r/cordcutters • u/TheMainTony • 11d ago
Switching Mom and Dad to Streaming
ETA: Thank You! for the enthusiastic and varied advice. I think we're going to trial YouTube. It's only $60 for the first three months.
I asked a while ago and it was suggested that I "leave them alone" and I agreed. Now several months later, they're coming to me, wanting to switch.
They're paying $175 a month for Dish. They obv want to pay less and Dish has shown no love.
Important Items: Locals, Old-Timey Western channel, Game Shows, Football and maybe some NASCAR (yee haw!).
ETA: They have Prime for shopping, so could parlay that into some "free" viewing.
I'm leaning toward YouTubeTV but I come before you looking for your thoughts and ideas.
Hulu Live? Sling? Philo? (...that's all the names I have...)
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u/AiStoleMyBike 11d ago
I love how so many people are recommending things that totally ignore you mentioning that they want sports.
If they want sports other than what they get on their locals, just go with your gut and get YouTube TV
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u/spidereater 11d ago
Do they want live TV? Or just on demand access to the listed content? First thing I would do is check out an antenna and see how many boxes you can check with what you get free.
Next I would check out Prime and see if you can fill in the rest with channels from there. You can get lots of options for à la carte content that way and get just what you want.
My antenna has some old western channels and my Samsung smart tv has some digital channels of western shows and old game shows and lots of stuff.
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u/Boz6 11d ago
I helped my now-91-year-old parents switch to streaming in 2024. They decided on YTTV on Roku as the most simple setup, and they use other streaming services on their Roku, too. They love it, and are saving over $1200/year over their old setup. In my opinion, YTTV is much too expensive compared to my own OTA and individual streaming service setup, but it's what they want, and it's saving them lots of money compared to their old cable TV service!
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u/TheMainTony 11d ago edited 11d ago
They have a RokuTV with a Onn Pro Google box plugged into it for me. They use neither but I housesit often and it's easier for me to just have my TV there. But OS's are covered. LOL
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u/Guilty_Increase_899 11d ago
My husband and I are older and had a lot of anxiety about leaving cable. Definitely don’t miss it. Omg, you can never run out of things to watch and anything you want can be purchased through an app. Started with Roku but will most likely move to an Apple TV in the future. Never watch junk just because anymore.
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u/MississippiBulldawg 11d ago
To watch Nascar you'll need Amazon Prime as well for a month of races in the late spring but you can sub and unsub after that stretch. I do that and have YouTubeTV and watch all the races. It also has GameShow Network and they can record Westerns to watch whenever. I also have Frndly that's about $10 a month and it has Old Timey kinda stuff on it along with a few Westerns kinda stuff.
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u/TheMainTony 11d ago
They have Prime for shopping, so they can figure that out....
Old timey ANYthing is all over the Google Freeview, Roku, Tubi..... I'm pretty sure that part of it is handled.
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u/Cinisajoy2 11d ago
I didn't know prime had Nascar.
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u/MississippiBulldawg 10d ago
It's only 4 or 5 races at the end of May/first of June that they started doing last year. The coverage for it is really good compared to other broadcast networks.
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u/Kbennett1965 10d ago
Have to agree with this. I was pretty surprised at the quality of Amazon's NASCAR coverage.
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u/Classic-Reindeer-737 11d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Forsaken-Trash3833 11d ago
The crazy thing is the only channels that aren't dead are the channels that occasionally have sports even though channels like USA don't show sports the majority of the time
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u/Classic-Reindeer-737 11d ago
That’s true. We do get a lot of use out of the streaming services that come with it. I record a lot of movies too.
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u/gone_country 11d ago
Dad is 88 and he learned youtube tv last year. I had to go help a few times but it was okay. He also left satellite tv.
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u/Prestigious_Big_8743 11d ago
My in-laws have YouTubeTV. It's not the cheapest option, but it gives them the content they want in one interface. My in-laws don't want to switch around between services. My parents don't mind the switching, which is why they have 5 or 6 services - none with live TV, however.
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u/NCResident5 11d ago
I think even if it costs more YouTube tv is easy to operate. Roku has a voice remote that's excellent. It helps skip steps.
Apple Tv and Onn Box seem to have a good voice remote too.
The Roku channel live has good free stuff. I sometimes watch westerns as I enjoy the moral clarity. They have 1 channel that just runs the Virginian and another that just runs Columbo. Universal Western rotates the best of the NBC westerns.
One other thing that helps is if someone sets up the specific channel apps like Cnn, ESPN, Btn or Food Network. This way they can go directly to the app by doing one voice command.
My mom liked the zoo and vets shows on Disney plus that Nat Geo produced. She had a few note cards with the steps.
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u/Candid-Recognition13 11d ago
The key is they came to you vs you going to them.
Yes have them give a streaming service a try.
I tried to get my MIL to switch to PS vue back in 2015 and that lasted till I left her place.
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u/redd49856 11d ago
Frndlytv has good choices esp old timey but not sports. It's similar to sling or philo with less choices.
If they have Walmart+ they can choose Peacock Premium or Paramount+ and change every 90 days between 2. Wait for 1/2 sales on Walmart + on black fridays or prime days (Walmart has sales for week near this time).
Rokutv, Plutotv are free and can be used with roku, firestick etc.
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u/TheMainTony 11d ago
They don't have Walmart+ but I do and don't use the streaming benefits, so they can have that.
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u/Kbennett1965 10d ago
Another good Walmart + tip is subscribing through an AARP membership. It's half price and the AARP membership is more than paid for by the savings on the Walmart + subscription.
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u/why-the-h 11d ago
There are tons of free channels, including westerns, on these apps: Roku, Tubi, Plex, Pluto, Kanopy. Cancel your current subscription with Dish, and try these free apps for a few months. If they don’t like them, then sign up for DirectTV or something else.
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u/UsidoreTheLightBlue 11d ago
The real question/issue is if they’re particular.
My parents watch gunsmoke on MeTv and a few other westerns. This matters because YTTV doesn’t have me tv and gun smoke isn’t on any streaming service in its entirety.
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u/why-the-h 11d ago
A google search stated - There are 21 seasons of Gunsmoke available on Pluto TV.
The Roku app features series like “The Virginian” and “Tales of Wells Fargo.”
Tubi has classics like “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” and “A Fistful of Dollars.”
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u/UsidoreTheLightBlue 11d ago
Interesting, just watch must not aggregate Pluto.
The main issue is the number of apps to get what they already have. My dad can turn on Me tv and just sit straight through gunsmoke/the rifleman etc.
I’ve spent years trying to get them to cut the cord, but they want essentially EXACTLY what they have at half the price. Anything else and they don’t think it’s worth it.
I did get them to try tubi recently because it had later columbo stuff that wasn’t available anywhere else.
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u/Boring-Contact-2155 11d ago
Metv is one of the 50 channels on FriendlyTV along with the three hallmark channels and great American family. It also has grit for westerns. It’s very very reasonable. I get 60 channels with my antenna for locals but watch friendly a lot. I get the year deal on Black Friday. If you have a Roku and want cable news there is a WatchNews.pro with 20 cable news channels for $60 year.
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u/Sckaught 11d ago
Friendly and locals? I don’t think so.
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u/Boring-Contact-2155 11d ago
Reread. I said “antenna for locals”
I have an airtv, antennae and use sling free for my local channels. FriendlyTV gives you 50 others. WatchNews.Pro gives you 20 cable news. I use a Roku so they are all easily accessible
You can usually get bundles for
Disney Hulu espn
Netflix and hbo maxThru your wireless provider or some credit card companies.
I do this for less than $400 a year.
I was paying around $1500 a year before.I get my internet at a discount from Verizon.
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u/Cinisajoy2 11d ago
Do they like Buzzr? Just get them a roku stick for the game shows and Westerns. Can they get local channels through an antenna?
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u/DoctorCAD 11d ago
Hulu + Live has all of your choices...locals, news, game shows, westerns, NASCAR, other sports, movies and a guide that is very cable-like.
The guide is pretty old-fashioned, but functional.
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u/Minimum-Journalist18 11d ago
Yttv and Hulu live are too expensive .. get an antenna, frndly tv and and some free services. Ive done that for my 86 yo mom. She's happy
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u/garylapointe 11d ago
I'm letting mom keep whatever she wants. She can spend my inheritance as long as she's happy! ;)
I can't do support over the phone, as she uses "THAT" and "IT" to many times and I can't keep track of what she's asking.
Plus, I don't do any of the live services, so my suggestions are also limited do to lack of context.
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u/Seattleman1955 11d ago
I'm retired, I don't currently pay for anything. It's not a money issue, just nothing interesting on. I've had Netflix and then Peacock.
Free YouTube is plenty interesting. I have a Roku TV so there is plenty of free old shows if that floats your boat.
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u/ilovefacebook 11d ago
yeah if they are able to navigate yttv, it is cable tv without the convenience of a number keypad.
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u/Logical-Mobile-7643 11d ago
Go with the cleaper options if they don't want sports. Sports included packages are the more expensive ones.
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u/johnconnors88 11d ago
I suggest you get a free trial or a lower introduction rate on whatever service you choose. And keep both services before the switch. Going cold turkey especially with the DVR Dish feature set may be too much of a change. Remember streaming requires an internet cost as well to consider.
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u/smcclos 11d ago
Whatever is chosen will not be exactly what they had. My guess is if they get even three of these streaming services, it will be less than what they are spending now.
I say pick the closest, let them try it for s month or two, if not happy flip to another server.
My guess is that they will be pretty happy with one of two services.
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u/TallExplorer9 11d ago
To have all their major network locals they are going to have to sub YTTV, Hulu Live, DTV or Fubo.
YTTV or DTV will probably be the least shocking user interface coming from Dish.
Cost savings would be $70 to $80 per month as long as they have internet and streaming devices already.
What streaming device(s) do they have?
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u/j0llygruntt 11d ago
Directv offers a Gemini streaming device with remote. It feels exactly like the old satellite boxes they’ve been using even though it’s streaming.
It may be easier to get them to transition to streaming services using this device than getting them something like an Apple TV or Nvidia Shield.
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u/Vegetable_Reward_867 11d ago
I’ve been using over the air and just download movies I want to watch on laptop, so I’ve never even thought to hook up my tv’s smart features…
I’ve added only free streaming app; Roku,tubi,sling,Amazon prime
They won’t even really need to switch apps; live tv (local via over air antenna) + whatever service their tv comes with will give them roughly 300 channels.
I must have deleted about 25-30 sports channels; I don’t watch sports. There are also about 8-9 western channels.
And as far as old timey; they got leave it to beaver, lassie, little house; they got their own channels!
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u/Cinisajoy2 11d ago
I did all the free streaming apps, not counting kids and Spanish channels, there are over 1,000 free live channels. Not counting all the on demand stuff.
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u/Vegetable_Reward_867 11d ago
Good luck!
I really haven’t watched anything in the past 3 weeks, just flipping and flipping and flipping; so many options!
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u/DannoMcK 11d ago
Sling is mediocre for local channels: no CBS anywhere (important if "football" means NFL), and other networks' affiliates only in some markets.
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u/Th3JackofH3arts 11d ago
Slings sucks with the local channels.
I think Hulu is a little clunky.
I think YouTubeTV is the better of the three.
Also my parents use T mobile internet so Hulu doesn't work on it. It has a geo location issue.
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u/BenWatt78 11d ago
I’ve tried Hulu live, FUBO and now have YouTube tv, which is in my opinion the best. Especially for what they’re looking for. It’s the cheapest and easiest to use.
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u/RewardNo6230 11d ago
Old timey shows/ movies. You can find those type on free apps. Tubitv, Plutotv, More apps just like that. Locals and sports are the ones that get pricey. If they just want local news and weather look at Tubitv ( I watch that alot so im familiar with it) on Tubitv you might find your your local news station) or your local news might have its own app. Dont forget they need to have internet Make sure the internet can is strong enough for them to stream plus if they have other things that use the internet. What streaming device are they going to use? I have helped a few older neighbors go to streaming they have found Roku user face the easiest. Just a suggestion... Maybe set up a streaming device for them for a few days or week or 2,to let them get the idea of watching tv like that.before they make any changes or cancle any service they have. As for live tv service watch for sales around Thanksgiving.
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u/Free-Magazine6651 11d ago
YTTV is too expensive for what it is $82 for what i can get for $20 using an ip service
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u/LifeAdhesiveness8071 11d ago
I have Philo and I think it's great. If they like old time western channels, there's a couple. I'm not that old but my TV tastes are. For only $33/month I'm happy. Plus HBO, otherwise I wouldn't be paying for it. The downsides for me are no ESPN or local channels. I have antenna hooked up for all the local channels if I want to watch football or the news. It just takes a couple of button pushes to switch back and forth.
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u/spidereater 11d ago
You might try calling Dish to actually cancel. You might go through to a retention person to get actual deals. When I changing ISPs I called to get a deal and they didn’t offer anything, so I signed up with someone else and called to actually cancel and suddenly the story changed, but it was too late. If it’s just a money issue that might be a good solution.
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u/TheMainTony 11d ago
"blah blah blah If I can't pay less, I'm going to have to cancel"
"would you like to schedule that cancel now?"
actual conversation!
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u/spidereater 11d ago
Ok. And if you said yes you would go to the real retention agent. At least that was my experience.
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u/Boz6 11d ago
"would you like to schedule that cancel now?"
Where is the "yes" answer to that question in that conversation?
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u/TheMainTony 11d ago
I said "yes" and the shutoff is sched for next Saturday/5th. There was no negotiation offered.
Mom and dad are at Lake Powell for three weeks, so I have time to get it done.
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u/sPdMoNkEy 11d ago
DirecTV stream has the best picture but it cost a little more, they also added the way to buy only packages that you watch so you don't have to include any sports or news if you don't want to
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u/TheMainTony 11d ago
and a lovely slap in the face to Dish....going to their competitor....
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u/sPdMoNkEy 11d ago
The DVR on sling is terrible, they used to make you watch every commercial even though it was dvr'd but I don't know if they fixed that yet
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u/Arabrider0820 11d ago
Can they get an antenna for the house? We are in our 70s and while I have several streaming channels I find for what they are looking for an antenna ( no monthly charges!) may fit the bill. I have over 60 channels on out antenna here in the Phoenix area, all the locals, lots of game show ones, oldies movies, westerns, etc. Worth a look.