One of my New Year's resolutions was to streamline my streaming services and cut the cable cord while retaining more or less the same programming, which turned out to be incredibly complicated. (Additional incentive was provided by the fact that the streaming services don't force me to pay for Fox News or any other channel as part of the "basic bundle.")
Part of my reluctance to cut the cable cord was that there are times when access to my local television news is essential, e.g., in SoCal during a wildfire. Discovering that Paramount + includes the local CBS station as part of the subscription allayed this particular concern.
For anyone similarly inclined, the most important thing: just make an Excel spreadsheet from the jump instead of trying to do it on paper.
Have you tried a $50 HDTV antenna for local stations? Does the trick for me. NBC, CBS, ABC, Fox and PBS affiliates all come in fine. Combined with a FireStick I have all the content I can consume for next to nothing.
I use mine mostly for live sports. Sometimes I have to futz around to get solid reception but once the signal is locked in, the picture is fine for me.
Ever since Roku was introduced I was on that platform. Sorry Sonny but cord cutting just made economic sense. Although, now that the advertisers are horning in I'm not sure what my next move will be.
One thing that was only mentioned in passing is the curating of films & shows on the ever growing list of providers. Certainly something I use b/c the library on Netflix and other streaming services is completely daunting for a viewer. Without someone to pick thru these huge libraries, it's impossible for a viewer to know where to start.
Another less important service that was touched on as similar to cable TV is where to find a show on the multiplicity of services. I stopped the podcast to check out Rectify which turns out to be $1.99 on Amazon (per episode, I guess) OR, OR, OR I could sign up for ONE MORE STREAMER! Gz, guys! I'm trying to cut down on expenses (as you admirably mention as truly important for digital subscribers).
Disappointingly it seems that advertising is the way to go and I know I'm not the only person wishing for that ad-free experience. Time for the hackers to step in and give us a fix (illegal but really, I can't deal with ads).
I've noticed that the streaming service ads are becoming entertaining. A lot of "WTF did I just see?" stuff. They're putting real effort into keeping viewers engaged.
Sonny, I think you just hit on the Apple Advantage. As a longtime strategist, albeit in another realm, that finally suggests to me what they may be about!
I hope smaller services like MGM+ remain strong. A lot of underrated shows on MGM+. I also know a lot of people that say the same about AMC+.
Excellent podcast as usual!
One of my New Year's resolutions was to streamline my streaming services and cut the cable cord while retaining more or less the same programming, which turned out to be incredibly complicated. (Additional incentive was provided by the fact that the streaming services don't force me to pay for Fox News or any other channel as part of the "basic bundle.")
Part of my reluctance to cut the cable cord was that there are times when access to my local television news is essential, e.g., in SoCal during a wildfire. Discovering that Paramount + includes the local CBS station as part of the subscription allayed this particular concern.
For anyone similarly inclined, the most important thing: just make an Excel spreadsheet from the jump instead of trying to do it on paper.
Have you tried a $50 HDTV antenna for local stations? Does the trick for me. NBC, CBS, ABC, Fox and PBS affiliates all come in fine. Combined with a FireStick I have all the content I can consume for next to nothing.
Yeah I got a $20 antenna from Best Buy and the image quality is roughly as good as the Spectrum app’s was.
I use mine mostly for live sports. Sometimes I have to futz around to get solid reception but once the signal is locked in, the picture is fine for me.
Ever since Roku was introduced I was on that platform. Sorry Sonny but cord cutting just made economic sense. Although, now that the advertisers are horning in I'm not sure what my next move will be.
One thing that was only mentioned in passing is the curating of films & shows on the ever growing list of providers. Certainly something I use b/c the library on Netflix and other streaming services is completely daunting for a viewer. Without someone to pick thru these huge libraries, it's impossible for a viewer to know where to start.
Another less important service that was touched on as similar to cable TV is where to find a show on the multiplicity of services. I stopped the podcast to check out Rectify which turns out to be $1.99 on Amazon (per episode, I guess) OR, OR, OR I could sign up for ONE MORE STREAMER! Gz, guys! I'm trying to cut down on expenses (as you admirably mention as truly important for digital subscribers).
Disappointingly it seems that advertising is the way to go and I know I'm not the only person wishing for that ad-free experience. Time for the hackers to step in and give us a fix (illegal but really, I can't deal with ads).
Good show!
I've noticed that the streaming service ads are becoming entertaining. A lot of "WTF did I just see?" stuff. They're putting real effort into keeping viewers engaged.
Sonny, I think you just hit on the Apple Advantage. As a longtime strategist, albeit in another realm, that finally suggests to me what they may be about!