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re: My analysis of streaming services for ESPN sports
Posted on 11/7/25 at 12:12 pm to MtVernon
Posted on 11/7/25 at 12:12 pm to MtVernon
quote:
I ditched DirecTV and went Hulu right before 2025 kickoff.
Can ask why? I was actually thinking about getting it before next season if this crap doesn't get fixed.
1
Posted on 11/7/25 at 12:14 pm to tiggy
quote:
This is probably a dumb question, but does ESPN+ not show the games?
I have ESPN+. I haven't missed a game yet. There have been a few documentaries that apparently paying $130 a year isn't enough for.
Posted on 11/7/25 at 12:16 pm to Landmass
Good summary here. My wife’s parents got an anniversary gift of a Netflix subscription and we had to explain for two hours how it works
Posted on 11/7/25 at 12:19 pm to SWOK Sooner
Dropped YT for Hulu last weekend. Went with the 64.99 for 3 months then 89.99. Dis + Hulu + ESPN.
I get everything I had with YT, plus tons of ESPN subs.
Picture quality is not as good but I think I like the interface better. YMMV
I get everything I had with YT, plus tons of ESPN subs.
Picture quality is not as good but I think I like the interface better. YMMV
This post was edited on 11/7/25 at 12:20 pm
Posted on 11/7/25 at 12:22 pm to Buster83
quote:
I use Direct TV Stream. I never miss a game. It gives you access to ESPN as well. I don't know how they compare in price but I never miss a game.
Just switched to Stream Premium. Not cheap but includes HBO, Showtime, Hulu, Disney+, Paramount+, ESPN Unlimited and the sports pack with Redzone for free.
Will consider going back to YouTube TV if the get ESPN back.
This post was edited on 11/7/25 at 12:23 pm
Posted on 11/7/25 at 12:29 pm to Landmass
A negative of Fubo is they do not have TBS or TNT.
Posted on 11/7/25 at 12:32 pm to Ag Zwin
Having a dedicated streaming box is a good idea, but weaker Android TV devices suck and Amazon is muddying their waters on purpose. Here is the hierarchy of streaming boxes:
1. Apple TV - best in class, has best interface performance and best quality apps. Sucks that they shove their service down your throat but what makes it the best is screen mirroring from Apple devices can be used easily with dodgy streaming sites (that is how I watch Saints games this year frick Sunday Ticket). Problem is this is expensive.
2. Shield TV Pro - gives an experience close to Apple TV especially if you are willing to change out the launcher. Doesn't have quite the app polish that Apple TV apps have, but has the advantage of sideloading apps Google doesn't want you to have. Like for example I have SmartTube loaded on mine with allows my son to watch Youtube without ads without me paying for premium. Is expensive though.
3. onn 4K Pro - basically a cheap Shield TV. Has all the advantages of that device at one fourth the price, just a little more sluggish than Shield TV. Only found at walmart.
4. Roku Devices - Has good quality apps, is easy to use, and best of all is cheap compared to 1 and 2. No sideloading, but maybe the easiest interface of the bunch. This is the one I give to family members.
5. Fire TV Devices - has some of the advantages of the Shield TV (sideloading maybe), and has good app support. Problem is interface is STUFFED with ads and you can't change that, plus this year they forked the devices and some are based on Android still and others aren't and it means you have to be careful what to buy. These used to be 3 on the list but I have trouble recommending them knowing that Amazon is working to lock them down.
1. Apple TV - best in class, has best interface performance and best quality apps. Sucks that they shove their service down your throat but what makes it the best is screen mirroring from Apple devices can be used easily with dodgy streaming sites (that is how I watch Saints games this year frick Sunday Ticket). Problem is this is expensive.
2. Shield TV Pro - gives an experience close to Apple TV especially if you are willing to change out the launcher. Doesn't have quite the app polish that Apple TV apps have, but has the advantage of sideloading apps Google doesn't want you to have. Like for example I have SmartTube loaded on mine with allows my son to watch Youtube without ads without me paying for premium. Is expensive though.
3. onn 4K Pro - basically a cheap Shield TV. Has all the advantages of that device at one fourth the price, just a little more sluggish than Shield TV. Only found at walmart.
4. Roku Devices - Has good quality apps, is easy to use, and best of all is cheap compared to 1 and 2. No sideloading, but maybe the easiest interface of the bunch. This is the one I give to family members.
5. Fire TV Devices - has some of the advantages of the Shield TV (sideloading maybe), and has good app support. Problem is interface is STUFFED with ads and you can't change that, plus this year they forked the devices and some are based on Android still and others aren't and it means you have to be careful what to buy. These used to be 3 on the list but I have trouble recommending them knowing that Amazon is working to lock them down.
This post was edited on 11/7/25 at 12:36 pm
Posted on 11/7/25 at 12:49 pm to cardboardboxer
A lot of big SEC games are on ABC(3 per Saturday which is a potential of 9 teams). Buy an antenna. If your game isn’t on ABC or the signal doesn’t reach that far into the bayou…sling has a day pass for $6.
Posted on 11/7/25 at 12:58 pm to pankReb
I guess I am old school. I refuse to move to another service and reward Disney for squeezing a carrier to force a rate increase. All of you frickers that switched service providers so you wouldn't miss a few games just rewarded Disney for raising carriage rates. I'm sure you guys will be the first to complain when Disney does it to the carrier you just switched to.
Posted on 11/7/25 at 1:01 pm to KootAR
We dropped all services and just kept the Disney bundle with Hulu and espn. It includes all espn channels and abc. We also have an off air antenna and pay for paramount+ and peacock. Cheaper that way and everything we watch is covered.
Posted on 11/7/25 at 1:07 pm to cardboardboxer
quote:
a decent antenna.
i paid something like $50 for a nicer one and can pick up everything pretty great. it really only comes out during football season and then I tuck it behind the TV till next fall.
Posted on 11/7/25 at 1:10 pm to 3nOut
Yeah the flat ones work good if you are near a city, but I have a bad arse $50 one too and I can get Waco stations in north Austin.
One advantage of the Tablo is you can tuck it and the antenna in the attic and then its on your wifi so you don't have to worry about the wife complaining it looks bad
One advantage of the Tablo is you can tuck it and the antenna in the attic and then its on your wifi so you don't have to worry about the wife complaining it looks bad
Posted on 11/7/25 at 1:10 pm to Landmass
longtime fubo subscriber for various reasons, it has its flaws but is also best in class at certain things. you gotta go appletv if you go fubo for the quadbox tho, its dumb it’s only on apple but its s tier. their app for some lesser smart tv’s isn’t the best.
Posted on 11/7/25 at 1:33 pm to Ag Zwin
quote:
TV OS’s blow. Use a stick with one of the OEM-agnostic options (Google, Roku, Fire, etc.)
I have a Roku box on all of my TVs. I wanted them all to be the same instead of the native streaming interface on the TV. Those do blow. I agree. One is a ROKU TV and it's alright but the others have a box.
Posted on 11/7/25 at 1:35 pm to Landmass
TheTVapp
It is free but servers fill up. There is a paid service if you have a bitcoin wallet.
All channels.....all. $15 a month
It is free but servers fill up. There is a paid service if you have a bitcoin wallet.
All channels.....all. $15 a month
Posted on 11/7/25 at 1:36 pm to T1gerNate
Hello 1960
Posted on 11/7/25 at 1:37 pm to 3nOut
I definitely recommend a $50 antenna for OTA games.
Posted on 11/7/25 at 1:37 pm to cardboardboxer
quote:
Yall really need to consider getting a Tablo plus a decent antenna.
One time purchase of around $120 for both (I got it for $70 in a sale I expect to repeat black friday) and then you can have ABC, CBS, Fox, CW and NBC on any smart device in your house (your phone, AppleTV, Roku, Android TV).
With Tablo you get a TV-guide style menu, you can record games, pause/fast forward in games, and can watch either two or four games at once (depending on which Tablo you get).
Doesn't give access to ESPN, but it gives you access to a LOT of college football without worrying about what major company is fricking over some other major company for the price of one month of Youtube TV (if you get the device on sale).
The games on ABC can be streamed for free at ESPN. Just go to the scoreboard and click the watch button. Other games will ask you for a sign in, but ABC games do not.
Posted on 11/7/25 at 1:37 pm to T1gerNate
quote:
I got this streaming service called an antenna that you plug into the back of your tv and it lets you watch the most important games of the week totally free. It’s crazy.
Yes, brother, I think a lot of us also use an antenna but I won't be able to get any games that aren't on ABC, Fox, or CBS. NBC signal is too weak at my house so I can't get anything on that. With an antenna only, you're only going to be able to watch 3 games on a Saturday, but nothing that is on ESPN or SECN.
Posted on 11/7/25 at 1:48 pm to KootAR
The YouTube outage never affected me. If they pull the same shite with Sling(which they eventually will…as do all networks and providers), I’ll just pirate the streams.
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