Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!
This brief newsletter, presented by Chris Edwards and Chuck Eglinton, will use plain language to describe how you can pay less each month for your internet service and the TV networks you currently watch. These are intended as “do-it-yourself” tips, but if you need help, drop us a line: CordCuttersPlus@gmail.com
You can save $800 to $1,500 per year by switching to cable TV alternatives and “right-sizing” your internet service. This is called “cord cutting” and millions of people are already saving money each year by doing it.
In this issue: Comcast is raising prices again on something you can get for free; you can watch Hallmark, Weather Channel, Big Ten Network, and NBA sports without cable; You can watch CNN, Fox and CBSN for free on ROKU; A 4K streaming device is a better choice even if you don’t have a 4K TV; Get half off popular Amazon & ROKU 4K streaming devices until 12/3/2019.
Next Issue: Absolutely free TV: No cable TV required.
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1/ Frndly TV: Watch Hallmark Channels, Weather Channel without cable, $5.99/mo.: (11/26/19) This new service is inexpensive and family friendly. Included are: Game Show Network, Weather channel, Hallmark Channel, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, Hallmark drama, Baby First TV, QVC, Sportsman Channel, World Fishing Network, and more. (Editor’s note: Only want Hallmark for the holidays? You can quit at any time.) (Streaming Services Compared, FrndlyTV)
2/ 100% free CNN, Fox News, CBSN without cable: Watch CNN, Fox News, CBS News, Weather Channel. MTV, VH1 with no monthly charge. Also includes news networks from Quebec, France, Chile. Requires any ROKU streaming device to which you must add the free iMedia Live ROKU channel. The video quality seems to be a bit less than HD, but these networks are 100% free. (iMedia Live)
3/ Big Ten Network without cable: Hulu Live $45/mo, FuboTV $55/mo: (11/27/19) The Big Ten Network carries more than 1,700 college sports events including football, men’s and women’s basketball games. Hulu Live and FuboTV offer free trials. (PennLive Sports, Hulu Live, fuboTV)
4/ NBA basketball without cable: Most live TV streaming services carry regional sports networks that broadcast your local games. Out-of-market fans can subscribe to NBA League Pass to watch out-of-market games live. A few national NBA broadcasts are shown on ABC, ESPN, TNT and NBA TV. (CNET)
5/ Boo, Comcast: Price increase in December: (11/26/19) According to Comcast: “Rising programming costs — most notably for broadcast TV and sports — continue to be the biggest factors driving price increases for all content distributors and their customers”. Comcast’s Broadcast TV fee will jump by nearly 50%, to $14.95 per month. (Chuck’s note: A Broadcast TV fee is the cable company charging you $180 per year for local channels you can typically get for free with an inexpensive antenna). (Mediapost)
6/ 4K streaming devices work better, even if you don’t have a 4K TV: A streaming device allows you to watch your favorite channels using your internet connection and without expensive cable TV. Choose a 4K streaming device (even if you don’t have a 4K TV) because they have longer-range antennas that will allow you to stream your favorite channels even where your wi-fi signal is weak, such as in your backyard, your garage, and upper and lower levels of your home. This year’s Black Friday prices are the best we’ve seen in a while:
- Roku Streaming Stick+ (4K) $29. Save $20. Offer ends 12/2/19. Also at retailers
- Roku Ultra (4K) $48. Save $50. Lost Remote finder, includes JBL headphones for private listening. Offer ends 12/2/19. Also at retailers.
- Amazon Fire TV Stick (4K) $24.99. Save $25
How are we doing? Anything you’d like us to write about? Need help with tech? Contact us at CordCuttersPlus@gmail.com
Our website where you’ll find previous newsletters and a streaming service comparison spreadsheet:
CordCuttersPlus.com