Cutting the Cord on Cable & Satellite TV Orv Jordahl UWRA ETC Member Oct 26, 2017 What s it mean to cut the cord? Answer: All of the following: 1. Stop using cable, fiber, and satellite TV and instead use Over the Air and Internet Streaming TV services. 2. Lower the cost of watching TV. 3. Tailor channel selection to more closely align with what you really want to watch. 10/26/2017 2 1
What are the Elements of Streaming TV Your television HDMI cable to streaming box Streaming box Network cable to connect to network switch/router Internet connection Streaming content providers Network Cable or Wi-Fi HDMI Home network Cable firewall/router Streaming / switch Box 10/26/2017 3 First, lets define some terms i.e, get to know the lingo get everybody on the same plane of understanding 10/26/2017 4 2
Back in the day we just had Over the Air (OTA) TV TV set connected to indoor or outdoor antenna This is how TV started out way back when No set top box tuner, No recording of programs 10/26/2017 5 Then came Cable TV Provided by Cable TV provider (Spectrum - Charter) TV signal delivered to homes via coaxial cable Set-top-box converts signal for display on TV + Often includes Digital Video Recorder (DVR) + Single remote controls both TV and set-top-box. Cable Company Coax Cable HDMI Cable 10/26/2017 6 3
Next came Satellite TV Requires a satellite dish on or near home TV signal comes from a distant satellite Providers: DirecTV, DISH Set-top-box converts signal for display on TV + Often includes DVR capability + Single remote for both TV and set-top-box Satellite signal can be affected by bad weather Coax Cable HDMI Cable 10/26/2017 7 Fiber Optic TV Similar to Cable TV Provided by Telco (TDS or AT&T) Digital TV signal delivered to homes via fiber optic cable Set-top-box converts digital signal for display on TV + Often includes Digital Video Recorder (DVR) + Single remote controls both TV and set-top-box. Telco / Fiber TV Company Fiber Optic Cable HDMI Cable 10/26/2017 8 4
OTA TV Tuners with DVR Examples: TIVO and Tablo Multiple Tuners (usually 2 or 4) Guide Subscription required - Tivo guide: $15/mo - Tablo guide: $5/mo Tablo Network Cable or WiFi Streaming Box Tivo HDMI Cable HDMI Cable 10/26/2017 9 Madison Area OTA Channels 10/26/2017 10 5
Streaming TV TV via Internet connection Requires a streaming box Examples: Apple TV Roku Amazon Fire TV Android TV Some TV sets come with Roku or Android TV built into the TV set Many DVD/Blu-Ray players have streaming capability (not easy to change apps) 10/26/2017 11 Prominent Streaming Devices Roku Amazon Fire TV Apple TV Variants of Android TV (e.g, Nvidia Shield) 10/26/2017 12 6
Amazon Fire TV Great for Amazon video (Lots of free movies & TV shows with Amazon Prime) Both specialty & original content channels Numerous apps (Tablo Tuner, Sling TV, DirecTV Now, Playstation Vue, Hulu, Netflix ) 2017 unit supports 4K Ultra High Definition TV Internet Wired or WiFi Connection HDMI Cable 10/26/2017 13 Apple TV Great for people invested in the Apple ecosystem Lots of specialty channels Apps for Tablo Tuner, Sling TV, DirecTV Now, Playstation Vue, Hulu, Netflix 2017 unit supports 4K Ultra High Definition TV Internet Connection (Wired or Wi-Fi) HDMI Cable 10/26/2017 14 7
Roku One of the first streaming systems Apps for Tablo Tuner, Sling TV, DirecTV Now, Playstation Vue, Hulu, Netflix Simple remote control (also smartphone apps) Internet Connection (Wired or Wi-Fi) HDMI Cable 10/26/2017 15 Android TV Many vendors/models to choose from + NVIDIA Shield arguably the best Android TV box + Other choices: Am. Fire TV, Xiaomi Mi Box, Leelbox T95Z Lots of Apps/Channels + Tablo Tuner, Sling TV, DirecTV Now, Playstation Vue, Hulu, Netflix, HBO Go, Numerous video games also supported Internet Connection (Wired or Wi-Fi) HDMI Cable 10/26/2017 16 8
Streaming Services for Common Cable Channels Playstation Vue (a Sony company) DirecTV Now (DirecTV derivitave) Sling TV (Dish Network derivative) Smithsonian Channel Channel Pear Pluto TV Also: NBC on demand ABC on demand CBS all access PBS and the list goes on 10/26/2017 17 Tablo OTA Tuner/DVR Strictly for Over The Air HDTV Shows TV programs through streaming app on all major streaming devices (Roku, Fire TV, Android TV, PC, Mac, Smartphones, Tablets, etc.) Can provide TV shows anywhere you have an Internet connection! 10/26/2017 18 9
Tablo Live Channel Guide (Example) 10/26/2017 19 Tablo Prime Time Programs Guide (Example) 10/26/2017 20 10
Tablo Schedule Program Recording (Example) 10/26/2017 21 Tablo Recorded Programs View (Example) 10/26/2017 22 11
Tablo Recorded Single Program Times (Example) 10/26/2017 23 The Roku Line of Streaming Devices Prices range from $30 to $100 Most powerful is Roku Ultra Recommend Roku Premier HD as best value $25 $25 $30 $69 $99 Roku Premier HD $48 HD and 4K UHD 10/26/2017 24 12
Roku Streaming Player Home Screen 10/26/2017 25 Amazon Fire TV Heavily customized version of Android TV Great for Amazon Video Thousands of apps for content On 2017 models: Remote has Alexa support Ethernet Adapter for Amazon Fire TV Devices ($15) - I don t recommend running streaming TV over Wi-Fi Fire TV Stick $40 Fire TV with 4K Ultra HD $70 10/26/2017 26 13
Amazon Fire TV Home Screen 10/26/2017 27 Overview of Skinny Cable TV Options Playstation Vue Sling TV DirecTV Now (Playstation console not needed) 10/26/2017 28 14
Playstation Vue Streaming Cable Channels Most usual cable channels Content streamed over the Internet No cable or satellite TV box needed Cable channels without: Charter/Spectrum AT&T U-Verse TDS TV DirecTV Dish Network 10/26/2017 29 Playstation Vue Pricing Model Four levels - $40/mo to $75/mo Includes unlimited DVR for all channels (stored for 30 days) 10/26/2017 30 15
Playstation Vue Cable Channels ($75/mo plan) 10/26/2017 31 Playstation Vue Cable Channels ($45/mo plan) 10/26/2017 32 16
Playstation Vue Add-on Channels 10/26/2017 33 Sling TV Streaming Cable Channels Most cable channels, streamed over the Internet Lower priced starting point Lots of add-on ala-carte personalization options Limited DVR 50 hours/mo Numerous channels excluded Sling Orange ($20/mo single stream 30 channels) Sling Blue ($25/mo up to 3 streams 45 channels) Sling Orange + Blue ($40/mo, 3 streams, 50 channels) And then there s the added cost Sling extras 10/26/2017 34 17
Sling TV Pricing Model Start with either Orange or Blue base channel lineup Then personalize with Sling Extra channels/features Task: Determine if Sling offers the channels you want at a price you re willing to pay 10/26/2017 35 How Sling TV Works 10/26/2017 36 18
Sling Orange Channels (30 channels, Single Stream) 10/26/2017 37 Sling Blue Channels (45 channels, multi-stream) 10/26/2017 38 19
Example Sling Extras 10/26/2017 39 Sling TV Available Channels (142 as of 10/25/2017) 10/26/2017 40 20
DirecTV Now Streaming Cable Channels An AT&T owned company Usual cable channels, streamed over the Internet Lots of add-on personalization/ala-carte options Has BTN No DVR capability coming in the future (they say) Complaints about streaming quality (pauses) 10/26/2017 41 DirecTV Now Pricing Model Four price levels - $35/mo to $70/mo Task: Determine if DirecTV Now offers the channels you want at a price you re willing to pay 10/26/2017 42 21
DirecTV Now $35/mo Channels Many channels drop out 10/26/2017 43 DirecTV Now Add-ons HBO for $5/mo is pretty good deal, but Netflix is best overall 10/26/2017 44 22
TDS TV Billing Analysis $86.09 for Service and Equipment $12.39 for taxes and fees ================================= $98.48 = total monthly TDS TV charge 10/26/2017 45 Example Financial Analysis -TDS TV vs OTA & Streaming TV 10/26/2017 46 23
Questions & Discussion 10/26/2017 47 End of presentation 10/26/2017 48 24