Question about savings as a cord cutter
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I don't know about the entire library. Obviously a lot of Masterpiece stuff that was from the BBC and Channel 4 is no longer available. A whole lot of original PBS back catalog content is available though. For instance, I can go back to season 23 of NOVA, but not all episodes are available.
There is videos I can play and videos that I cannot,for the ones I cannot it says I need a PBS Passport to view those videos.
When I googled PBS Passport it says"For as little as $5. a month or $60. a year you can view those videos"Also your subscription is tax deductible".
When I googled PBS Passport it says"For as little as $5. a month or $60. a year you can view those videos"Also your subscription is tax deductible".
Tax Deductible seems questionable to me, as you are deriving a benefit, getting something in exchange, for your “donation.”
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I've worked in the nonprofit world my entire adult life (and sometimes in membership services), and it's almost impossible to put a value on membership access to services and programs. For example, at a museum, members can usually deduct from their taxes a certain portion for their annual membership fee after subtracting the value of guest passes, an exhibition catalog, and other museum swag that came with the membership that has a retail dollar value. However, their unlimited access to visit the museum galleries every day (if they wanted) wouldn't have a value assigned to it. Translated to PBS Passport, it's a membership service that gives you unlimited access to video streaming that's difficult to put a hard dollar value on. I know it's splitting hairs and may seem contradictory, but that's just how the tax code works (or doesn't work depending on your point of view).
All I know is the first internet streaming TV service or OTT that offers commercial free cable channels for $5. per month each and has my favorite cable channels listed........sign me up!!!
I keep getting Spectrum "pick 10" offers for $22/mo, but I need about 15 or so. If it was pick 20 for $30 or $35 it'd be a deal. A totally a la cart deal at $4-$5 per channel would be sweet.
YT+Philo+Hallmark Movies might satisfy wife and I, may try the free week or so (once I but a roku).
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YT+Philo+Hallmark Movies might satisfy wife and I, may try the free week or so (once I but a roku).
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The irreconcilable conflict being that there are no commercial-free cable channels for such a service to offer.
A few cable channels do offer commercial-free streaming versions for a monthly subscription fee. AMC Premiere is $4.99/mo.and FX Plus is $5.99 to name a couple I've looked at. They offer extensive back catalogues along with current shows across all their channels, often with new episodes showing there first before the regular TV broadcast.
I think it is important not to confuse linear channels with streaming individual episodes; especially when the comment was about cable channels.
Now that Apple is making a lot of noise about it, I expect that most streaming device providers are going to be all over universal authentication so that you don't have to enter your credentials over and over when shifting between apps. This is something that is amazingly missing up to this point among too many of the app-driven devices.
If they could just figure out how to avoid activating device apps through a web page, I'd be much happier.
Roku has this ability, but it's usefulness requires all the channels to buy-in and use it. Universal Authentication Protocol for Single Sign-On - Roku SDK Documentation - Developer Documentation
I suppose many channels prefer you to register directly through them so they can have your data.
Your area might be like mine,even though I talked to a CSR on the phone who told me I would not need one of their boxes,when I checked out the information on the spectrum app it said I would need one box in the home.
So one box and that one box would have about 4 or more different little extra charge fees attached,plus their guide needs to be redone,I just could not believe how many channel repeats in their guide.
So I bought 2 Roku Stick+ and never looked back.No extra fees,except for the Starz and Starz Encore channels-$9. on YTTV-$40.,no contracts,and now with Philo-$20 having an onscreen guide that also shows their On Demand selections, with Hallmark Movies Now app-$5. month cost for annual rate-$60.
and no commercials in Hallmark Movies Now.
I like and enjoy it so far,except for minor internet interuptions,then for that I have OTA,Blu rays and DVDs.
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I was revisiting Cox's offerings in my area today, and they seem to offer a similar kind of streaming TV option (without the ability to handpick channels). But then looking closer, I did see having one of their boxes was required (along with all the associated fees) in order to access an add-on package of 20 of the top non-sports cable channels, otherwise you only get the locals, public access, shopping, etc. It was almost impossible for me to get a sense from their website what each TV service they offered included and cost, plus any add-on costs. The only price I see anywhere on the website is for their best promotional deal for new customers.
