NFL+: A streaming service that is not for streamers

The NFL finally launched NFL+ this week, and, as I feared, it isn't really a service for streamers. However, it is something that fans can otherwise use.

Now, when I say "not for streamers," I mean streamers will not be able to watch some of the content that is available for non-streamers. You'll be able to watch games on your mobile device that you won't be able to watch on your Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, or Android/Google TV devices.

Here is what the service offers, according to the NFL:

NFL+ offers access to live out-of-market preseason games across all devices, live local and primetime regular season and postseason games on mobile devices, live local and national audio for every game, NFL Network shows on-demand, NFL Films archives and more.

Notice that the only live games that will be available on all devices, which means your streaming device, are out-of-market pre-season games. No regular season games will be available on your streaming device, regardless of market.

Back in May, we worried that this would be the case. Our worries were well founded. You won't be able to watch other live content on your Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, or Android/Google TV devices.

Looking at the bright side, it is more than existed before. So there's that. But is it really an improvement to your Streaming Life. Not much of one, that's for sure.

Why I didn't buy a Roku TV

Recently, I purchased a new TV. As I'm a Roku fan -- it's my streaming platform of choice -- I bought a Roku TV, right?

Nope.

I bought a Sony TV that runs Google TV. So, have I switched to Google TV as my primary streaming platform?

Nope.

I still use Roku. Well, primarily Roku. I use it most of the time, as I did with my old TV. No more, no less.

So why is that?

Simple. I don't feel I need to limit my TV purchases to platforms I like. I want a TV that has the features, the picture, the reliability that I want. The streaming platform doesn't matter. Well, not that much.

If it came down to two or three sets, and they all were equal apart from the streaming platform, then I would let the streaming platform be the deciding factor. Since it's so easy to add a streaming device to any TV, and since I already had a good quality streaming device, it was easy for me to not care what platform the TV had, or even if it had one.

So, when I bought my new Sony TV, it was a highly rated device -- I used Consumer Reports to help with that -- that I found at a good price, and with free shipping. The image looks great, and it's a really good TV. The only thing I would rather it have is a Roku platform. But, as I said, it's easy to add a Roku device to my TV.

If I was a huge fan of Fire TV, I could just as easily have added a Fire TV device. Or Apple TV device. And, in fact, I have added those. So I have the best of all worlds. I have a TV that I really like, and I have all the major streaming platforms available for it.

Should you shop the same way? Sure. It's a valid way to shop. However, if you really want a built-in platform, you can get Google/Android TV, Roku, or Fire TV built in, and get the best TV you want for that platform, that's an option too.

You should get whatever TV you like, and if it doesn't have the platform you want, you can add a device that gets you what you want. And, if you don't know what platform you want, you can rest easy knowing that whichever of the major platforms integrated into TVs you get -- Roku, Fire TV, Google/Android TV -- you'll have a good platform on which to base your Streaming Life.

A Linux laptop

Before we begin, let me start by saying when I mention Linux in context with a desktop or laptop computer, I'm talking GNU/Linux. If that distinction doesn't mean anything to you, that's okay. It's not all that important for the purposes of the discussion here. But I know how some Linux people are, and this is to shut them up. So, now I'll begin...

I've mentioned before that I finally got a Linux desktop computer running and had begun using it to write the posts here. And that has been true since then. Well, mostly true.

I'm not writing this post on my Linux desktop. I'm writing on my Linux laptop.

I had mentioned about having converted an old Dell laptop to a Linux device, but was not happy with the results. Not the Linux part, but the Dell part. It was a decent but cheap Dell laptop. And while Linux OS is a great way to extend the life of many computers, it doesn't do anything about the hardware. Cheap hardware is cheap hardware. So, I wanted something better. And I mentioned having a MacBook Pro that I wanted to use, but was having a time with updating or replacing parts.

Those concerns are no longer concerns. I'm writing this on a MacBook Pro running GNU/Linux. It has a 1 TB SSD I put in and that works great. All of the hardware is excellent, which you know if you've used a MacBook Pro. The only trouble I'm having is retraining my fingers for the Control and Command buttons.

When I'm on a Windows device, I have no trouble hitting CTRL+C for copy, CTRL+V for paste, and so on. When I'm on a Mac I have no trouble hitting COMMAND+C for copy, COMMAND+C for paste, and so on. However, using the default configuration, I need to use Windows key combinations when using Linux. That means CTRL+C not COMMAND+C for copy, and so on. And, for those that don't know, Mac keyboards have both Control and Command buttons, so keeping them straight can get confusing.

Still, I like using a MacBook for a laptop, so I'll be doing more writing on my laptop, as I used to do. I can now use either desktop or laptop and achieve my goal of trying to use Linux exclusively for my computer use.

There are still some things that require Windows or Mac -- nothing to do with what's written here, but other stuff I either need or want to do -- so I will use a Windows or Mac device when necessary. But I'm still trying to focus on using Linux, and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future.

I'm quite comfortable writing about my Streaming Life using devices that run the GNU/Linux operating system. I just need to get more comfortable using it with other things as well.

Free Live TV

There are two big ways to watch TV for free. And you can watch a lot of TV for free.

What do I mean by that?

Free Over the Air

Well, one way to watch TV for free is using an antenna. Of course, you have to buy an antenna, so that's not free, but once you do that, you're good to go. Depending on how far you are from the TV tower, you may be able to pick up a lot of TV channels. They're free over the air broadcasts, and you can watch it for free.

You can add DVR devices, multiple tuners that can be shared across your network, and several other things to improve your over the air (OTA) experience. You can even configure things so that you can watch OTA TV from home while you're away from home. I use Tablo devices to accomplish this, and can watch TV from my antenna when I'm traveling, if I want, using my phone or tablet.

Watching TV free over the air is a great option. And you can use it along with other options.

Streaming

One other way to watch free TV is by streaming. Of course, you have to have Internet access, and that's not free. But if you have Internet access anyway, then there is no additional cost. But how do you watch TV for free?

There are several options. One that Roku users will often avail themselves of is Roku Channel. There's also a Roku Channel app for Amazon Fire TV platform devices. There are over 300 live TV channels available through that service and app.

Pluto TV is another good way to watch hundreds of free TV channels. Likewise, Xumo, Tubi TV, and even Sling TV, which has a free tier.

Not Everything

Does this mean you can watch anything you want for free? No, it doesn't. These free channels are not the same channels you'll get when you pay for cable or satellite TV. There are paid live streaming services that can get you those channels -- Sling TV (Blue and/or Orange), YouTube TV, Hulu+Live TV, Fubu TV, Vidgo, Philo, Frndly TV, and more -- but you can't get them for free.

However, you can get a lot of similar channels. No, it's not the same, but for some people, it may be close enough.

This doesn't mean you shouldn't subscribe to a streaming service, but it may mean you can get a lot of that type of content for free, and keep costs down. Check out the various free ways of watching TV. It may be a great addition to your Streaming Life.

Philo or Discovery+

Philo has been one of my favorite live streaming services for some time. It offers a good selection of content for a reasonable price. However, there are a two major types of programming that you won't find on Philo: local channels and sports channels.

Philo has some news channels: BBC News, Bloomberg TV and Cheddar News, but that's it.

Philo does offer 73 live streaming channels for $25/month. That's pretty good. But, you need to ask, does it offer the services you want?

For example, if the Discovery networks are something that you're after, you may find that the $5/month Discovery+ service might be a better deal.

Is Live Required?

The first thing you have to ask yourself is: Do I need a live streaming service? Will an on-demand service get me what I want?

If it's not important to have a live streaming service of the channels available on Discovery+, then it's till an option.

However, if live streaming is a must, then you have your answer: Philo. You see, Discovery+ is an on-demand service, with no live streaming option.

The Channels

Next, if on-demand is okay, then it comes down to the actual channels. Look at this list of channels:

• A&E
• American Heroes Channel
• Animal Planet
• Cooking Channel
• Destination America
• Discovery Channel
• Discovery Life
• Food Network
• HGTV
• History
• Investigation Discovery
• Lifetime
• Magnolia Network
• Oprah Winfrey Network
• Science Channel
• TLC
• Travel Channel

Are those enough? If so, then Discovery+ is the answer. Those 17 channels are available on both. Philo has them live, and Discovery+ has them on-demand.

Discovery+ Only Channels

Discovery+ also has three channels that are not available on Philo:

• Planet Earth
• The Dodo
• Discovery+ Originals

If those are important, then Discovery+ is (again) the answer. Or an answer (more about that in a bit).

Philo Only Channels

Philo has a large list of channels that are not part of Discovery+. There are 56 channels that you won't find on Discovery+ but are in the Philo lineup:

• AccuWeather Network
• AMC
• aspireTV
• AXS TV
• BBC America
• BBC World News
• BET
• BET Her
• Bloomberg Television
• Cheddar News
• CLEO TV
• CMT
• Comedy Central
• Crime + Investigation
• Decades
• Discovery Family
• FYI
• G4
• GAC Family
• GAC Living
• Game Show Network
• getTV
• Gusto TV
• Hallmark Channel
• Hallmark Drama
• Hallmark Movies & Mysteries
• IFC
• INSP
• Law & Crime
• LMN
• Logo
• Motor Trend
• MTV
• MTV2
• MTV Classic
• MTV Live
• Nickelodeon
• Nick Jr.
• Nicktoons
• Paramount Network
• PeopleTV
• PlayersTV
• pocket.watch
• REVOLT
• Revry
• Ryan and Friends
• Start TV
• Sundance TV
• Tastemade
• TeenNick
• TV Land
• TV One
• UPtv
• VH1
• Vice
• WE tv

If those channels are something you want, then Philo is the answer for you. Or an answer (again, more in a bit).

One Other Option

There is still one other option you have that we haven't talked about. Simply put, why not both?

Philo is only $25/month. It comes with a good selection of 73 live streaming channels. Discovery+ is only $5/month. It comes with a good selection of 20 on-demand channels, including 17 of the live channels from Philo.

For only $30/month, you get it all. You get your live channels, and you have your on-demand service.

One Other Option, Variation

There is a variation on the "get 'em both" option. Get them both, but not at the same time. Remember, all this is month to month. You can subscribe to one of the services for a month, maybe longer. Then cancel and subscribe to the other.

Of course, if you absolutely must have live streaming, then you'll want to keep Philo year-round. But you can occasionally add Discovery+ every so often for a month at a time. Or, you may find that there's nothing on the live service that you need to watch live -- say, when your favorite series ends and you're watching reruns -- in which case you could drop the live service (Philo) for the on-demand service (Discovery+).

However you decide to do it, you may find that either Philo, Discovery+, or both, are a way to improve your Streaming Life.