Need info from cord cutters

[American Gunner]

I am pretty sick of spending as much money as I do for tv, but my biggest problem is that I am a huge football (both pro and college) and don't know if there is an easy way to watch those without a tv package? Also, what is the easiest way to stream stuff from my pc or tablet to my tv for the few shows that aren't covered on hulu and netflix?

 

[webdave]

You should be able to pick up the Sunday and Thursday pro games over the air. Same for the Saturday college games. The Monday night game is on EPSN so you would need someone's cable/satellite credentials to stream it legally. There also sites that stream all games illegally.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Stream ESPN? Chromecast is easy and cheap.

 

[slag]

Might find something in here useful?

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2383819

 

[American Gunner]

I was thinking about going with the chromecast. Now that CBS has their own streaming service for $6 a month, that makes it even easier. The last piece that I would be missing is HBO, but they said they are going the same route and giving us standalone service, hopefully by the time the next game of thrones comes out.

 

[Jimzz]

Yea I watch OTA Digital for sports. I live near a large city that has a lot of sports teams so if you live in the middle of no-where then it may not be as good.

 

[Ns1]

I am pretty sick of spending as much money as I do for tv, but my biggest problem is that I am a huge football (both pro and college) and don't know if there is an easy way to watch those without a tv package? Also, what is the easiest way to stream stuff from my pc or tablet to my tv for the few shows that aren't covered on hulu and netflix?

if you are have internet with an ESPN partner (e.g. timewarner) you can use espn3/watch espn

if you want to watch your sunday/monday/thursday/saturday football with ease you're screwed.

If you got rabbit ears you can expect an average of 5 games per saturday/sunday, 2@10am 2@2pm and 1@5pm. they are usually not the games you want to watch.

 

[Childs]

NFL has a package called Game Rewind. 30 min after a game finishes, you can watch the full game or watch it condensed to 30 min. They cut out everything in between the plays, and only replay crucial plays. Its $70 for the season, and you get access to all games going back to 2012.

https://gamerewind.nfl.com/nflgr/se...aign=Prod_GR_Nav&cvsorc=Homepage.GR.Video_Nav

 

[American Gunner]

I doubt I can get OTA to work, because I live a few hours away from the nearest major city.

 

[Ns1]

I doubt I can get OTA to work, because I live a few hours away from the nearest major city.

then you're screwed and satellite/cable got you by the balls.

 

[Jimzz]

I doubt I can get OTA to work, because I live a few hours away from the nearest major city.

I live in NoVA and can pick up a couple stations in Baltimore. If you get a decent size antenna and put it on the roof, or worse case the attic, and aim it properly you can pick up quite a few.

 

[steppinthrax]

I cut my Comcast bill from 120 a month to 70 a month. I cut out everything except the internet. I think they call that "cord shaving". Anyway if someone in my area provides just internet I would drop Comcast faster than a bad habit.

 

[Ns1]

I cut my Comcast bill from 120 a month to 70 a month. I cut out everything except the internet. I think they call that "cord shaving". Anyway if someone in my area provides just internet I would drop Comcast faster than a bad habit.

damn, times must be tough if you're holding down two 120k jobs and can't afford 120/month for cable.

 

[Scarpozzi]

I like DirecTV...with kids, the best thing in the world is to have the Genie and being able to watch the same recorded shows in any room of the house...

I'm still angry at how companies try to offer discounts for bundling and don't price things competitively to begin with. I cancelled my cable internet at home out of spite. I'm using the wifi hotspot on my phone for free when I need it and saving $60 a month.

 

[rudder]

Find some friends who like the same teams as you. Hang out at their place on Sunday.

 

[Ns1]

I like DirecTV...with kids, the best thing in the world is to have the Genie and being able to watch the same recorded shows in any room of the house...

DTV fees are absurd tho.

 

[SP33Demon]

Shady websites and good AV/anti-spyware.

 

[Ns1]

Shady websites and good AV/anti-spyware.

terribad picture quality, esp if you're used to HD everything and reliability leaves much to be desired.

 

[dr150]

I doubt I can get OTA to work, because I live a few hours away from the nearest major city.

OTA antennas I've seen in the store go to 60+ miles away.

Go here to see what channels you can reliably get in your area:
http://www.antennaweb.org/Address.aspx

In my experience, OTA antennas should be roof mounted as the digital interior paper flat antennas are unreliable. EXPERIMENT with these antennas BEFORE going forward with your cord cutting theme. You can always return the antenna.

Once you got that figured out and dialed in, you'll likely want a DVR type of machine. There's different ways to do that, either with a desktop, Tivo type machine or some other setup.

Thirdly, you'll want to perhaps sign-up for some streams for stuff you really like.

Fourth, get yoself one of these for ultimate flexibility in terms of finding programming from around the world, streaming from desktop to TV, etc, etc. It's an extremely flexible open ended type of device (just be sure to pair it with a wireless mini keyboard). Go to Youtube to see them in action with XBMC, etc.:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[Ns1]

OTA antennas I've seen in the store go to 60+ miles away.

if it takes him "a few hours" to get to nearest town I assumed the distance was > 60miles...

 

[LucJoe]

Kodi + TVaddons

 

[13Gigatons]

Dropped Cable TV long ago. It was just to repetitive plus saturated with commercials. They expect us to spend $500 a month on TV, Internet, Mobile, Land line, etc.

 

[poofyhairguy]

OP, the answer is you don't. With HBO ditching cable live sports is now the linchpin of the whole thing. That is why cable/dish companies will fight to the death over something like AMC or CBS but will be the first ones to sign up for the new SEC Network.

The cable companies know that live sports is their ONLY chance to get young males to buy into their system and so they will do EVERYTHING in their power to lock down sports content. In fact ESPN knows that they know this, and that is why the full ESPN package costs EVERY cable subscriber (including those who hate sports) $10+ dollars a month.

 

[American Gunner]

Can you stream stuff from a PC to a chromecast or is it only for tablets and phones?

 

[MrSquished]

if you are have internet with an ESPN partner (e.g. timewarner) you can use espn3/watch espn

if you want to watch your sunday/monday/thursday/saturday football with ease you're screwed.

If you got rabbit ears you can expect an average of 5 games per saturday/sunday, 2@10am 2@2pm and 1@5pm. they are usually not the games you want to watch.

OP i am in the same boat as you even though I live 10 miles from NYC. Because of the topography of my apartment, no amplified antennae could get the OTA channels that would carry the football games. however optimum had a package that just gave you all the local broadcast chanels in HD for 20 bucks a month. I got that and it turned out to be 10 bucks as it lowered my internet bill since I added a service. Check with your local cable company if they provide that.

NFL Sunday Ticket is available in just a streaming package:

http://nflst.directv.com/DTVAPP/nfl..._clickid=19e59804-ba49-82c8-6202-0000043d55c9

It's valid so far right now in 3 major metro areas and about ten universities. I qualify and am thinking of buying it. Keep in mind it does not get the Monday night games or Thursday night games. However the Thursday night games are now shown by CBS so that's easy. They also blackout your local teams game on Sunday ticket.

as far as the espn thing mentioned in the quoted post above, that espn thing doesn't work for me. my parents have espn and optimum which i have also and at their house i can stream espn using their name and password. but when i go to the espn site to sign in on my network it won't let me put it a username and password it uses my IP, knows I don't pay for ESPN and says that service is not available.

there is one more thing you can do also. if you know anyone with the NFL Sunday Ticket they can also stream all the games online by logging onto their DirecTV account. most probably don't use that feature and just watch it on tv. i had a friend who let me use his login a few years back and i'd stream the games anywhere I was (I traveled for work a lot then)