I know for sure we get some content by signing in through Uverse so that will be a minor PITA. But it’s extremely embarrassing how much I was paying every month. There is a definitely a bunch of stuff I was basically paying for twice.
I hate everything about the streaming experience.
- FF/RW is different on every app, yet somehow still sucks ass on all of them compared to a real DVR.
- If you don’t want ads on all your various apps, you’re paying as much or more than I am for cable.
- Changing “channels” takes 10 clicks and 30 seconds.
- Different content on web vs. phone/ipad vs. computer.
- One remote for all apps sucks donkey balls compared to a real cable remote.
- Every smart TV experience is different and hit or miss on whether or how well each app is supported.
- Local channels/sports are a PITA.
- They shunt you into new content 5 seconds after the movie ends unless you scramble to find the remote and click that you want to watch the credits, which of course is different on every platform.
- Pause takes me back to the app home page after 5 minutes, and guess what? More ads!
- Dozens of other ways the experience has been enshittified that I can’t think of right now, and dozens more being dreamed up by the MBAs as we speak.
You’ve all been frog-in-a-frying-panned into accepting something new and shiny that’s a demonstrably worse experience on almost every level, and is basically the same price as cable for the same content.
No C-level scumbags spend all day thinking up new ways to enshittify the experience of us dinosaur olds, as we happily skip all commercials and watch in peace. It’s glorious.
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I will be surprised if subscriptions end up costing me more than Uverse was, but we’ll see.
*For the same content. If you don’t care about cable sports, it’s a lot less.
No sir
If you want a lot it will end up around $30 different per month. I seriously considered it earlier this year but the convenience after getting the best deal from Cox caused me to keep it.
This was what cinched it for me – I don’t need all that content anymore. I’m saving $75-$100 a month to get exactly what I what.
TV sports is the one big thing cable does that you can’t really get with streaming cheaply.
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One factor for me is I was paying out the ass for Uverse. Over $300/mo. Would need a LOT of subscriptions to add up to that - some of which I already have!
I was paying like $250 for Frontier FIOS (total frog-in-a-frying-pan compounded by the fact that I expected to leave the place soon). Finally I called and they basically gave me the same shit for $170.
I can see where streaming makes more sense if you already have the subscriptions. I have none except Prime, and I mostly use that for the free shipping.
I don’t watch scripted TV shows unless someone drags me into it (in which case I usually enjoy it.) So Netflix, Hulu, HBO, don’t do much for me.
Did you have internet and landline with it? What speed of internet?
When I looked into more à la carte cable stuff it almost doubled the price of the highest package while getting half as much. It was then I knew I might be stuck.
I do get Red Zone as part of my package and I think that costs a decent amount standalone. They also give Paramount + as part of the package, so I was able to cancel that. It might have ended up as a $20 price difference during my 2 year promo between that and cutting the cord. If you want a lot of movie channels cutting the cord is barely competitive with cable. When you add in regular sports packages and know you’ll never arbitrarily lose a channel, it becomes about how important stability and mainly nickels and dimes at that level mean to you. $360 a year isn’t chump change but no one ever feels that much if you’re paying a lot for something.
Internet and landline were separate (just canceled landline too).
My whole situation was a stupid mess that I’ve been ignoring. On top of the Uverse we also had almost all the streaming services already. I know, I know. I guess with HBO we signed in through Uverse, but we were definitely paying separately for Netflix, Hulu, Apple TV, Peacock, and Paramount (I think). The best time to cancel was years ago, but the second best time was today.
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WTF? At my new apartment, I’m paying $35/mo for Verizon FIOS for their basic 300mbps.
I pay another $82/mo for YouTube TV, along with $150/yr to MLB so I can hate watch the Mets.
My other streaming services are free: Tubi, Pluto, and Prime (included with the subscription I’d have anyway).
Totally happens to us. I’ve gone from Frontier to Spectrum and back already to fight this, and it’s really time to go back again. I’ve got to switch mobile providers again too. The prices just creep up, like 7 years go by, and the bills are ridiculous.
+Cable/DVR with a few different add on packages.
I was going to do that, but they lowered my price enough that it was acceptable. You might give it a try.
I’ve had T-mobile for 8 years and they raised it once from $70 to $75.
Not sure if they’re doing it in CA, but Spectrum reps in MO were pushing some kind of mobile bundle really hard.
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When I calculated the streaming costs and I have basically everything I was surprised it was only about 60 per month due to how we’re getting them. Paramount + is def not generally worth its cost standalone unless you’re a huge fan of Taylor Sheridan and like watching the good looking versions of the old Twilight Zone. There’s not a ton of value outside of that.
Peacock is a good value if you use it. Netflix has gotten worse. I don’t have Disney+ so Hulu standalone is fine. Prime is a good value when factoring in the shipping. Apple TV comes with my phone. HBO Max comes with the cable subscription and it has a lot on there.
Streaming is mostly a terrible value when you don’t watch anything. Otherwise they all provide decent value if you’re willing to spend time with them. I really liked Peacock Premium for the Olympics. No commercials fast forward rewind for every competition if you don’t care about live. If you’re into the Olympics that is the best value one month spend you’ll find. Your time gotten back is worth way more than the cost of that one. I’ve only watched a couple of shows on there but my wife uses it for commercial free network stuff.
It’s the same with car insurance, switch it up every 2 or 3 years and save a $K a year.
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Not entirely sure what’s happening here (guess it’s just people watching something go boom), but holy fuck
I definitely hate fast foward on apps it sucks hard. The only one that is not horrible is regular YouTube.
I used to be able to power watch football and basketball with my remote skip on directv. Now I give up catching up if a game is on Amazon. It takes 20 seconds to skip 10 seconds.
But I am still not going back.