Streaming as expensive as cable / satellite now?

[comfortably_numb]

Got a free trial of Fubo with a new TV I bought. Renews at $107.60/month? WTF?

Needless to say I won't be keeping it.

Appears to me there's not much difference between streaming packages and "Traditional Paid Live TV" now.

 

[navychop]

At THAT price, I'd have stayed with Dish.


Calling Bruce, calling Bruce!

 

[zippyfrog]

One thing I have wondered, and I am sure someone can give me insight into this - but Google and YouTube TV. When YouTube TV started, it was $35. Why wouldn't Google let YouTube TV stay in the red, keep the price so low that it destroys the competition, and absorb the loses in other parts of the company? If YouTube TV right now was $45, it would crush DirecTV, Sling, and any other streaming service comparable to cable. I believe Google was some $130 billion in profit - if they kept the price well below (lost $5 billion in payments from customers), maybe Google would be $125 billion in profit - but owning the streaming world.

 

[comfortably_numb]

One thing I have wondered, and I am sure someone can give me insight into this - but Google and YouTube TV. When YouTube TV started, it was $35. Why wouldn't Google let YouTube TV stay in the red, keep the price so low that it destroys the competition, and absorb the loses in other parts of the company? If YouTube TV right now was $45, it would crush DirecTV, Sling, and any other streaming service comparable to cable. I believe Google was some $130 billion in profit - if they kept the price well below (lost $5 billion in payments from customers), maybe Google would be $125 billion in profit - but owning the streaming world.

Insatiable greed.

 

[comfortably_numb]

BTW that $5 "discount" is for having a backup credit card on your account- which you CANNOT delete. Additionally, there's no way to set the trial to automatically cancel. You have to remember to do it yourself. The joke's on Fubo- I used two different Paypal debit cards with $0 balances to sign up, so they ain't gettin' diddly squat from me.

What sort of provider won't let you delete a backup credit card? Seems shady.

 

[cp2k]

Streaming is definitely catching up, but it all depends on what you watch and how many TVs, etc. We still have DirecTV because the wife doesn't want to get rid of it, and even with a $50 off per month promo it's $205 every month.

I've tried to get her to switch to YTTV, with no luck. For $205 a month we could pay for YTTV, and add Starlink's 100meg plan as a backup so we still could stream when the Spectrum goes down and still be cheaper than where we are now.

 

[Bruce]

YTTV is $84 a month, or less, if you have their Genre Pack(s), what made that price so much, was the addition of the RSN.

Cable/Satellite TV would be even more than Fubo, once you add in the box (s)/DVR/locals/ RSN fees.


The best for myself, is the streaming services, I get Paramount+, HBO, Disney, Hulu, Apple, Netflix, Peacock, all Commercial Free and the best quality for under $90 a month.

I receive all the content from Cable/Broadcast, along with the streaming content.

Cost would be half as much if I picked the with commercials option.

 

[savarese04]

One thing I have wondered, and I am sure someone can give me insight into this - but Google and YouTube TV. When YouTube TV started, it was $35. Why wouldn't Google let YouTube TV stay in the red, keep the price so low that it destroys the competition, and absorb the loses in other parts of the company? If YouTube TV right now was $45, it would crush DirecTV, Sling, and any other streaming service comparable to cable. I believe Google was some $130 billion in profit - if they kept the price well below (lost $5 billion in payments from customers), maybe Google would be $125 billion in profit - but owning the streaming world.

because businesses are not in the business of losing money long term? every business unit needs to achieve break even at some point. while google's profit margins overall mean it can afford to take huge losses to grab market share (hence the $35 price point), companies don't survive by giving away their product.

 

[Bruce]

At THAT price, I'd have stayed with Dish.


Calling Bruce, calling Bruce!

You were paying a lot more to Dish than that Fubo price.

 

[dishdude]

It's greed on the networks, a few companies own all the channels and in order to get the good one or two they have, they make the providers buy all of them including the ones no one wants. Figure Disney, NBC Universal, Warner, Paramount and Fox are each getting $10-$20 each of that $88.99. Then the regional sports gets their $15.99!

 

[comfortably_numb]

After this trial it's back to locals (117 here), Netflix ($15 as a +1 on my sister's account) and maybe Frndly.

 

[dishstaller]

I get customers coming in the store or calling all the time complaining about TV cost and looking for something cheaper. Had one older man the other day that got rather testy with me....like I'm the one setting the rates. I finally told him to get an off-air antenna and settle for those channels or start reading books. He told me I was being rude and stormed out.

 

[TRG]

Philo looks like a decent lineup for $25.

 

[navychop]

You were paying a lot more to Dish than that Fubo price.

They offered $80 or so for my current subscription. 120.

 

[comfortably_numb]

Philo looks like a decent lineup for $25.

I've used Philo before. It's a good deal if you need/want the linear Discovery networks.

 

[Bruce]

They offered $80 or so for my current subscription. 120.

Including box (s) fees?

That is about the price he posted for Fubo, then the RSN fee pushed it past $100.

Again, the smaller packs from DirecTV and YTTV are the best bargains, or all of YouTube TV for $84, which includes the DVR and 3 Streams at once.

 

[Bruce]

I've used Philo before. It's a good deal if you need/want the linear Discovery networks.

For you, thought Discovery+ for $5.99 ( with commercials) / $9.99 ( no commercials) was a better deal.

 

[navychop]

No RSNs for me.

 

[comfortably_numb]

For you, thought Discovery+ for $5.99 ( with commercials) / $9.99 ( no commercials) was a better deal.

It is now, since I only need Trvl Channel when Ghost Adventures launches new episodes

 

[Jimbo]

Got a free trial of Fubo with a new TV I bought. Renews at $107.60/month? WTF?

Needless to say I won't be keeping it.

Appears to me there's not much difference between streaming packages and "Traditional Paid Live TV" now.

View attachment 194013

Its been creeping that way for quite a while now.