in 1996 and internet when it became available. 

TVs everywhere, smart ones work great. 

ROKU helps others.  Always responsive with service.  I know it is not available  

across lake but glad it is here

Name:	MrHodja -	Reply
Subject:	YouTube TV Initial Reaction
Date:	6/25/2022 10:18:18 PM (updated 6/25/2022 10:19:26 PM)

I signed up for YouTube TV (five day free trial) and as you say, we do get all local broadcast channels, which has been a major stumbling block with other streaming services (possibly with the exception of DirectTV that Lifer says carries them).  Pretty easy startup, and ten bux off the first three months.  Tons of extra cost options, each with a price, and if you chose them all you'd need to rob Fort Knox, lol.  Has all the basic channels we watch plus a lot of sports options and other options as well.  Picked up another smart TV this evening (they cost next to nothing these days), got it fired up and it works great, and the only wire stuck in it is the power cord!

Name:	Lifer -	Reply
Subject:	YouTube TV Initial Reaction
Date:	6/26/2022 7:32:44 AM

None of the streaming services work for me because they have DVR.  We don't watch TV, we watch the DVR so we can skip commercials.  I find them insulting mostly and you don't realize how many times you see the same commercial until you start skipping them. 

Name:	George -	Reply
Subject:	Alternatives to cable
Date:	6/26/2022 9:49:29 AM

MM, in the Youtube app, settings, location, there are 2 locations available.  You should be able to bring your home location (Atlanta, I presume) to the lake and watch the Atlanta local stations.

Name:	George -	Reply
Subject:	YouTube TV Initial Reaction
Date:	6/26/2022 10:05:31 AM

Lifer, I understand your use of the DVR, but Youtube has a good option.  You can set any program or series to be saved in your library and access them any time.  I don't know why, but some programs you can FF through commercials, some you can't.  One way this is better than DVR is if the NFL game goes to overtime and throws the schedule off by 30 min. the rest of the night, or if the local station decides we need to watch their weatherman for 3 hrs., you're not screwed.

Name:	lucky67 -	Reply
Subject:	Late to this party but
Date:	6/26/2022 11:57:28 AM

my troy cable was out 3 days this past week--also bill for just basic has increased to $126

Name:	lucky67 -	Reply
Subject:	Alternatives to cable
Date:	6/26/2022 12:00:13 PM

for you tube tv, if you dont have smart tv's dont you have to have a roku or firestick for those tv's and a remote that you have to scan up or down--cant use old remote where you just punch in channel you want  ??

Name:	lucky67 -	Reply
Subject:	Alternatives to cable
Date:	6/26/2022 12:01:27 PM

if it has wsfa montgomery, you get all the chicago like crime news

Name:	lakngulf -	Reply
Subject:	Late to this party but
Date:	6/26/2022 12:40:00 PM

I've had a little pixation on some  channels but was fine last night.  I know others mileage might  vary

but I have had a good experience with  comlink/Troy.  They worked hard several years back to 

Improve my internet 

Name:	lakngulf -	Reply
Subject:	Late to this party but
Date:	6/26/2022 1:50:48 PM

Will look it up.  I just moved to next level internet. Was on minimum forever.  Nothing fancy on TV.  NO boxes

Name:	Lifer -	Reply
Subject:	YouTube TV Initial Reaction
Date:	6/26/2022 2:37:27 PM

Interesting George.  Thanks for the info.  I definately feel differently after hearing this.  We bought the house 2 doors down for the vacation rental market and are looking at new options but the DVR has always been the holdback. 

Name:	MartiniMan -	Reply
Subject:	Alternatives to cable
Date:	6/28/2022 2:46:04 PM

Unfortunately that is correct.  I have Roku and it's pretty easy to use.  It has the YoutubeTV app and all you do is enter the username and password once and you are all set.  Chromecast also works.  A minor pain to get set up but once that's done it's pretty simple.

Name:	lakngulf -	Reply
Subject:	Late to this party but
Date:	6/28/2022 2:47:33 PM

TV part of  Bill is 104.95 

Internet 80.95

Franchise fee 5.75

Name:	MrHodja -	Reply
Subject:	Alternatives to cable
Date:	6/28/2022 7:12:46 PM

You can run YouTube TV off a computer, an iPad, or even a cell phone.  Just have to have internet access and a way to hook it to the TV. Both Apple Lightning and USB-c offer that capability and anything with an HDMI port and web browser the same. Need a wee bit of technical savvy to get it set up but works just as well as a smart tv, which is nothing more than a web browser sitting inside the television.