This week on TechHive: Cord cutting confusion isn’t your fault
A lot’s changed since I started writing about cord-cutting in 2014, but one thing remains constant: The TV industry doesn’t make it easy.
You shouldn’t have to sort through a dozen different apps to find something worth watching, and you shouldn’t need an entire pay TV bundle just to watch one specific live channel. You also shouldn’t have to be a tech-support wiz just to make your TV work the way it did with cable. Yet through a combination of greed, shortsightedness, and technical complexity, that’s the way it is.
So, despite the many benefits of cord cutting—from cost savings to better content—I’m writing what I hope will be a wake-up call. It’s time for the industry to do the right thing and make streaming easier for everyone. Read the full column on TechHive.
Weekly rewind
Roku’s TV guide plans: I neglected to mention last week that Roku has started rolling out Roku OS 11 to its streaming players and smart TVs, but its two biggest features aren’t actually available yet.
The one I’m most excited about is What to Watch, a new section in the home screen sidebar that will suggest movies and shows based on your most frequently-used streaming services and favorite genres. While the usual app grid isn’t going away, it sounds like Roku will finally offer the kind of universal streaming guide that I’ve wanted on its devices for years. Roku says this feature will arrive in the “coming months,” even if you’ve already received the OS 11 update.
The update will also introduce a “Photo Streams” feature that turns your TV into a digital photo frame, using pictures that you transfer from a phone or computer. While you can already set up photo wallpapers on Roku devices, Photo Streams will make this a bit easier and will allow for sharing photos with other Roku users. This doesn’t appear to be available yet, either.
Roku OS 11 also adds an A/V sync tool in Roku’s mobile app and adds new audio options for the company’s soundbars and speakers, including a speech clarity booster and a music mode. I’ll keep you posted as the other major features arrive.
More baseball fragmentation: Starting on May 8, Peacock will stream 18 exclusive Major League Baseball games, all of them on Sundays at either 11:30 AM or 12 PM. The first game will simulcast on NBC, while the rest will require a $5 per month Peacock Premium subscription.
Meanwhile, Amazon Prime will carry 21 New York Yankees games this year, but only in markets where they’d normally air on the YES Network. For viewers outside the tri-state area, those games will still be available on MLB TV.
As I wrote after Apple announced its own exclusive slate of baseball games for Apple TV+, this piecemeal carving up of streaming rights will mostly just annoy fans, who can’t even rely on overpriced live TV bundles for full coverage anymore. But I suppose you can’t blame MLB for taking the money that big tech companies are throwing around.
YouTube TV’s guide update: YouTube TV appears to be rolling out an updated grid guide, with the top of the screen showing episode descriptions aloneside either a picture-in-picture video or thumbnail preview of the selected channel. I’m not seeing it yet on my end, but users started noticing it last month, and I’ve heard from one reader who got the update last week. Michael Timmermann has a nice overview on his YouTube channel.
YouTube has previously said that it will redesign its interface this year, with an emphasis on personalization and DVR management, so this seems like the start of bigger changes to come.
More catch-up
- By me: Plex launches a universal guide to streaming services.
- YouTube TV adds The Weather Channel, G4, and more.
- Hulu’s catalog collapse continues with the loss of Epix films.
- DirecTV Stream’s DVR will do a better job recording sports.
- CW and CW Seed get combined into a single app.
- HBO Max’s Apple TV app lets you skip credits and manage your watchlist, plus it’s not as buggy anymore.
Save more money
Just a friendly reminder that T-Mobile’s free MLB TV offer is now live for its wireless subscribers, and you must redeem it by Monday, April 11. After doing so, you’ll be able to watch out-of-market baseball games on all your devices—not just your phone. (If you’re not a T-Mobile customer, check my column from last week on how to save $45 on MLB TV instead.)
Meanwhile, new DirecTV Stream subscribers can get $10 off any channel package for the first three months. As of now, DirecTV Stream’s “Choice” package is the only way to watch regional Bally Sports channels without cable, and this brings the price to $80 per month instead of the usual $90. Maybe Sinclair will finally have its standalone regional sports service ready by the time this three-month deal is up.
Lastly, Best Buy is taking $10 off the Roku Streaming Stick 4K, bringing the price to $40. If you use the Honey browser extension, you can also get $4 in PayPal credit by activating “Team Deals.” Check my Roku Streaming Stick 4K review for more details on the device.
Thanks for reading!
Hey folks, I’m now in the process of updating all of my live TV streaming service reviews over at TechHive. If you’ve got questions about YouTube TV, Sling TV, Hulu + Live TV, or other services that you’d like to see addressed, now would be a great time to ask them. Just reply to this email to get in touch!
Until next week,
Jared