Paramount +

[ncted]

I have Paramount+ and my issue is with Live TV. My ISP is ATT Air Home Internet, which frequently gives me a Chicago IP, so Paramount+ thinks I am in Chicago. So I only get CBS Chicago, not my local.

So, I just changed my router (went from pfsense to opnsense in the process). I went from getting Wichita local CBS station in Paramount+ to getting the Raleigh, NC local station. I checked my old IP in several online geolocation databases, and discovered it was not in several of them, while the new IP is in all of them. Paramount+ seems to rely solely on one of these databases which is missing data for my old IP, instead of also using GPS location. I suspect this is similar to your problem in that Paramount+ is only using the IP data to determine your location.

 

[comfortably_numb]

I suspect this is similar to your problem in that Paramount+ is only using the IP data to determine your location.

I now think it depends on the device. I get Chicago on my Roku, since there's no way for P+ to use GPS there, only IP. But on my phone, I get Kansas City, since the P+ iPhone app can locate me via true GPS.

 

[odbrv]

The 4K inconsistency is not that big of a deal to me, since I usually can't tell the difference between HD and 4K. However, I do notice and appreciate the shows that are HDR.

The biggest problem I have with Paramount+ is that sometimes when trying to watch a movie the screen goes black and stays black. I have to exit the Paramount+ app and then restart it, which usually solves the problem. I don't have this problem with other apps, so I am pretty sure that it is not a problem with my internet, which is fiber optic.

Anyone else with this problem?

I have a Firestick 4k connected to a LG OLED. I have to try 2-3 times to get Paramount + to load. I have a 2nd LG OLED using a ROKU 4k device and never have a problem loading the Paramount+ app.

 

[Bruce]

I have a Firestick 4k connected to a LG OLED. I have to try 2-3 times to get Paramount + to load. I have a 2nd LG OLED using a ROKU 4k device and never have a problem loading the Paramount+ app.

Fire units have always had issues with certain apps, the Paramount issue is widely known.

Just bought the new Roku Ultra, had it for a week now, so much faster then the 2022 model ( which was moved to the outdoor theater, replacing a older stick), every app has worked perfectly.

 

[savarese04]

Honestly, your best bet will always be an Apple TV because of how the ecosystems work. Developers build apps for Apple and Android. Apple device code is fairly uniform across all OS platforms (iOS, iPadOS, tvOS) and so your chances of stability are highest there.

Android apps are also high priority, but because of how Android is fragmented, you'll always have a bit less luck there. Android TV and Fire TV are pretty much forks off main Android and are usually a few versions behind the latest Android LTS for phones. This leads to some feature breakage and reliability problems. LIke anything YMMV and some people experience zero problems, while others just have a terrible experience.

These days, I think Roku increasingly falls in between Apple and Android. Developers are really starting to target that for their apps and I welcome that. Most people are very happy with the Roku ecosystem, so if you're not an Apple guy, you probably should go with that.

Personally, I had a lot of FireTV devices but the reliability started declining and the ads started increasing. I think I only have one Fire Stick left now and it's in a room I barely watch TV in.

 

[comfortably_numb]

Most people are very happy with the Roku ecosystem

Love my Roku's. Never any issues with their apps!

 

[Bruce]

These days, I think Roku increasingly falls in between Apple and Android. Developers are really starting to target that for their apps and I welcome that. Most people are very happy with the Roku ecosystem, so if you're not an Apple guy, you probably should go with that.

Apple’s streaming device, while increasing, has a real low market share-

• Roku leads the North American CTV device market with 48% SOV
• Samsung Smart TV ranks second with 10% SOV, -49% YoY from Q1 2023 to Q1 2024
• Amazon Fire TV ranks third with 10% SOV
• Apple TV ranks fourth with 8% SOV, increasing +58% YoY from Q1 2023 to Q1 2024

Q1 2024 CTV Device Global Market Share Report - North America

Pixalate's Q1 2024 CTV Device Global Market Share Report provides a market analysis of the top CTV devices based on open programmatic ad traffic across the North America region.

www.pixalate.com

 

[ncted]

Google TV is now winning the TV race — and it has blown past Roku

Are there any signs of Google’s TV dominance slowing?

www.tomsguide.com

I'd choose Roku over Google if I had to. All my TVs have AppleTV 4Ks currently. Hard to beat the performance and functionality, if not the price. I do have a 2022 Roku Ultra in the Living Room as a backup device in case some app is buggy on the ATV4K, but I haven't used in in months.

 

[Jimbo]

Honestly, your best bet will always be an Apple TV because of how the ecosystems work. Developers build apps for Apple and Android. Apple device code is fairly uniform across all OS platforms (iOS, iPadOS, tvOS) and so your chances of stability are highest there.

Android apps are also high priority, but because of how Android is fragmented, you'll always have a bit less luck there. Android TV and Fire TV are pretty much forks off main Android and are usually a few versions behind the latest Android LTS for phones. This leads to some feature breakage and reliability problems. LIke anything YMMV and some people experience zero problems, while others just have a terrible experience.

These days, I think Roku increasingly falls in between Apple and Android. Developers are really starting to target that for their apps and I welcome that. Most people are very happy with the Roku ecosystem, so if you're not an Apple guy, you probably should go with that.

Personally, I had a lot of FireTV devices but the reliability started declining and the ads started increasing. I think I only have one Fire Stick left now and it's in a room I barely watch TV in.

IF That was the case, why doesn't Apple TV out sell all others 3 to 1 ?????

edit:
Sorry Bruce, answered before I got to your post.

 

[b4pjoe]

IF That was the case, why doesn't Apple TV out sell all others 3 to 1 ?????

Mainly because of the price. I am willing to pay the price. The Up Next feature on the Apple TV makes it worth the extra money to me.

Plus there are no ads in the UI.

 

[ncted]

IF That was the case, why doesn't Apple TV out sell all others 3 to 1 ?????

edit:
Sorry Bruce, answered before I got to your post.

Mainly because of the price. I am willing to pay the price. The Up Next feature on the Apple TV makes it worth the extra money to me.

Plus there are no ads in the UI.

I'm going to add that most people aren't going to buy any streaming box until or unless their SmartTV is unusable. Apple is the only major platform that isn't built into TVs. Android/Google, Roku, FireTV, Samsung Tizen, etc. all come included when you buy a TV. If you've just plunked hundreds or thousands of dollars down on a TV, are you really going to want to also spend over a hundred more to buy a box that ostensibly does the same thing that the TV already does on its own? Most people will not, at least until such time as they get so frustrated by the built-in software that they start asking if there is another option. If Apple had found a good partner to sell TVs with tvOS built-in, I suspect the platform would be far more popular.

 

[comfortably_numb]

I'm going to add that most people aren't going to buy any streaming box until or unless their SmartTV is unusable

My family might be an exception; we always use a Roku regardless of the type of TV I have. The UI is uniform for every device. I don't always find smart TV apps to be very uniform or compatible.

 

[Bobby]

My family might be an exception; we always use a Roku regardless of the type of TV I have. The UI is the uniform for every device. I don't always find smart TV apps to be very uniform or compatible.

and I find TV apps to be appreciably slower than Apple, Roku, Fire....

 

[b4pjoe]

I'm going to add that most people aren't going to buy any streaming box until or unless their SmartTV is unusable. Apple is the only major platform that isn't built into TVs. Android/Google, Roku, FireTV, Samsung Tizen, etc. all come included when you buy a TV. If you've just plunked hundreds or thousands of dollars down on a TV, are you really going to want to also spend over a hundred more to buy a box that ostensibly does the same thing that the TV already does on its own? Most people will not, at least until such time as they get so frustrated by the built-in software that they start asking if there is another option. If Apple had found a good partner to sell TVs with tvOS built-in, I suspect the platform would be far more popular.

To each their own. I do not even allow my smart TV's to be connected to the internet. My choice. Everyone else is entitled to make their choices.

 

[comfortably_numb]

and I find TV apps to be appreciably slower than Apple, Roku, Fire....

Yep, that too.

 

[ncted]

My family might be an exception; we always use a Roku regardless of the type of TV I have. The UI is uniform for every device. I don't always find smart TV apps to be very uniform or compatible.

and I find TV apps to be appreciably slower than Apple, Roku, Fire....

To each their own. I do not even allow my smart TV's to be connected to the internet. My choice. Everyone else is entitled to make their choices.

Yep, that too.

As has been noted before around here, we're probably not typical users.

 

[comfortably_numb]

As has been noted before around here, we're probably not typical users.

That's the old saying around here, "Satelliteguys are not your normal customers."

There was even a user here who had that as his slogan. Can't remember who.

 

[osu1991]

I have AppleTV 4k's on all of the tv's that I use. I have Roku 4K+ sticks on them as backup and for my mom as she knows how to use it and I didn't want to make her learn a new remote or screen layout when we moved her to my home earlier this year after she had a stroke.

Got rid of the slow ad laden Fire Sticks a couple of years ago.

I had an abundance of 1080p and 4k tv's from 50-75in after we sold the Las Vegas property and my dad didn't have any place for them. Then my dad passed away shortly after that and I had everything in his house here that my stepmom didn't need as her kids moved her to an assisted living facility. Gave many of them to family members. Had one 50in Samsung non smart tv left that my niece had been using. She put it in their neighborhood garage sale this weekend. Couldn't even sell it for $20 as everyone complained it didn't have any smart features and they would have to purchase an additional streaming device.


Also had one old DTVPal OTA dvr left. Nobody wanted it either as they said they used streaming only. Taking them both to goodwill her shortly, along with a bunch of other electronics that I've just now got around to going through.

 

[MikeD-C05]

The only problem I have had with Roku is on my TABLO app with two sub channels of my ABC/NBC stations (Metv and Cozi). When I tune to either sub channel it will play normally then the picture goes black for a second or two then when it comes back it is in slow mo but the sound is normal. Doesn't matter if it is recorded or recording or just live this happens. I check on my Fire TV and it doesn't do this. So I have to watch my TABLO on my Fire TVs instead of the Roku. I tried system restart on the Roku and the TABLO and it still doesn't work.