6 tips for streaming TV without going broke

[steve2470]

https://www.tomsguide.com/features/streaming-tv-on-a-budget

In the time it takes to say "Quibi," another streaming service probably just got announced (hilariously, news of a ViacomCBS service just leaked). Each new venture enters the scene like another cannonball in an already-crowded pool, leaving consumers scratching their heads about what to do. The market leaders are already reacting to concerns of stretched budgets, as NBCU's service Peacock is going to be free (with paid tiers).

This all leaves us wondering the same question: "How much is this all going to cost?" I recently saw an article proclaim there was a "magic number" for what to pay for all of your streaming services … and it turned out to just be a story reporting that the average monthly streaming bill is $42.

And let's be clear, while that might sound like a good budget to keep to, not every user streams the same way or watches the same things. Some need live sports from local networks and ESPN, while others won't turn off HBO. Therefore, there's no one answer for everyone.

Don't worry, though; you can do your best to save some cash. Here are my six best pieces of advice for how to stream live TV without going broke:

Lots of good info beyond the first four paragraphs

ETA: Also, this link https://www.tomsguide.com/us/best-streaming-video-services,review-2625.html

[SummerSnow]

1. Thanks alot!!

[exboyfil]

2. Some other suggestions

1. Rejoin using different email accounts and family member names to get the great intro price (last year Hulu was $1/mo., this year it is $2/mo.).
2. Binge, cancel, and rejoin by rotating services. Often you pick up a week or a month free by this approach as well.
3. Student accounts for Amazon prime if you have a college student in the family.


My biggest expense is $10/mo. for Great Courses Plus. I watch probably 50 lectures a month so I think I am getting pretty good value. I watch them while I exercise.

[hunter]

3. My wife and I have an $8.99 a month Netflix subscription and don't run out of things to watch.

This is over a moderately priced DSL internet connection.

Movies not available on Netflix are often available for rental from our neighborhood Redbox.

Our library has a large selection of DVDs and also participates in a streaming service that is free for anyone with a library card. Many colleges and universities also offer this free streaming service to students.

https://www.kanopy.com/

I was tempted to subscribe to CBS to watch Picard until I learned it was set in the alternate reboot universe, which I don't like. Maybe when the series is done we'll take the bait for a free trial and binge on it.

We don't watch any traditional television; no cable, satellite, broadcast, or otherwise.

What money we save on cable we probably spend on ebooks and actually going to the movies.

[pengillian101]

9. Thanks!

Thanks so much for the library kanopy.com link! I wasn't aware of it's streaming services.

[Aussie105]

4. I've been waiting a long time

for streaming services to start offering stuff worth watching and paying for.

Still waiting.
No funds for you, streamers!

[hunter]

5. You pay for television every time you watch a commercial.

I won't pay that price. I don't want that crap in my head.

Worse, television gave us Trump. That's unforgivable.

My wife and I quit cable and broadcast television more than a decade ago. We were mostly watching DVDs.

Our youngest child, who is a huge fan of low and medium budget cinema, set us up with Netflix.

The longer I'm away from commercial television the more intolerable it becomes.

My major exposure to television these days is hotel breakfast rooms.

I'll glance up at the screens and think

[Phentex]

6. I want to upgrade my internet...

we have AT&T and I want to get fiber but I can't find the prices online so I'm going to have to call them. On the website, you don't get much choice as an existing customer to see the bundles unless you click upgrade my service and I don't want to do that until I know the price. It's annoying and I'm going to have to brace myself for the one hour phone call.

*I* could go full streaming only but I have people here who don't want to change.

[hunter]

7. My daughter-in-law got AT&T internet-only fiber...

... but she had to be assertive and talk to several people.

It seems AT&T doesn't really want to sell internet-only fiber connections. They want to sell you a package that costs $100 a month or more.

The internet-only price is $50 a month for 300 Mbps with a 1 TB cap and $70 a month for 1000 Mbps unlimited.

Here's a link to a review, I won't vouch for the source, but it seems pretty straightforward:

https://www.reviews.org/internet-service/att-internet-review/

We have two mainstream internet service providers where we live, Comcast and AT&T. I don't use either at home; I'm fortunate to have other options. There's no way in hell I'd ever use Comcast.

[Phentex]

8. This helps!

I don't mind a package but I wanted to see what a base would look like. My only other choice is Comcast as well. I swore I'd never use them again and I was holding out for Google but that never happened in our neighborhood.

Thank you!

[OAITW r.2.0]

10. I am in Central ME and don't have a lot of internet options.

I have Spectrum ISP and Youtube TV. Also have Netflix and Hulu and share Amazon Prime. Entire package is about $`130/mo. Internet $60 - YTTV - $50 - Netflix and Hulo about $25).

I have a new desktop with excellent processing capabilities. Unfortunately, I have a bandwidth issue that is only average now - 1 to 3 Mbps. Last week was excruciatingly slow....almost no signal at all. Doing speedtest, I'd get locked up with no connection, then on, off, on, off....getting as low as 6bps! Might as well be down.

Side note: I have 3 Dish Receivers and cabling that I'd like to move. Years ago, I was a dish customer. Dropped them, but they never picked up the hardware.