7 ms·

Hulu + LiveTV is $65 and Sling is about $50 and Youtube TV $65. These aren’t really comparable to standard Hulu or Netflix or Amazon Prime etc. It’s for people

Hulu + LiveTV is $65 and Sling is about $50 and Youtube TV $65. These aren’t really comparable to standard Hulu or Netflix or Amazon Prime etc. It’s for people that want to pretend they’re cord-cutting while buying the exact same thing from a streaming company.

ghaff 5y ago
And because you're buying essentially the same content package, there's no reason one would expect it to be significantly cheaper just because it's streamed. As a content package, it's evolved to be something largely different from what you get from the streaming services like Netflix. It's largely sports, news/talk shows, and reality TV and other relatively low-cost lightly scripted/unscripted content, some documentaries... You still have some traditional network content but it's been a while since I've even heard of a network drama or comedy of note.
- mcot2 5y ago
  Netflix with all their cash still has basically nothing for live news/talk shows and sports. It’s bizarre.
  - ghaff 5y ago
    Sports that a mass audience wants to watch is expensive (hence the OP). And establishing a news/talk show brand that people would subscribe to Netflix to get wouldn't be easy (and is probably a very different thing than acting as the studio for scripted shows). [ADDED: And honestly some politically polarized crap would be far more likely to fit that bill than historical network news organizations, however relatively superficial they were in some ways.] Remember Netflix' incentives are very different from a network. Netflix wants to acquire and retain subscribers which tends to favor stickier content rather than filling up a schedule with programming that people will tune into out of habit. Put another way, the network business model is essentially a legacy model. I'm not sure why Netflix would want to recreate an uber-Network.
  - thetinguy 5y ago
    Why would they? There are tons of free options for live news. Also they do have talk shows like the one letterman did.
mcot2 5y ago
Not really. I buy youtube tv because I still want certain channels but I like the strraming aspects like not using a standard aweful cable box, watching from anywhere and from any device and the unlimited cloud dvr (which makes commercials a moot point except for the rare live show I watch). Losing ESPN is a big deal for me as I am a sports junky.
kfootball15 5y ago
Theres one key difference - you can share your YoutubeTv account with 3 couples. YoutubeTV lets you create 6 accounts and use 3 simultaneously. I live in NY and share my account with 2 friends in CT for <25$ a person. Absolute steal and a really great product.
saltminer 5y ago
> It’s for people that want to pretend they’re cord-cutting while buying the exact same thing from a streaming company. It legitimately is way better than cable, though. Ignoring the disputes over fees, I once tried Spectrum's TV Android app (probably 3-4 years ago, I gave up on getting it to work), and this is what I experienced: * Refuses to work if a VPN is on * Must disable developer tools (doesn't matter if you changed any settings in there or not) * Root check * Must be from a Spectrum home IP (and remember, you can't VPN to your home network to use this app) * Must allow access to all contacts, all texts, etc or the app would close itself (there is no legitimate justification for this, unlike potential contract stipulations requiring no root, etc - it's purely for selling all your data) * Didn't even work after I installed it on a totally stock Android device on my home network * No web interface; if you can't run the app, too bad Compared to that, YT TV's app is a breath of fresh air. But ignoring the streaming convenience, you also have: * No ads in the TV guide (which is also more responsive than any DVR I've ever experienced) * Unlimited DVR is nice (and it's not utter dogshit hardware that would've been considered unimpressive in the 90s) * You don't need a cable box - just a Chromecast (which is absolute tiny by comparison) or a TV with Chromecast built-in * The pricing is much easier to understand Of course, I don't actually pay for it. My mother does, and she put my Google account as an allowed user. I just use it to watch hockey. It's true that you're paying for the same product, but it's delivered in a package that doesn't scream "fuck you, pay me."
- sixothree 5y ago
  The interface is awful. Just awful. And slow on any hardware I have available. They are lowering the price when one channel leaves but you can’t pick which channels you want. Lastly YouTubeTV doesn’t solve any problems. For instance local channel access is limited to one location.
  - CryptoBanker 5y ago
    You’re just saying words now. The app runs smoothly for me even on a Kindle tablet (which can barely run a browser without lag). Any semi-modern device is more than capable of running either YouTube app
colinmhayes 5y ago
My fam shares youtube tv with 4 people, so it's like $20 each. That immediately makes it far better than cable.
enos_feedler 5y ago
there are some differences so the prices can't be taken at face value. For example, Sling stopped providing NBC regional sports networks I use to watch the San Jose Sharks. I had to switch to Youtube TV. These regional channels are super value as there is no way to get them through other direct streaming services. ESPN+ will do regional blackouts for example if you are local region is broadcasting the games. I will also say Youtube TV is not the "Exact same thing" that the cable company offers. Fundamentally the product/channels are, but youtube TV gets all the tech right.

ghaff 5y ago

And because you're buying essentially the same content package, there's no reason one would expect it to be significantly cheaper just because it's streamed. As a content package, it's evolved to be something largely different from what you get from the streaming services like Netflix. It's largely sports, news/talk shows, and reality TV and other relatively low-cost lightly scripted/unscripted content, some documentaries... You still have some traditional network content but it's been a while since I've even heard of a network drama or comedy of note.

mcot2 5y ago
Netflix with all their cash still has basically nothing for live news/talk shows and sports. It’s bizarre.
- ghaff 5y ago
  Sports that a mass audience wants to watch is expensive (hence the OP). And establishing a news/talk show brand that people would subscribe to Netflix to get wouldn't be easy (and is probably a very different thing than acting as the studio for scripted shows). [ADDED: And honestly some politically polarized crap would be far more likely to fit that bill than historical network news organizations, however relatively superficial they were in some ways.] Remember Netflix' incentives are very different from a network. Netflix wants to acquire and retain subscribers which tends to favor stickier content rather than filling up a schedule with programming that people will tune into out of habit. Put another way, the network business model is essentially a legacy model. I'm not sure why Netflix would want to recreate an uber-Network.
- thetinguy 5y ago
  Why would they? There are tons of free options for live news. Also they do have talk shows like the one letterman did.

mcot2 5y ago

Not really. I buy youtube tv because I still want certain channels but I like the strraming aspects like not using a standard aweful cable box, watching from anywhere and from any device and the unlimited cloud dvr (which makes commercials a moot point except for the rare live show I watch). Losing ESPN is a big deal for me as I am a sports junky.

kfootball15 5y ago

Theres one key difference - you can share your YoutubeTv account with 3 couples. YoutubeTV lets you create 6 accounts and use 3 simultaneously. I live in NY and share my account with 2 friends in CT for <25$ a person. Absolute steal and a really great product.

saltminer 5y ago

> It’s for people that want to pretend they’re cord-cutting while buying the exact same thing from a streaming company. It legitimately is way better than cable, though. Ignoring the disputes over fees, I once tried Spectrum's TV Android app (probably 3-4 years ago, I gave up on getting it to work), and this is what I experienced: * Refuses to work if a VPN is on * Must disable developer tools (doesn't matter if you changed any settings in there or not) * Root check * Must be from a Spectrum home IP (and remember, you can't VPN to your home network to use this app) * Must allow access to all contacts, all texts, etc or the app would close itself (there is no legitimate justification for this, unlike potential contract stipulations requiring no root, etc - it's purely for selling all your data) * Didn't even work after I installed it on a totally stock Android device on my home network * No web interface; if you can't run the app, too bad Compared to that, YT TV's app is a breath of fresh air. But ignoring the streaming convenience, you also have: * No ads in the TV guide (which is also more responsive than any DVR I've ever experienced) * Unlimited DVR is nice (and it's not utter dogshit hardware that would've been considered unimpressive in the 90s) * You don't need a cable box - just a Chromecast (which is absolute tiny by comparison) or a TV with Chromecast built-in * The pricing is much easier to understand Of course, I don't actually pay for it. My mother does, and she put my Google account as an allowed user. I just use it to watch hockey. It's true that you're paying for the same product, but it's delivered in a package that doesn't scream "fuck you, pay me."

sixothree 5y ago
The interface is awful. Just awful. And slow on any hardware I have available. They are lowering the price when one channel leaves but you can’t pick which channels you want. Lastly YouTubeTV doesn’t solve any problems. For instance local channel access is limited to one location.
- CryptoBanker 5y ago
  You’re just saying words now. The app runs smoothly for me even on a Kindle tablet (which can barely run a browser without lag). Any semi-modern device is more than capable of running either YouTube app

colinmhayes 5y ago

My fam shares youtube tv with 4 people, so it's like $20 each. That immediately makes it far better than cable.

enos_feedler 5y ago

there are some differences so the prices can't be taken at face value. For example, Sling stopped providing NBC regional sports networks I use to watch the San Jose Sharks. I had to switch to Youtube TV. These regional channels are super value as there is no way to get them through other direct streaming services. ESPN+ will do regional blackouts for example if you are local region is broadcasting the games. I will also say Youtube TV is not the "Exact same thing" that the cable company offers. Fundamentally the product/channels are, but youtube TV gets all the tech right.