Today AT&T announced new details about their new subscription streaming service they plan to launch later this year. For some time now we have known that there would be multiple subscription plans. Now we have learned the lower level plans will include ads even though you are paying. If you want an ad-free experience you will have to pay a higher cost similar to Hulu’s ad-free option.
“Customers have become accustomed to advertising-free subscription services,” AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson said. “And we think HBO and a lot of the Warner Brothers content, that’s really premium content, will fit into that mold,” he said. “But there are other elements where advertising-supported models are going to be important to keep prices down, to keep costs for the consumer down and actually fund additional content acquisition and purchasing,” Stephenson went on to add.
According to AT&T, their new on-demand service will launch in the fourth quarter of 2019 and it will include three levels: a basic entry-level option that will offer movies, a premium service level with original HBO programming and “blockbuster movies,” and a final level that will include the first two plus additional content from WarnerMedia and other content providers. It is very likely that the basic entry-level option will be the one that has ads included. Higher level plans will likely be ad-free.
Sling TV is the undisputed leader in live TV streaming. It offers the most flexibility, a budget-minded price point, and some of the best channel packages around. In the last year or so, Sling TV has also added the ability to order some pay-per-view events, more premium channel offerings, and the ability to rent movies, making it a compelling alternative to cable. But there are plenty of Sling TVcompetitors, and each of them has its own selling points worth considering. Here’s what you need to know about each one.
Hulu with Live TV is the most comprehensive streaming service out there. Not only do you get more than 50 channels of live TV—including Syfy, Freeform, and a better selection of local channels than what you’ll find on Sling TV—but each subscription comes with free access to Hulu’s on-demand library. That means you can watch thousands of movies and all your favorite shows when you can’t find something to watch on TV, not to mention critically acclaimed Hulu original series like The Handmaid’s Tale. (Here’s the complete list of Hulu Live TV channels.)
Why it’s better than Sling TV: No service can compete with Hulu when it comes to on-demand entertainment. (Here are our picks for the best movies on Hulu, Hulu documentaries, anime, and the must-see Hulu original series.) Hulu is also the only live TV service that works with Nintendo Switch.
Why it’s not: While Hulu offers HBO and Showtime, it’s still lacking premium channels like NFL RedZone, subscription services NBA League Pass, and pay-per-view events. Sling TV also offers more flexibility with its channel packages.
Sling TV used to be the cheapest option for live TV streaming. Then Philo came out and undercut the market. For just $16 per month, you’ll get AMC, HGTV, Comedy Central, BBC America, and some entertainment options you’d have to upgrade with Sling TV to receive. (Here are all of Philo’s channels)
Why it’s better than Sling TV: It’s significantly cheaper, and it comes with free cloud DVR, which costs an extra $5 per month with Sling TV.
Why it’s not: Philo offers only a fraction of what you’ll find on Sling TV, and it lacks local channels and premium upgrades.
FuboTV local channels: Fox, NBC, CBS (check local availability here)
FuboTV is best known as a streaming service for sports, but it’s so much more than that. In addition to specialty sports options like NBA TV, NFL Network, Big Ten Network, and beIN Sports, FuboTV offers family favorites like HGTV, History, Hallmark Channel, and Syfy. While Sling TV offers add-on packages that cater to Spanish-speaking viewers, no one offers more for bilingual families than FuboTV. (Here’s the complete FuboTV channels list.)
Why it’s better than Sling TV: FuboTV is the best service for international soccer, and it offers three-day replay for games and 30 hours of free cloud DVR. It’s also starting to experiment with 4K channels.
Why it’s not: The major flaw with FuboTV is that it lacks ABC and ESPN channels, which is an instant deal-breaker for many. Sling TV is also more convenient, giving you a way to order UFC fights and rent movies all from one place.
YouTube TV local channels: NBC, CBS, Fox, ABC, the CW (enter your ZIP code here to check your availability)
YouTube TV offers a comprehensive solution for quitting cable. Its channel package is incredibly well-rounded, covering sports essentials (ESPN, FS1), college networks (Big Ten Network), news (BBC World News, Fox News, CNN), and plenty of entertainment (AMC, Disney, Bravo). Unlike Sling TV, YouTube TV offers all of the local channels you need, even the CW. (You can find the full list of YouTube TV channels here.)
Why it’s better than Sling TV: You can add up to six accounts per household, and each one of those accounts gets unlimited cloud DVR. Even better: You can fast-forward through ads in recorded programs.
Why it’s not: What you see is pretty much what you get. YouTube TV lacks a lot of the premium upgrades you’ll find with other services.
Local channels: ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, the CW (enter your ZIP code here to check local availability)
DirecTV Now is basically DirecTV without the contracts and hassle. DirecTV Now offers five different channel packages, including one that caters specifically to Spanish-speaking viewers. You’ll find pretty much every channel you could hope for—you just might have to upgrade to get it. With DirecTV now, you can also add HBO for just $5 more per month. (You can view the full DirecTV Now channels list here.)
Why it’s better than Sling TV: No service offers more channels than DirecTV Now, with its largest package, Gotta Have It, boasting more than 125 channels. AT&T Unlimited customers can also save $25 a month off every DirecTV Now package.
Why it’s not: There’s a lot of filler with DirecTV Now, especially in some of the bigger packages, and Sling TV offers a cheaper entry point for a basic package.
Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need a PlayStation to use PlayStation Vue. In fact, it’s the only streaming service that’s Kodi-compatible. PlayStation Vue offers a similar collection of channels to other services, with its entry-level package offering ESPN, Syfy, and AMC, in addition to local channels. (Here are all of PlayStation Vue channels.) Plus, you can stream on up to five devices at once (compared to just four with Sling Orange + Blue), and there’s unlimited cloud DVR.
Why it’s better than Sling TV: PlayStation Vue offers a great user experience, especially if you’re streaming from a PlayStation console.
Why it’s not: PlayStation Vue is one of the more expensive options on the market, and it lacks a lot of the premium add-ons and other features you’ll find on other services.
YouTube TV is a live cable TV streaming service aimed at cord cutters who want to ditch their regular cable subscription. It is similar to other over-the-top (OTT) services that we have already covered such as DirecTV Now, Fubo TV, PlayStation Vue, and Hulu Live. YouTube TV started out in limited markets and took a slower approach in launching nationwide as it was working on deals in getting local channels in all markets first. Google recently rolled out YouTube TV to virtually all markets in the U.S. and is available to 98% of the country. Here is a look at some first impressions and what you can expect.
Getting Started with YouTube TV
To get started you need to sign up for YouTube TV. You need to enter your zip code and it will give you a list of the channels included in your package. You will get a one-size-fits-all service that includes a short 5-day trial and costs $40/month. It has about 60 channels – including supported local affiliates such as ABC, NBC, CBS, and FOX (CW is available in some areas, too). The lineup also includes major cable networks like ESPN, FX, AMC, USA, CNN, and others. You can also add on premium channels like Showtime and Starz if you want, but that will cost extra.
One of the more positive features to note off the bat is YouTube TV has unlimited DVR. Other services like DirecTV Now took quite a few years to get its cloud DVR implemented. PlayStation Vue has a cloud DVR that has been highly developed and available for years. And other services like Fubo TV and Hulu Live offers around 50 hours of recordings for free but you have to pay extra for more storage room.
One important thing to note about the DVR, though. It will replace the recording with the on-demand version of the show if it’s available. And most on-demand versions of shows do not allow you to skip ads. As part of the deal to get local affiliates, Google succumbed to allow on-demand versions to be placed in the DVR according to a WSJ report. It’s worth noting that all shows won’t do this, and your results will vary. PlayStation Vue has also started replacing some of your DVR’d content with on-demand.
Recording a show is easy, just like it is with PlayStation Vue. Just find the show and select the “+ Add to Library” icon. Your shows, movies, sports and other programs you add will be kept on the DVR for up to nine months. It will all be accessible in your own personalize DVR library. Finding the icon varies depending on the device you’re watching it on. You add programs through the guide or also while you’re watching the show. Another icon to look out for is the bell. It allows you to receive notifications when your favorites are available to watch.
YouTube TV is available on virtually any device you want to view it on either via an app or through a browser. Now, when it comes to a YouTube TV subscription, its other services like YouTube Music and YouTube Premium is a bit confusing. With a YouTube TV subscription, you get commercial-free YouTube Originals like Cobra Kai and Origin. You also get select trending YouTube videos. But you don’t get a commercial-free regular YouTube experience – you need YouTube Premium for that. And YouTube Music is not included, just consider that a separate service — unless you subscribe to YouTube Premium, too. See, it’s a little confusing.
Overall, YouTube TV is a solid cord-cutting service that works well and the price is comparable to similar OTT services. From my initial testing, the streams are reliable. The picture quality is good with support for 1080p content at 30fps on supported channels. The interface is intuitive and responsive on all devices I’ve tested it on so far. And if I weren’t already so loyal to PlayStation Vue, I would probably go with it if I had to.
If you don’t have access to watch the Super Bowl on TV, there are ways to stream it online
The upstart Rams with Sean McVay will take on Bill Belichick’s marching, dynastic Patriots in Super Bowl LIII, and you can watch it all via the Super Bowl live stream. Jared Goff and Todd Gurley will lead the Rams against the Patriots’ Tom Brady and Sony Michel. McVay will try to become the youngest coach to win a Super Bowl, while Belichick will strive to become the oldest. There’s a lot going on.
Brady is looking for his sixth Super Bowl title and fifth-career Super Bowl MVP. There were those who said the Patriots were done earlier this year, but they were very, very wrong. Like death and taxes, Belichick and Brady will come for us all. The Patriots beat the Chiefs on the road to get here, something that has proven extremely difficult to do all year, but experience wins out.
The Rams are trying to repeat what the Eagles did last season and upset the Pats as underdogs. With an immensely talented team that includes the likes of Brandin Cooks and Robert Woods on offense, not to mention Aaron Donald, Aqib Talib and John Johnson on defense, if nothing else the Rams are one of the NFL‘s most exciting teams on paper.
Before anything, you need to know how to watch the game. Here’s how you can watch on both CBS and connected apps.
How to Watch Super Bowl LIII
What: Los Angeles Rams vs. New England Patriots
When: Sunday Feb. 3, 2018
Time: 6:30 p.m. ET
Where: Mercedes Benz Stadium, Atlanta
TV: CBS
Announcers: Jim Nantz (play-by-play), Tony Romo (color commentator), Tracy Wolfson/Evan Washburn (sideline reporters)
There are a number of ways to watch through different platforms and devices CBS All Access. Viewers can use:
iOS
Android
Windows
Amazon tablets
Vizio
Or watch through connected devices, including:
Apple TV
Roku
Android TV
Chromecast
Amazon Fire
Xbox One
Playstation 4
NFL Game Pass (available to watch online after midnight)
You can also catch the game on fuboTV (Try for free)
The matchup
As of Friday morning, the Rams are 2.5-point dogs in Super Bowl LIII, but they’ve overcome worse odds. Given that this game is at a neutral site, they won’t have to deal with the cold of Foxborough. However, bettors are learning not to go against the Patriots, because time and time again they’ve made anyone who does pay (literally).
Brady vs. Goff is an interesting game in its own right. Brady has valuable experience, and Michel has given the Patriots a new back to lean on. Gurley may or may not be running at 100 percent right now, but Michel’s fellow Georgia alum has had an unbelievable season. C.J. Anderson is waiting in the wings if Gurley isn’t quite right, and he’s had a solid postseason thus far. The Rams will need to get out to a fast start against the Patriots, who have shown that if you don’t jump on them they’ll cause problems.
(L-R): Brennin Hunt, Tinashe, Brandon Victor Dixon, Valentina, Vanessa Hudgens, Kiersey Clemons, Mario and Jordan Fisher at the “Rent: Live” photo call. CREDIT: FRANK MICELOTTA/SHUTTERSTOCK
Jonathan Larson’s Tony-winning musical “Rent” is the latest to get the live-TV treatment — and the show’s bound to be big.
The “Rent: Live” cast includes big names such as Vanessa Hudgens, Tinashe and Kiersey Clemons, three stylish celebrities who never fail to impress with their off-duty looks. Jordan Fisher, who appeared alongside Hudgens in “Grease: Live,” also makes an appearance in the show, as well as “Let Me Love You” singer Mario and Broadway actor Brandon Victor Davis.
With such a star-studded cast, the acting and singing in “Rent: Live” is bound to be excellent. But the costumes — designed by Angela Wendt, who outfitted the cast of the original production — are also worth watching out for.
“The biggest change is that there are so many more characters, and now we can also follow timeline,” Wendt explained to Playbill. “There will be new surprises, and you will also see some old friends — that’s all I’m going to say.”
To tune in to the performance on TV, fans can flip to Fox, where the show will air 8-11 p.m. ET on Jan. 26. Those on the West Coast will have to be patient, as the performance will be delayed until 8 p.m. PT.
For fans hoping to watch online, one option is to tune in to Fox.com, where the broadcast will be live-streamed. Without a cable login, Fox allows viewers only 60 minutes of complementary viewing, so don’t bank on Fox.com if you’ve cut the cord.
Otherwise, the show can be watched in full on Hulu if you have a subscription, or on YouTube’s live-TV edition. Both Hulu and YouTube will give you a weeklong free trial of their live-TV offerings.
Cut the Cord Guy 