Housekeeping

One of the things I struggle with regarding this blog is the appearance. I like traditional things, and this blog has had a traditional look since it launched. However, I realize that sometimes things need to change. So we changed.

Is it change for the sake of change? Well, yes, I suppose it is. I hate change for the sake of change. If something is working, why mess with it? Sure, if there is a reason, then great, make the change. If things are better, or can be better, then change. But to change just to change? I don't like that.

I hate it when grocery stores or other retailers change things up. The old adage about Walmart rearranging everything just about the time you figure out where everything is rings true. So, did I do the same thing here?

Well, probably. I've tried to justify it, but I'm not sure if there was a good reason to change.

The look is a more modern look, which I'm thinking of in the line of a new shirt or new trousers or a new haircut. Of course, my wardrobe is a simple one, with many of the same style shirts and trousers, so any change is a big change for me.

I hope I get used to the change here. I hope you get used to the change here. And another change may be coming. I want things to look good, but I'm not really sure what it is I want.

My Streaming Life is pretty simple, and I want the blog of the same name to be that way too. Changing when it needs to, but remaining simple and comfortable.

Amazon Internet is coming ... next year

Amazon announced this past week that its Internet service would begin service in 2024.

No exact date beyond that was announced in the letter to shareholders sent out last week.

CEO Andy Jassy also said that the expected price for equipment would be about $200 less than that of Starlink.

Beta service will begin some time next year:

Our teams have developed low-cost antennas (i.e. customer terminals) that will lower the barriers to access. We recently unveiled the new terminals that will communicate with the satellites passing overhead, and we expect to be able to produce our standard residential version for less than $400 each. They’re small: 11 inches square, 1 inch thick, and weigh less than 5 pounds without their mounting bracket, but they deliver speeds up to 400 megabits per second. And they’re powered by Amazon-designed baseband chips. We’re preparing to launch two prototype satellites to test the entire end-to-end communications network this year, and plan to be in beta with commercial customers in 2024.

While I'm happy with my Comcast home Internet service, it's nice to have other options. I may become unhappy with Comcast service one day, and want to have a viable option. Starlink is an option now, but an additional option is welcome, especially if the startup cost is cheaper. My Streaming Life is good, but I want to keep my options open.

Installing an antenna

How easy is it to install an antenna?

Well, it's not always that easy. There are a lot of things involved in it. But, you can do it. Maybe.

So, just what is involved?

I've wanted to write about this for some time, but as there are many factors to consider, it's not something I've followed through on. But TV Answer Man Phillip Swann did.

He has broken it out into seven steps. And the second step is the most important:

2. Choose the right antenna

Once you know where the broadcast towers are located, you can choose the right antenna. There are many different types of antennas available on the market, so make sure to choose one that is designed to receive signals from the direction of your local broadcast towers. If you are unsure, consult with a professional or ask for recommendations at your local electronics store.

Let me add that I've also found that Tyler the Antenna Man offers a very good service for helping with that. Don't skimp on an antenna. If you put the money into an antenna, you might as well do it right.

My Streaming Life is better with an antenna. Yours might be as well.

Netflix DVDs are going away

The news hit this past week that Netflix was exiting the DVD market.

For those that may not remember, or who never knew, Netflix started as a DVD rental service where you would use a Web page on the Internet to order movies on DVD.

Think about it. You used the Internet (Net) to order movies ("flicks"). Net, flicks. Net, flix. Netflix.

And you thought it was just for streaming.

Well, soon it will be. Reports came out this week that Netflix announced it's dwindling DVD service will go away:

While times have changed since our first shipment in March 1998, our goal has remained the same: to provide you with access to the broadest collection of movies and shows possible, delivered directly to your door, with no due dates or late fees.

As the DVD business continues to shrink, it’s going to become increasingly difficult to achieve that goal. In our final season, we’ll continue providing you the best service possible, all the way to the very last shipment.

I stopped using DVDs some time ago, and before they moved the DVD service to it's own Website. My Streaming Life has supplanted the need for DVDs. But I have to admit, I'll miss the service not being there, even though I've not used it in years.

Netflix password sharing limits coming to USA

If you are sharing your Netflix password with others, you may start encountering some push back from Netflix soon.

The company has announced that the crackdown on password sharing is coming to the United States.

Netflix has been doing this in other countries for a little bit now, and so far the results have been good. Well, good for Netflix, which is why they're doing this.

Now, the USA is going to be part of the crackdown:

After testing out its password sharing crackdown in several markets, including Canada, Netflix says they saw subscriber numbers go up after the crackdown.

"A Netflix account is meant to be shared in one household (people who live in the same location with the account owner)," Netflix says on the customer-help section. "People who are not in your household will need to sign up for their own account to watch Netflix."

This won't be a big deal for me. I found out years ago that the content on Netflix wasn't enough for me to keep the subscription. I'll subscribe to the service from time to time, as part of my subscription rotation, but it's not something I watch with any regularity.

However, Netflix is a very popular streaming service, and part of that is the password sharing. That's ending soon in the USA. Well, you can pay more to share passwords, which is the whole idea.

The cost for sharing is nearly as much as the cost for a separate subscription, meaning that many will simply pay for a new subscription rather than for a sharing plan. My Streaming Life won't be impacted by this, but yours might.

Watching the NBA playoffs (2023)

Not only did I miss the beginning of the NHL playoffs, I also missed the beginning of the NBA playoffs as well.

Same reason, as well. I don't normally watch basketball at any level. And wouldn't you know it, the playoffs started a few days ago and I missed the beginning.

The games are airing on ABC, ESPN, and TNT.

ABC

• Antenna, over the air, free.
• DirecTV (Entertainment), $65/month.
• Hulu+Live TV, $70/month.
• Vidgo (Plus), $70/month.
• YouTube TV, $73/month.
• Fubo (Pro), $75/month.

ESPN/ESPN2

• Sling (Orange), $40/month.
• Sling (Orange+Blue), $55/month.
• DirecTV (Entertainment), $65/month.
• Hulu+Live TV, $70/month.
• Vidgo (Plus), $70/month.
• YouTube TV, $73/month.
• Fubo (Pro), $75/month.

TNT

• Sling (Orange), $40/month.
• Sling (Blue), $40/month.
  
• Sling (Orange+Blue), $55/month.
• DirecTV (Entertainment), $65/month.
• Hulu+Live TV, $70/month.
• Vidgo (Plus), $70/month.
• YouTube TV, $73/month.
• Fubo (Pro), $75/month.

My Streaming Life doesn't usually include basketball, but if you want it in yours, then you have plenty of options.

Streaming NHL playoffs (2023)

Oopsie! I missed the fact that the NHL playoffs were starting. They started yesterday.

Part of the reason I missed it is that I don't watch hockey. Actually, that's the entire reason. I don't watch a lot of sports. I used to watch baseball and football, but nothing else. Now, I don't even watch much baseball any more, and only college football. I'm not sure if that's because of age, or my getting fed up with the behavior of professional athletes. Probably both.

However, just because I don't watch it doesn't mean it's not important for others. And if watching the NHL playoffs is important for you, then here's how you can watch the games.

ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, TBS, and TNT will carry the various games throughout the playoffs, with the finals on TNT.

ABC

• Antenna, over the air, free.
• DirecTV (Entertainment), $65/month.
• Hulu+Live TV, $70/month.
• Vidgo (Plus), $70/month.
• YouTube TV, $73/month.
• Fubo (Pro), $75/month.

ESPN/ESPN2

• Sling (Orange), $40/month.
• Sling (Orange+Blue), $55/month.
• DirecTV (Entertainment), $65/month.
• Hulu+Live TV, $70/month.
• Vidgo (Plus), $70/month.
• YouTube TV, $73/month.
• Fubo (Pro), $75/month.

TBS

• Sling (Orange), $40/month.
• Sling (Blue), $40/month.
  
• Sling (Orange+Blue), $55/month.
• DirecTV (Entertainment), $65/month.
• Hulu+Live TV, $70/month.
• Vidgo (Plus), $70/month.
• YouTube TV, $73/month.
• Fubo (Pro), $75/month.

TNT

• Sling (Orange), $40/month.
• Sling (Blue), $40/month.
  
• Sling (Orange+Blue), $55/month.
• DirecTV (Entertainment), $65/month.
• Hulu+Live TV, $70/month.
• Vidgo (Plus), $70/month.
• YouTube TV, $73/month.
• Fubo (Pro), $75/month.

My Streaming Life doesn't usually include ice hockey, but if you want it in yours, then you have plenty of options.

AMC+ ad-supported

I've mentioned before about unknowingly been a subscriber to AMC+. Briefly, I subscribed, then forgot I had subscribed and it renewed at an annual rate. It expires in November.

Why does this matter? Well, it doesn't, not really. Except that a new plan that AMC+ is planning would save some money.

According to a report, AMC is planning a new ad-supported tier:

AMC+ is joining a long list of premium subscription streaming products that have opted to embrace advertising alongside their ad-free tiers. In the last 6 months, both Disney+ and Netflix have launched cheaper ad-supported tiers, while HBO Max launched its ad-supported tier in 2021. Among major streaming services, only Apple TV+ remains completely ad-free (though its Major League Soccer games do have sponsors).

I like the idea of ad-supported tiers being available to save money, while those that want to pay more to keep commercials away can do so.

My Streaming Life would include the ad-supported tier if it was available when I (unintentionally) subscribed. And if I do renew, it will be at the lower rate. I can deal with ads, and with saving money.

New roof and indoor antennae

Some years back, my mother replaced her roof. She had wanted a metal roof for some time, and finally pulled the trigger and got one.

It did not impact her TV viewing, since she had cable at the time. When I put up an antenna at her house, I put up one outside because her house is over 40 miles from the TV towers.

But, what if she lived closer? What if an indoor antenna would have worked. Would the new roof have caused a problem?

Well, yes, it would have.

Tablo answered a question recently from someone who was looking to put a metal roof on a house. As the questioner has an indoor antenna, that will be a problem:

Investing in a metal roof can be tempting since they last more than twice as long as more traditional asphalt shingles.

But whereas asphalt, wood, and clay shingles do absorb some Over-the-Air TV signal reducing overall signal strength, metal will completely block signals and prevent them from reaching your antenna.

Unless Glenn is willing to relocate his antenna outdoors, he should probably stick with what is currently installed.

My mother's situation was that an outdoor antenna was necessary anyway. She didn't have the issue that questioner Glen will have. My Streaming Life has had to overcome the distance to the TV towers. Fortunately for me, I didn't have to re-do anything when my mother replaced her roof.

A glimmer of hope for in-market baseball streaming

People in Georgia and four other states can't stream Braves baseball live unless they subscribe to an expensive service that includes regional sports networks Bally Sports South and Bally Sports Southeast.

Fans of other teams have similar problems, as Major League Baseball has teams locked into regional sports contracts that blackout live games in large areas.

This could change as regional sports networks are having a very hard time right now. AT&T SportsNet has shut down, and Bally Sports has missed some payments and has filed for bankruptcy.

Businesses shutting down and people losing their jobs isn't how I wanted the dam to break, but this appears to be going on, and an upside of this is that baseball teams may not be restricted from streaming in-market games live.

According to an analysis from Cord Cutters News, the end of blackouts for live streaming games won't happen all at one, and the final end to it is years away.

Any time that has a contract with AT&T SportsNets are likely to be some of the first to offer in-market streaming. Warner Bros. Discovery has already said they plan to shut down AT&T SportsNets this year just. The question now is when will AT&T SportsNets shut down. After that happens, it is reported that the TV rights will return to MLB, allowing them to be resold or allowing them to be streamed online. For now, though, there are rumors that AT&T SportsNet may keep running until the end of the 2023 MLB season.

The teams with AT&T SportsNets contracts include the Astros, Pirates, and Rockies at this time.

Bally Sports is also reportedly struggling to make payments to some MLB teams. Now MLB is asking for these teams to be released from their RSN contracts. If that happens, The Arizona Diamondbacks, Cleveland Guardians, and Minnesota Twins could be free to stream online as soon as this season.

Fans of these teams may be the first to benefit from an otherwise difficult situation. My Streaming Life may eventually benefit from it as well.