Thursday, November 30, 2023

Fire TV adds more access to sports

Amazon has updated the Fire TV Channels feature of their platform's devices to include more sports.

This doesn't necessarily mean live sports, but it does include highlights, news, and even condensed games for fans of various sports and leagues.

Amazon Fire TV Blog says the feature has already rolled out:

We’ve added the NBA, Big Ten, SEC, Big 12, Fox Sports’ 24/7 linear channel, beIN SPORTS XTRA & video-on-demand, and the Locked On Podcast Network to our lineup of sports content available to all FTV customers in the US for free. These partners join Major League Baseball, the National Hockey League, NBC Sports, and many other high-profile sports content providers already streaming on Fire TV Channels.

For basketball fans, the content from the NBA includes daily highlights from every game and event, along with top plays. If you’re into college sports, the college conferences offer highlights, condensed games, news, and analysis from all of their member teams. Check out Fox Sports for their expert coverage of the biggest national stories in sports, and Locked On Podcast Network for hyper-local coverage of your favorite teams.

Fire TV Channels also introduced a new Favorites feature that makes finding and watching your favorite team’s content easier and faster. Now fans can select and follow their favorite teams in Fire TV Channels to instantly watch fresh feeds of their teams’ highlights, news, and analysis. You can also favorite Channels, like NHL or any of the other 400+ channels on Fire TV Channels, to quickly and easily get right into the shows and personalities you like best.

This is good news for sports fans who use the Fire TV platform. My Streaming Life doesn't use Fire TV a lot, but it's good to know these options are there when I do use that platform.

Wednesday, November 29, 2023

Roku or Fire TV?

For years, I've been firmly on Team Roku. However, lately I've used Android/Google TV in the form of Chromecast and NVIDIA Shield devices. I have to say I like them.

This does not mean I've left Team Roku. It simply means that I'm using other devices in order to ensure I know about them, and can answer questions when asked.

I've not mentioned Fire TV yet. Well, until now. I've used Fire TV, and it's a user friendly device as well. While I'm still using Android/Google TV, I'm going to take a minute and talk about the two top platforms, Roku and Fire TV. Many new streamers want to know which is better: Roku or Fire TV. The answer to that isn't simple.

The choice between Roku and Fire TV often depends on your personal preferences and and what you are looking for in a streaming device. Both Roku and Fire TV offer a range of streaming devices from which you are able to access the popular streaming services, including Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video, Disney Plus, Max, Paramount Plus, Peacock TV, and more.

So, what's the real difference?

Interface

  • The Roku interface is much simpler and very easy to navigate. The Roku interface easy of use.
  • The Fire TV interface is also user-friendly. As mentioned, it works well with Amazon content. The design is more cluttered, but offers content suggestions if you want to find something new to watch. The suggestions don't work as well as Google's, for instance, but if you want suggestions, Fire TV offers this that Roku doesn't have.

Apps

  • Roku offers a wide range of apps, including all the top streaming services. Generally, Roku is does not favoring any particular content provider, other than Roku Channel. Even then, it's not as in your face as Amazon.
  • Fire TV devices are closely integrated with the Amazon ecosystem. This actually is an advantage if you are an Amazon Prime member and use a lot of Amazon services. The app catalog is not as large as the Roku catalog, but it's pretty darn big.

Device Selection

  • Roku has a wide range of streaming devices, raning from budget-friendly options to high-end devices such as the Roku Ultra.
  • Fire TV also has a variety of devices, including the Fire Stick and Fire TV Cube. The low end items are inferior to the comparable Roku devices. The high end devices are roughly equivalent.

Voice Control

  • Roku has voice search and control through the Voice Remote ($20) and Voice Remote Pro ($30). High end (more expensive) Roku TVs have this as well. The cheapest Roku devices with the Simple Remote don't include this.
  • Fire TV utilizes the Amazon Alexa assistant. You can contron the interface and some compatible smart home devices. I've found this feature hit and miss, but the functionality is greater than that of Roku.

Gaming

  • Roku does offer some games, but it is not a gaming platform, to put it bluntly.
  • Fire TV devices, particularly the Fire TV Cube, have more gaming capabilities. It is possible to play a variety of games through the Amazon App store. However, it's not Xbox or PS5.

Working with Other Devices

  • Roku works well with a variety of devices, such as Google Home and Amazon Alexa. Roku has expanded their catalog of devices to include smart home devices, such as home monitoring, cameras, doorbells, lights and such. I've used some of them and they work fine.
  • Fire TV integrates smoothly with Amazon devices, including Echo speakers. The Fire TV Cube, for example, includes Alexa home assistant, which makes for a more connected experience for your smart home.

The bottom line is that the better choice depends entirely on your specific preferences. If you are already heavy into Amazon Alexa, then Fire TV is probably the way to go. If not, Roku is an excellent choice. Both Roku and Fire TV are excellent platforms, and either could be a good choice based on your needs and preferences. My Streaming Life utilizes Roku more than Fire TV, but if Fire TV has been around in 2010, I may have gone that way instead.

Tuesday, November 28, 2023

New Walmart Onn Streaming Stick released

Walmart has finally released a new Onn Streaming Stick. They are calling it "onn Google TV Full HD Streaming Device (NEW, 2023)" which kinda explains it all.

There was word back in July that Walmart would release a new streaming stick. That rumor came a few weeks after the retailer released a new streaming box. Now it's no longer a rumor, but a fact.

The box was a huge improvement over the previous box from two years earlier. I'm hoping the stick will be a good upgrade as well.

I will be getting one to test. Whether or not I'll use it regularly, I don't know. I have a perfectly good Roku, Fire TV Cube, NVIDIA Shield, Apple TV, and Chromecast 4K. I have more streaming devices than I have TVs. But, since it's under $20, I'll give it a shot.

My Streaming Life usually involves higher tier devices. I'll try the cheap ones, but have found that the more expensive ones often perform better. Not always, but usually. The Walmart Onn stick might be something worth using more than once. It may be a great little stocking stuffer. Who knows?

Monday, November 27, 2023

Nvidia Shield testing continues

I've been using the NVIDIA Shield for a couple of weeks or so. As I mentioned several days back, the interface on the NVIDIA Shield didn't look exactly like the Chromecast interface. Close, but some differences. That surprised me.

Turns out that the Chromecast is running a newer version of Android TV OS, version 12, while the NVIDIA Shield runs version 11.

Of course, Android OS is what's underneath. The interface itself it separate. Chromecast uses the Google TV interface. NVIDIA Shield uses the Android TV interface. That's the reason for the different appearance.

Mind you, the differences aren't great, but the differences are enough that noticed it right off the bad. I like the Google TV interface better.

In the meantime, I'll continue to use the NVIDIA Shield as my primary box. Travel, being under the weather, and the holidays have interrupted by streaming habits. I'm going to use it for another week or two then give my thoughts on it. I like parts of it, but other parts I don't like. Over these next couple of weeks, I'll see just how much I like and don't like the various things.

My Streaming Life has usually involved using Roku. However, I've really enjoyed Chromecast, and some people I know have raved about the NVIDIA Shield. I understand why they like it. I'm not sure if I'll go back to Roku or not. But I do like Roku.

Sunday, November 26, 2023

Why I stopped using CCleaner years ago

There is a computer optimization program called CCleaner. A lot of people swear by it. Lately, they should be swearing at it, not by it.

CCleaner is a bad idea. If you have been using it, you should watch this video. Ff your family/friend computer expert uses it on your computer, or recommends you use it on your computer, have your expert watch this video.

[YouTube]

Keep in mind that your local expert may reject the video. Some egos can't handle finding out they were wrong. What they don't think about is that CCleaner, and other utilities, change over time and sometimes they get worse. This is what has happened here. CCleaner keeps having problems, and they are major problems.

My Streaming Life rarely uses my computer, and when I do, it's rarely a Windows computer. Beyond streaming, if you use Windows, be aware that this utility has major issues.

Saturday, November 25, 2023

Why the local station blackouts?

Have you wondered about local channel blackouts on cable, satellite, and even live streaming services?

Tyler the Antenna Man tells why.

Nothing is ever simple is it? My Streaming Life includes a TV antenna, and I've overall been happy with it.

Friday, November 24, 2023

Watching College Football in 2023: Week 13

Week 13 of college football for 2023 has begun. There are 71 Division 1-A/FBS games on tap this week, with three already played (two Tuesday, one Thursday night.

There are 13 games today and 55 games tomorrow scheduled. There are two games that feature two Top 25 teams playing each other:

  • Oregon State (16) at Oregon (6) - today
  • Ohio State (2) at Michigan (2) - tomorrow

There are many other rivalry games on the schedule this weekend.

All ranked teams are in action this weekend, with the rest of the Top 25 all play unranked teams.

Today's games will be broadcast over several networks. Here are the channels or networks you'll need to watch all the games:

  • ABC
  • ACC Network
  • Big Ten Network
  • CBS
  • CBS Sports Network
  • CW
  • ESPN
  • ESPN2
  • ESPNU
  • ESPN+
  • Fox
  • Fox Sports 1
  • Longhorn Network
  • NBC
  • NFL Network
  • Pac 12 Network
  • Peacock
  • SEC Network

Note: No games are on Longhorn Network or Peacock this week.

Between this weekend's games and next Saturday, there are two games involving Division 1-A/FBS teams, with three ranked teams playing: The Conference USA championship and the Pac-12 championship:

  • ABC
  • CBS SN

Here's how to get all the networks:

ABC

  • Antenna (free)
  • Sling TV (8 markets only) ($45/month)
  • Vidgo (Plus) ($70/month)
  • Hulu+Live TV ($77/month)
  • YouTube TV ($73/month)
  • Fubo (Pro) ($75/month)
  • DirecTV (Entertainment) ($85/month)

ACC Network

  • Sling TV (Orange + Sports Extra) ($51/month)
  • Vidgo (Plus) ($70/month)
  • Hulu+Live TV ($77/month)
  • YouTube TV ($73/month)
  • Fubo (Pro) ($75/month)
  • DirecTV (Choice) ($116/month)

Big Ten Network

  • Sling TV (Blue + Sports Extra) ($51/month)
  • Vidgo (Plus) ($70/month)
  • Hulu+Live TV ($77/month)
  • YouTube TV ($73/month)
  • Fubo (Pro) ($75/month)
  • DirecTV (Choice) ($116/month)

CBS

  • Antenna (free)
  • Paramount Plus (Premium) $12/month
  • Hulu+Live TV ($77/month)
  • YouTube TV ($73/month)
  • Fubo (Pro) ($75/month)
  • DirecTV (Entertainment) ($85/month)

CBS Sports Network

  • Hulu+Live TV ($77/month)
  • YouTube TV ($73/month)
  • Fubo (Pro) ($75/month)
  • DirecTV (Ultimate) ($146/month)

CW

  • Antenna (free)
  • Not available streaming.

ESPN, ESPN2

  • Sling TV (Orange) ($40/month)
  • Vidgo (Plus) ($70/month)
  • Hulu+Live TV ($77/month)
  • YouTube TV ($73/month)
  • Fubo (Pro) ($75/month)
  • DirecTV (Entertainment) ($85/month)

ESPN+

  • ESPN+ (standalone) ($10/month)
  • Disney Bundle ($15/month)

ESPNU

  • Sling TV (Orange + Sports Extra) ($51/month)
  • Vidgo (Plus) ($70/month)
  • Hulu+Live TV ($77/month)
  • YouTube TV ($73/month)
  • Fubo (Pro + Fubo Extra) ($83/month)
  • DirecTV (Choice) ($116/month)

Fox

  • Antenna (free)
  • Sling TV (18 markets only) ($45/month)
  • Vidgo (Plus) ($70/month)
  • Hulu+Live TV ($77/month)
  • YouTube TV ($73/month)
  • Fubo (Pro) ($75/month)
  • DirecTV (Entertainment) ($85/month)

Fox Sports 1

  • Sling TV (Blue + Sports Extra) ($51/month)
  • Vidgo (Plus) ($70/month)
  • Hulu+Live TV ($77/month)
  • YouTube TV ($73/month)
  • Fubo (Pro) ($75/month)
  • DirecTV (Entertainment) ($85/month)

Longhorn Network

  • Sling TV (Orange + Sports Extra) ($51/month)
  • Vidgo (Plus) ($70/month)
  • DirecTV (Choice) ($116/month)

NBC

  • Antenna (free)
  • Peacock (Plus) ($12/month)
  • Sling TV (11 markets only) ($45/month)
  • Hulu+Live TV ($77/month)
  • YouTube TV ($73/month)
  • Fubo (Pro) ($75/month)
  • DirecTV (Entertainment) ($85/month)

NFL Network

  • Sling TV (Blue) ($40/month)
  • Vidgo (Plus) ($70/month)
  • Hulu+Live TV ($77/month)
  • YouTube TV ($73/month)
  • Fubo (Pro) ($75/month)
  • DirecTV (Choice) ($116/month)

Pac 12 Network

  • Vidgo (Plus) ($70/month)
  • Fubo (Pro) ($75/month)

Peacock

  • Peacock is its own service, and can be used to watch NBC live programming with the $12/month plan.

SEC Network

  • Sling TV (Orange) ($40/month)
  • Vidgo (Plus) ($70/month)
  • Hulu+Live TV ($77/month)
  • YouTube TV ($73/month)
  • Fubo (Pro) ($75/month)
  • DirecTV (Choice) ($116/month)

That's this week in Division 1-A/FBS college football, and covers all the networks that are carrying college football games in 2023. My Streaming Life focuses on college football during this time of year.

Thursday, November 23, 2023

Thanksgiving 2023

Thanksgiving Proclamation

Issued by President George Washington, at the request of Congress, on October 3, 1789
By the President of the United States of America, a Proclamation.

Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and—Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me “to recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:”

Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favor, able interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquillity, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted; for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general, for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.

And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations, and beseech Him to pardon our national and other trangressions; to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shown kindness to us), and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally, to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best.

Given under my hand at the City of New York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.

Go. Washington

Wednesday, November 22, 2023

Hulu and Disney Plus for $3/month

Yesterday, I mentioned that Hulu was running its usual special for a year of the service for $1/month. The catch is that you must not have had the service for a month prior (though some have circumvented this by using a different email address).

Well, it turns out that Hulu and Disney Plus have a bundle on sale. The basic ad-supported combo of Hulu and Disney Plus is $3/month. Same restrictions apply.

For the price, if you don't mind the ads, this is an excellent deal. I'll be deciding soon if I want this.

My Streaming Life has involved Hulu for over a decade. The $1/month price for standalone Hulu is a bargain. The Disney Bundle for $3/month is a bargain as well.

Tuesday, November 21, 2023

Hulu for $1/month again

Hulu has done this for the last few years. For Black Friday, the service is available for 99¢/month for 12 months. Naturally, there's a catch.

To take advantage of the deal, you must not have been a Hulu subscriber for one month prior. If you are an existing subscriber in any form -- standalone Hulu or part of any Disney Bundle -- you are not eligible. Well, unless it's been a month.

How long will the sale last? I don't know. It's usually for around a month. I don't know if you have time to cancel and then take advantage of the deal a month later.

Are there any other catches? Not really. It's pretty straight forward. It's the standard $8/month Hulu service for $1/month for a year.

I know of people who have taken advantage of the deal on consecutive years by using a different email address, essentially rotating accounts year to year. In one year, they use the original email address, in the next, they use a second address. Then back to the first address. And so on. I'm not advocating that. I just know it's been done.

My Streaming Life has used Hulu since I began streaming regularly in January 2011. I used the free version (yes, there was a free version), them moved to the subscription service later in that year. I've stayed with the service ever since. It's a worthwhile service to me. And this is a great bargain.

Monday, November 20, 2023

Motorola modems going away?

There is a report that the manufacturer of Motorola modems may be closing down. Or may have already closed down.

Light Reading reports that Minim, the company that makes the Motorola branded modems, is in serious financial trouble, having laid off a large number of staff, and having reported to the Securities and Exchange Commission that it was in danger of shutting down.

Minim, which sells Motorola-branded cable modems and gateways at retail alongside a software-powered home network management platform, laid off about 78% of its staff in September amid a severe cash crunch.

It's not clear what's next for the Manchester, New Hampshire-based supplier, but its website is down as of this writing. Minim's phones are still ringing (though no one is answering), and its products are still being sold online at outlets such as Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart and via a section dedicated to cable modems at Motorola.com.

In recent weeks, Minim has alerted the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that there's "substantial doubt" that the company can go on without an influx of fresh capital.

This is disappointing to me. When I first cut the cord, I did so to save money. When I continued to look for more ways to save money, I discovered that I could provide my own modem, which while an upfront expense, would save money in the long run. I bought a Motorola modem. It served well, and I'm not sure why I replaced it. Probably went out of date due to technological changes. And the replacement was not a Motorola.

My Streaming Life utilized Motorola modems early on. I'll be sad to see them come off the market, if all this goes as it looks like it's going.

Sunday, November 19, 2023

No Antivirus?

Internet Privacy Guy Rob Braxman doesn't use an antivirus program on his computer. So why should you?

Well, maybe you shouldn't. Maybe. Don't change your behavior until you watch the whole thing. Nothing is ever simple, and Rob Braxman covers a lot of territory.

[YouTube]

If you drop your antivirus protection, make sure you know what you're doing.

Saturday, November 18, 2023

Watching College Football in 2023: Week 12

Week 12 of college football for 2023 has begun. There are 68 Division 1-A/FBS games on tap this week, with eight already played (three Tuesday, two Wednesday, one Thursday night, and two last night).

Today, there are 60 games scheduled. There are four games that feature two Top 25 teams playing each other:

  • Georgia (1) at Tennessee (18)
  • Utah (22) at Arizona (17)
  • Kansas State (21) at Kansas (25)
  • Washington (5) at Oregon State (11)

All ranked teams are in action this weekend, with the rest of the Top 25 all play unranked teams.

Today's games will be broadcast over several networks. Here are the channels or networks you'll need to watch all the games:

  • ABC
  • ACC Network
  • Big Ten Network
  • CBS
  • CBS Sports Network
  • CW
  • ESPN
  • ESPN2
  • ESPNU
  • ESPN+
  • Fox
  • Fox Sports 1
  • Longhorn Network
  • NBC
  • NFL Network
  • Pac 12 Network
  • Peacock
  • SEC Network

Note: No games are on Longhorn Network this week.

Between this weekend's games and next Saturday, there are 16 games involving Division 1-A/FBS teams, with nine ranked teams (at least, by this week’s poll) playing. Those games will be broadcast on:

  • ABC
  • CBS
  • CBS SN
  • ESPN
  • ESPN2
  • ESPNU
  • Fox
  • FS1
  • NBC

It’s possible that before the season ends, there may even be another network or two that carries games, but these are the ones that are confirmed as the season begins. Here's how to get all the networks:

ABC

  • Antenna (free)
  • Sling TV (8 markets only) ($45/month)
  • Vidgo (Plus) ($70/month)
  • Hulu+Live TV ($77/month)
  • YouTube TV ($73/month)
  • Fubo (Pro) ($75/month)
  • DirecTV (Entertainment) ($85/month)

ACC Network

  • Sling TV (Orange + Sports Extra) ($51/month)
  • Vidgo (Plus) ($70/month)
  • Hulu+Live TV ($77/month)
  • YouTube TV ($73/month)
  • Fubo (Pro) ($75/month)
  • DirecTV (Choice) ($116/month)

Big Ten Network

  • Sling TV (Blue + Sports Extra) ($51/month)
  • Vidgo (Plus) ($70/month)
  • Hulu+Live TV ($77/month)
  • YouTube TV ($73/month)
  • Fubo (Pro) ($75/month)
  • DirecTV (Choice) ($116/month)

CBS

  • Antenna (free)
  • Paramount Plus (Premium) $12/month
  • Hulu+Live TV ($77/month)
  • YouTube TV ($73/month)
  • Fubo (Pro) ($75/month)
  • DirecTV (Entertainment) ($85/month)

CBS Sports Network

  • Hulu+Live TV ($77/month)
  • YouTube TV ($73/month)
  • Fubo (Pro) ($75/month)
  • DirecTV (Ultimate) ($146/month)

CW

  • Antenna (free)
  • Not available streaming.

ESPN, ESPN2

  • Sling TV (Orange) ($40/month)
  • Vidgo (Plus) ($70/month)
  • Hulu+Live TV ($77/month)
  • YouTube TV ($73/month)
  • Fubo (Pro) ($75/month)
  • DirecTV (Entertainment) ($85/month)

ESPN+

  • ESPN+ (standalone) ($10/month)
  • Disney Bundle ($15/month)

ESPNU

  • Sling TV (Orange + Sports Extra) ($51/month)
  • Vidgo (Plus) ($70/month)
  • Hulu+Live TV ($77/month)
  • YouTube TV ($73/month)
  • Fubo (Pro + Fubo Extra) ($83/month)
  • DirecTV (Choice) ($116/month)

Fox

  • Antenna (free)
  • Sling TV (18 markets only) ($45/month)
  • Vidgo (Plus) ($70/month)
  • Hulu+Live TV ($77/month)
  • YouTube TV ($73/month)
  • Fubo (Pro) ($75/month)
  • DirecTV (Entertainment) ($85/month)

Fox Sports 1

  • Sling TV (Blue + Sports Extra) ($51/month)
  • Vidgo (Plus) ($70/month)
  • Hulu+Live TV ($77/month)
  • YouTube TV ($73/month)
  • Fubo (Pro) ($75/month)
  • DirecTV (Entertainment) ($85/month)

Longhorn Network

  • Sling TV (Orange + Sports Extra) ($51/month)
  • Vidgo (Plus) ($70/month)
  • DirecTV (Choice) ($116/month)

NBC

  • Antenna (free)
  • Peacock (Plus) ($12/month)
  • Sling TV (11 markets only) ($45/month)
  • Hulu+Live TV ($77/month)
  • YouTube TV ($73/month)
  • Fubo (Pro) ($75/month)
  • DirecTV (Entertainment) ($85/month)

NFL Network

  • Sling TV (Blue) ($40/month)
  • Vidgo (Plus) ($70/month)
  • Hulu+Live TV ($77/month)
  • YouTube TV ($73/month)
  • Fubo (Pro) ($75/month)
  • DirecTV (Choice) ($116/month)

Pac 12 Network

  • Vidgo (Plus) ($70/month)
  • Fubo (Pro) ($75/month)

Peacock

  • Peacock is its own service, and can be used to watch NBC live programming with the $12/month plan.

SEC Network

  • Sling TV (Orange) ($40/month)
  • Vidgo (Plus) ($70/month)
  • Hulu+Live TV ($77/month)
  • YouTube TV ($73/month)
  • Fubo (Pro) ($75/month)
  • DirecTV (Choice) ($116/month)

That's this week in Division 1-A/FBS college football, and covers all the networks -- so far -- that are carrying college football games in 2023. My Streaming Life focuses on college football during this time of year.

Friday, November 17, 2023

Nvidia Shield again, but wait ...

It was a year and a half ago that I got an Nvidia Shield device. Things happened, and I never finished testing it. I kinda liked what I saw during the brief time I used it, but like I said, things happened.

I want to test the Nvidia Shield as a primary streaming device, and put some serious time into it. I've been using Chromecast with Google TV, and actually like it. But, I think I'm done testing it. But, before going back to Roku, I want to finish my Nvidia Shield testing.

Well, I hooked it up, ran updates, and sat down to use it. Well, what I saw was unexpected. I really expected things to look pretty much like Chromecast. They didn't.

What I've run into is that Android TV and Google TV aren't the same thing. Google TV was -- was, mind you -- a platform. Android TV replaced it. Then Google decided to update the interface. The updated interface is called Google TV. Confusing? Yeah. That's Google for you.

Anyway, it was unexpected. Two days later, the interface had changed. Not the same as what Chromecast uses, but closer. Maybe it'll change again. This is gonna take a while.

My Streaming Life uses four major platforms: Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, and Android/Google TV. They all work well, but the devices can make a big difference. I am putting more time and effort into the Nvidia Shield. I have to. I hate to think I spent all that money for nothing.

Thursday, November 16, 2023

Pay TV services shrink, except for YouTube TV

A recent report shows that despite traditional pay TV services -- cable and satellite -- are losing customers, YouTube TV continues to get more customers. Not only that, the rate of growth of YouTube TV, combined with the traditional services shrinking, means that YouTube TV will soon be the 4th largest pay TV service.

A report this past Spring from Leichtman Research Group says cable TV customers such as Comcast and Spectrum lost over 2-million customers in the first quarter of the year alone. A recent report shows that traditional pay TV services dropped 2-million in the second and third quarters combined.

Top cable providers had a net loss of about 1,015,000 video subscribers in 3Q 2023 – compared to a loss of about 985,000 subscribers in 3Q 2022

Other traditional pay-TV services had a net loss of about 780,000 subscribers in 3Q 2023 – compared to a loss of about 700,000 subscribers in 3Q 2022

Top vMVPDs added about 1,325,000 subscribers in 3Q 2023 – compared to a gain of about 1,300,000 subscribers in 3Q 2022

Combine that with the information that showed YouTube TV growing by 600,000 in the third quarter, and that streaming service is on track to be the fourth largest pay TV provider. It is already the fifth largest, according to Cord Cutters News.

YouTube TV now reportedly has about 6,500,000 TV customers. This would put it in 5th place, just behind DISH, which has 6,720,000 subscribers. Comcast is still in first place with 14,495,000, followed by Spectrum at 14,379,000 and DIRECTV with 11,850,000.

At this rate of growth and with DISH’s recent declines in subscribers it is very likely that YouTube TV by the end of 2023 will become the 4th largest live TV service in the United States. This includes both streaming and cable TV companies.

This is good news for streaming services, and bad news for cable and satellite. My Streaming Life grows stronger every day.

Wednesday, November 15, 2023

Streaming service loyalty

A recent study from Parks Associates says that streaming customers are sticking with Netflix and Prime Video. It also indicates that the service most likely to be dropped is Peacock.

Of course, the results of the study don't match up with me, but then perhaps I'm not average. I don't know if I'm above average (I would like to think so) or below average (others probably think so) or just different (everybody thinks so).

The full study is available for purchase, and I didn't purchase. I did see write-ups from The Desk and from Cord Cutters News, so what I'm writing about now is based on those articles. As they pretty much agree, I'm going to assume the reports are accurate in summing the results of the study.

The streaming services mentioned are all service to which I have subscribed.

The retention durations reflect the established status of each service in the consumer landscape. Despite challenges such as price increases and password-sharing crackdowns, Netflix thrives, fueled by its extensive content library. Prime Video, bundled with the Prime subscription, maintains a low turnover, but the introduction of commercials next year may impact subscriber behavior.

Hulu secures the third position in subscriber loyalty, with a notable drop in retention for the subsequent tier, featuring Starz, Paramount Plus, and Disney Plus in fourth, fifth, and sixth places, respectively. Max and Apple TV Plus follow closely, marking another drop in retention before reaching the bottom tier, occupied by Peacock.

Of those, I would have to admit that I've been with Prime Video ever since there was a Prime Video. You see, I have been a subscriber to Amazon Prime for many years, before Prime Video was ever a thing. As I've continued to subscribe, but for the other benefits, not for Prime Video. If I could get Amazon Prime without Prime Video, I would, and drop Prime Video. So, I'm not a loyal subscriber to Prime Video.

Netflix is a service I dropped years ago as well. Yes, I've subscribed for a month at a time a few times to watch MST3K when new seasons dropped, and to test they new pricing tier, so I could talk about it with experience. Otherwise, I don't watch it. It's not worth the cost to me.

I've been with Hulu from the time it was free (yes, it once was free). I will put the subscription on hold for periods of time when seasons of favorite shows end, but I don't cancel and return. I don't pay year-round, but I do stick with them overall. Half loyal, maybe.

Starz? I have subscribed, but only when there is a really low price and only for a short period. Not loyal.

Paramount Plus? I get it with Walmart Plus, but I would likely subscribe to it. Half loyal, perhaps.

Disney Plus? Not really loyal. It's only $2/month if it's bundled with Hulu, so maybe loyal. I include it in rotation, but not full time. I would not pay full price for it. Not loyal.

Max? If they offer a great price, which they do from time to time, I may include it in my rotation. Otherwise, no. Not loyal.

Apple TV Plus? When it comes with another purchase, I'll use the service. I won't pay for it. Not loyal.

Peacock? It comes with Xfinity rewards. I don't personally use it, but a family member likes it, so if I didn't get it free, I would subscribe for her, but not for me. Half loyal.

None of them are services to which I am loyal. Yes, Amazon gets my money, but not for the Prime Video. Like Paramount Plus and Peacock, it comes with another service, and I would likely not use it by itself. Only Hulu is one that I would pay for by itself, and then only part time. However, for more than any of the others. I watch it the most, and if I had to pick one, it would be Hulu.

AMC Plus was not listed, but I would put it in the same category as Starz. If there is a really really low price, which there is from time to time, I'll subscribe and add it to my rotation.

There is one service to which I am loyal that was not listed. I've subscribed to Frndly TV since it launched. I don't watch it that much, but I like to have it there. It's good, family friendly content.

My Streaming Life isn't much like the average, as determined by the study. But yours probably isn't either. After all, it's yours, just as mine is mine. It's individual, and how we want to do it. That's one of the major reasons I enjoy streaming television. It's what I want to watch, not what someone spoon feeds me.

Tuesday, November 14, 2023

Comcast staff cuts Peacock staff

A report this past week indicates that Comcast laid off about 50 employees from its Peacock division. The move wasn't because of cost cutting, according to Variety, but a result of restructuring the division.

Now, is 50 people a lot of people? If you're one of the 50 people, then yes. But for a company the size of Comcast? Out of 186,000? That's not a lot.

But it's not Comcast exactly. It's Peacock. They have about 1,000 or so employees. That's nearly one out of every 20 employees laid off. Five percent.

The insider says the layoffs are not part of a cost-cutting initiative at the Comcast-owned company, but rather a revamp of the vision for the department that will see Willett fill almost all of these roles with new staffers. The Peacock marketing team is being broken into five business areas under Willett: Brand Creative and Marketing; Title Creative and Marketing; Marketing Strategy, Planning, Analysis and Performance Media; Growth and Lifecycle Marketing; and Publicity, Events and Talent Engagement.

Willett will be looking to fill two key new roles: executive vice president of brand creative and marketing and senior vice president of title creative and marketing.

"We heard from many of you as well as our partners that our structure was complex and are confident that this streamlined approach will help us simplify our processes, accelerate decision making and expose us to a deeper array of marketing skillsets to learn and grow in our careers," Willett said in a memo to staff announcing the restructuring Thursday.

While Peacock isn't one of my favorite services -- I rarely watch it -- it is a favorite of a family member. She watches it a lot. I get it as part of Xfinity Rewards, but because of how much she likes the service, I would pay for it. The cost is pretty good, at just $6/month, or $12/month for the Premium Plus ad-free and local NBC service.

My Streaming Life does involve the service, and I hope the cuts don't lead to a lowering of the content. The family member would be disappointed if that happened, and that would disappoint me as well.

Monday, November 13, 2023

Fire TV to change operating system?

There is a report that Amazon will change the operating system in its Fire TV devices. Currently, Fire OS is based on the Android operating system. The report from Lowpass says Amazon will dump their Android based OS as early as next year.

Development of the new operating system, which is internally known as Vega, appears fairly advanced. The system has already been tested on Fire TV streaming adapters, and Amazon has told select partners about its plans to transition to a new application framework in the near future. A source with knowledge of the company’s plans suggested that it could start shipping Vega on select Fire TV devices as early as next year.

Amazon didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

Amazon has been working on an alternative OS for years. I first heard about the company exploring this idea in 2019, and someone told me at the time that Amazon folks had brought it up in conversations with chip makers as early as 2017.

Will this happen? Maybe. Is it a good idea? Maybe. Then again, maybe not.

Does it matter? Yes, very much so. If this blows up in their face, this could be a disaster for Fire TV devices. Of course,  they've been at it for years, so maybe they're waiting to get it right. If so, then it'll be a very good thing.

I'm curious about this whole thing, and wonder how it will all shake out. My Streaming Life doesn't use a lot of Fire TV, although I'm very familiar with it. How it changes in the next year will be interesting.

Sunday, November 12, 2023

New issues with new TV technology

Remember a few years ago when all TV stations went digital? (Okay, not all did, but so many did that it's easier to say that 'all did' go digital.)

Well, something similar will happen again one day, maybe sooner than we realize. And, there are issues that could impact your ability to watch free over the air TV.

Let's let Tyler the Antenna Man explain:

[YouTube]

This could be a major problem. I don't really expect it to be that, though. Well, okay, there are enough people making the rules that don't really care what you or I think, so this new technology may not be a good thing.

My Streaming Life has used antennae to expland my live TV (and on-demand, via DVR) watching. I really want the technology to work for me, not help line someone else's pocket.

Saturday, November 11, 2023

Watching College Football in 2023: Week 11

Week 11 of college football for 2023 has begun. There are 65 Division 1-A/FBS games on tap this week, with ten already played (three Tuesday, three Wednesday, two Thursday night, and two last night).

Today, there are 55 games scheduled. There are five games that feature two Top 25 teams playing each other:

  • Mississippi (9) at Georgia (2)
  • Michigan (3) at Penn State (10)
  • Utah (18) at Washington (5)
  • Tennessee (13) at Missouri (14)

One ranked team, Louisville (11), won Thursday night. Notre Dame (20) has the week off. The rest of the Top 25 all play unranked teams.

Today's games will be broadcast over several networks. Here are the channels or networks you'll need to watch all the games:

  • ABC
  • ACC Network
  • Big Ten Network
  • CBS
  • CBS Sports Network
  • CW
  • ESPN
  • ESPN2
  • ESPNU
  • ESPN+
  • Fox
  • Fox Sports 1
  • Longhorn Network
  • NBC
  • NFL Network
  • Pac 12 Network
  • Peacock
  • SEC Network

Note: No games are on Longhorn Network this week.

Between this weekend's games and next Saturday, there are ten games involving Division 1-A/FBS teams, one involving a ranked team (at least, by this week’s poll). Those games will be broadcast on:

  • ESPN
  • ESPN2
  • ESPNU
  • FS1

It’s possible that before the season ends, there may even be another network or two that carries games, but these are the ones that are confirmed as the season begins. Here's how to get all the networks:

ABC

  • Antenna (free)
  • Sling TV (8 markets only) ($45/month)
  • Vidgo (Plus) ($70/month)
  • Hulu+Live TV ($77/month)
  • YouTube TV ($73/month)
  • Fubo (Pro) ($75/month)
  • DirecTV (Entertainment) ($85/month)

ACC Network

  • Sling TV (Orange + Sports Extra) ($51/month)
  • Vidgo (Plus) ($70/month)
  • Hulu+Live TV ($77/month)
  • YouTube TV ($73/month)
  • Fubo (Pro) ($75/month)
  • DirecTV (Choice) ($116/month)

Big Ten Network

  • Sling TV (Blue + Sports Extra) ($51/month)
  • Vidgo (Plus) ($70/month)
  • Hulu+Live TV ($77/month)
  • YouTube TV ($73/month)
  • Fubo (Pro) ($75/month)
  • DirecTV (Choice) ($116/month)

CBS

  • Antenna (free)
  • Paramount Plus (Premium) $12/month
  • Hulu+Live TV ($77/month)
  • YouTube TV ($73/month)
  • Fubo (Pro) ($75/month)
  • DirecTV (Entertainment) ($85/month)

CBS Sports Network

  • Hulu+Live TV ($77/month)
  • YouTube TV ($73/month)
  • Fubo (Pro) ($75/month)
  • DirecTV (Ultimate) ($146/month)

CW

  • Antenna (free)
  • Not available streaming.

ESPN, ESPN2

  • Sling TV (Orange) ($40/month)
  • Vidgo (Plus) ($70/month)
  • Hulu+Live TV ($77/month)
  • YouTube TV ($73/month)
  • Fubo (Pro) ($75/month)
  • DirecTV (Entertainment) ($85/month)

ESPN+

  • ESPN+ (standalone) ($10/month)
  • Disney Bundle ($15/month)

ESPNU

  • Sling TV (Orange + Sports Extra) ($51/month)
  • Vidgo (Plus) ($70/month)
  • Hulu+Live TV ($77/month)
  • YouTube TV ($73/month)
  • Fubo (Pro + Fubo Extra) ($83/month)
  • DirecTV (Choice) ($116/month)

Fox

  • Antenna (free)
  • Sling TV (18 markets only) ($45/month)
  • Vidgo (Plus) ($70/month)
  • Hulu+Live TV ($77/month)
  • YouTube TV ($73/month)
  • Fubo (Pro) ($75/month)
  • DirecTV (Entertainment) ($85/month)

Fox Sports 1

  • Sling TV (Blue + Sports Extra) ($51/month)
  • Vidgo (Plus) ($70/month)
  • Hulu+Live TV ($77/month)
  • YouTube TV ($73/month)
  • Fubo (Pro) ($75/month)
  • DirecTV (Entertainment) ($85/month)

Longhorn Network

  • Sling TV (Orange + Sports Extra) ($51/month)
  • Vidgo (Plus) ($70/month)
  • DirecTV (Choice) ($116/month)

NBC

  • Antenna (free)
  • Peacock (Plus) ($12/month)
  • Sling TV (11 markets only) ($45/month)
  • Hulu+Live TV ($77/month)
  • YouTube TV ($73/month)
  • Fubo (Pro) ($75/month)
  • DirecTV (Entertainment) ($85/month)

NFL Network

  • Sling TV (Blue) ($40/month)
  • Vidgo (Plus) ($70/month)
  • Hulu+Live TV ($77/month)
  • YouTube TV ($73/month)
  • Fubo (Pro) ($75/month)
  • DirecTV (Choice) ($116/month)

Pac 12 Network

  • Vidgo (Plus) ($70/month)
  • Fubo (Pro) ($75/month)

Peacock

  • Peacock is its own service, and can be used to watch NBC live programming with the $12/month plan.

SEC Network

  • Sling TV (Orange) ($40/month)
  • Vidgo (Plus) ($70/month)
  • Hulu+Live TV ($77/month)
  • YouTube TV ($73/month)
  • Fubo (Pro) ($75/month)
  • DirecTV (Choice) ($116/month)

That's this week in Division 1-A/FBS college football, and covers all the networks -- so far -- that are carrying college football games in 2023. My Streaming Life focuses on college football during this time of year.

Friday, November 10, 2023

YouTube TV review

I've mentioned this before, and here it is again. I don't normally subscribe to a live TV streaming service. Cable, delivered over the Internet, isn't for me. However, as I've said, I understand the appeal of it. Some people just want to watch TV and are willing to pay big bucks for it.

Many consider YouTube TV to be the best of those services. I won't disagree. Lon TV recently reviewed YouTube TV:

[YouTube]

My Streaming Life doesn't need a service such as YouTube TV. Yours might. It is a good one. Expensive, but good.

Thursday, November 9, 2023

Is it time to try Nvidia Shield again?

It was a year and a half ago that I got an Nvidia Shield device. I tested it for a little while and liked it fine, but I decided to try it as a Plex server as well.

I didn't like how it went, and decided I would go back to using it as a streaming device, after I completed a couple of other projects.

Those went well, but they took longer than I expected, and I never went back to the Nvidia Shield testing. That means I have an Nvidia Shield in a box in a drawer or on a shelf somewhere.

Somewhere.

Yeah, I looked for it this past weekend and couldn't find it. I don't know where I put it. I need to find that thing.

I want to test the Nvidia Shield as a primary streaming device, and put some serious time into it. I've been using Chromecast with Google TV, and actually like it. But, I think I'm done testing it. But, before going back to Roku, I want to finish my Nvidia Shield testing.

My Streaming Life uses four major platforms: Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, and Google TV. They all work well, but the devices can make a big difference. I want to put more time and effort into the Nvidia Shield. I would hate to think I spent all that money for nothing.

Wednesday, November 8, 2023

The good news for Dish is they lost 60,000 subscribers

You would think that losing 60,000 subscribers in a quarter would not be good news. But, in the crazy world of streaming, it is good news.

Well, the losing subscribers part isn't good. But the details for streaming are actually pretty good.

Sling TV, which is owned by Dish, gained 117,000 subscribers in the 3rd quarter. The bad news for the company is that their satellite service lost 181,000 subscribers, giving the company an overall loss.

The upside is that streaming is picking up, after larger losses in the 2nd quarter. The streaming market is growing, and the satellite market is shrinking. The satellite market is still around three times the size of the streaming market, insofar as Dish services are concerned, but the trend is to streaming.

I've never had a satellite TV service, so I can't say what the experience is like, but I've been at places where they do have it. It's pretty much like cable. And I dropped cable in January 2011, so I'm a little rusty on that.

My Streaming Life totally removed the need for cable or satellite. More and more people seem to be finding this to be the case.

Tuesday, November 7, 2023

Fire TV searches to include ads

I totally missed this story last week. If you missed it as well, you might now find it interesting.

Fire TV will start inserting ads into search results.

Think about that for a minute. You're wanting to search for something on your Fire TV device, and the results include advertisements. According to AFTVNews, this will start later this year:

The search result screen is one of the last Fire TV interfaces that has remained ad-free but that will change later this year when the new Fire TV AI voice search arrives. Once the new conversational voice search arrives, expect to see ads mixed in with your actual search results. Other Fire TV advertisement changes being made include allowing non-media and entertainment brands to advertise in the first slot of the Feature Rotator, which is the big banner ad that takes up the upper half of the Fire TV home screen.

Of course, you get stuff like this when you search Google in your Web browser. That doesn't mean it's okay. It means they're getting paid to give you results you didn't ask for.

This is on the heels of Amazon putting more ads on the home screen. Sure, the amount of screen real estate isn't changing, but the content is including more ads, rather than related promotional materials (which, to be fair, are ads, although unpaid ads).

My Streaming Life is used to ads. I use more ad-supported content, and don't subscribe to a live cable replacement service. Ads aren't a big deal. That doesn't mean I want more of them.

Monday, November 6, 2023

How much can you save by streaming vs cable?

When I cut the cord in 2011, I had run the numbers on how much it would cost me to watch TV via streaming rather than with cable. I only counted streaming, not over the air antenna. My totals for 2010 showed that I would have saved $65/month. So, how does that compare to 2023?

A new report from Leichtman Research Group, says that the average savings of streaming over cable is nearly $65/month. Imagine that.

But what about my particular situation today? How much am I now saving by streaming?

I'm not sure an exact comparison can be made. First of all, I don't live where I lived in 2011. I have a different Internet Service Provider and have a different cable provider in this area. So, the $65/month savings applied to my ISP and cable provider there. But now I'm here. Still, I can run the numbers and see what they show.

I'm currently paying $52/month for Internet, and (roughly) $30/month for streaming services. During football season, I have a cable alternative service such as Sling TV ($40/month). But let's go higher and use YouTube TV ($73/month) instead.

That means in a year, I'm paying $624 for Internet, $360 for streaming services, and $292 for sports programming. That's $,1276/year or $107/month (rounding up) for all the streaming TV I want.

But... I have Amazon Prime, and I had Amazon Prime when I had cable, and would still have Amazon Prime if I went back to cable. So, that changes the monthly streaming service cost from $30 to $18. That brings the yearly cost to $216 rather than $360. That makes the total cost $1,132/year or $95/month.

For Xfinity/Comcast Internet and cable TV, the total is $138/month. That means I'm only saving $43/month ($516/year) by streaming, which is around 2/3 the national average, and 2/3 of what I used to save. It's still worth it, is what all this means.

My Streaming Life has saved me money over my old cable TV life. It still does.

Sunday, November 5, 2023

(Almost) All About Frndly TV

This week, Luke Bouma at Cord Cutters News did a recap of Frndly TV, one of my favorite live streaming services.

[YouTube]

I've been a Frndly TV subscriber since the service launched. I subscribed to Feeln (now Hallmark Movies Now) but dropped it for Frndly TV when the service launched in 2019.

My Streaming Life has included family friendly TV for years, and this will continue to be part of it foing forward.

Saturday, November 4, 2023

Watching College Football in 2023: Week 10

Week 10 of college football for 2023 is underway. There are 65 Division 1-A/FBS games on tap this week, with nine already played (two Tuesday, two Wednesday, three Thursday night, and two last night).

Today, there are 56 games scheduled. There are five games that feature two Top 25 teams playing each other:

  • Missouri (12) at Georgia (2))
  • Kansas State (23) at Texas (7)
  • LSU (14) at Alabama (8)
  • Washington (5) at USC Southern Califormia (20)
  • Oklahoma (9) at Oklahoma State (22)

The rest of the Top 25 all play unranked teams. For the first time this season, all Top 25 teams are playing.

Today's games will be broadcast over several networks. Here are the channels or networks you'll need to watch all the games:

  • ABC
  • ACC Network
  • Big Ten Network
  • CBS
  • CBS Sports Network
  • CW
  • ESPN
  • ESPN2
  • ESPNU
  • ESPN+
  • Fox
  • Fox Sports 1
  • Longhorn Network
  • NBC
  • NFL Network
  • Pac 12 Network
  • Peacock
  • SEC Network

Note: No games are on Longhorn Network this week.

Between this weekend's games and next Saturday, there are ten games involving Division 1-A/FBS teams, one involving a ranked team (at least, by this week’s poll). Those games will be broadcast on:

  • ESPN
  • ESPN2
  • ESPNU
  • FS1

It’s possible that before the season ends, there may even be another network or two that carries games, but these are the ones that are confirmed as the season begins. Here's how to get all the networks:

ABC

  • Antenna (free)
  • Sling TV (8 markets only) ($45/month)
  • Vidgo (Plus) ($70/month)
  • Hulu+Live TV ($77/month)
  • YouTube TV ($73/month)
  • Fubo (Pro) ($75/month)
  • DirecTV (Entertainment) ($80/month)

ACC Network

  • Sling TV (Orange + Sports Extra) ($51/month)
  • Vidgo (Plus) ($70/month)
  • Hulu+Live TV ($77/month)
  • YouTube TV ($73/month)
  • Fubo (Pro) ($75/month)
  • DirecTV (Choice) ($114/month)

Big Ten Network

  • Sling TV (Blue + Sports Extra) ($51/month)
  • Vidgo (Plus) ($70/month)
  • Hulu+Live TV ($77/month)
  • YouTube TV ($73/month)
  • Fubo (Pro) ($75/month)
  • DirecTV (Choice) ($114/month)

CBS

  • Antenna (free)
  • Paramount Plus (Premium) $12/month
  • Hulu+Live TV ($77/month)
  • YouTube TV ($73/month)
  • Fubo (Pro) ($75/month)
  • DirecTV (Entertainment) ($80/month)

CBS Sports Network

  • Hulu+Live TV ($77/month)
  • YouTube TV ($73/month)
  • Fubo (Pro) ($75/month)
  • DirecTV (Ultimate) ($139/month)

CW

  • Antenna (free)
  • Not available streaming.

ESPN, ESPN2

  • Sling TV (Orange) ($40/month)
  • Vidgo (Plus) ($70/month)
  • Hulu+Live TV ($77/month)
  • YouTube TV ($73/month)
  • Fubo (Pro) ($75/month)
  • DirecTV (Entertainment) ($80/month)

ESPN+

  • ESPN+ (standalone) ($10/month)
  • Disney Bundle ($15/month)

ESPNU

  • Sling TV (Orange + Sports Extra) ($51/month)
  • Vidgo (Plus) ($70/month)
  • Hulu+Live TV ($77/month)
  • YouTube TV ($73/month)
  • Fubo (Pro + Fubo Extra) ($83/month)
  • DirecTV (Choice) ($114/month)

Fox

  • Antenna (free)
  • Sling TV (18 markets only) ($45/month)
  • Vidgo (Plus) ($70/month)
  • Hulu+Live TV ($77/month)
  • YouTube TV ($73/month)
  • Fubo (Pro) ($75/month)
  • DirecTV (Entertainment) ($80/month)

Fox Sports 1

  • Sling TV (Blue + Sports Extra) ($51/month)
  • Vidgo (Plus) ($70/month)
  • Hulu+Live TV ($77/month)
  • YouTube TV ($73/month)
  • Fubo (Pro) ($75/month)
  • DirecTV (Entertainment) ($80/month)

Longhorn Network

  • Sling TV (Orange + Sports Extra) ($51/month)
  • Vidgo (Plus) ($70/month)
  • DirecTV (Choice) ($114/month)

NBC

  • Antenna (free)
  • Peacock (Plus) ($12/month)
  • Sling TV (11 markets only) ($45/month)
  • Hulu+Live TV ($77/month)
  • YouTube TV ($73/month)
  • Fubo (Pro) ($75/month)
  • DirecTV (Entertainment) ($80/month)

NFL Network

  • Sling TV (Blue) ($40/month)
  • Vidgo (Plus) ($70/month)
  • Hulu+Live TV ($77/month)
  • YouTube TV ($73/month)
  • Fubo (Pro) ($75/month)
  • DirecTV (Choice) ($114/month)

Pac 12 Network

  • Vidgo (Plus) ($70/month)
  • Fubo (Pro) ($75/month)

Peacock

  • Peacock is its own service, and can be used to watch NBC live programming with the $12/month plan.

SEC Network

  • Sling TV (Orange) ($40/month)
  • Vidgo (Plus) ($70/month)
  • Hulu+Live TV ($77/month)
  • YouTube TV ($73/month)
  • Fubo (Pro) ($75/month)
  • DirecTV (Choice) ($114/month)

That's this week in Division 1-A/FBS college football, and covers all the networks -- so far -- that are carrying college football games in 2023. My Streaming Life focuses on college football during this time of year.

Friday, November 3, 2023

More ads on Fire TV?

Good news everyone! Amazon is giving you more ads on your Fire TV screens! Huzzah!

This is where I have to tell a certain group of people that I am being sarcastic here. You knew though, didn't you.

Yes, Amazon thinks more ads are a good thing for you. Hang on. Let me try that again: Amazon thinks more ads are a good thing for you them. That's better.

Ad Exchanger has the details:

... starting on Wednesday, Amazon will begin making [the Fire TV home screen] available to any type of advertiser so all brands have an opportunity to get in front of viewers before they’re sucked into an ad-free show, said Charlotte Maines, director of Fire TV advertising, monetization and engagement.

So, maybe it's not that you'll see more screen area taken up with ads, just more and different types of ads.

My Streaming Life includes a lot of ad-supported content. This is intended to reach those that pay to get rid of ads, by showing them ads anyway. Just more ads. More ads for everyone.

Thursday, November 2, 2023

YouTube blocking ad blockers

YouTube is taking a hard line against ad blockers. There are a few reasons for this.

The problem with ad blockers is that they block ads. Yes, that's obvious, but people use ad blockers and that cuts into Google's profits.

It also cuts into the content creators' profits as well, as they get their money from Google. And if ads aren't displayed, Google doesn't get money from ads, and don't pass along money to the content creators. Google has a financial interest in playing ads. Ad blockers are against Google's interest.

On Google's YouTube Help pages, they give you their explanation of things:

Ads on YouTube help support the creators you love and let billions of people around the world use the streaming service. When you block YouTube ads, you violate YouTube’s Terms of Service. If you use ad blockers, we’ll ask you to allow ads on YouTube or sign up for YouTube Premium. If you continue to use ad blockers, we may block your video playback. To avoid the interruption, allow ads on YouTube or sign up for YouTube Premium.

Yes, blocking ads is a ToS (Terms of Service) violation. Yes, fewer ads means less ad revenue, of which some goes to the content creators. And the page goes on to offer instructions on how to turn off ad blocking on their Websites.

So, am I suggesting you give YouTube money by subscribing to YouTube Premium? Well, no. And yes. It depends.

If you choose to watch YouTube for free, accept the fact that it's an ad-supported service, and watch the ads. Skip them when you can if you wish, but don't block ads. Watch them.

Or, if you don't want to watch ads, use their YouTube Premium option to stop the ads. You get the added bonus of YouTube Music Premium included with the YouTube Premium subscription. If you already subscribe to YouTube Music Premium ($11/month), you may want to consider adding $3 and getting the $14/month YouTube Premium plan and omitting ads in YouTube as well.

My Streaming Life does include YouTube. I don't mind ads, generally. But if YouTube Music was a consideration, I'd easily recommend YouTube Premium. If you really hate the ads, it's almost worth it anyway.

Wednesday, November 1, 2023

Rotating subscription streaming services

I like to rotate my subscription streaming services. Well, some of them. Let me explain.

There are a lot of good quality streaming services, and they carry lots of programming I like. And probably lots of programming you like. Let me share some of my favorites. Note that these are not necessarily in the order I like them, just a list of my favorites.

  • Hulu (standard, $8/month)
  • ESPN Plus ($11/month)
  • Disney Plus ($8/month)
  • Prime Video ($140/year = $12/month)
  • Frndly TV ($8/month)
  • Peacock ($6/month)
  • Paramount Plus ($6/month)
  • Apple TV Plus ($10/month)
  • Britbox ($9/month)

You may have noticed that Netflix is not in the mix. I dropped Netflix a long time ago. I found that I rarely watched the service, and nothing has changed that over the years.

If you add all these up, that's $88/month. And you may have noticed that no cable replacement services -- Sling TV, YouTube TV, Fubo, DirecTV streaming, etc. -- are listed. That's because I don't use them. Well, during football season, I'll get one to get ESPN, but otherwise, I don't use it. If I did, the price would go up by either $40, $69, or $73, depending on which service I picked.

So, I pay $88/month for subscription services? No. I do keep Frndly TV year-round, and I've subscribed to Amazon Prime for years, meaning I'm paying $20/month.

I also have Peacock included with an Xfinity Rewards redemption, so I have it, but don't pay for it. And, since I use Walmart Plus, I get Paramount Plus. Those two services, normally $12/month together, are included in other services I'd have anyway.

During college football season, I take ESPN Plus, bringing the total up to $31/month. Except that I can get the Hulu, Disney Plus, and ESPN Plus package for $15, giving me another service, and dropping the price to $27/month. Packages make the numbers look weird.

During football season, this is how it goes. But, the rest of the year, I'll keep Amazon ($12/month) and Frndly TV ($8/month), then add one of the other services, keeping that additional service for only 30 days, then switching to another. That means I'm paying around $30/month or less for subscription services.

If Walmart will improve their shipping times, I'll drop Amazon Prime, saving $12/month. If they don't, I'll keep it for another year. I'm not looking forward to that.

Doing it this way, I get the same content as $88/month for $30/month. Yeah, I have to wait to watch certain content that's only on certain services, but saving that much money makes it an easy call for me. My Streaming Life costs are higher than I would like, but they're not as much as they could be, if I didn't put a little bit of effort into it.