I'm so lost! How can Tivo, Roku and/or HuluPlus replace cable?

[Anonymous]

Up for Verizon Fios renewal and looking at my options before committing to 2 more years. Cable/internet/landline bill is roughly $165/mo. This is a triple bundle plus 2 DVRs (one we use often, the other is infrequent), 2 basic adapter boxes (not DVR or HD usage), and cable channels like CNN, Animal Planet, ESPN, weather channel, and HGTV (we also like ME TV -- which has old shows like Gilligans Island or TVLand). DH insists that we have HD service. (and there are about $15 of taxes included in the $165 monthly bill).

I'm leary of all the hidden fees that might be involved with Roku, HuluPlus and Tivo. I don't entirely understand them, but if the fees are just going to add up to be about the same as Verizon, then I'm wasting my time switching things around.


With Hulu/Roku/Netflix/Tivo -- are you always watching shows a day or more after they have aired?

Can you get programs from HGTV, ESPN, Animal Planet, CNN?

Do you have to keep your basic cable service to have access to local news/weather?

For the types of channels that my family uses, are we better off staying with cable?


HELP!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Up for Verizon Fios renewal and looking at my options before committing to 2 more years. Cable/internet/landline bill is roughly $165/mo. This is a triple bundle plus 2 DVRs (one we use often, the other is infrequent), 2 basic adapter boxes (not DVR or HD usage), and cable channels like CNN, Animal Planet, ESPN, weather channel, and HGTV (we also like ME TV -- which has old shows like Gilligans Island or TVLand). DH insists that we have HD service. (and there are about $15 of taxes included in the $165 monthly bill).

I'm leary of all the hidden fees that might be involved with Roku, HuluPlus and Tivo. I don't entirely understand them, but if the fees are just going to add up to be about the same as Verizon, then I'm wasting my time switching things around.


With Hulu/Roku/Netflix/Tivo -- are you always watching shows a day or more after they have aired?

Can you get programs from HGTV, ESPN, Animal Planet, CNN?

Do you have to keep your basic cable service to have access to local news/weather?

For the types of channels that my family uses, are we better off staying with cable?


HELP!

We have basic cable and have used it maybe a couple times. Yes, we watch things a day or so later on Hulu. It doesn't really bother me. I get my news and weather from the internet, usually on my phone, or the radio, in the car. I have never used TV for those things.

[Anonymous]

I use a Mohu Leaf Antenna to get local channels (news/weather) and about 30 other random channels (including ME TV which I just discovered). I don't have basic cable. I can't help you on the other because I don't use my Roku to watch current shows, but I don't pay any fees for the Roku. I stream through Amazon Prime, which I was paying for anyway.

[Anonymous]

What about sports? Can you get them online anywhere?

[Anonymous]

The Amazon channel on the Roku box (or new Amazon box) has almost every cable show on it. We pay $80/yr for Amazon prime (includes the channel), plus about $30/year to watch a few cable shows (the new episodes), like Walking Dead.

An HBO channel was just added too.

Then, buy an HD antenna box to get the local networks.

So, the only thing you will miss is ESPN and the live cable news channels.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like ESPN and CNN can't be found via Roku/Hulu or similar services. That may keep us connected to cable. DH uses ESPN most days.

If anyone has a suggestion for sports -- I'd love to hear it. I can live without CNN, but DH wants sports.

[Anonymous]

Roku is fabulous! You can get Hulu on Roku.

[Anonymous]

I want to embrace hulu etc. but my style of watching tv is just to turn it on for noise and then I walk away. I just leave food network or the cooking channel on. If I have to select a program to watch before the "noise" starts, it's already too much effort.

[Anonymous]

Can I get HGTV without cable?

[Anonymous]

We got rid of cable. We still have a cable from the cable outlet to the TV, and the digital antenna in the TV gets signals for some local channels, PBS, and a bunch of foreign language shows.

We have Hulu ($8/month), Netflix ($10 moth) and Amazon Prime ($80 year). We access these via our Wii, connected to the TV.

[Anonymous]

Any way to get sports without cable?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any way to get sports without cable?

Not as far as I know. This is the reason we still have cable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Amazon channel on the Roku box (or new Amazon box) has almost every cable show on it. We pay $80/yr for Amazon prime (includes the channel), plus about $30/year to watch a few cable shows (the new episodes), like Walking Dead.

An HBO channel was just added too.

Then, buy an HD antenna box to get the local networks.

So, the only thing you will miss is ESPN and the live cable news channels.

Does it have recent seasons of cable shows or are they older seasons?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any way to get sports without cable?

Not as far as I know. This is the reason we still have cable.

We have roku and really miss watching football and tennis. Gotta go to the bars.

[Anonymous]

I just looked up the Roku website and it said you can get live sports packages. What is Watch ESPN? It says that this is offered.