The PlayStation Vue Thread

Well that explains my confused edit above.

Still haven't started my trial due to traveling, so limited experience with Vue here, but OTT experience with Sling.

If the PSV site had me listed as Core Slim before today (now just shows Core) pulling my location, was it VOD only for locals? I read a few places Houston was one of the live markets for ABC, NBC, Fox. Odd.

I know starting a trial will answer my question :) just curious if the Slim name 100% meant no live locals before.
 
Well that explains my confused edit above.

Still haven't started my trial due to traveling, so limited experience with Vue here, but OTT experience with Sling.

If the PSV site had me listed as Core Slim before today (now just shows Core) pulling my location, was it VOD only for locals? I read a few places Houston was one of the live markets for ABC, NBC, Fox. Odd.

I know starting a trial will answer my question :) just curious if the Slim name 100% meant no live locals before.
It was VOD only for networks if you had Slim packages(It originally didn't have CBS if you had Slim packaging only). I'm still not sure when the rest of my locals will go live. At present, I only have my local CBS up live.
 
Plan Updates
I heard PlayStation™Vue pricing is changing. Can you tell me more?
Effective 7/6/2017 for new customers, PlayStation™Vue plans will have the same nationwide pricing, as follows:

  • Access: $39.99/mo*
  • Core: $44.99/mo*
  • Elite: $54.99/mo*
  • Ultra: $74.99/mo*
If you are already subscribing at one of the prices above, your price will not change.

If you have Access Slim, Core Slim, Elite Slim, or Ultra Slim pricing, you will keep your current price for three billing cycles after the July 6 pricing change announcement. At the conclusion of this period, your monthly subscription will change (on your subscription renewal date) to the pricing above, based on the plan you have. If you upgrade, downgrade, or re-subscribe during this special pricing period, currently available pricing will apply.

*Taxes may apply
 
It was VOD only for networks if you had Slim packages(It originally didn't have CBS if you had Slim packaging only). I'm still not sure when the rest of my locals will go live. At present, I only have my local CBS up live.

Ok, I need to fire up that trial. No live locals would be a deal killer for me in football season.

If it showed Slim before on main landing page, that was the only option, right? Meaning there wasn't an additional option for live local (non slim) upon check out?

With no Slim, will be interested to see if they're going live local everywhere.
 
Ok, I need to fire up that trial. No live locals would be a deal killer for me in football season.

If it showed Slim before on main landing page, that was the only option, right? Meaning there wasn't an additional option for live local (non slim) upon check out?

With no Slim, will be interested to see if they're going live local everywhere.
I believe that you can watch local live sports through the Fox Sport Go app & NBC Sports App, signing into both using PlayStation Vue credentials. Using the CBS All Access app, I think you can watch local sports(it's supposed to allow local NFL games to be viewed live). Only Hulu has the CBS Sports channel streaming online.
 
Even $10 more it is still a lot cheaper then Sat./Cable TV with no box fees, DVR fee, broadcast locals fee, RSN fee.
 
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I've always assumed PS Vue Slim customers were going to see prices go up $10/mo. when all the locals became available, like in other markets. In my market, we have 3/4 locals currently, with #4, ABC, likely on its way. I honestly thought, hoped, this would happen sooner. It's a bummer for those who aren't getting as many, if any locals, or who simply don't care or need them because they have a good OTA setup with DVR.

In other PS Vue discussion groups, a lot of people are saying they'll switch services. For me personally, I'd still have to pay at least $45 with Sling to get the channels I need, and the picture quality wouldn't be as good, their DVR doesn't record certain channels, access to network online content/apps is very limited, and I'd only get one local (NBC)--hardly a better deal.

As far as the other services, DTV Now doesn't have a DVR, and Hulu doesn't have AMC-owned channels. And I'd be paying at least $50/mo. more to go back to cable or satellite after the promo deal ends.
 
Right now I still have my price locked year long promo for Ultra (?).

After it runs out I will likely drop package back to where it was. I am not doing cartwheels over the increase, as I do not have locals through the service, but I am ok with the price point even with it, as it still saving me a substantial amount of money yearly.
 
Price increases already. It looks like it's going to happen exactly as I predicted. It won't be too many years before streaming services are just as expensive as the satellite companies. The only thing that will probably separate them is equipment fees.
 
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Price increases already. It looks like it's going to happen exactly as I predicted. It won't be too many years before streaming services are just as expensive as the satellite companies. The only thing that will probably separate them is equipment fees.

That alone is still a significant savings in many cases...
 
That alone is still a significant savings in many cases...

True, but that extra equipment is offering something that streaming services can't. As long as I'm getting something more for my money I'm good with it. It's when I'm paying more for the same product that some other place offers for less that bothers me. No streaming service can give me what the H3 gives me right now and that's why I still pay for it. Once another company can offer the same for less I will switch.
 
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True, but that extra equipment is offering something that streaming services can't. As long as I'm getting something more for my money I'm good with it. It's when I'm paying more for the same product that some other place offers for less that bothers me. No streaming service can give me what the H3 gives me right now and that's why I still pay for it. Once another company can offer the same for less I will switch.

The only thing the "extra equipment" can offer, is dvr function, correct? Or is there something else I'm not aware of?

Many streaming options already have or will have a cloud dvr. As for me, Charter/Spectrum's 10 year old dvr in their legacy areas is hideous, barely works, and doesn't even come UP to the standard of a Dish VIP622.
 
The only thing the "extra equipment" can offer, is dvr function, correct? Or is there something else I'm not aware of?
Compared to live streaming from Vue/Sling/DirecTV NOW/YoutubeTV/etc?

Satellite / Cable equipment can offer:
- 1080i broadcast in addition to 720p (all live streaming channels currently max out at 720p on every service today)
- 5.1 dolby digital audio
- Fully customizable DVR with configurable start/end times, ability to pause live TV for more than 2 minutes, start watching in progress recording from the beginning, etc.
- No 40-60 second "behind live" broadcast delay inherent in HTTP live streaming
- No peak viewing contention problems (ie, no buffering issues during a major watch event like Game of Thrones)
- Purpose-driven remote functionality with channel quick access, 3rd party remote (Harmony) support, etc.

The first 3 points are more a function of the services than the streaming boxes themselves, but the end of the list gets down to more specific aspects of the hardware / delivery architecture.
 
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Price increases already. It looks like it's going to happen exactly as I predicted. It won't be too many years before streaming services are just as expensive as the satellite companies. The only thing that will probably separate them is equipment fees.

I doubt OTT live TV service price increases for channel packages are going to consistently 2x the cable/sat price increases (yes, they'll keep going up too!) until they reach parity, unless cable/sat bites the bullet and starts lowering prices in response to this new competition, or at least starts offering skinny bundle options that people actually want. As it is, some cable companies are already offering their own form of OTT service with comparable prices rather than altering their main TV service pricing.

My main concern are the restrictions or added costs associated with DVR functions with some OTT live TV services. If I have to pay 30%-50% more for my OTT live TV service in order to be able to record and fast-forward commercials on all stations, and retain at least one hundred hours worth of content, it may no longer be worth it.

 
Compared to live streaming from Vue/Sling/DirecTV NOW/YoutubeTV/etc?

Satellite / Cable equipment can offer:
- 1080i broadcast in addition to 720p (all live streaming channels currently max out at 720p on every service today)
- 5.1 dolby digital audio
- Fully customizable DVR with configurable start/end times, ability to pause live TV for more than 2 minutes, start watching in progress recording from the beginning, etc.
- No 40-60 second "behind live" broadcast delay inherent in HTTP live streaming
- No peak viewing contention problems (ie, no buffering issues during a major watch event like Game of Thrones)
- Purpose-driven remote functionality with channel quick access, 3rd party remote (Harmony) support, etc.

The first 3 points are more a function of the services than the streaming boxes themselves, but the end of the list gets down to more specific aspects of the hardware / delivery architecture.

Yeah, but, for all its limitations, which I won't deny, with PS Vue I can record as many programs simultaneously as I want. I have virtually no space or timer limitations with the amount of recordings I have (just the 28 day limit, which is rarely a problem for me the way I watch). I can watch my recorded shows on any TV without renting additional equipment, using devices I already own, and have the same quality. (I am aware of Dish Anywhere's capabilities in that regard, but the PQ is crap from what I've seen accessing my dad's service. I've also tried Cox Contour's app on my laptop, and the quality was terrible there as well, and I couldn't watch live for many of my channels.)

With PS Vue, I can also get up to 60fps on some shows. In TV discussion forums, I'm constantly hearing complaints about Comcast's PQ. I've also never experienced peak viewing contention problems. Also, Harmony remotes support other streaming devices.
 
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Yeah, but, for all its limitations, which I won't deny, with PS Vue I can record as many programs simultaneously as I want. I have virtually no space or timer limitations with the amount of recordings I have (just the 28 day limit, which is rarely a problem for me the way I watch).
With a DirecTV HS17 or Dish Hopper3, chances of a tuner conflict is pretty darn slim. You're right that your space is technically unlimited on Vue, but you're still limited by hours in the day that you can watch that content -- to that end you can record more things on most satellite DVRs than you can physically watch in a 28 day window.

With PS Vue, I can also get up to 60fps on some shows. In TV discussion forums, I'm constantly hearing complaints about Comcast's PQ. I've also never experienced peak viewing contention problems. Also, Harmony remotes support other streaming devices.
Frame rate is good on Vue, but resolution and compression does suffer compared to satellite (even Dish with HD Lite). I think the complaints against Comcast PQ are valid though - their move to convert to H264 at ridiculously low bitrates has not gone unnoticed. My specific callout on 3rd party remote support was about things beyond just interactive use. I can control my AppleTV, FireTV, etc with my Harmony remote -- but with my DirecTV setup I can have a macro setup to turn on the AVR, TV, and receiver and change the channel all in one shot. Having a 1 button click to have a channel start showing up on the TV isn't easily doable the way the apps and streaming devices work today.
 

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