Quitting DirecTV

ctharris07

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Mar 11, 2005
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Just tired of paying $100+ a month to watch things on dvr. Question is what are the options for UK games, college football and all other live sporting events? I have Netflix, gonna get Hulu. So what are the options for live sports?
 

_Chase_

Well-known member
Jan 22, 2004
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No DVR function though. Seems like that would kind of suck. Maybe Tivo would work with it? I really haven't looked into it that much.
 

humperk12

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Many ESPN broadcasts are available on WatchESPN for a few days after the original broadcast. As of this moment, the UK game is available for replay.

I'm thinking of cancelling DirecTV and switching to Sling as soon as my house is finished. I'll take some of my savings and spend it on upgraded internet.
 

-LEK-

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Many ESPN broadcasts are available on WatchESPN for a few days after the original broadcast. As of this moment, the UK game is available for replay.

I'm thinking of cancelling DirecTV and switching to Sling as soon as my house is finished. I'll take some of my savings and spend it on upgraded internet.
This is great advice. I usually dont like to read the news, or see sporting events or commentary to weeks later. Keeps the games fresh.
 
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LineSkiCat14

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Aug 5, 2015
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1. Find a relative who has any big cable provider.
2. Grab their login information. They shouldn't care.
3. Use WatchESPN App on Roku/iOS/Droid/Browser etc.

ESPN
ESPNU
ESPN2
ESPN3
SEC Network

I imagine this covers every single game of the season (plus other great sport events). For CBS Gameday on Saturday's, grab an HD antenna if you are within 35 miles of the local affiliate (99.5% of America falls in this category), or if that doesn't work, support your local bartenders.
 
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UK_Memphis

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After watching the Apple TV presentation I think they expect every current channel(including ABC, NBC and CBS) to have a streaming app for Apple TV at some point in the future. And then you can pick and choose what products you want. Could be a year or 10 years. Could also put cabe and satellite companies out of business.
 

Perrin75

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In terms of Sling TV, unless they have recently changed it you can get access to the SEC Network on the WatchESPN app without the extra sports package. So it is a way to save an extra $5 a month. And as someone mentioned, the game will be available to watch in its entirety as soon as it ends. So it basically works like a DVR. Plus the games stay up for awhile on WatchESPN. Usually at least a couple of weeks. I have Fire TV's setup throughout the house and we use the WatchESPN app a lot. It works great!
 

LineSkiCat14

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Aug 5, 2015
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Heads up on TWC and Watch ESPN.. tried to stream the UK/SC game on Saturday and while watchESPN has the SEC Network, TWC doesn't allow it. Idk how long that's been ththe way, or if it was some glitch. Hoping this isn't the case for the ESPN channels and watchESPN.

So glad I give Time Warner the bare minimum. I pay for a giant Internet pipeline and that's it.
 

LadyCat92

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May 22, 2002
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TWC's last renewal with ESPN excluded SEC Network from WatchESPN. At the same time, Directv renewed with ESPN and included the SEC Network in WatchESPN.
 

fuzz77

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After watching the Apple TV presentation I think they expect every current channel(including ABC, NBC and CBS) to have a streaming app for Apple TV at some point in the future. And then you can pick and choose what products you want. Could be a year or 10 years. Could also put cabe and satellite companies out of business.
True that at some point you'll be able to pick and choose your channels/networks...when that time comes, don't expect it to save you a lot of money if you like sports. If you have 250 channels, 90% of the cost is for wrapped up in a very small, and popular handful of those channels. Also, many of the channels are owned by the same people. ABC owns ESPN, Disney, etc...you can expect that ABC will say...If you want ESPN, then you have to also take Disney. Discovery Channel owns Animal Planet, Oprah Winfrey Network and others...if you want Discovery, you got to take these others to get it. That is how those networks negotiate with the cable and satellite providers, don't expect them to give you a better deal.
 
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We just dropped Direct Tv and switched to Time Warner. I tried to watch the game also on WatchESPN, but was denied. Figured because that app doesn't carry SEC Network. Was kind of concerned about it, especially when basketball starts, then realized I'll sign up for Sling TV(carries SEC Network) next month and then cancel after the season is over.
 

fuzz77

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Sep 19, 2012
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Many ESPN broadcasts are available on WatchESPN for a few days after the original broadcast. As of this moment, the UK game is available for replay.

I'm thinking of cancelling DirecTV and switching to Sling as soon as my house is finished. I'll take some of my savings and spend it on upgraded internet.
What you can watch on WatchESPN is dependent upon what provider you use to receive ESPN. I was a Comcast customer and would use WatchESPN to catch things when I was away from home. Switched to Directv and lost most of the content. Since, Directv now allows viewing of all the content. I have no idea what Sling will get you.
 

B Rax_rivals210137

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Mar 7, 2009
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I did this last week. Got the free 7 day trial + free Roku. We streamed the game to my chromecast using WatchEspn. Only buffered once for about 20 seconds. Also, you can use your sling account to access WatchEspn. Won't need to borrow a friends cable account. So far so good. It's a little weird at first but like you said, I really didn't watch anything other than sports to begin with. Plus sling has basically everything my wife watches. I got an HD antenna for my locals. Haven't set it up yet. If appletv is really going to feature those in the near future I may make the switch when that time comes.
 

cricket3

Well-known member
May 29, 2001
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A Time Warner login has never let you watch the SEC Network on WatchESPN. SEC Network is one of the channels on the Time Warner app.
 

SosaUK

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Jun 11, 2013
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I got Sling and I enjoy it. Watched the past 2 football games with no issue. Only thing I don't like about it is the whole only one user at a time thing. I live by myself though so it isn't a huge deal.
 

joeyrupption

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Jun 5, 2007
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I plan on dropping SlingTV and going with Apple's streaming service (and a new AppleTV) when Apple finally secures its deals with the networks in 2016 ("God willing" - *Bobby Bottleservice voice*).

I don't care if the pricing has an Apple Tax. I want to stick it to Time Warner. I hate them. (Same reason I dropped AT&T for T-Mobile).
 
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SosaUK

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I plan on dropping SlingTV and going with Apple's streaming service (and a new AppleTV) when Apple finally secures its deals with the networks in 2016 ("God willing" - *Bobby Bottleservice voice*).

I don't care if the pricing has an Apple Tax. I want to stick it to Time Warner. I hate them. (Same reason I dropped AT&T for T-Mobile).

What all do you know about the new Apple TV? I have one right now. Love it. Will def go with the service whenever they get it. Thanks b
 

joeyrupption

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It is just a hardware & software catchup to everything else. But if you are in the Apple ecosystem, it is a great accessory. Apple.com has a little video on it.

It has a new remote with touchpad, Siri search with some OK tricks, "show me family movies with Bill Hader," search results include every platform, new App Store for 3rd-party stuff.

I've been extra loyal too it because Netflix uses a "bigger pipe" when it recognizes an AppleTV requesting data and results in little to no buffering compared to other platforms.
 

SosaUK

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It is just a hardware & software catchup to everything else. But if you are in the Apple ecosystem, it is a great accessory. Apple.com has a little video on it.

It has a new remote with touchpad, Siri search with some OK tricks, "show me family movies with Bill Hader," search results include every platform, new App Store for 3rd-party stuff.

I've been extra loyal too it because Netflix uses a "bigger pipe" when it recognizes an AppleTV requesting data and results in little to no buffering compared to other platforms.

Do you know anything about the service that's supposed to be coming out?
 

joeyrupption

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It's supposed to be just like SlingTV, but they didn't get the deals done in time to announce it along with the AppleTV refresh last week.
 

LadyCat92

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May 22, 2002
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Have any of you tried Tivo Roamio as an over the air dvr? Also, any clue if it would work with streaming service such as slingtv to also dvr those broadcasts?
 

Perrin75

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In case anyone is interested, Amazon is expected to release a new Fire TV at the end of the month. It will have 4K video and they are integrating the Amazon Echo service into the existing voice search capabilities. I use their boxes in my house now and they are fantastic. For those who are looking for a new box you might want to check these out.
 

joeyrupption

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Jun 5, 2007
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I wanted a FireTV, but I got too ancy with college football coming up and pulled the trigger on Sling and the Roku.

I would love an Echo but can't justify it (and all the cool stuff it could control to make it worth while). It sounds like the ultimate clapper: "Echo, turn off all the lights."
 

Perrin75

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I have an echo and it is quickly becoming one of the most used devices in the house. They seem to add some new feature at least once a week. The latest feature lets you listen to college sports broadcasts which is a godsend when you live outside the state.I'm looking forward to seeing how they integrate it with the Fire TV.

On a side note, you can get the same Sling TV deal that they offer on the Roku for either the Fire TV or the Chromecast.
 

joeyrupption

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Sling is only offering deals on Roku and Nexus players. I would have gone with the FireTV if it was offered.
 

BlueRaider22

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Sep 24, 2003
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You'll be back. You'll do what the rest of us do.

-Sign up with Dish with a really good deal.
-They'll jack up the price on you over the course of the contract
-You'll call to complain, but they'll stonewall you and state there is nothing you can do.

-You'll wait till the contract is up, then jump to Direct's "deal-o-the-month"
-They'll jack up the price on you over the course of the contract
-You'll call to complain, but they'll stonewall you and state there is nothing you can do.

-Oh, well, back to Dish........
 

joeyrupption

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Jun 5, 2007
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In my entire life, I've had a cable/satellite TV bill for one year. (Besides 3 years of splitting a bill between 4+ roommates). I dropped it because I don't watch it enough for how much it costs. (And I hate TWC because of their internet service in NYC.)

I'm never going back.

(I'm 33.)
 
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