The PlayStation Vue Thread

[Zookster]

I would also point out that a $5 increase on a $30 bill is three times that of a $5 increase on a $90 bill.

Since you brought my dangerous assumptions about channel lineups earlier ...

Before I dropped cable two years ago, I don't remember getting much in the way of new features or channels of consequence with each year's price increase (which often exceeded $5/mo, BTW). If channels were added, it was some startup niche channel, foreign language channel, a sports sub or alternate channel, or an otherwise free OTA channel, like Antenna TV or Me TV. If anything, my regular cable channels were getting moved to higher tiers or special channel packages that required an extra $10-$20/mo. to access.

When YouTube TV raised their prices $5 in March (to $40), they added CNN, TBS, TNT, Cartoon Network, MLB TV, and a few other odds and ends channels I didn't care about, in addition to expanding the number of locals available. (The loss of Sinclair/Tribune-owned channels across the country by various services is a unique, and likely temporary situation, for the OTT live TV services affected by the merger fiasco.)

After PS Vue lost the Viacom channels, they added NBA TV, MLB Network, CBS Sports Network, Hallmark, BBC America, and several others I don't remember now, in addition to expanding the number of locals available.

With DirecTV Now's $5 increase, they've added a DVR (and maybe channels I'm not aware of since I don't pay much attention to DTV Now)

So sure, as a percentage of the price a $5 price hike is a ~10% increase versus a ~5% increase. But when was the last time a cable customer said, "Looks like rates are going up again, but I don't care so much this time because now we're getting the [channel name] or [fancy new feature]"?

I'm under no delusion that prices won't go up over time without as much bling to show for it with OTT live TV services. But why knock these services when you can enjoy the great value while it lasts? They will always be cheaper than cable/sat TV regardless, due to more streamlined channel selections and lack of equipment rental fees, which alone saves me $20+ for just two boxes.

 

[spencer7779]

Rather have a $5 increase than $15. Pretty simple math.

 

[Bruce]

Rather have a $5 increase than $15. Pretty simple math.

Rather not have $50 in box fees, $7 dollars for broadcast channel fees and $6 in local sports fees which is why I have Vue, I can handle $5.

 

[Gobucks]

Why anyone feels compelled to assert that if you aren't gushing with praise and support of something, that you're obviously wishing that it will die a quick and painful death is beyond me. The marketplace needs loss leaders to keep them honest.

The failing is with those who think that these new competitors can sustain their business models in the long term and we'll be left with something that offers similar or better programming for substantially less money.

I would also point out that a $5 increase on a $30 bill is three times that of a $5 increase on a $90 bill.

We'll see if the tax-happy states figure out how to tax online TV programming "to keep the playing field level" as they did with DBS.

Your always knocking the OTT services. You say nothing good about them at all.

I'll say it again...... if these services can stay afloat and keep the prices down they might help change the cable/Satellite culture.

I know Dish has the flex pack. I have that and enjoy being able to drop locals and sports when I want. Hmmm I wonder why they came out with it? I think Dish losing customers all the time got them to think outside the box. FINALLY!

Sent from my SM-G950U1 using the SatelliteGuys app!

 

[harshness]

If anything, my regular cable channels were getting moved to higher tiers or special channel packages that required an extra $10-$20/mo. to access.

Which will also happen with the OTT services as we've already seen. The services that only offer one level will add levels and try to figure out how to make smaller and more affordable packages.

So sure, as a percentage of the price a $5 price hike is a ~10% increase versus a ~5% increase. But when was the last time a cable customer said, "Looks like rates are going up again, but I don't care so much this time because now we're getting the [channel name] or [fancy new feature]"?

Or in this case, an 18% price hike versus a 6% jump.

But why knock these services when you can enjoy the great value while it lasts?

Because it won't last long and combined with the other compromises (like limited audio and video resolution and frame rates) the fanboys aren't comparing apples to apples.

I thought having ST: Enterprise on Netflix and Amazon Prime was great until I suffered what each had done to torture the audio and video quality that was in my HDNet recordings.

Enjoy it while it lasts, but please don't suggest that the product is just as good as you get anywhere else or that it is a logical replacement for other services.

 

[harshness]

Your always knocking the OTT services. You say nothing good about them at all.

If I'm going to spend time watching TV, I'm not going to suffer something that has been diluted in the name of bandwidth.

I'll say it again...... if these services can stay afloat and keep the prices down they might help change the cable/Satellite culture.

You can say it until you're blue in the face but it doesn't change the direction OTT seems to be going.

I know Dish has the flex pack. I have that and enjoy being able to drop locals and sports when I want. Hmmm I wonder why they came out with it?

Flex is something that Charlie Ergen has gone before Congress and anyone else who will listen to make happen. He was pressing for unbundling for many years before OTT became a thing. It didn't happen overnight and he didn't get a lot of help from his competitors (perhaps because most of them own content in some form or another).

 

[Bruce]

Enjoy it while it lasts, but please don't suggest that the product is just as good as you get anywhere else or that it is a logical replacement for other services.

No one said it was good as good as Dish or DirecTV ( better then Comcast since they bit starve their video now), but to get the same level of programming and close to the same level of service I would have to pay at least $109 a month.

Yes Vue is 720P and stereo sound but it is also only $50 a month, I don't expect it to be as good as Dish with the Hopper 3, I get a good guide, DVR works great ( has not failed yet) and I can get 5 streams in my house without paying extra.

 

[Zookster]

Which will also happen with the OTT services as we've already seen. The services that only offer one level will add levels and try to figure out how to make smaller and more affordable packages.Or in this case, an 18% price hike versus a 6% jump.Because it won't last long and combined with the other compromises (like limited audio and video resolution and frame rates) the fanboys aren't comparing apples to apples.

.

PS Vue's packages start at $40, so 12.5% vs. 5.5% (my figures with the approx symbol were close enough ). The percent increase is even less for higher channel packages for PS Vue (and DTV Now for that matter). Yes, the OTT live TV services will nickel and dime us, and move and drop channels (they already are), but cable/sat isn't stopping either in that regard and it will take years, if not decades, for OTT live TV to catch up, if they ever do.

I've heard people coming from both the cable and satellite side say they thought the PQ was better with some OTT live TV services than what they had before. YMMV, of course. For me Cox Cable was slightly better than PS Vue when I made the switch, but Vue later caught up as they added more 60fps support. And at this point, I wouldn't pay triple what I'm currently paying for "slightly better" PQ and 5.1 DD.

I thought having ST: Enterprise on Netflix and Amazon Prime was great until I suffered what each had done to torture the audio and video quality that was in my HDNet recordings.

It couldn't have been any worse than what Enterprise did to torture long-time Star Trek fans.

This is totally separate from OTT live TV services, but does HDNet do 4K and HDR? Since you brought it up, there's plenty of UHD content (and more and more HDR) on both Netflix and Prime.

Enjoy it while it lasts, but please don't suggest that the product is just as good as you get anywhere else or that it is a logical replacement for other services

In some ways OTT live TV is better than what I had with Cox; in some ways it's worse. But none of the ways it's worse is with worth, for me, paying north of $100 versus $35 month.

To each his own. Everyone has their entertainment priorities. (I'll have to pry my dad's Hopper 3 remote from his "cold dead hands" some day. ) But please don't suggest a product you've never really tried before is not a viable replacement for those of us who are no longer interested in paying a premium for supposedly premium quality.

 

[Ronnie-]

I'll be honest, the best Ott providers imo offer pq on par with dish or DirecTV , maybe better as I don't get the blocking that sat sometimes had.

Or maybe it's the placebo effect of saving $50-60 a month to get the few channels I want.

Surely it's not for everyone, and there are a ton of variables that make everyone's experience with the same services different.

But for me, the streaming services will be my primary way to view live TV until they get to the point that sat got to, and it just wasn't worth it to me anymore.

 

[Ronnie-]

Yes Vue is 720P .

Is it? Best I remember some channels were and others were 1080.

I know with yttv, it does native, and the app let's you output that at up to 1080p. That changed recently I think. If the option was there before it hasn't been too long.

Both of those services imo have pq as good as any pay tv provider I've got available.


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[spencer7779]

I guarantee if we put one of the Streaming services and Dish side by side Harshness couldn't tell the difference.

 

[harshness]

This is totally separate from OTT live TV services, but does HDNet do 4K and HDR?

HDNet no longer exists as the channel was rebranded as AXS. They played Enterprise in full HD with 5.1 sound (without commercials) and it was considerably more engaging than the visually fuzzy binaural version that the OTT giants offer. The Orion Slave Girls just aren't the same OTT.

As much effort and money as some expend to assemble a satisfying home theater, quality must count for something.

To be sure, for those with relatively small TVs and crummy sound bars (or, heaven forbid, flat screen TV speakers), you might not be able to tell the difference but you shouldn't consider that the norm.

 

[Bruce]

HDNet no longer exists as the channel was rebranded as AXS. They played Enterprise in full HD with 5.1 sound (without commercials) and it was considerably more engaging than the visually fuzzy binaural version that the OTT giants offer. The Orion Slave Girls just aren't the same OTT.

If you recorded / watching it off Dish you would of not received Full HD, they were ( do not know if they still are ) down converting HD to 1440x1080i, with Netflix it is in 1920x1080P.

 

[Zookster]

HDNet no longer exists as the channel was rebranded as AXS. They played Enterprise in full HD with 5.1 sound (without commercials) and it was considerably more engaging than the visually fuzzy binaural version that the OTT giants offer. The Orion Slave Girls just aren't the same OTT.

As much effort and money as some expend to assemble a satisfying home theater, quality must count for something.

To be sure, for those with relatively small TVs and crummy sound bars (or, heaven forbid, flat screen TV speakers), you might not be able to tell the difference but you shouldn't consider that the norm.

I wouldn't discount the quality of the two major OTT services based on one experience with one of the first TV series made in HD, however long ago that experience was. Nothing I've watched on any TV system or platform (including cable and satellite TV, both which I've had for HD) looks or sounds as good as 1080p/Dolby Digital Plus content on Netflix and Amazon Prime. I hardly rent blu-rays anymore, though generally blu-ray quality is better. I can only imagine what the 4K/HDR content looks like on those services. In AVS Forums, folks are drooling over The Expanse in 4K on Amazon Prime.

 

[harshness]

I wouldn't discount the quality of the two major OTT services based on one experience with one of the first TV series made in HD, however long ago that experience was. Nothing I've watched on any TV system or platform (including cable and satellite TV, both which I've had for HD) looks or sounds as good as 1080p/Dolby Digital Plus content on Netflix and Amazon Prime. I hardly rent blu-rays anymore, though generally blu-ray quality is better. I can only imagine what the 4K/HDR content looks like on those services. In AVS Forums, folks are drooling over The Expanse in 4K on Amazon Prime.

The issue is that I'm not after self-produced content from Netflix and Amazon (although there is lots of good stuff there, much of it doesn't appeal to me). If they can't show some care with the stuff that I watch, they're deficient for me.

I'd like to see them offer high quality video and audio on everything, not just selected content.

 

[harshness]

If you recorded / watching it off Dish you would of not received Full HD, they were ( do not know if they still are ) down converting HD to 1440x1080i, with Netflix it is in 1920x1080P.

It may (or may not) be time to put that ten year old rumor to bed.

 

[ShawnHill1]

I've seen this on a couple of sites today, but it looks Vue may add back the Viacom networks as soon as tomorrow, as well as finally adding the A&E Networks. As a whole, the PlayStation network is suppose to undergo software maintenance midnight ET tonight; of course, it could be all speculation, but at least several Vue subscribers posted screenshots on the Vue Reddit board of various network logos, including Lifetime, Military History, and LMN, as well as Comedy Central and Spike TV (which we know now as the Paramount Network).

 

[Zookster]

I've heard people are seeing the new channels in their guide, but they can't tune in to anything when clicking on them. One person called a CSR and was told it was a glitch.

The taking the entire system offline for a maintenance update is fairly routine for SEN; they do that sort of thing all the time, pissing off gamers. When I had PS Vue for 20 months, I don't ever remember them taking the system offline to add or remove any channels, including the original Viacom dump, so I think that's totally unrelated.

My uninformed speculation is the channels are added back, but are only available through an add-on subscription.

 

[Zookster]

BTW, I think the thread title should be updated to reflect the new price or just delete the price reference. Maybe just call it the "Sony Playstation Vue Official Thread."

 

[spencer7779]

I've heard people are seeing the new channels in their guide, but they can't tune in to anything when clicking on them. One person called a CSR and was told it was a glitch.

The taking the entire system offline for a maintenance update is fairly routine for SEN; they do that sort of thing all the time, pissing off gamers. When I had PS Vue for 20 months, I don't ever remember them taking the system offline to add or remove any channels, including the original Viacom dump, so I think that's totally unrelated.

My uninformed speculation is the channels are added back, but are only available through an add-on subscription.

The channels won't come back as an add-on since they would require to have the top on the base package. I could see a complete overhaul of all the packages, but I'm sure it's just a guide glitch from the data provider