Internet TV Options?

[Nefaro]

What Internet TV options are out there?

I ditched the overpriced cable tv package.  Wasn't watching it often enough to justify the ever-increasing monthly costs.  Yet the provider still raised my costs again after reducing it to only local channels.  Getting rather sick of the constant squeeze.  >:(

I have a SmartTV but the other one runs on a PS3 (soon to be PS4) and has no dedicated computer hooked to it.  I think the PS consoles use Sony's "VUE", which seems to charge about the same amount for similar packages as cable.  Since Sony makes good profits from their Vue app, I'm guessing that's the only internet tv service they allow on it..?


Someone recommended Sling TV, which is just about perfect except for having restricted hardware support (and no SyFy).  I don't think my Samsung TV is supported and my extra PC's old video card has recently had HDMI output issues so I would probably have to buy another vid card for that one if it were needed.  The other TV is an older non-genius HDTV so there is some compatibility issues in my case.


I'm not in a big hurry, but just wondering if any of you had other suggestions.  Even if it needs to run through a PC or other hardware.

[bayonetbrant]

SlingTV is a pretty good option if you only need 1 TV feed at a time.

You're not going to find any internet-based TV option with SyFy, or anything else from the NBC Universal family (Bravo, USA, E!, Sprout, MSNBC, NBC Sports, CNBC, etc) because Comcast owns NBC Universal, and they're not going to put their cable channels on a competing delivery platform that could take you out of their cable TV delivery revenue stream.

[OJsDad]

I'm not saying Brant is wrong, but when GE owned NBC, you could get their channels, or at least their shows, through Hulu.  Unfortunately, unlike Sling TV, it doesn't look like you can get a list of what they carry with out signing up.

[Wes]

Yeah, you can get SyFy in a few places:

http://www.syfy.com/faq

(iTunes, Hulu and Amazon Prime)

[Bison]

The slingtv build in app on the Xbox One is one of the many things that tempts me about that particular console.  Also Sony's PS4 tv program has some weird location issue where you have to be in certain very large markets to get the service, which is off putting if your console is not only a gaming platform but an entertainment one.

[OJsDad]

Nefaro, one other thing to keep in mind.  A lot of ISP's are starting to put caps on how much data you can use each month.  Those that also see TV services seem to be doing this more as a way of trying to limit cord cutting. 

[bayonetbrant]

Yeah, you can get SyFy in a few places:

http://www.syfy.com/faq

(iTunes, Hulu and Amazon Prime)

All of which are per-show services, not live broadcasting.

[bayonetbrant]

I'm not saying Brant is wrong, but when GE owned NBC, you could get their channels, or at least their shows, through Hulu.  Unfortunately, unlike Sling TV, it doesn't look like you can get a list of what they carry with out signing up.

Isn't Hulu just on-demand episodes of shows?  IIRC, Hulu isn't the equivalent of flipping on the cable box and turning on a TV channel to just watch whatever's on the network at the time.

[Bison]

That's right.  It's on demand, but that's really the attraction of the package.  Watch whenever you want and not having to arrange your schedule around the TV programing schedule.

[MetalDog]

I'm pretty sure HULU is in bed with NBC.

[bayonetbrant]

Sling's got a built-in DVR

[Bison]

The real issue of internet television is live events in particular sports.

[OJsDad]

I'm not saying Brant is wrong, but when GE owned NBC, you could get their channels, or at least their shows, through Hulu.  Unfortunately, unlike Sling TV, it doesn't look like you can get a list of what they carry with out signing up.

Isn't Hulu just on-demand episodes of shows?  IIRC, Hulu isn't the equivalent of flipping on the cable box and turning on a TV channel to just watch whatever's on the network at the time.

Yes, I believe you're correct.

You may want to check this out.  www.roku.com

[MetalDog]

The real issue of internet television is live events in particular sports.

^This

[Bison]

It's one of the appeals of slingTV because you do at least get ESPN and ESPN 2 in the basic package.