Save money on cable, more PBS streaming options
This week on TechHive: Cut your cable bill without cutting the cord
Even if you’re not ready to cut the cable TV cord, there’s still a simple way to reduce your monthly TV bill.
The trick is to use your TV provider’s free streaming apps in place of traditional set-top boxes. That way, you can avoid the equipment rental fees that drive up your monthly costs. The more cable boxes you return, the more you stand to save.
Unfortunately, not all TV providers have seen the light on streaming apps, and in some cases you might lose out on key features, such as DVR access. In this week’s column, I’ve summarized which TV providers let you stream without a cable or satellite box, and how much you can save by not renting their equipment.
Read the full column on TechHive →
Weekly rewind
Hulu’s PBS deal: In the “coming months,” Hulu + Live TV will add local PBS channels and PBS Kids to its lineup. This will make Hulu the third live TV streaming service to offer PBS, alongside YouTube TV and DirecTV Stream, though it hasn’t yet specified when the channels will be available. (Hulu also announced that it will add Magnolia Network to its live TV bundle on May 25.)
In the meantime, let me remind you that PBS also offers a free app with the latest programming and, in many markets, a local live stream. It’s one of several ways to watch local and broadcast network programming without a big bundle.
More regional sports drama: With the regional sports business in disarray, several teams are making plans to deliver games over-the-air and via streaming. The Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury aim to unbundle from cable entirely next season, while the Las Vegas Golden Knights are working with Scripps on distribution across over-the-air, streaming, and cable.
The changes won’t happen until next season as basketball and hockey playoffs are well underway already, and there may be some bumps in the road before then. Already, Bally Sports owner Diamond Sports Group is crying foul over the Phoenix teams’ plans, claiming they’re a breach of contract and a violation of bankruptcy law. But Diamond’s own hold over those rights seems tenuous, as it’s just barely paying its bills to local baseball teams in order to keep airing their games.
At this point, a broader unbundling for regional sports seems inevitable, but more likely for 2024 than this year. That leaves DirecTV Stream, FuboTV, and (depending on city and sport) Bally Sports’ own streaming service as the sole way to stream Bally’s channels for now.
DirecTV Stream review (take two): Speaking of which, due to a flub on my part, last week’s newsletter had the wrong links to my review of DirecTV Stream over at TechHive. I apologize for the error. Read it here, for real this time.
More catch-up
- Google TV devices are getting faster load times and better storage management.
- Amazon bringing more than 100 Prime shows to its ad-supported streaming service.
- Amazon’s also making its own ad-supported streaming channels for Fire TV devices.
- Fubo tries offering extra sports channels in exchange for quarterly payments.
- Here’s how to request your entire Netflix watch history.
Save more money
We seem to have entered a black hole for new streaming deals this week, so allow me to just rehash some recent highlights:
- The latest Paramount+ codes are WYNONNA, DRAGRACE, and STALLONE. See my instructions on getting the service for free in monthly increments.
- Save $30 on your first year of Peacock Premium (with ads or ad-free) with code N2TEWDZZ. (New subscribers only.)
- Verizon subscribers can get a free year of Netflix by bundling it with another, cheaper streaming service. See my explainer over at TechHive.
- See my big list of streaming deals for more ways to save.
Thanks for reading!
Got cord cutting questions for me? Just reply to this email to get in touch.
Until next week,
Jared