"Cutting the Cable Cord" and MLB TV

I have a blu-ray player that has Netflix, Amazon, Hulu and MLB-TV on it.  I subscribed to the Cubs games and watched almost every single game this past season on my blu-ray or phone through the app.  I can't remember the name brand of it but I want to say Sony.  

I've had the blu-ray for a little over a year and maybe have watched 4 or 5 movies from a disk.  Rest of the time I'm streaming from Netflix, Hulu and Amazon.  I pay around $55 for all three and never miss anything.  Hulu usually plays network shows the next day after they originally air.  

MLB is a separate app on roku, not sling. It was about $120 a year when we had it. And some games will be blacked out. You can watch games from days past etc.

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/subscri...dex.jsp?product=roku

I have been thinking about doing this but what about "in market" games? Do you get local teams on MLB TV?

I thought about getting a VPN and registering out of my home market to see my local MLB teams, but have not researched it enough.

To clarify...I'm interected in MLB TV not an MLB regular season subscription.  I realize the latter is typically a package where you get all the games.

BOF posted:

I have been thinking about doing this but what about "in market" games? Do you get local teams on MLB TV?

I thought about getting a VPN and registering out of my home market to see my local MLB teams, but have not researched it enough.

As I remember they'll be blacked out. Might be able to to watch them the next day. Can't remember. 

fenwaysouth posted:

To clarify...I'm interected in MLB TV not an MLB regular season subscription.  I realize the latter is typically a package where you get all the games.

You need to go with a different service.  Almost all of the other services have MLB Network.  Playstation Vue (best service imo) and directv now both have it, or at least did when I last checked.

Will - We cut the cord a while back & did exactly what you are doing.  We started with Sling & were happy.  Also using Roku.  We're also using an attic antennae for the locals.  Once DirecTV Now came out, we jumped on and haven't looked back.  We pay $35 / month & that includes HBO.  It does have MLBN too.  Both services are similar in quality.  As is mentioned above, PS Vue is supposed to be good too.

Hope you all are doing well.

So I think you mean to say I am interested in being able to get "MLB Network" not MLB TV, which is the services that allows you to subscribe to watch all of the games (except local team) for about $120 per year.

From what I have seen, DirecTV Now is the best option for those that cut the cord.  With their $50 package you can get not only MLB Network, but also ESPN and the local regional sports package to watch your home team.  I'm not sure what is included with PlayStation Vue.

We have the Amazon FireTV to use for not only the Amazon Prime stuff, but also for access to the apps like DirecTV Now and MLB TV and the Fox Sports app.  And if you are looking for the best WiFi router around, I highly recommend the EERO home web system.  We upgraded to it 6 months ago and it has been fantastic...less than 3 instances where the signal went down.  And it tells you what download speed you are getting from your cable modem to make sure you get what you are paying for.  It is not cheap but worth every dollar we spent on it compared to the various routers and extenders we tried over the past 5 years.

Firestick with Kodi hack.

https://hotstickybun.com/addons/watch-mlb-tv-kodi/

Just saw a 55" 120Hz Roku TV (?) for $495.00 at Costco... Doesn't answer your question but we're thinking similar path... Cable bill is easily $240+ per month...  Is part of the answer a "smarter" TV?

Roku easy to figure out like Bitcoin?  

FS, the only way to watch MLB Network live (without a hack) is through a "Pay TV Provider". Here is a list of the current providers: 

http://m.mlb.com/network/streaming-faq/

I think the least expensive options on that list are DirectTV Now and PS Vue.

Below is a decent comparison of the current streaming services, but the details change almost daily.

https://www.tomsguide.com/us/y...ents,news-24578.html

Thanks for the ALL the response folks.   Very timely.   So I've not committed to any streaming services beyond Amazon and Netflix which we're already subscribed.   It sounds like we need to see if Direct TV NOW or PS VUE has the all the required channels....I do remember looking at Direct TV NOW (AT&T) a week ago but the total  number of services on the market and their respective channels is rather  staggering to remember.

Shoveit4Ks - I did look at that Kodi hack on Firestick a while ago.  I work with Linux every now and then so I'm somewhat comfortable with it.   Possibly, I'll get that for my home office.

Gov - Bitcoin is one of a few emerging cryprocurrencies under the BlockChain header.   Lot of companies I work with are trying to develop a strategy to use Blockchain as a way to transact business & contracts quickly and securely without financial institutions, investment banking, insureance  and government involvement.   Naturally, those are the same companies that see themselves getting left out, so they are working double time to get their arms around it.   

Again, many thanks.

Shoveit4Ks posted:

Firestick with Kodi hack.

 

https://hotstickybun.com/addons/watch-mlb-tv-kodi/

I have KODI. It’s not always reliable. Especially now with the US, Canadian and UK governments cracking down on it. Several addon developers have gone dark and left their apps unsupported. Plus KODI is often only 720. I only use KODI for movies and PAC12 Network. The latest PAC 12 add on has been very reliable. It’s 1080. 

For those who aren’t familiar with KODI there’s an ethics issue. It’s not illegal to have the KODI and use it. What is illegal are the providers who are providing access to licensed material free of charge. 

The US, Canadian and UK governments been going after companies selling Android boxes with KODI preloaded. They’ve also been going after the developers of adding that access the illegally accessed licensed material. 

Note: Exodus was abandoned. Someone else picked up support. They haven’t done a great job. Covenant is Exodus and more only better.

BOF posted:

I have been thinking about doing this but what about "in market" games? Do you get local teams on MLB TV?

I thought about getting a VPN and registering out of my home market to see my local MLB teams, but have not researched it enough.

I had the MLB app and a VPN when I didn’t want to pay for cable in my second home. I used unblock-us. It worked great. I read the NHL package (written by the same company as the MLB package) now recognizes VPN’s and locks up. The technology companies are getting savvy to the tricks.

With KODI you don’t need expertise sideloading (hacking) a Fire Stick or an Apple TV (MAC required). You just need an Android box. KODI is an Android app. Boxes are available on Amazon for around $50-60. Get one with at least 2 GB of memory and running at least Marshmallow (6.0). There are a few available running Nougat (7.0).  The best Android box is Nvidia Shield. The OS is upgradable. But it’s $159 on sale.

I’ve tried Direct Now and kept Vue. You need a lot more firepower than the 5 Mbps than they recommend. Both were occasionally buffering at 35 Mbps until Vue fixed the problem. When I had Now was during a three month trial a lot of people weren’t continuing due to buffering. But I got an Apple TV free. 

RJM - Holy crap.  How many TVs do you really have in your house? One in every room?  ;-)

All - Onto my next question about bandwidth.....

So, I'm on a 50/50 Mbps plan and I'm using 50-70% of that on a daily basis between home office (multiple systems, wireless printer, and two phones), my wife's home computer and various (some new) streaming services on a single Roku with plans to add a second device but not run simultaneously.  My middle son rarely uses his Amazon fire stick when he is home, and he is a couple months from moving out.   Youngest son is away at college.   Should I upgrade bandwidth  I got a free month of Direct TV Now last night and noticed it buffered a couple time while watching MLB Network and Running with Bear Grylls episode.   I thought about moving my router to the family room to Ethernet connect it to the Roku to possibly help with the buffering.   The bottom line is my kids are moving out and I don't see bandwidth increasing.  Thoughts?

If you have 50 Mbps down and roku is buffering something is wrong. We live in the country so 6 down is the best I get and ours very rarely buffers. I did run a hardwire to the roku though. That and the kids Xbox. Speaking of which the Xbox is one of the best ways I've found to test connection speeds. 

I did the same about 6 months back. Went with PS Vue because it seemed to have the best options in terms of sports channels. It definitely saved us some $ but IMO is not worth the savings. The quality of broadcast for live sporting events is just not acceptable...again IMO. In addition, I have noticed that we are experiencing more and more hiccups when watching any program. I am actually switching back to cable/satellite for the reasons mentioned above and the fact that PS Vue does not provide access to Pac 12 channel. Just my 2 cents.

fenwaysouth posted:

RJM - Holy crap.  How many TVs do you really have in your house? One in every room?  ;-)

All - Onto my next question about bandwidth.....

So, I'm on a 50/50 Mbps plan and I'm using 50-70% of that on a daily basis between home office (multiple systems, wireless printer, and two phones), my wife's home computer and various (some new) streaming services on a single Roku with plans to add a second device but not run simultaneously.  My middle son rarely uses his Amazon fire stick when he is home, and he is a couple months from moving out.   Youngest son is away at college.   Should I upgrade bandwidth  I got a free month of Direct TV Now last night and noticed it buffered a couple time while watching MLB Network and Running with Bear Grylls episode.   I thought about moving my router to the family room to Ethernet connect it to the Roku to possibly help with the buffering.   The bottom line is my kids are moving out and I don't see bandwidth increasing.  Thoughts?

Funny you should post that picture. I sold my house. For the time being I only have an apartment in Portland Maine within a few miles of  my mother’s assisted living facility. I looked at a second apartment on the North Shore of Boston not far from where I lived. It was new and modern. It had a tv built into the mirror in the bathroom. I only had three tv’s between the two homes. In the house the kids grew up in we had four. 

50/50 should be fine. It’s not as if you’re using everything connected all at once. I have 35/10 service. My iPad and cell automatically connect when I walk in the door. A laptop and printer are always connected. I have an Echo Dot and a hub connecting some of the lights and Sonos speakers. I don’t have any buffering with Vue. The Apple TV is connected to the router with an Ethernet cable. I had buffering problems with Direct Now a year ago when I tried it. I didn’t have the Echo Dot and hub at the time. 

coachld posted:

I did the same about 6 months back. Went with PS Vue because it seemed to have the best options in terms of sports channels. It definitely saved us some $ but IMO is not worth the savings. The quality of broadcast for live sporting events is just not acceptable...again IMO. In addition, I have noticed that we are experiencing more and more hiccups when watching any program. I am actually switching back to cable/satellite for the reasons mentioned above and the fact that PS Vue does not provide access to Pac 12 channel. Just my 2 cents.

I haven’t had any issues with quality of picture on Vue sporting events. A way around the problem may be to watch on the specific app broadcasting the sport using the Vue sign in. I watch UCLA sports/PAC 12 with KODI. 

Its not so much I’m saving a few bucks on cable. The benefit is Spectrum/Time Warner isn’t getting my cable money. They suck and service is worse. When I couldn’t get help online I went to the office. I told the clerk I wasn’t leaving until I talked with a manager. The clerk called the police on me. When I did get to talk to the manager the next day he gave me two months free. I would have rather had better service and not been escorted out by the police.

RJM posted:

coachld posted:

I did the same about 6 months back. Went with PS Vue because it seemed to have the best options in terms of sports channels. It definitely saved us some $ but IMO is not worth the savings. The quality of broadcast for live sporting events is just not acceptable...again IMO. In addition, I have noticed that we are experiencing more and more hiccups when watching any program. I am actually switching back to cable/satellite for the reasons mentioned above and the fact that PS Vue does not provide access to Pac 12 channel. Just my 2 cents.

I haven’t had any issues with quality of picture on Vue sporting events. A way around the problem may be to watch on the specific app broadcasting the sport using the Vue sign in. I watch UCLA sports/PAC 12 with KODI. 

Its not so much I’m saving a few bucks on cable. The benefit is Spectrum/Time Warner isn’t getting my cable money. They suck and service is worse. When I couldn’t get help online I went to the office. I told the clerk I wasn’t leaving until I talked with a manager. The clerk called the police on me. When I did get to talk to the manager the next day he gave me two months free. I would have rather had better service and not been escorted out by the police.

Wow! I would make the change as well! That is ridiculous!

PM sent... There's a way to watch...

Your cable bill is going to get more expensive......  The FCC just voted to repeal net neutrality rules....

http://www.businessinsider.com...ill-increase-2017-12

For those who want the MLB Tv subscription (the $120 one) and have Tmobile, they usually give it for free one week before the season. Just download the Tmobile tuesday app and the first week of april they will give you a code.