OT: Sling TV
Finally, over the top programming with live ESPN for $20/month - http://www.multichannel.com/news/distribution/dish-unveils-sling-tv/386592
Yes, this has huge holes in it with respect to programming related to Michigan fans - no ESPN2/3, BTN, etc. But this is really going to shake up programming for 20/30 year olds with no cable.
It should be interesting how this effects subscriber counts and future payouts to conferences 5-7 years from now.
(I've been watching the telecom/broadband space since the late 90's, so I love talking about this stuff)
January 5th, 2015 at 12:57 PM ^
/s
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January 5th, 2015 at 12:58 PM ^
Zinger!
January 5th, 2015 at 1:01 PM ^
January 5th, 2015 at 1:05 PM ^
What will happen will happen, what won't happen won't happen.
January 5th, 2015 at 1:49 PM ^
...unless it does or does not.
January 5th, 2015 at 3:52 PM ^
To Harbaugh or not Harbaugh, that is the question.
January 5th, 2015 at 1:10 PM ^
January 5th, 2015 at 1:02 PM ^
I've messed with this stuff for a long time as well. I bought a FireTV stick for my daughter at Christmas time and I've been amazed by the quality. I have been using a chromestick and the fire just blows it away.
Watching ESPN on it vs the HD signal via satellite is indistinguishable. The only hangup is the apps right now. I tried side loading B102Go but cannot use it because it requires a touchscreen to navigate. B10Network would be wise to fix this small issue and roll out an app that works on the FireTV stick.
January 5th, 2015 at 2:01 PM ^
my daughter anything called a chromestick.
January 5th, 2015 at 1:02 PM ^
January 5th, 2015 at 1:03 PM ^
It's a $20/ month subscription service for 12 channels.
Why would this impact anything? You would still need cable, so it's maybe $70/ month for cable and this streaming service, and I pay $100/ month for regular cable & internet.
January 5th, 2015 at 1:22 PM ^
You don't still need cable. A cable company is selling the package, but you don't need a cable subscription to get it. It would be the same as paying for Netflix every month.
January 5th, 2015 at 5:36 PM ^
I don't know why it has taken so long for it to come to this. This a la carte method will end up costing people more money in the long run. This deal is essentially $20 for ESPN. OTA gets you the big 4 for no monthly cost. However, adding BTN 2 Go for Michigan only and throw in the $30 for internet and you are now talking $60/month just to cover sports. Then you throw in whatever HBO's new service is going to cost (let's say $10) and Netflix and now you're up to $80 to have a setup that covers most of your viewing, albeit with delays or quality issues for viewing most shows. At what point does it make sense to just pay for a cable subscription?
January 5th, 2015 at 1:07 PM ^
ESPN2 is listed as one of the channels. It's not clear whether it's included as one of the 12 for $20, or if it's part of the additional $5 packages.
January 5th, 2015 at 1:15 PM ^
Consumers can tailor their experience with add-on packs for access to additional programming, at $5 per month. Sling TV will offer a "Kids Extra" add-on with Disney Junior, Disney XD, Boomerang, Baby TV and Duck TV, and a "News & Info Extra" add-on with HLN, Cooking Channel, DIY and Bloomberg TV. A "Sports Extra" package is coming soon.
Source: http://www.windowscentral.com/dish-launch-sling-tv-internet-tv-service-starting-20-month
January 5th, 2015 at 1:17 PM ^
haven't seen that.
January 5th, 2015 at 1:17 PM ^
if only for the month-to-month flexibility. If, like me, you are really only into Michigan football, you could get this for 2-3 months a year and then drop it much more easily than you can swap cable companies or get out of contracts.
January 5th, 2015 at 1:44 PM ^
I'd be really surprised if they allow month-to-month billing. I am betting that you have to sign up for some minimum contract period. Otherwise they'd have tons of people treating it like a pay-per-view service for big events on ESPN.
January 5th, 2015 at 1:51 PM ^
I read on another link that there isn't a contract.
January 5th, 2015 at 1:27 PM ^
This is HUGE - possibly a major tipping point. As a person who's cut the cord in the past, the main impediment is lack of ESPN/ESPN2 and BTN.
January 5th, 2015 at 1:32 PM ^
I have a Roku and I'm looking to cut the cable cord altogether. This is the answer. Now I just need to change coasts, give Comcast the finger, and hopefuly move into a place ready for FiOS.
January 5th, 2015 at 1:47 PM ^
I'd likely be interested in this, but the wife records an insanely high amount of shows, so I won't be able to ditch DIRECTV.
January 5th, 2015 at 3:38 PM ^
Unless you're recording HBO or Showtime, isn't most network programming on these or other video providers?
January 5th, 2015 at 4:25 PM ^
Not first run on Netflix or Prime as I have both. Hulu has current stuff, delayed some I think, but not HBO/Showtime stuff.
Amazon Prime has quite a bit of backlog HBO programming. The Wire, Sopranos, Deadwood, Six Feet Under, and many more.
January 5th, 2015 at 1:50 PM ^
and only get satellite for the college football season on a month-to-month basis. It goes off next week and won't come on until labor day. saves money and time.
January 5th, 2015 at 3:27 PM ^
January 5th, 2015 at 3:31 PM ^
This could be exactly what I need to cut the cord. Sports programming is the only thing keeping me, and many others, with cable. It's why cable companies pay ESPN more than tenfold what they pay any other basic cable channel.
If only ESPN and BTN would just allow you to subscribe straight to their programming, though I suspect this would be a financial killer. I am also quite interested to see how much some of the conferences are getting from their networks in ten years. I suspect they have about reached the peak and could face a dramatic decline.
January 5th, 2015 at 4:01 PM ^
I cut the cord also. Bought a Roku, HD antenna, and I am set. I just use my parents cable account info so I can use the WatchESPN app at my place. This is a pretty enticing deal as sometimes the watchESPN app does not work properly.
January 5th, 2015 at 5:29 PM ^
January 5th, 2015 at 10:10 PM ^
It's mounted on the wall above my tv next to a window. I live in a city.
I have netflix and amazon prime and the Roku seems to be the best streaming option for those.
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January 7th, 2015 at 10:00 AM ^
two days after Sling announces this, Comcast postures with data caps coming in ALL markets - http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Comcasts-Website-Expands-References-…