I'm leaving Tally and staying at a place that doesn't have cable. So I'm probably going to pony up $20-60 for a streaming service. But what's the best one for the games? Sling? Playstation Vue? Some other one?
So what streaming service should I get for the games tomorrow?
- Thread starter FSUTribe76
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What are you going to watch through? Chromecast? Watch on your pc? Laptop HDMI to TV?
Right now I've got Hulu Live TV. For $40, you get all the ESPN channels, the BTN, FS1, FS2, your regional Fox sports net, and CBS Sportsnet. I'm not sure any other service has all those at that price point. For example, I know Vue doesn't include Fox regional sports networks with it's base $45 package, and you have to get both Sling packages to get ESPN and Fox channels. It depends on if you really want access to every game you can get your hands on...if so, it's a great deal.
The Hulu app works well on the devices where it has native apps...it's been rock solid for me on a first gen FireTV and an Xbox One. Presumably their Apple TV and regular browser apps are similarly stable. If you're going to access through those it should be good.
However, if you're not on one of those devices (it's not yet on Roku), you can cast to Chromecast, but the experience isn't great. Tends to buffer, lose connection, etc. It works, but it's just not great.
The better play in that case, if you want Hulu because it has the channels you want, is to use the Hulu credentials to authorize Watch ESPN, Fox Sports Go, etc. Hulu activates all those (I haven't checked BTN Go, but I'm guessing it authorizes that as well). The casting on those native apps is much better, and generally rock solid.
A couple warnings. Despite a promise of 60fps, Hulu is still broadcasting at 30fps. Depending on how big and good the TV you're watching on, it can be less than beautiful for football if you've got a hard on for picture quality. I sometimes switch to the WatchESPN app for that reason alone. But I have a big, good TV and I'm kind of picky...if I was watching on a cheap standard 42" hotel TV or my laptop, I don't think it would matter in the least. Probably 85% of people wouldn't notice. If it's going to matter to you, I believe Vue and DirectvNow are 60fps.
Finally, the Hulu TV interface is kind of different to navigate, by choice. It's not a standard EPG. It groups content in different tabs instead. I've grown to like it, but many people don't. But for last Saturday it had a tab for college football with all the games in one place, so that was actually very cool.
The Hulu app works well on the devices where it has native apps...it's been rock solid for me on a first gen FireTV and an Xbox One. Presumably their Apple TV and regular browser apps are similarly stable. If you're going to access through those it should be good.
However, if you're not on one of those devices (it's not yet on Roku), you can cast to Chromecast, but the experience isn't great. Tends to buffer, lose connection, etc. It works, but it's just not great.
The better play in that case, if you want Hulu because it has the channels you want, is to use the Hulu credentials to authorize Watch ESPN, Fox Sports Go, etc. Hulu activates all those (I haven't checked BTN Go, but I'm guessing it authorizes that as well). The casting on those native apps is much better, and generally rock solid.
A couple warnings. Despite a promise of 60fps, Hulu is still broadcasting at 30fps. Depending on how big and good the TV you're watching on, it can be less than beautiful for football if you've got a hard on for picture quality. I sometimes switch to the WatchESPN app for that reason alone. But I have a big, good TV and I'm kind of picky...if I was watching on a cheap standard 42" hotel TV or my laptop, I don't think it would matter in the least. Probably 85% of people wouldn't notice. If it's going to matter to you, I believe Vue and DirectvNow are 60fps.
Finally, the Hulu TV interface is kind of different to navigate, by choice. It's not a standard EPG. It groups content in different tabs instead. I've grown to like it, but many people don't. But for last Saturday it had a tab for college football with all the games in one place, so that was actually very cool.
PS Vue Core is $45 and includes all the sports channels you'd need, including the FSN regional channels. It's also 60 fps, which makes a difference for sports. Available on all devices. If available in your market, YouTube TV is great for bargain for sports fans @$35, but you're limited to casting if you want to watch on tv. Also only 30 fps.
What about the games on ABC? I've read conflicting things about ESPN3 carrying them.
That's good news. A month or so ago, their core package didn't include ESPN U or ESPN News, and didn't have my Fox Sports South in my zip code. That's a nice improvement. Heck, I see they added ESPN and ESPN2 to the $40 access package, which makes that attractive outside football season.
I would now consider switching to VUE if Hulu didn't come with the 60fps soon for the extra $5, but my family actually uses the standard Hulu content also, which comes with the Hulu package.
I can stream ESPN, ESPN 2 and SEC through my Centurylink account but it doesn't have ESPN3, ABC and NBC available for live streaming. And I won't have an antenna or basic cable this weekend.
I really just want to pay for the great games on NBC and ABC this weekend.
You can get an inexpensive antenna from Walmart or Best Buy for games on the networks then use the apps for those on ESPN or Fox.
I'll check out what they've got. Does PCB even have a local ABC and NBC I can pick up with rabbit ears?
They do. Have local affiliates for ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox.
Hmm...I've had Vue for a year and a half and Core always had the same channels. Access, the base package for $40 has espn/espn 2 and the fsn regionals, but no espn u or sec or news.
ABC games are available on WatchESPN just like espn games.
It's possible I'm confusing that the Core used to be $40, and so I'm thinking the last time I looked I was looking at the $40 package, and it didn't have those channels, comparing the Vue $40 and the Hulu $40. Maybe I was looking at Access then.
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