Cable Cutting and Sports

[MOWJO8185]

I've been seriously considering cutting my cable for several months now. Almost everything I watch I can get online. Sports is the one thing that is holding me back. It doesn't seem there are a ton of great internet options for watching live sports. New online networks like ESPN3 and the like still have to be tied to your cable subscription to be able to access.

Wanted to hear from cable cutters to see what solutions you had. My primary concern is college football and basketball. I'm married and have one kid and another on the way, so the "go to a bar to watch the game you want to" isn't always a viable solution.

[uro55]

I too could use some advice in this area. And I cut the cable 4 months ago, and sports has been the only issue. For me it's NBA and MLB.

[ExistenceNow]

Originally Posted by MOWJO8185

I've been seriously considering cutting my cable for several months now. Almost everything I watch I can get online. Sports is the one thing that is holding me back. It doesn't seem there are a ton of great internet options for watching live sports. New online networks like ESPN3 and the like still have to be tied to your cable subscription to be able to access.

Wanted to hear from cable cutters to see what solutions you had. My primary concern is college football and basketball. I'm married and have one kid and another on the way, so the "go to a bar to watch the game you want to" isn't always a viable solution.

I don't really see it as a viable solution even if you are able to leave the house all day to drink. Four bar tabs in a month would be more than my cable bill. Pretty easily, methinks.

Unless you want to be the guy at the bar sipping iced tea and eating the free chips and salsa.

[barbogast]

I've come up with a solution for this, but I have satellite. So maybe it won't help much.

Through DirecTV, there is an option to suspend your account for any amount of time not exceeding 6 months per year. While your account is suspended you don't have to pay anything, but obviously you will have no connection. There is no limit as to how many times you turn it on and back off again as long as your total suspension time is less than 6 months. Fortunately the NHL is in synch with many of my favorite shows, as well as football, so I've been cutting off my cable in the summer for two years in a row now and it's been awesome.

[Rodey]

I know a few people who use digital antennas to get local channels (great for the NFL) and then use a friend/family member password for the WatchESPN app to get access to other stuff. Seems to work fairly well for them.

[MOWJO8185]

Originally Posted by Rodey

I know a few people who use digital antennas to get local channels (great for the NFL) and then use a friend/family member password for the WatchESPN app to get access to other stuff. Seems to work fairly well for them.

Right, getting a digital antenna would work great for the NFL. Basically only miss out on TNF (which I almost never watch) and MNF. Even college football, ABC has games on all day basically, just no guaranteeing they'd be the games I want.

My preference is for a legal way to get to ESPN's content (would pay without thinking twice for access there), but I don't think the industry is there yet. The password sharing would definitely work in the interim.

[Rodey]

Originally Posted by MOWJO8185

Right, getting a digital antenna would work great for the NFL. Basically only miss out on TNF (which I almost never watch) and MNF. Even college football, ABC has games on all day basically, just no guaranteeing they'd be the games I want.

My preference is for a legal way to get to ESPN's content (would pay without thinking twice for access there), but I don't think the industry is there yet. The password sharing would definitely work in the interim.

I guess I don't really view using a family member's login info as illegal. Like, if I could use my parents' login for WatchESPN I'd definitely ditch cable and wouldn't feel like it was illegal, because they're paying for their DirecTV and don't have the ability to stream since they're out in the country, so it's basically a service they aren't using. Someone may as well take advantage of it.

[HoldemHart]

I've purchased bootleg passwords for NBA league pass on ebay that past two years. Which has worked out well, the only caveat is that if you live in the city of your favorite team, you'll be blacked out.

[MOWJO8185]

Originally Posted by HoldemHart

I've purchased bootleg passwords for NBA league pass on ebay that past two years. Which has worked out well, the only caveat is that if you live in the city of your favorite team, you'll be blacked out.

Yeah I saw the same thing for MLB.tv. I'd really only want to watch the Cardinals, and living in St. Louis, they would basically be the only team I COULDN'T watch.

[HoldemHart]

Originally Posted by MOWJO8185

Yeah I saw the same thing for MLB.tv. I'd really only want to watch the Cardinals, and living in St. Louis, they would basically be the only team I COULDN'T watch.

Yeah it blows. I live in Orlando and can't watch the Magic but in my case I enjoy watching all of the NBA so it makes it worth it to me.

[TapNorris]

Cut cable over the summer. Got an Apple TV, which has the WatchESPN app on it. I use my parents cable account for access to it's content. I also use their account for access to Big Ten Network & CBS Sports on my ipad and I AirPlay it to my tv. I use an antenna for ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX sporting events. It does make it more difficult to flip through football games on Saturdays, so I'm usually just picking one or two games I really want to watch and following other games on my phone.

It doesn't help with NBA on TNT at all though.

[Rodey]

I believe you can watch all NBA on TNT games on the TNT website. Could be lying, though.

[TapNorris]

Originally Posted by Rodey

I believe you can watch all NBA on TNT games on the TNT website. Could be lying, though.

I think you're right, but the slapdicks at Time Warner won't allow the content to be played with their accounts.

[spoot388]

our answer may the on the horizon. ESPN is looking to launch a streaming channel for live sports separate from any cable service.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/...0HV1SC20141006

[Arby]

We're getting closer and closer to internet TV!

DISH has announced a $20 monthly service (no contract, cancel anytime) for a handful of stations 'broadcast' online. Stations include ESPN and ESPN2!

Sling Site:
http://www.sling.com/

CNET article:
http://www.cnet.com/news/dish-launch...s-espn-disney/



This is a great step towards getting rid of cable - especially for sports fans obviously.

[Rodey]

Saw that the other night. Definitely will consider it, but Dish is the worst (not like actually satellite, the company) so I'll wait for reviews.

[DaveHead36]

Originally Posted by TapNorris

Cut cable over the summer. Got an Apple TV, which has the WatchESPN app on it. I use my parents cable account for access to it's content. I also use their account for access to Big Ten Network & CBS Sports on my ipad and I AirPlay it to my tv. I use an antenna for ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX sporting events. It does make it more difficult to flip through football games on Saturdays, so I'm usually just picking one or two games I really want to watch and following other games on my phone.

It doesn't help with NBA on TNT at all though.

This is what I do. Get my fix of college and NFL through ESPN and then stream everything else from my computer via Airplay. It does help that I have a generic TWC account from my old apartment complex (basic cable was free but I still got a "bill" and just used that account number). Otherwise I would suggest using a friend/family.

[Tiduwho]

Cut cable and couldn't be happier. Bought an $80 antenna that gets in 33 channels so all basic networks are covered. That leaves ESPN and TNT. For now, I am just finding streams or going elsewhere. Paying $124/mo for cable + sports package is gone.


Internet TV would be a blessing, provided its either affordable a la carte or packages that make sense. None of this "ESPN on one package, ESPN 2 on the other package" to force you to get both with a bunch of channels you don't want.

[GSUdawg521]

I cut cable for about a year before I moved to my current apartment which pays for basic cable, so, not that I'm forced into having it, but I might as well.

But I enjoyed it while I went without it. I got an indoor antenna which got me the big basic HD channels. I too had someone else's account I was mooching off of (in this case, my ex's family ) which kept me going on ESPN, HBOGo, etc. on my Xbox or Chromecasts.

The only thing I personally didn't fully enjoy was not being able to see most Braves games, since MLBtv doesn't work if you live in the area of your team. Occasionally games are on a major network or ESPN or are the "free game of the day" on MLBtv. But usually I used a bootleg website that streamed live sports. Shitty quality, but it worked.

[Doors Allan Coe]

Sports are the only reason I have cable...

[Noles20]

Reviving this thread as technology has advanced just a bit in the last 4 years. What has everyone had the best success with when it comes to cutting cable. I am thinking about keeping Xfinity for internet and getting Hulu live. It seems to have all the channels I want including local sports. Anyone have this or something as good or better?

[pathetic]

i just moved out of my apartment and cancelled cable. YoutubeTV or PS Vue are the two options i'm looking at. I'll be able to stream sox, celtics and bruins because the local channels are available in the Boston market. $40-50 per month with no commitment

[Chumlee67]

Cutting the cord this month. I'm going with YoutubeTV (for the reasons pathetic listed above). I got a Roku TV so I'll be supplementing the channels my fiance watches by using my parents login for cable.

[CrushB610]

Originally Posted by Noles20

Reviving this thread as technology has advanced just a bit in the last 4 years. What has everyone had the best success with when it comes to cutting cable. I am thinking about keeping Xfinity for internet and getting Hulu live. It seems to have all the channels I want including local sports. Anyone have this or something as good or better?

I use PS Vue and is has all the local sports ya need. I get both Philly NBC stations. Also if you’re a college sports fan it has more games than my previous package did with RCN and you get the MLB/NBA/NHL/NFL networks.

Bill is $50/month.

[Gorge18Hopeful]

Just local antenna and reddit streams for me. However will be adding the mlb.tv subscription in April.

[MOWJO8185]

I have subscribed to Sling, PS Vue, and Youtube TV all at different points as they have added/dropped channels over the last 2-3 years. For my own channel needs, and for stream quality (no buffering issues at all) I have easily found Youtube TV to the best of those 3. Has all the sports I need, and in terms of video reliability it's hard to top the Youtube technology. Plus the DVR is completely unlimited and stays in your account for 9 months, and for sports, all you have to do is select your favorite teams and they will automatically DVR the games - you don't have to remember to record individual games. The DVR library sorts nicely too, with TV, Movies, Sports and events all in different sections.

[Ascf33]

Internet and DTV Now. I buy MLB.TV every year for $7 from eBay and the NFL Sunday Ticket U for $99. Reddit streams and Apple TV cast to my TV for everything else.

[Ascf33]

Originally Posted by Gorge18Hopeful

Just local antenna and reddit streams for me. However will be adding the mlb.tv subscription in April.

Buy it from eBay. I paid $7 last year.

[Ascf33]

What's a big pain in the ass is MASN, where the Orioles play, doesn't have any online streaming. They're considered my home team and blacked out on MLB.TV the Yankees play them 20 times a year, I have to rely on reddit for that.

[GSUdawg521]

Pretty much the same as I mentioned in here 4 years ago. As of last year I only have AT&T fiber 100gb, no cable. I have an indoor antenna that I don't watch a lot but it is good for sports since I can get Fox, CBS, NBC. I used to get ABC with it in my bedroom upstairs but not where it is now. BUT ESPN shows the ABC games. So I still do some password sharing with my in-laws for ESPN, and my parents for Fox Sports which is how I've watched all Braves and Atlanta United games.

Summed up: indoor antenna and password sharing for apps. We do 99% of our tv watching on the Firestick.