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PBS is now available on YouTube TV
It took a few months to become a reality, but PBS channels are now available on YouTube TV. Over 100 member stations for PBS and PBS Kids are streaming live (the mix depends on where you live, of course), with on-demand content also on-hand if you can't tune into broadcasts. More stations should be available sometime in 2020.
Sling TV's Cloud DVR can finally record ESPN
You no longer have to worry that you'll miss out on a big sports extravaganza just because you're a Sling TV subscriber. The cord-cutter service has switched on Cloud DVR for key ESPN channels, including the main channel, ESPN2, Desportes, Bases Loaded, Goal Line, ACC Network and SEC Network. There's a good chance you can catch that big college basketball match game if you know you'll miss the live match. This doesn't extend to digital-only channels like ESPN3, ACC Network Extra and SEC Network+, however, so you'll still need to tune for some programming.
Sling TV now streams on Nest Hub and Nest Hub Max
Sling TV users now have another way to stream their content. Beginning today, Sling TV is available on Nest Hub and Nest Hub Max. Users can control Sling with built-in voice controls on those devices, and on Nest Hub Max, they can pause and resume content on Sling using gesture controls -- hold up your hand and look at the device to pause.
Verizon is giving away Android TV boxes to home 5G subscribers
You probably didn't notice it, but Verizon (Engadget's parent company) has a dedicated media player of its own. The carrier quietly released a Stream TV device meant to court 5G Home subscribers who've figuratively and literally cut the television cord. It's really a straightforward Android TV device with support for 4K video, Chromecast streaming and a Google Assistant-capable voice remote. Naturally, Verizon is hoping that you'll use this to take advantage of its Disney+ deal, tack YouTube TV on to your bill or stream with one of Yahoo's apps.
PlayStation Vue is the canary in the cord-cutting coal mine
We knew this day would come. Sony will officially shut down PlayStation Vue on January 30th, 2020, following days of rumors and years of whispers about the longevity of the on-demand, OTT television service. PlayStation Vue offers a mix of live and streaming video starting at $50 a month, and it's currently used in 500,000 households in the United States, according to The Information. By comparison, Netflix has more than 158 million subscribers.
Sony will shut down PlayStation Vue in January 2020
The rumors of Sony ditching PlayStation Vue were true, at least to a degree. The company has announced that it will shut down its streaming TV service on January 30th, 2020. It attributed the decision to a pay TV industry that was "slower to change than expected" -- the field is still built around "expensive content and network deals," according to Sony.
Xfinity internet-only customers now get the Flex streaming platform for free
As of today, Comcast will provide its internet-only customers with its streaming TV service Xfinity Flex at no additional cost. Xfinity Flex, which is essentially a streaming device and platform, launched in March and originally cost $5 per month. Now, Comcast is waiving the fee, and all internet-only customers will have access to the 10,000 free movies and TV shows that Xfinity Flex offers.
Comcast sues Maine over a law requiring a-la-carte cable offerings
Cord cutting may seem like the new norm, but plenty of people still pay for cable TV. That doesn't mean they're happy with it though. This summer, in response to complaints that customers had to purchase an entire cable package just to watch one or two channels, Maine passed a law requiring cable companies to offer channels a-la-carte. Now, Comcast and a handful of cable operators, including Fox, CBS and Disney, are suing Maine and 17 municipalities to prevent the law from going into effect.
CBS and Viacom agree to sign $30 billion merger deal
CBS and Viacom have reached a long-rumored merger agreement. The two companies announced today that they will reunite as ViacomCBS. According to The Wall Street Journal, CBS and Viacom hope that, together, they'll be better positioned to fight against cable TV competition and streaming services.
The best streaming services for cord-cutters on a budget
Even though there are dozens of video-streaming services to choose from, thankfully they're not all the same. And for those of you who may be on a budget, like students, that's a great thing, because it means you can likely find one that suits your needs. Whether you're trying to save money or simply don't care to have a cable subscription, there are plenty of standalone streaming services for watching TV, movies and sports, both live and on demand, that aren't too expensive.
How to stream college sports without losing your mind
Thanks to all the services that let you stream live TV, it's easy to watch sports without a commitment to cable. The channel lineups vary, and some are more limited than others. What's more, the television rights for college sports, especially football, are tied to the conference, so you'll need to find out which channels have the deal covering your favorite schools. From there, it's a matter of making sure the service you choose has all the channels you need so you don't miss a game. Lucky for you, we can help.
AirTV Mini delivers streaming and local TV in a dongle
A couple years ago Dish revealed AirTV, an Android TV-powered set-top box. The company has been relatively quiet since then, but today, it launched the AirTV Mini. The new device is a 4K HDR-compatible streaming stick that brings users Sling TV, Netflix and over-the-air (OTA) channels, as well as other apps built for Android TVs.
YouTube TV costs $50 per month after another price hike
YouTube TV isn't immune to the latest wave of rate hikes plaguing the streaming world. The Google-owned service has announced that it's raising the base monthly price to $50 ($55 if you subscribe directly through an Apple TV), effective immediately for new subscribers and from May 13th onward for existing customers. You'll at least get something for your trouble, though, as YouTube TV will finally offer a host of additional channels.
T-Mobile's streaming TV service will include Viacom channels
T-Mobile hasn't given up on its plans to introduce a TV service. Rumors circulated that the company would launch a TV offering in 2018, and while that clearly didn't happen, it looks like we might actually see it this year. Today, T-Mobile and Viacom announced a content distribution agreement that will bring Viacom's channels -- including MTV, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, BET and Paramount -- to T-Mobile's "uncarrier" TV service.
fuboTV recruits CBS to take on cordcutter rivals
Folks generally cut the cable cord to save money, but fragmentation means you might have to subscribe to more than one service. Case in point is fuboTV, which focused on international soccer (football, for our international readers), but not much else, when it launched a $10 monthly service in 2015. To attract a broader audience, it later introduced a $35 Premier bundle with more regular TV channels. As part of that, fuboTV has now gone live with CBS, making it a viable rival to services like DirecTV and Sling TV.
Sling TV adds NHL Network to its add-on Sports Extra package
Not long after Sling TV cut a deal with parent network Dish back in August to offer NFL Network to its customers, they're expanding sports offerings again. Just a few games into the season, they've added the NHL Network to their "Sports Extra" add-on package, the first time the service has been available for an over-the-top product.
Disney to bolster cord-cutting options with MLB deal
Cable subscribers have been dropping ESPN like a hot rock, often switching to à la carte streaming services like NFL Sunday Ticket and MLB's At Bat. Parent Disney is trying get on the winning side, so it acquired a third of Major League Baseball Advanced Media (MLBAM) streaming business (called BAM Tech), according to Bloomberg. That company runs MLB's At Bat and MLB.TV online service, and also handles streaming for the PGA Tour, NHL and WWE Network. Its tech is also used by HBO Now, The Blaze and other services. The deal reportedly values MLBAM at $3.5 billion.
Dear Veronica: Geocache hunting and cord killing
#fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-595677{display:none;} .cke_show_borders #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-595677, #postcontentcontainer #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-595677{width:570px;display:block;} try{document.getElementById("fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-595677").style.display="none";}catch(e){} This week, we're having fun with geocaching! Are you a fan of these urban treasure hunts? If you want to learn more about the geocache I mention in the video, head over here and happy hunting! We also welcome Tom Merritt back on the show to talk about places where you can find amazing content after you've finally cut that cord. Speaking of great content, I share my favorite podcasts for your listening pleasure! Just make sure you subscribe and watch mine first. Keep sending in those questions on Twitter using #DearVeronica, or via email! See you next time.
The best of Public Access Vol.10: Who's there?
by08.20.2015
This week, we live-blogged IDF and its scary robots, reviewed the OnePlus 2, and debated the merits of Apple Music. Also: Giant robots! Space! And Knock Knock! (That's not a joke.)
Cut the Cable Cord, Skip Satellite, Switch to Streaming TV
Every time I read an article about saving money by ditching cable or satellite TV, I wondered if doing so would be practical for me. After all, I'm not one of those outliers who rarely watches TV or stays silent when the conversation shifts to Sunday's episode of "The Good Wife."I was drawn to the idea of keeping money in the bank, but thought I'd miss all the foreign language programming my satellite subscription offered. I know having such a diverse programming lineup is certainly one of the benefits of satellite TV, as so many foreign shows supplemented my language studies and helped me become (almost) fluent in Spanish.But then I realized that ditching my TV service for a streaming subscription really is the way to go. There are so many options out there and I can watch my favorite shows on any of my devices, no matter where I am. Perhaps that's why it seems like everyone I know is opting to cut the cord and why I did too.Millennials Are Making the SwitchIt was easier to make the switch when I realized I wasn't alone. We're all tired of paying for channels we don't watch just to get those we do. And it seems my peers agree. Between 2008 and 2012, the number of millennial TV viewers dropped by almost 20 percent, and a recent study by analytics firm comScore showed that 24 percent of millennials don't subscribe to conventional pay TV.We're Watching OnlineIt's not that millennials aren't watching TV shows, because we certainly are. Research shows millennials are turning to streaming sources to watch traditional television programming and exclusive streaming content on their smartphones, tablets, and laptops. When my friends all talked about watching Hulu on their lunch breaks, I started wondering what I was missing, and how I could get more quality programming for less money by switching to streaming TV services.Figuring out How to Pay Less and Get MoreIt took some research to find the combination of streaming subscriptions that provided access to all my favorite shows and still helped me cut costs. If you're wondering what to do, know that you can get the basics from Hulu and CBS All Access for network TV. Netflix can bring you hit exclusives like "Orange is the New Black" and "House of Cards" and you can get premium shows, like "Game of Thrones," on HBO Now or the Showtime service.Purchasing subscriptions to individual shows on iTunes or Amazon can shave even more money off monthly expenses. For sports fans, DISH Sling TV offers a sports package, or look into league-specific subscriptions, which provides access to NFL, NBA, or MLB games online.Still, I Had ConcernsOnce I started to convince myself that streaming content instead of getting it through my satellite subscription wasn't such a bad idea, new concerns crept in.Will I have to pay more for Internet service to get the bandwidth I need for streaming so I don't have to deal with episodes constantly buffering? I did some digging and found that if my home's Wi-Fi connection drops out, I can use my data plan to continue watching the show on my tablet without a pause in the action. The ability to watch programs anywhere – at home, on the road, or at a favorite coffee shop – is yet another benefit to streaming TV. And I'm only paying for the devices I already have and use, so I'm not incurring the additional expense of a screen and a cable box or satellite receiver.Why I Won't Go Back to Cable or SatelliteOnce I made the decision to ditch my satellite TV connection, I never looked back. I can enjoy binge-watching all my favorite shows with none of the stress or guilt of worrying about filling up my DVR. I can watch what I want, wherever and whenever I want. Most importantly, I'm saving hundreds of dollars a year. Netflix marathon, anyone?
