Weekly rewind
Plex DVR review: Also over at TechHive, I’ve written a fresh review of Plex DVR. It’s a powerful way to record over-the-air channels, with lots of recording options, support for full broadcast TV quality, and a handy ad-skipping feature.
On the downside, it can be a hassle to set up. To run Plex’s software, you need a media server device such as a PC, NAS box, or Nvidia Shield TV, and you must also supply a TV tuner such as the Hauppauge WinTV-Dual USB tuner or HDHomeRun Connect networked tuner. The experience can also vary widely from one device to the next. The Nvidia Shield TV offers the best playback quality and viewing options, for instance, but it also has the worst interface. All of which means you have a lot more to think about during setup than you would with, say, a TiVo or Tablo DVR. I’d happily recommend Plex DVR to tech-savvy users, but not to anyone else.
ESPN+ is here: On Thursday, ESPN launched its long-awaited standalone streaming service, called ESPN+. It costs $5 per month or $50 per year, and includes a slew of live sports and original programming that isn’t part of ESPN’s regular cable channels. The service arrives alongside a new ESPN app that also includes highlights, news clips, and authenticated access to ESPN programming for pay TV subscribers.
As I wrote last week, ESPN+ won’t appeal to many cord-cutters, and serves mainly as a supplement or on-ramp to traditional TV service. But it could be ESPN’s first step toward a future that isn’t so dependent on cable.
PBS talks streaming bundles: I’ve been scratching my head for a while now over PBS’s absence from streaming TV bundles such as Sling TV and DirecTV Now, and the organization has never responded to my requests for comment on the matter. Luke Bouma over at Cord Cutters News did get an answer, though, and it boils down to a lack of live streaming rights and technical capabilities at the local affiliate level. Spokeswoman Aparna Kumar said PBS is interested in getting into streaming bundles, and is now working with local affiliates to make it happen.
Major broadcast networks have been working with their local affiliates on those challenges for years now, so it seems PBS is a bit behind the times. But at least the group has recognized that streaming bundles are an important place to be as more people ditch traditional cable and satellite TV. In the meantime, you can still watch on-demand shows from PBS and PBS Kids through their respective apps, and pay $5 per month for a PBS Passport subscription that gives deeper access to the archives.
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