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Now, onto the latest Cord Cutter Weekly.
Streaming prices are out of hand. This app can help.
Jared Newman | 
If you want to avoid cable-like prices for streaming TV, the best way is to aggressively cycle through different subscriptions. A new app called StreamWolf makes that process simpler.
StreamWolf provides an overview of all your streaming subscriptions, shows you the total cost, and lets you cancel (or reactivate) individual services with just a button tap. It also offers some watchlist features so you can plan what to pay for at any given time.
The app is still a work in progress, but it shows promise and offers some utility even in its early stages. It’s the kind of service that streaming platforms like Roku and Fire TV ought to provide themselves, but won’t.
Weekly rewind
Sling’s sort-of price hike: Sling TV is increasing the local channel surcharge for its Sling Blue plan in areas that receive ABC, NBC, and/or Fox. While the base price is still $46 per month, the price increases depending on how many local channels you get:
- All three of ABC, NBC, and Fox: $9 per month surcharge (was $5 per month).
- One or two of ABC, NBC, or Fox: $4 per month surcharge (previously none).
With Sling’s $20 per month Select plan, the surcharges are unchanged: It’s $5 per month extra if you get one or two of the locals, and $10 per month extra if you get all three. This page on Sling’s site tells you which local channels are available by zip code.
The surcharges were first reported by The Streamable, and I subsequently confirmed them with Sling, but strangely they’re not documented at all on Sling’s site, and when I tried signing up with a test account, Sling’s plan selection page refused to load. Maybe Sling would have an easier time attracting customers if its website wasn’t so opaque and unbearable, but I digress.
YouTube TV’s non-news: In a “looking ahead” blog post this week, CEO Neal Mohan reiterated that cheaper and more flexible genre packages are coming “soon,” but didn’t reveal any further details. YouTube first announced plans for 10 genre packs (including one focused on sports) late last year. Mohan also confirmed that a fully customizable multiview—rather than pre-programmed combinations of channels—is on the way.
The news is so unsubstantial that I’d usually just ignore it, but a lot of folks have asked me about the status of these genre packs. Right now I know as much about them as you do.
More catch-up
- Only 10% of Android users were casting Netflix videos from their phones to the TV, which may be why Netflix stopped supporting it.
- Maybe we’ll see a new Onn 4K Pro streaming box soon, as the current version is in limited supply.
- Comcast rebrands is membership program and automatically enrolls everyone. (At least make sure to get free Peacock if you’re eligible.)
- ESPN’s app gives you less with a regular pay TV login now, as more content requires ESPN Unlimited.
Save more money
This part of the newsletter has some affiliate links, which earn me a commission if you wind up buying or subscribing to something.
I’ve got another Paramount+ code for you this week. Sign up for the Premium plan with promo code BG2L7M and get two months for $1 per month. This deal is for select former subscribers only—new subscribers aren’t eligible and it may not work for all former ones—and requires the monthly Premium (no ads) plan.
Other notable deals:
- New AMC+ code: Get 30 days free (no ads) with promo code AMC30FT26.
- Existing YouTube TV customers: Cord Cutters News reports that navigating through the cancellation process could get you $10 off for six months.
As always, I keep a full list of active deals, bundle discounts, and carrier freebies on the Cord Cutter Weekly website.
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Until next week,
Jared