Question about savings as a cord cutter

[andy_horton]

Obvious savings..1)$14.50 sports & tv fee 2)$10 HD fee 3)$10 DVR fee 4)$11 gateway fee--Immediate $35 saved..however speed is is 25Mbps down (sufficient for just me..) But looking at currently having just Philo and antenna, Bundled price for similar channels is after taxes/fees with cable/net =$130.83. If I kept current set up, do I include internet price I'm charged seperately by cable for internet which is $50.83? I've seen ppl say include cost, others say I'd have internet anyway (I would..) Relative pays Netflix a yr at a time so that is paid even though I pay monthly for it..so in essence I'd save around $70 a month, 25 Mbps speed vs 150Mbps down with more channels I do enjoy like Flix and Starz/Encore (could get a la carte thru Google Play) and buy seasons thru Vudu to own as certain shows don't seem $$ viable to order with a 2 yr contract. Flip side, reception is good now on antenna, but many issues with amp, no amp, (2 amps fried over 3 yrs) must use 2 antennas (signals from diff directions)..need some input!
Side note--adding YTTV with Showtime/Starz =$60 Philo=$20 net is $50 again question is if ALL cost included it roughly equals same as cable and net but much higher speeds and honestly rather have Cinemax channels with Starz/Encore than Showtime..(YTTV doesn't offer Cinemax, DTVN does, only way to get Encore channels alone is Gotta Have It pack.) If I don't include internet cost, issue is easier to differentiate as I do see more savings and can do more adding/dropping a service at any point. Thank you!!

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[andy_horton]

Obvious savings..1)$14.50 sports & tv fee 2)$10 HD fee 3)$10 DVR fee 4)$11 gateway fee--Immediate $35 saved..however speed is is 25Mbps down (sufficient for just me..) But looking at currently having just Philo and antenna, Bundled price for similar channels is after taxes/fees with cable/net =$130.83. If I kept current set up, do I include internet price I'm charged seperately by cable for internet which is $50.83? I've seen ppl say include cost, others say I'd have internet anyway (I would..) Relative pays Netflix a yr at a time so that is paid even though I pay monthly for it..so in essence I'd save around $70 a month, 25 Mbps speed vs 150Mbps down with more channels I do enjoy like Flix and Starz/Encore (could get a la carte thru Google Play) and buy seasons thru Vudu to own as certain shows don't seem $$ viable to order with a 2 yr contract. Flip side, reception is good now on antenna, but many issues with amp, no amp, (2 amps fried over 3 yrs) must use 2 antennas (signals from diff directions)..need some input!
Side note--adding YTTV with Showtime/Starz =$60 Philo=$20 net is $50 again question is if ALL cost included it roughly equals same as cable and net but much higher speeds and honestly rather have Cinemax channels with Starz/Encore than Showtime..(YTTV doesn't offer Cinemax, DTVN does, only way to get Encore channels alone is Gotta Have It pack.) If I don't include internet cost, issue is easier to differentiate as I do see more savings and can do more adding/dropping a service at any point. Thank you!!

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EDIT--SAVINGS IMMEDIATE IS $11 mkre. I forgot to add $11 fee for gateway rental bit did list it....

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[harshness]

If you want to compare your costs with others, some portion of the broadband costs probably should be included (perhaps anything more than 1Mbps). For most households, the reason they have high speed broadband is because they need it to watch videos so it seems reasonable to assign most of their broadband cost to TV reception when claiming savings.

It is dangerous to declare savings as "obvious" because you're obviously not considering any pain and suffering involved in viewing the programming the way (and at the quality) you want to view it. If you have to plan ahead and schedule a download of a program before you can view it (common in satellite broadband and DSL situations), that's a cost. If you have to watch commercials that others don't have to endure, that's a cost. If the content you get is delivered at 720p30 when it was originally 720p60 or 1080i, that's a cost.

 

[NYDutch]

If you would have the same Internet service regardless of streaming, and aren't upgrading your speed just because of streaming, then, no, I would not include it any more than I would include the cost of the electricity for the TV to watch the streaming programs. As for speeds, I'll just mention that we watched a 3 hour hockey game on the NHL TV app on our FireTVstick the other night from a remote state park location where the best speed I could get on my cell hotspot was about 7 Mbps. For the entire length of the game, there was only a few seconds of buffering, and even that happened to hit during commercials. I've tested streaming on a 3G only hotspot that never gets over 3 Mbps without enough buffering to be very annoying, although the resolution was reduced as expected.

 

[ncted]

If you want to compare your costs with others, some portion of the broadband costs probably should be included (perhaps anything more than 1Mbps). For most households, the reason they have high speed broadband is because they need it to watch videos so it seems reasonable to assign most of their broadband cost to TV reception when claiming savings.

I disagree. Even if they aren't cord cutters, most people do not have HSI just for watching videos. Modern web browsing, where page weight routinely exceeds 1MB in size, requires broadband to be usable. When you throw in social media like Facebook, Instagram, etc., gaming, working from home, and other non-video pastimes, broadband is essential to a typical lifestyle in developed countries. Secondly, aside from rural areas, have you tried actually getting a low speed internet connection any more? The slowest offered speed I could find for my address is 12Mb from Frontier, which is certainly sufficient to cut the cord in my household. I think the slowest Spectrum offers is 25Mbps, and you have to meet certain financial criteria to get that. AT&T's slowest is 100Mbps. No one is banging down my door to sell me 1.5Mbps DSL. Whether people cut the cord or not, they are going to have HSI these days, assuming they can get it.

I cut the cord for 2 years. I had Tivo with OTA, and subscribed to Netflix, Prime, Hulu, and HBO/Starz (at certain times). It saved me a lot of money. If I had good OTA reception at my new location, I'd consider doing it again, probably with something like Philo to get certain channels. I never considered getting slower internet service just because I got Satellite again.

 

[Zookster]

Even my dad who will be a Dish Network customer for the rest of his life needs high-speed internet. Like me he probably doesn't need 100 Mbs to watch YouTube videos, download photos from my sister, and play his computer games, but if you go to our cable company's website, they don't even advertise a speed lower than 100 Mbs per second. I think they do have lower speeds, but you just have to call or go into one of their neighborhood stores to specially request it. But even then, based on last time I've seen lower speeds offered, you're probably still going to be paying $60/mo instead of $80/mo for a small fraction of the speed.

When not bundled with cable TV, that 100 Mbs service only costs me $5 more. So when I calculate my savings as a cord cutter, I just factor in the $5 extra I'm paying. I have a home based business, so high-speed internet is a must for me regardless, and I can deduct part of it on my taxes. However, two years into being a cord cutter, I can't honestly say how much I'm saving at this point over cable, as their current full prices on everything (including various tacked-on fees) are so hidden, I can't tell how much more they've gone up since I last received a bill. (I'm only shown the promo price.) I do know when I was a cable TV customer, I never paid the extra $$ it would cost me in box rental/DVR fees to get access in other rooms, which would've added +$20 for whole-home DVR access + $10 per box. But with YouTube TV, I have access to all my channels and DVR'd shows in every room (including my kitchen) for exactly $0 in extra fees.

Depending on his viewing habits, the OP might want to factor in if he really needs Starz/Showtime/Cinemax every month of the year and just alternate subbing to one or two month to month (it's easier to add and cancel when not going through your cable/sat TV provider, which in some cases may charge a fee for cancelling). That's what I do with HBO Now, CBS All Access, and Hulu. I don't even factor those add-ons into my costs of cord-cutting as, like Netflix and Amazon Prime, I would be subbing to them anyway, costing the same.

 

[andy_horton]

Even my dad who will be a Dish Network customer for the rest of his life needs high-speed internet. Like me he probably doesn't need 100 Mbs to watch YouTube videos, download photos from my sister, and play his computer games, but if you go to our cable company's website, they don't even advertise a speed lower than 100 Mbs per second. I think they do have lower speeds, but you just have to call or go into one of their neighborhood stores to specially request it. But even then, based on last time I've seen lower speeds offered, you're probably still going to be paying $60/mo instead of $80/mo for a small fraction of the speed.

When not bundled with cable TV, that 100 Mbs service only costs me $5 more. So when I calculate my savings as a cord cutter, I just factor in the $5 extra I'm paying. I have a home based business, so high-speed internet is a must for me regardless, and I can deduct part of it on my taxes. However, two years into being a cord cutter, I can't honestly say how much I'm saving at this point over cable, as their current full prices on everything (including various tacked-on fees) are so hidden, I can't tell how much more they've gone up since I last received a bill. (I'm only shown the promo price.) I do know when I was a cable TV customer, I never paid the extra $$ it would cost me in box rental/DVR fees to get access in other rooms, which would've added +$20 for whole-home DVR access + $10 per box. But with YouTube TV, I have access to all my channels and DVR'd shows in every room (including my kitchen) for exactly $0 in extra fees.

Depending on his viewing habits, the OP might want to factor in if he really needs Starz/Showtime/Cinemax every month of the year and just alternate subbing to one or two month to month (it's easier to add and cancel when not going through your cable/sat TV provider, which in some cases may charge a fee for cancelling). That's what I do with HBO Now, CBS All Access, and Hulu. I don't even factor those add-ons into my costs of cord-cutting as, like Netflix and Amazon Prime, I would be subbing to them anyway, costing the same.

Zookster, what I was thinking. Currently with just Philo and an outdoor antenna I pay $20 for actual t.v. service. No fee for HD, Philo has built in DVR, yes, I'd have internet anyway. Next speed up is only 60 Mbps, and is $10 more with minimal increase in upload speed (not really of concern as I don't upload anything but basic info like this post or picture occasionally. Netflix is like I said a gift paid to me shared. I've had that anyway. Only extra is for baseball for my out of market team(s) at $115 season. Don't worry about postseason really until World Series which is free on FOX. My college football team is usually on ABC or FOX (Ohio State) occasionally on ESPN, but a missed game isn't a deal breaker. Actually turning off YTTV, when I looked at my viewing habits, most shows (many others) are on Netflix. I also have been looking I to buying to own series or seasons if they come that way on Vudu or wherever is cheaper. The base rate for even many channels Philo has you must pay for through the highest tier of Comcast that I watch..it starts at $80+14.50 for tv fee and reg sports fee. Then, add $10 for HD. Add taxes and franchise fees you're up to $105, 1 tv. Also, many channels even with HD fee aren't in HD. Won't even add DVR. Yes, good point of alternating Showtime and Starz which actually I never have cared for Starz all that much. So I actually could see just getting YTTV and Showtime thus saving $9 a month. Here, you're forced to take it with their bundled service. (Buried in cost) not to mention min 2 yr contract.

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[Zookster]

I'm fortunate that YTTV meets 95% of my channel needs. The only channels that would be nice (but not a deal-breaker because I would have to pay extra for add-on channel tiers with my cable co. to get them anyway) are Pac-12 and NFL Network (I actually have access to a close family member's Dish Anywhere, so covered that way for a must-watch game).

My grandfathered $35/mo price with YTTV keeps me from flirting with other services. Nothing comes close to that price for what I need. YTTV could double that price, and I would still save significantly over cable if I wanted the same level of whole-home access and niche sports channels like Tennis Channel, CBS Sports Network, ESPNU, MLB, etc. I've also grown accustomed to the unlimited cloud DVR, so I never have to worry about deleting things or recording every college football game, baseball playoff game, all-day US Open Tennis coverage, etc. Everything I watch is effectively "on demand" and now officially commercial free (except for prime time shows on CBS and CW--for the latter, I wait until they come to NF).

For internet, another thing to watch for is data allotment. I think my cable company offers 1 TB/mo for all but their lowest econo income-level-qualified service. But it may be different with other providers (it was with mine; before last year, only the two highest tiers got more than 350 GB/mo for data).

 

[harshness]

I disagree. Even if they aren't cord cutters, most people do not have HSI just for watching videos. Modern web browsing, where page weight routinely exceeds 1MB in size, requires broadband to be usable.

So maybe the baseline is 10Mbps instead of one (although I'm not at all convinced). Then more than 12Mbps service (the lowest my local Comca$t offers) may be overkill. If they weren't keeping the prices on the low-end products so high (two speeds lower than 60 are the same price as 60), I'd probably step down at least to the 30Mbps product.

 

[andy_horton]

So maybe the baseline is 10Mbps instead of one (although I'm not at all convinced). Then more than 12Mbps service (the lowest my local Comca$t offers) may be overkill. If they weren't keeping the prices on the low-end products so high (two speeds lower than 60 are the same price as 60), I'd probably step down at least to the 30Mbps product.

I just have 25Mbps down. But I did get to keep my 1TB limit. I run at most usually 600GB or less. That's at 1080 60fps with YTTV. Netflix I have set to play medium setting (up to .7GB per hr and I must select next show so it doesn't auto play next ep. Being just me, for now it does great..(net.) On that speed I can even video Skype, and have YTTV playing and on fb..lol..I do wonder if I'd need to upgrade at some point for 4K streaming when I purchase a tv? I already have the plan for Netflix for that, so I'm curious if 25Mbps down would be pushing it to do practically anything else?

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[andy_horton]

I'm fortunate that YTTV meets 95% of my channel needs. The only channels that would be nice (but not a deal-breaker because I would have to pay extra for add-on channel tiers with my cable co. to get them anyway) are Pac-12 and NFL Network (I actually have access to a close family member's Dish Anywhere, so covered that way for a must-watch game).

My grandfathered $35/mo price with YTTV keeps me from flirting with other services. Nothing comes close to that price for what I need. YTTV could double that price, and I would still save significantly over cable if I wanted the same level of whole-home access and niche sports channels like Tennis Channel, CBS Sports Network, ESPNU, MLB, etc. I've also grown accustomed to the unlimited cloud DVR, so I never have to worry about deleting things or recording every college football game, baseball playoff game, all-day US Open Tennis coverage, etc. Everything I watch is effectively "on demand" and now officially commercial free (except for prime time shows on CBS and CW--for the latter, I wait until they come to NF).

For internet, another thing to watch for is data allotment. I think my cable company offers 1 TB/mo for all but their lowest econo income-level-qualified service. But it may be different with other providers (it was with mine; before last year, only the two highest tiers got more than 350 GB/mo for data).

Zookster, I decided to add back YTTV and keeping Philo. I reviewed most services & packages. Even at my $40 base price with YTTV, I am spolied by the DVR, especially with many restrictions lifted for VOD..(Never was a big deal..) Between Philo and YTTV like you, maybe a few channels more would be nice. Lol..but I'm SURELY NOT going to go back to contracts and overinflated price hikes, mostly on their refurbished equipment and then an extra few dollars on the tv and sports fee. Even at $80 for both Philo and YTTV, basically comes with all I need. As far a particular channel I'd like to see, some on Philo (ID, OWN) are similar to what I'd watch anyways. I appreciate everyone's help. By the way, I replied to harshness, but in regards to internet, 25Mbps down is more than plenty. Even on Wi-Fi using all sorts of various tests, from HTML 5 to just standard XFINITY speed tests, I usually get at or slightly over 30Mbps down. Crappy up between 2-2.5 Mbps up, but can Skype and run YTTV simultaneously. This level is called Performance Starter..$49.99 + minimal tax. No franchise fees either. Just taxes from GA and any local tax. This is the lowest level they will let me keep my 1TB cap. I run between 500-600GB per month. If I DVR off antenna I can watch, that's cool. But I do save a lot of data using my antenna. Plus many subchannels. Chattanooga TN market has exploded subchannel wise in about 6 months time!! YTTV carries all the majors including the CW.

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[harshness]

I already have the plan for Netflix for that, so I'm curious if 25Mbps down would be pushing it to do practically anything else?

25Mbps should be good for up to three HD streams (streaming isn't all that steady). I watch my Ethernet switch sometimes when things are slow and it goes for a second or two without activity when I'm watching an HD stream. UHD may be pushing it if there are any other Internet uses going on.

 

[tcat007]

Still finding it difficult to leave Dish Flex pack. Basic pack, with movie pack, with Hopper 3 and Joey, still under $100 total. EHD full of movies. Dish Anywhere on 3rd seldom used tv. If Youtube added Hallmark,, I'd probably consider it, since wife "needs" that channel.

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[Bruce]

Still finding it difficult to leave Dish Flex pack. Basic pack, with movie pack, with Hopper 3 and Joey, still under $100 total. EHD full of movies. Dish Anywhere on 3rd seldom used tv. If Youtube added Hallmark,, I'd probably consider it, since wife "needs" that channel.

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Vue is only $50 a month with up to 5 devices ( no box or DVR fees) and it does have the Hallmark Channel.

 

[Ronnie-]

Vue is only $50 a month with up to 5 devices ( no box or DVR fees) and it does have the Hallmark Channel.

And while I sub to yttv now, Vue is my next choice and an excellent service.

 

[Bruce]

And while I sub to yttv now, Vue is my next choice and an excellent service.

I would not mind giving YTTV a try but not until they get The Food Network channel, my wife would never allow switching, that is her must have.

 

[Ronnie-]

I would not mind giving YTTV a try but not until they get The Food Network channel, my wife would never allow switching, that is her must have.

Not sure what you pay now, but YTTV and subbing to Philo which has the food Network might be an option.

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[Bruce]

Not sure what you pay now, but YTTV and subbing to Philo which has the food Network might be an option.

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$50 (Core) and it has nothing to do with just money it is about ease of use, I can just imagine telling my wife (who has early onset dementia) for this channel you have to use this service and for the other channel this service, just will not work, I am amazed that she handled the transition from Comcast to Vue so well but the Roku is a easy device to use.

 

[Skytrooper]

Just a comment about internet speed. A few months ago I got a package “deal” with Xfinity. Anyhow it’s the gigabyte speed. I see no difference in speed between it and what I had before.

 

[NYDutch]

Is your measured speed still the same? Another factor is the bandwidth available at the other end. You could have 100 Gbps capability, but if the source your downloading from or any point in between only has 20 Mbps capability, that's all you're going to get.