Cable, Dish, Direct?

[Madeinhb]

I considered getting the NHL Package online via NHL Gamecenter (they have the app for Xbox Live), but I don't watch every team, I usually only watch the Avs (hence getting the local package with Dish) and occasionally Montreal and St. Louis. Not sure if HBO Now will work for what we have set up (if they have it on Xbox I'd consider it).

Yea I only watched the Kings games. But because the Avs are usually on a regular channel - you wouldn't be able to watch via the game center app.

[Zundfolge]

If you don't care about sports, streaming is the way to go.

We have CenturyLink 12Mbps DSL that I believe we pay $65/mo for (we were their customer before all the kick ass deals) and Netflix running on 3 Rokus (I recommend the Roku 3 ... we have two LSs and one XS but the 3 wasn't out when we bought ours). We're really happy with it. We're also running a Plex server on our local network so I can torrent whatever I can't get on Netflix.

Hell I find myself watching stuff on YouTube almost as much as Netflix. There's a ton of good shows and interesting stuff there (we had a thread running a while back listing cool YouTube channels to subscribe to).

Streaming really does change how you watch TV. I find that I watch a lot less TV but pretty much everything is something I want to watch ... not much sitting and surfing. Oh and I can't remember the last time I sat through a commercial.

[TheGrey]

Hulu Plus has commercials, but we use them for foraging times and/or bathroom breaks.

[brutal]

If you need high-speed internets, Comcast bests everyone by far IMHO. Centurylink can eat a bag of d***s. If Comcast offers a decent package, I'd be looking at them. I have no direct experience, but have heard horror stories about X1 reliability. My internet is always rock solid.

Dump the home phone for magic-jack, or if you want high end and a number port, look at Ooma. Up front $129 equipment cost and $10/month for premium services but you get a free ($40) number port. Get a Comcast internet/TV package, or get Comcast internet only and go after a new customer deal with Dish.

I'm a 16 year Dish customer and have been very satisfied throughout the years. I was excited when I saw that Dish has Netflix on the Hopper, but after a month now, I don't see what all the fuss about Netflix is. I can't seem to find much on there worth watching and none of the available series are in my rotation. If you want a ton of low grade-B movies with terrible acting, Netflix is great.

I dropped all the Dish movie channels when my bill started hitting $240. I'm still paying half that, but feel the value of the Primetime anytime, the channels we still have, the hopper and joeys in every room, and my RV HD receiver are worth it. Pretty sure I'm going to drop Netflix. If I want to watch old movies, I have 400+ DVD titles here.

For a new movie that's decent enough to pay for, I can PPV or if it's something worthy, I just buy the BD with digital and UV register or upload it to VUDU.

Bottom line I would avoid CenturyLink at all costs.

[Bailey Guns]

I just can't feel the love for Hulu Plus. They charge the same as Netflix but I have to sit through commercials. I've tried Hulu a couple of times but just can't like it.

[ruthabagah]

A couple of things to ponder in the choice of Dish vs DirectTv and/or Comcast:

* Their product is pretty much the same.
* Dish aka Echostar is based here in colorado. Your money spend with Dish goes back into the local economy.
* Dish executives are some of the top contributor to the GOP party here in CO and nationally.

[def90]

A couple of things to ponder in the choice of Dish vs DirectTv and/or Comcast:

* Their product is pretty much the same.
* Dish aka Echostar is based here in colorado. Your money spend with Dish goes back into the local economy.
* Dish executives are some of the top contributor to the GOP party here in CO and nationally.

All of that said.. I have DirecTV, my girlfriend has Dish.. no way in hell would I drop DirecTV for Dish.

[ruthabagah]

All of that said.. I have DirecTV, my girlfriend has Dish.. no way in hell would I drop DirecTV for Dish.

Sounds like the problem is more with the Gf and her choices than your tv then...

[Dave_L]

I have DirecTv for ~3 years now. No complaints, at least none worth freaking out about. Comcast was always giving a 6 month promo price then the rate jacks up unless you call to get the new "promo price". I got tired of that. Some rate changes, ok, that happens. But doubling my rate just because when the "promo price" is still out there, give me a break.

OH and I get shows 2 hours earlier than cable. Sons of Anarchy would come on at 8 pm for me where cable friends had to wait til 10pm. Suckers.

[BigNick73]

I just can't feel the love for Hulu Plus. They charge the same as Netflix but I have to sit through commercials. I've tried Hulu a couple of times but just can't like it.

Sign up for bing rewards at bing.com and then go to http://www.pogocheats.net/bing-rewards-bot/ once a day to do the searches. You'll rack up a month of hulu every 28 days.

As for the OP we have a Roku 3 with netflix/amazon/hulu. Wife pays for Sling TV so she can have the ESPNs and HGTV.

If you have specific shows you want to watch you can always buy a season pass on amazon or google play, or use torrents if you're inclined.

After dropping Dish I don't have any inclination to go back.