My Streaming Life

I recently came across this video from Rob Braxman of the Rob Braxman Tech YouTube channel, where he discusses the alarming prospect of client-side scanning and its potential to end online privacy. [ YouTube ] In the video, Rob Braxman delves into proposed legislation such as the EU Chat Control and the UK Online Safety Act, which would mandate client-side scanning technology. He explains that this technology would scan your device's content before it's encrypted and sent, effectively bypassing end-to-end encryption. While these laws are being presented as a way to combat child sexual abuse material (CSAM), Braxman argues that this is a cover for a much wider agenda of surveillance and censorship. He points out that the infrastructure for this type of scanning is already being built into major operating systems by companies like Apple, Microsoft, and Google. The video also touches on the potential for mandatory age verification, which would require an internet ID and effe...

It's a full weekend of college football action, with games spanning Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. There are a total of 61 FBS games this weekend, with 16 games involving at least one ranked team. Of those, there are three games between ranked opponents. Here are the games between ranked opponents this weekend: No. 1 Texas @ No. 3 Ohio State (Saturday, 12:00 PM) on Fox No. 9 LSU @ No. 4 Clemson (Saturday, 7:30 PM) on ABC No. 6 Notre Dame @ No. 10 Miami (Sunday, 7:30 PM) on ESPN How to Watch ABC Antenna: Free Sling TV Orange: $40/month Hulu+Live TV: $83/month YouTube TV: $83/month Fubo: $85/month DirecTV Stream: $85/month ACC Network Sling TV Orange + Sports Extra: $56/month Hulu+Live TV: $83/month YouTube TV: $83/month Fubo: $85/month DirecTV Stream: $85/month Big Ten Network Fox One: $20/month Sling TV Blue: $46/month Hulu+Live TV: $83/month YouTube TV: $83/month Fubo: $85/month DirecTV Stream: $85/month CBS Antenna: Free Paramount Plus:...

Carrier disputes used to be an exclusive problem for the cable TV world, but they have become just as frustrating for those of us who have cut the cord. It’s an unfortunate reality of the live TV streaming world. Just this past week, we saw a prime example of this with the very public negotiation between YouTube TV and FOX. A Familiar Stand-Off This was a classic carriage dispute. The contract between Google's YouTube TV and FOX was set to expire, threatening to black out all FOX-owned channels for YouTube TV's more than nine million subscribers. Both companies took to their blogs and social media to plead their case, with YouTube TV saying FOX was asking for excessive payments, and FOX countering that Google was using its "outsized influence" to force unfavorable terms. The Resolution Thankfully, this particular dispute ended well. Just before the deadline, the two companies agreed to a short-term extension, which prevented any loss of programming. They then qui...

We have one weekend behind us, and now we're up to ... Week 1? Yep, Week 1. because that's how college football is. These schools are good at football, but not so much at counting. This week, there are a total of 28 FBS games on Thursday and Friday, with two games involving ranked teams. We'll look at Saturday games on Saturday. Ranked Games The following are the games involving ranked opponents this weekend. No. 25 Boise State @ South Florida (Thursday, 5:30 PM) on a local channel, streaming on various services Western Illinois @ No. 12 Illinois (Friday, 7:30 PM) on Peacock How to Watch ACC Network Sling TV Orange + Sports Extra: $56/month Hulu+Live TV: $83/month YouTube TV: $83/month Fubo: $85/month DirecTV Stream: $85/month Big Ten Network Fox One: $20/month Sling TV Blue: $46/month Hulu+Live TV: $83/month YouTube TV: $83/month Fubo: $85/month DirecTV Stream: $85/month CBS Sports Network Paramount Plus: $12/month Hulu+Live TV: $83/month ...

This week, I want to shine a light on one of my absolute favorite streaming apps, a true "hidden gem" that has been a part of my streaming life for years. I've often said that the best apps are the ones you didn't know you needed, and Pub-D-Hub fits that description perfectly. A Treasure Trove of Classic Content In a world filled with high-budget original series and blockbuster films, Pub-D-Hub offers a refreshing change of pace. It's a treasure trove of public domain content, but what makes it special is the way it's organized. Instead of having to hunt for specific titles, the app organizes content into easy-to-find categories. You can spend hours exploring classic films from the golden age of Hollywood, vintage cartoons, and even fascinating historical military films and newsreels. One of my favorite categories is the collection of old-time radio shows—a perfect way to wind down the day. This service is a testament to the value of preserving our cultural...

Cable TV still holds a significant place in many households, and the ratings consistently show a handful of channels leading the pack. We decided to take on a challenge: can cord-cutters access the same type of content as the top five most-watched cable channels without paying for a traditional cable package or a pricey live TV streaming service? According to the latest Nielsen ratings, the top five cable channels are: Fox News Channel TNT MSNBC ESPN USA Network Let's dive into each of these and see what free alternatives exist. Fox News Channel For viewers who turn to Fox News for their news and commentary, there are several Free Ad-Supported Streaming TV (FAST) options. Channels like Newsmax TV and The Blaze TV offer similar right-wing news and political analysis, available for free on various platforms. Additionally, LiveNOW from FOX on services like Pluto TV and Tubi provides a 24/7 live news stream without opinion commentary, and many local Fox news broadcasts ...

If you're new to cord cutting or thinking about making the switch, you'll need to decide on which streaming services to use. But since you don't have a lot of experience with this, how do you know if you're making the right choice? There are two answers to this, and they both apply: You won't know if you made the right decision. It doesn't really matter. Wait, it doesn't matter? Of course it does! Except, it doesn't. Not as long as you've subscribed on a month-to-month basis. With streaming, if you don't get it right the first time, so what? You can still watch TV, so it's not like you wasted your money. If you pick a live TV streaming service that isn't what you wanted, you can simply change it. The subscription is only for 30 days at a time. If during that month you decide the service isn't for you, just cancel before the renewal date and subscribe to a different one. Streaming isn't like watching cable. There are no lo...

Protecting Free Over-the-Air Television: Insights from Lon.TV and Antenna Man This week, I watched two important videos discussing the future of over-the-air (OTA) television and the potential impact of Digital Rights Management (DRM) on the new ATSC 3.0 standard. Both videos feature prominent voices in the cord-cutting community, offering valuable perspectives on this crucial issue. The first video, " The FCC Met with Tyler the @AntennaMan and Me About NextgenTV DRM! Here's what we told them. " is from Lon.TV . The second video, " @LonSeidman and I Met With the FCC About ATSC 3.0 DRM Encryption " is by Antenna Man . After watching these informative videos, my stance remains. I am firmly in favor of keeping over-the-air television free and accessible to everyone. The potential downsides of widespread DRM implementation on ATSC 3.0, as highlighted by Lon.TV and Antenna Man, pose a significant threat to the core principles of OTA broadcasting. It is cruci...

The college football season is officially underway with a limited slate of "Week 0" games this Saturday. While the lineup is small, it includes a marquee matchup between two ranked teams that will set the tone for the season. This weekend, five games will be played, with one of them involving ranked teams. Ranked Games The following is the only game between ranked opponents this weekend. No. 22 Iowa State vs. No. 17 Kansas State (Neutral Site: Dublin, Ireland, Network: ESPN) How to Watch CBS Antenna: Free Paramount Plus (Premium): $12/month DirecTV Stream (MySports): $70/month Hulu+Live TV: $83/month YouTube TV: $83/month Fubo (Pro): $85/month CBS Sports Network DirecTV Stream (MySports): $70/month Hulu+Live TV: $83/month YouTube TV: $83/month Fubo (Pro): $97/month (may vary based on regional sports fee) ESPN ESPN Unlimited: $30/month Sling TV (Orange): $40/month DirecTV Stream (MySports): $70/month Hulu+Live TV: $83...

Yesterday was a landmark day for cord-cutters everywhere. Both ESPN and Fox have launched their own direct-to-consumer streaming services, finally making their full channel lineups available without a traditional cable or satellite subscription. This guide breaks down exactly what you get with each new service and how they can change your streaming setup. ESPN's New Streaming Service (ESPN Unlimited) The new ESPN service is a comprehensive offering that gives subscribers access to all 12 of ESPN's linear networks and services. This includes: ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, SECN, ACCN, ESPNEWS, ESPN Deportes ESPN on ABC, ESPN Plus, ESPN3, SECN+, ACCNX The new service is priced at $29.99 per month for the "Unlimited" plan. There is also an "ESPN Select" plan, which is essentially the rebranded version of the existing ESPN Plus service, at $11.99 per month. The Unlimited plan provides access to over 47,000 live events each year, along with on-demand replay...

For years, cord-cutters have argued that the future of television is streaming. A new report from Nielsen confirms that the future is now. The latest edition of The Gauge , a monthly snapshot of how Americans watch TV, reveals that streaming has hit a record high, taking up nearly half of all television viewing time. In July, streaming accounted for an unprecedented 47.3% of all television viewing. The combined share of traditional linear TV—which includes both broadcast and cable—dropped to a mere 40.6% . What's even more telling is that the 1.3 percentage point gain for streaming perfectly matches the combined loss for broadcast and cable, showing that this isn't just a trend; it's a direct shift in how we watch TV. The Tale of Two Declines: Cable vs. Broadcast While linear TV is losing ground, not all of it is shrinking at the same rate. This is one of the most interesting nuances of the report. Cable TV viewership saw a significant drop from 23.4% in June to 22....

Michael Timmermann of Michael Saves takes a look at a new streaming option from Sling TV that could be a game changer for some cord-cutters. He breaks down the new live TV pass and what it offers. [ YouTube ] The video features the new Sling TV live TV option that doesn't require a monthly subscription. The passes are offered in three options: a Day Pass ($4.99), a Weekend Pass ($9.99), and a Week-long Pass ($14.99). The passes give you access to the Sling Orange plan, which has over 30 channels like ESPN, TNT, and Disney. The passes also include 50 hours of DVR storage and do not auto-renew. Michael believes this new option is ideal for casual sports fans and those who don't watch much live TV but still want occasional access. My Streaming Life is mostly about on-demand content, but this is a great option for those who want to watch live TV without a long-term commitment. It's great to see a company like Sling TV thinking outside the box to give consumers more choi...

Back in 2022, I shared my journey of using an antenna to access local channels , a vital part of my cord-cutting strategy. Since then, the technology has evolved, and so has my setup. While the core principle remains the same -- getting free, over-the-air television -- how I access it has become even more flexible. My Current Antenna System For some time now, my setup has centered around the AirTV Anywhere . This device connects to my outdoor antenna and makes all the local channels I can receive from the major networks available throughout my home. It also provides a whole-home DVR , allowing me to record my favorite shows and watch them on my schedule. The Key Benefits The most significant benefit of the AirTV Anywhere is the ability to stream live and recorded content both at home and away. This feature, known as out-of-home viewing , is a powerful tool for a cord-cutter who doesn't want to miss a local program while on the go. While many over-the-air solutions offer the ...

When I first cut the cord over a decade ago, one of my biggest concerns was how I would manage what my young son could watch. Back then, it was mostly a matter of finding kid-friendly content and hoping for the best. Today, the world of streaming has become a vast universe of options, and with it, the need for robust parental controls has never been more important. Fortunately, the tools available to parents have evolved significantly. This guide will walk you through a simple, yet highly effective, strategy for managing age-appropriate content on all your devices and services. The Two-Layer Approach to Streaming Parental Controls Many families believe that setting one or two controls is enough, but this can leave significant gaps in your defenses. The most effective strategy is a two-layered approach, where both your streaming device and the streaming services themselves work together to create a secure environment. The first layer is the device, and the second layer is the service...

Today, I'm featuring a video from the ExplainingComputers YouTube channel called "Choosing Your First Linux Distro," presented by Christopher Barnatt. The video provides an overview of several Linux distributions that are well-suited for beginners. [ YouTube ] This video is about the top recommended Linux operating systems for beginners. It provides a quick introduction to Linux and then lists several recommended distributions (or "distros") for new users, including Linux Mint , Zorin OS , Ubuntu , Debian , MX Linux , and Pop!_OS . The video also mentions two distros, Buzzite and Nabara , that are recommended specifically for gaming, and concludes with the speaker's personal recommendations. The timing of this video is, in my opinion, very timely. Microsoft's free support for Windows 10 will officially end on October 14, 2025 , which is just over two months away. This means millions of devices will soon be vulnerable to security threats if their us...

This video, authored by Michael Timmermann and featured on the Michael Saves YouTube channel, addresses a common concern for potential cord-cutters and those who have already made the switch: how to watch HGTV without a cable subscription. The video investigates whether several free streaming services can serve as a suitable replacement for the popular home and garden channel. [ YouTube ] The video provides a helpful overview of four free streaming apps that offer content similar to HGTV: YouTube, Pluto TV, the Roku Channel, and Tubi. Michael Timmermann highlights that YouTube's official HGTV channel has “live” streams and long mashup videos, which could be great for background noise. He notes that Pluto TV, with its cable-like channel guide, has a “Home and Food” section that provides a similar feel to the traditional HGTV experience. The Roku Channel is praised for its original content and user-friendly interface, while Tubi is lauded for its extensive library, which include...

The streaming landscape is in a state of flux, shifting from an era of expansion to one of consolidation. Companies that once launched a new service for every different content type are now merging their platforms to create unified apps. This move is designed to simplify the user experience, reduce operational costs, and create a single, more powerful destination for all of a company's content. A Summary of Key Players and Their Strategies Several major companies are leading this charge, signaling a significant trend in the industry. Warner Bros. Discovery: This company was an early adopter of this strategy, consolidating content from Discovery Plus into its flagship HBO Max service. This move brought popular unscripted and reality shows under the same roof as premium scripted content. Disney: A major player in this trend, Disney is currently integrating Hulu's content directly into Disney Plus . The goal is to eventually have a single, unified app that houses al...

I ran across a post I wrote four years ago in which I outlined my streaming channel lineup. The streaming world has changed significantly in that time, with new services, constant price increases, and a whole lot of consolidation. Yet, my philosophy remains the same: find a way to watch the content you want at the most efficient cost. In a world where streaming is starting to feel like cable all over again, it's more important than ever to be smart with your money. What follows is an updated look at my current lineup and my rationale for each service. Paid Streaming Services These are the services that I pay for directly because of their content. I've found a few of them offer a great deal for what I'm looking for. The Disney Bundle I've had Hulu since before I cut the cord and still consider it my cable company for watching current seasons of shows. For $16.99 a month, the bundle I use gives me Hulu along with Disney Plus and HBO Max. If I were to subscribe to H...

I have been a cord-cutter since January 2011, and I've always thought I knew exactly how I watched TV. My habits felt unique to me, a result of years of experimenting with different platforms and services. So when I recently read a Cord Cutters News report (" YouTube Is Killing Disney Plus, HBO Max, & More "), I was genuinely surprised to learn my streaming habits aren't unique at all. It turns out I'm part of a major trend. This got me thinking: If a long-time cord-cutter like me is spending more time on YouTube than on paid services, what does that say about the state of streaming today? The Big Reveal: The CCN Report The Cord Cutters News report revealed that a significant number of people are turning to YouTube over subscription services. According to their survey, a staggering 43% of cord-cutters watch YouTube more than any other streaming service, and 41% choose it over paid services like Disney Plus, HBO Max, and Netflix. This isn't just a mi...

In a recent post , I outlined how the new streaming landscape for college football, with the launch of individual ESPN and Fox One services, would be a massive win for cord-cutters like me. Now, in an article from Cord Cutters News , there is even better news that makes these new services an even bigger "game-changer." A bundle is on the way that will save us even more money. The Cost of the Game In my previous article, I noted that the old way of getting all the channels for college football involved a subscription to a service like Sling TV for $40 per month, plus an $11 sports add-on, for a total of $51. With the new à la carte approach of a separate ESPN service and Fox One, the combined cost was going to be around $50 per month, which was already a nice saving. The Cord Cutters News article, however, confirmed a development that will make the new approach even more affordable. ESPN and Fox are teaming up to offer a bundle of their two new services for just $39.99 pe...

If you've been following the world of streaming, you've probably heard the name Fubo mentioned a lot lately. While the company is well-known for its sports-centric live TV service, a recent series of news items has put it squarely in the spotlight. From surprising subscriber numbers to a major planned merger and a brand-new service on the horizon, there's a lot happening. The future of Fubo, and perhaps the live TV streaming landscape as a whole, seems to be at a crossroads. So, what's up with Fubo? Let's take a closer look at all the moving parts. A Tale of Two Quarters: Financials and Subscriber Trends For anyone who follows streaming company earnings, the latest report from Fubo was a mixed bag of news. While the headlines might focus on the negative, the full story is more nuanced. The Subscriber Dip The most attention-grabbing news was the loss of 110,000 U.S. subscribers in the second quarter of 2025. This brought the company's total North American...

In a recent video, Lon Siedman of the Lon.TV YouTube channel takes a detailed look at "Howdy," Roku's brand-new ad-free streaming service. Priced at just $2.99 per month, the service aims to provide a low-cost, commercial-free option for streamers. [ YouTube ] Lon's review highlights that much of Howdy's content consists of older movies and TV shows, with a library of about 200 titles. Many of these shows are already available with ads on other free streaming platforms. While Howdy offers an ad-free experience, it has a simple user interface and lacks some of the more robust features found on other services. The review concludes that while "Howdy" could be a good fit for budget-conscious viewers who enjoy older content and dislike ads, most users might want to wait and see how the service's content library develops before subscribing. In conclusion, while "Howdy" offers a low-cost, ad-free experience, its limited library and basic int...

The recent announcement about HBO Max's aggressive password sharing crackdown is something I consider a major development in the world of streaming. This news is especially significant for cord-cutters, who are always looking for ways to get the content they want without a hefty price tag. Unlike a traditional press release, the details came from a Warner Bros. Discovery Q2 2025 earnings call, where an executive detailed a new, stricter approach to enforcing the service's terms. For some time now, HBO Max has used a "soft, cancel-able messaging" to remind people not to share passwords outside their household. This messaging was easy for users to ignore. However, according to comments from JB Perrette, the head of streaming and gaming at Warner Bros. Discovery, that is all about to change. He stated that the company has spent months developing the technology to accurately identify password sharing and will begin a much more aggressive enforcement campaign in Septemb...

As a cord-cutter since 2011, I’ve seen the landscape of streaming change dramatically. For years, the trade-off was clear: save money, but sacrifice the convenience of a single, all-in-one platform for live sports. My core streaming habit has always been Hulu. I keep it most of the year, only pausing when all my favorite shows are watched. In the fall, when new shows arrive, Hulu is a must-have for me, and it covers the entire college football season. Because I was already subscribing to Hulu, it made sense to get the Disney Plus/Hulu/ESPN Plus bundle, as it was a more cost-effective way to get the content I wanted. With that non-negotiable bundle as my foundation, I had to find a way to get the live ESPN and Fox Sports content I needed for college football. This post will break down the numbers, comparing the cost of my old approach with these exciting new services and other vMVPDs. The Old Way: A Painful Price Tag To get all the live college football content I needed, my previou...

I recently saw an article announcing that the Hulu app is going away , and it gave me pause. My experience with Hulu goes back to my early days of cord-cutting and streaming. My "Magical DVR" My early days as a cord-cutter were a journey from the familiar comfort of a TiVo DVR to the brave new world of streaming. The original Hulu Plus service quickly became my go-to stand-in for a cable TV subscription with a DVR. I came to truly appreciate Hulu's interface, which was intuitive and made it easy to find and organize content, much like my TiVo had. I also enjoyed the financial savings of my initial switch, which was significant. The Unified App: A Look to the Future The official news is that the standalone Hulu app is being phased out in the US, with its content fully integrated into Disney Plus by 2026. According to Disney, this will create a unified app experience and a streamlined platform, bringing together content from various brands. The Fear of Finding My C...

Coming home after a weekend away should be a relaxing experience. You put your bags down, settle in, and get ready to catch up on all the streaming content you missed. But what happens when you find yourself in the dark? Not from a power outage, but from a complete loss of your home wireless network. That's exactly what happened when I got home from a family event, and it led to an unexpected late-night project at my mother’s house. A Quiet Evening Turned Tech Emergency When I got home from a family event, I realized none of the wireless devices at my mother’s house could connect to the Internet. My first thought was that the internet service provider, NOW by Xfinity Internet , had an outage, or that their equipment had failed. I was immediately concerned, as a cord-cutter's primary connection to entertainment is through their network. But then I remembered the heavy storm from earlier that day and began to suspect a different culprit. The Troubleshooting Process To figu...

I recently stumbled upon a blog post I wrote a few years back, questioning the phrase "finding time to stream." It's been over four years since that post was published, but the question is as relevant as ever. As a cord-cutter of well over a decade, I've seen streaming evolve from a niche activity to the dominant way most people consume entertainment. But has that shift changed how we think about watching TV? I'd argue that it hasn't, and the very idea of "finding time to stream" is still a misconception. What is Streaming Anymore? When I first started down this path, streaming was something you did on the side. My son showed me how to watch shows on a gaming console back in 2008, which sparked my interest. Later, with my first Roku device, streaming became a viable alternative to cable. But back then, it felt like a separate activity, a choice you made to access content. Today, that's no longer the case. The lines between streaming and tradi...