Streaming TV? please explain it to me..

[mardyn]

I want to give Direct TV the boot next month, but I still need to see Discovery Channel/History/Velocity/some Sports channels etc... maybe an occasional movie or NASCAR race

I know I can go on Amazon and download shows for free (with Prime) but I kinda' want to watch the regular daily feed as I do now.

How should I proceed, what equipment do I need?

Any tips or suggestions appreciated.

mardyn

[Craizie]

Get Plex and ask some of our wonderful members for access to their servers.

Hopefully you weren't a cunt to any of them.

[yellowstang]

Without paying for it?? Get an Amazon Firestick/TV and install Kodi.

Direct Now, Sling, Playstatio Vue for 20 - 35 a month and get a bunch of channels

[mardyn]

I don't mind paying a little, but this 100.00 per month to watch commercials on Direct TV is getting old...

I'm looking at the DirectTV Now service, but don't understand how it works on my TV...

mardyn

[bonnie&clyde]

You could look into IP tv, that's what we are currently using and it's like $15 a month

[lowthreeohz]

Kodi has been under attack for months now, exodus is still rocking but sportsdevil and the other live streams I used to use have gone to shit. If you can stand to wait a few days after a show airs to watch it, kodi + exodus will get you there 95% of the time. May also want to check out YouTube tv, not sure if they went live yet

[yellowstang]

I don't mind paying a little, but this 100.00 per month to watch commercials on Direct TV is getting old...

I'm looking at the DirectTV Now service, but don't understand how it works on my TV...

mardyn

Do you have Netflix or Hulu?, It's very similar. It's just an app that you install on an Apple TV 4 or Amazon Firestick/TV, launch the app and watch the shows. Hooks up via HDMI cable and requires internet an connection.

[bcoop]

Sling or PS Vue is probably the best bet for what you want.

[BP]

Sling or PS Vue is probably the best bet for what you want.

PS Vue is great. You can watch 5 different things on different devices and DVR anything you want at any time. As long as you are comfortable navigating some basic menus that is. If you can't program a microwave then it's not for you. Stick with cable or satellite and their unified remote.

My dad is 95 years old and he loves watching Wheel of Fortune, Ranger games, MSNBC for some reason and NFL. I installed Vue on a Roku box and he'd end up watching the AOL news channel all day long since it was the first box to pop up. Even after I deleted every channel but the Vue button he'd some how figure out how to reinstall Hulu, the AOL channel, Amazon and all kinds of other stuff but never could figure out how to click on the Vue channel.

So I went and bought a Bravia TV that would run Vue natively using the included remote. After disabling the entire Sony shelf (their menu bar) and moving the Vue channel to the very front he could figure out how to watch it most of the time. I added his favorite shows as shortcuts so once you got into the Vue software they were right there, just click on it and it'd play. Literally just click on two icons and it'd work flawlessly. He finally had it figured out and Vue added another popup window asking if you wanted to watch Shark Week. Even after saying no 4 times it still popped up so I threw in the towel and went back to Charter cable.

Now the TV will have random boxes pop up asking if you want to try out various apps and sometimes he'll figure out how to change the inputs with the Charter remote. Other than that it works the same as his old TV.

Sorry for the long read, just be warned that it's not a good option for some people.

[LS1Goat]

I have a Roku 3 and between the Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, CBS All Access, Hulu, and WATCHESPN channel apps there is virtually nothing I can't watch. There is so much content you would never have time to watch it all. Not to mention the Roku Media Player app that allows you to access media on your cloud. I watched Game of Thrones Season 7 on HBO through Amazon Prime for free using their 7 day trial period. Binged watched it and canceled before the end of the week.

[The King]

We use Sling TV through Roku and AppleTV devices and it works great in my opinion. I think the Apple device is overpriced and the Roku actually performs a little better. Apple and Amazon also hate each other.

[A_A_G]

DirecTV now has a package that is $35/month and it includes the channels you want.

https://www.directvnow.com/thegoodstuff#sixty-plus-live-channels

and you get access to these apps for on demand content (some have live feeds as well)

https://help.directvnow.com/hc/en-us/articles/215395423-Use-your-DIRECTV-NOW-account-to-access-network-sites-and-mobile-apps

[SS Junk]

DirecTV now has a package that is $35/month and it includes the channels you want.

*After free trial, auto-billed (min $35/mo.)
unless cancelled. See details.

Pricing, channels, features, and terms subject to change &may be modified or discontinued at any time without notice.

Yeah fuck a bunch of that bullshit.

[A_A_G]

Yeah fuck a bunch of that bullshit.

This isn't satellite/cable of old, this is streaming live tv (no contract).

I've had it for almost a year and I haven't lost any channels. In fact, I've gained more as well as more access to apps. PS Vue is another story...

I'm never getting rid of it DirecTV Now. I jumped on the early adopter rate that was $35/month for their "Go Big" package that is regular priced at $60. And they threw in HBO and HBO Go for 1 year for me back in March.

[mardyn]

How do I get the Direct TV Now stream from my router to the TV? Is there some kinda' box or is a Smart TV already capable?

Do I need a higher performance router? My download speed (out here in BFE) is only about 4mbps but I can step up to the next level package for about 25.00 month more...

So 35.00 plus another 25.00 is still less expensive than the 100.00 I pay to Direct TV each month, but I'm already at the edge of my tech abilities as far as getting it all set up
and working...

Thanks for all the input so far.

mardyn