For the first time in my life, I signed up for cable. For the last 10 years, someone moved in with us and they paid for it.

I got a middle-of-the-road package: 175 mbs download internet (measured 250 last night) and tv stream.

Picked up the equipment which was just the modem/router, no cable tv box.

Set it up then I found out that my smart tv bought in 2016 doesn’t support xfinity stream app. I want to use my tv. Tech service says I could get a roku which can download the app and I can use my tv via the roku.

But I saw threads here about Roku and cutting the cord.

My question is: now that I’m getting the roku stick plus, is paying for the tv part superfluous and should I change my service to just internet service? Can I get for free through the roku what I’m paying for the xfinity stream? I’m only getting basic with specific need of the hallmark channel for my wife. Or is Roku about picking which content providers to pay for your entertainment?

You can get Hallmark from streaming providers.

https://www.cordcuttersnews.co...ku-fire-tv-apple-tv/

You are paying as part of your package to be able to stream the Xfinity channel lineup via their app instead of a box.

I'd just keep what you have and get the Roku streaming stick to be able to watch TV. You can get lots of free content with the all the Roku channels out there but you won't get the Xfinity channel lineup they are giving you as part of this package.

If you downgrade to just internet you will need to turn around and get Sling or DirecTV Now anyway to get Hallmark, etc which might be the same or more if you had just kept it as-is. Comcast often charges MORE for internet-only too than a package.

I have Comcast, I just set up my 1st Roku yesterday. I'm just trying to avoid the monthly set top boxes charges, about $28/month. I can do everything, at least what I can tell so far, with Roku than I can with the Comcast box/remote.

You might ask to see if you get a basic channel app or access with your internet only access.

My cousin, who I am currently staying with has Spectrum internet only, and Spectrum has an app that lets me watch SOME of the cable channels, like AMC or whatever the Walking dead is on, which is about the only reason I ever use it.

It doesn't get the Fox, news channel and some others like the Israel news however, and it has some other issues I dislike for instance: I'll start out selecting a HD channel, say 813, and after a little while I'm now watching the same show on another channel, at a lower resolution. Changes on its own, repeatedly.

Basically all the Roku (or any of the streaming boxes) do is provide a platform to add "channels" to. There's a bunch that come preloaded on the Roku, and then you have the ability to add additional channels. Some are free and some require you to sign up and pay for from the individual channels. Such as ESPN or HBO. Or you can add a "channel" that provides a suite of services such as DirectTV Now (now called AT&T Now) which provides you with basic cable channels with in that app and then you have a menu of additional cost channels like the movie channels and sports channels you can add to ATT Now for additional cost.

It is quite confusing.

I just bought/installed a Roku Premiere the week after Thanksgiving. It pretty much replaced the Windows 10 "media server" PC I was using to stream TV directly from Xfinity's web site (TV GO, I think it is). I was also streaming Amazon Prime and Netflix programming directly from their web sites as well. I have a Sony TV that has the Amazon Prime and Netflix apps "built in", but Sony announced they are discontinuing those apps. Probably costing them too much to maintain and it's just as easy to get them through Roku, Fire TV Stick, et. al.

The Roku box has the apps I need for ALL my TV streaming (have to download the ones you want)...I share Youtube TV with my brother (doesn't have Hallmark for your wife, though), NHL package/APP (primary viewing for 9 months out of the year), Amazon Prime, and Netflix (though I could probably dump Netflix and not miss it). The only thing I pay Xfinity for is their internet...runs approx. $86/month for 175gb/s download speed (though I just saw a notice that it's gonna go up $3/month for some "business costing" reason ). My total bill before I cut the cord on Xfinity TV was running around $180/month. For NOTHING!!

So I essentially cut the cord with Xfinity TV long ago and only view TV, hockey, and movies with the aforementioned apps through the Roku box. In the long run, even with the monthly fees of Youtube TV, Amazon Prime, Netflix, and the cost/game on the NHL app, it's still cheaper than having an internet/TV bundle from Xfinity based on what I watch. I'm saving AT LEAST $50/month if not closer to $75.

Also, forgot to mention, if you have Amazon Prime, your membership gets you Amazon Video which has tons of movies, original content both movies and series. You do need to add that channel but there is no additional cost over your prime membership.

The simple approach is this.

How much do you pay for your Comcast TV service, and what channels do you get? I would take that info and compare it to YouTube TV which works wonderfully on ROKU and offers a broad selection of channels (both local and other). See which option offers you the best bang for your buck and go with it. For me it was Spectrum internet only plus YouTube TV. Then of course the ROKU app offers you access to an enormous amount of additional content (both free and pay).

Agreed. Spend some time comparing the subscription-based streaming services (Sling, YouTubeTV, ATT Now, etc) and carefully consider what you watch routinely. Also, can you get your local network affiliates via an antenna?

We get our locals via antenna (OTA) hooked thru a TiVo DVR. I’ve long used Roku for movie streaming (Netflix, etc) but also later for YouTubeTV when we dropped our Dish package. Most of our watching is on the locals via the TiVo. I also watch a lot of Amazon Prime on the Roku. We rarely use the YouTubeTV app unless we want to watch ESPN. But for the most part, that $50 / month YouTubeTV plan is wasted, just like we were wasting the Dish plan. Many channels with little interesting programming. Also, the DVR functionality within a streaming app sucks in comparison to an actual DVR like a TiVo.

The most pure form of cord cutting is to hook up an antenna to your TV and call it good! Every other option is increasingly becoming an expensive myth.

quote:

Originally posted by FHHM213:
Every other option is increasingly becoming an expensive myth.

To some degree yes, but unlike cable TV providers, there's at least competition in the streaming market to try and hold pricing down. Eventually everything will stream and cable TV will go the way of the rabbit ears on the top of our old tube TV.

Regardless of your chosen content apps, I do recommend a Roku. It’s long been considered a top pick and it doesn’t restrict you to a certain provider(s). The software is fast & routinely upgraded; the hardware is cheap & painlessly replaced when a newer version is sufficiently appealing.

quote:

Originally posted by bigdeal:

quote:

Originally posted by FHHM213:
Every other option is increasingly becoming an expensive myth.

To some degree yes, but unlike cable TV providers, there's at least competition in the streaming market to try and hold pricing down. Eventually everything will stream and cable TV will go the way of the rabbit ears on the top of our old tube TV.

It’s mostly the same competition but all using a different means of delivering media down that cable. And cable TV today is essentially a form of selective streaming via switched digital video.

And don’t knock the rabbit ears. We live two miles from the broadcast towers and the HD reception via OTA has long been superior to that of cable, SAT, etc. Less compression, more reliable, etc.

Your point is valid but many persons cut the cord assuming they will eliminate the bill or at least reduce it to a Netflix fee. But, it doesn’t take long for the various subscriptions to easily exceed $60 / month, plus your internet service.

No you cannot cut the cable part. The cable part is what allows you to stream the xfinity app. You can only stream the channels that you pay for.

Now you could cut cable and only stream amazon prime, netflix, hulu, etc. But not the xfinity live stuff.

quote:

Originally posted by FHHM213:
Your point is valid but many persons cut the cord assuming they will eliminate the bill or at least reduce it to a Netflix fee. But, it doesn’t take long for the various subscriptions to easily exceed $60 / month, plus your internet service.

Personally I think we should all review this part of our lives every year or so just like auto insurance. Over time these bills creep up. Personally, my cable bill fell from $220 to $110/month when I reconfigured to Spectrum internet and YouTube TV. I get Netflix for free through my T-Mobile cellular contract, and have always had an Amazon Prime account offering more viewing options.

Please don’t mention insurance. I beg you!

This is my first month w/out cable tv and I'm loving it. Had Spectrum/TWC bundle of tv/phone and 300Mbps internet. Started 4th year in Nov 2019 and price has gone from $175 to $250 per month. What finally got me into action was I wasn't getting University of Louisville basketball games and the cheapest Spectrum packages all included ACC network but my high dollar package did not.

I called complaining and the cs rep said that my account was a TWC acct that was grandfathered into Spectrum. CS rep adjusted things and got bill down to $216 but said he was sure they could get it lower so he transferred my call to head cost cutter. HCC came back with $261 for same package I was paying $250 for. I said I was going to cancel tv and keep phone and internet. CS rep said I should do this as I would be eligible for new customer discounts 90 days after I dropped tv service.

I turned my 3 boxes in and my bill for 300Mbps unlimited internet and digital landline dropped to $64 month with no fees or taxes. I signed up for youtube tv with Starz /Encore and that is $59 a month with no tax or fees since it is internet. Great sports package and about 60 other channels. Works great and I'm well satisfied with my bill cut in half. Already had Prime and Netflix so still have way more tv than we can watch.

It's amazing when I read other posts of 300Mbps of download speed. Do we really need speed that fast? Does a show just flash up on the screen instantly?

We are in the mountains of NC our carrier is 'proud' to offer 5Mps, yes 5, not a typo and the max is 10!. Surprisingly it works just fine for us, we have Roku, NetFlix, Amazon Apple TV and Apple Plus, and host of other channels, most with no commercials. If we loose service we hotspot our phone to the TV connection and we are good to go.!

I miss a very few shows that I had with my OTA antenna in Florida, but you adapt. I can't ever see us going back to cable TV, even at stupid lower rates. There is so much more to life than TV and most is so slanted one way or another it is just not worth watching!!

Just my opinion....

quote:

Originally posted by sig229-SAS:
It's amazing when I read other posts of 300Mbps of download speed. Do we really need speed that fast?

For many of us the answer is 'no'. On the flip side, if you have a house full of kids streaming 4k video and gaming online, they can eat up a bunch of bandwidth.

quote:

Does a show just flash up on the screen instantly?

How fast a show (or anything else pops up is not only a feature of download speed, but even more so, latency. If you have bad latency, even fast download speeds won't 'feel' so fast.

Cord cutting can be cheap and simple or more expensive than the stupid cable companies tv service was. It’s all up to you. You have the freedom and are contract free when you cut.

Some of y’all that are more serious “cutters” should look at the Nvidia Shield. It’s an awesome device for bringing content to your tv.