YTTV losing espn

[UConnJim]

Yes, cable is when you consider all the other content out there you want. Also, the fees for cable are ridiculous.

Our condo complex in New Hampshire (~120 townhouses) got a bulk deal from Spectrum. $85/month includes internet, cable, phone with all the ESPN channels, NBC Sportsnet, HBO, SHOW, ... I think 130 channels+. We added a higher level of sports channels for $20/month. And, I can use the service from anywhere on my smart TV. (We don't use it at home as Xfinity is way better than Spectrum.) How did they give us such a low rate? Everyone had to subscribe and get the same equipment (2 or 3 boxes, (I don't remember which one with DVR), billing is done quarterly played by the HOA so no individual bills unless you select add ons, and they don't wire your house for cable anymore as you have to do it yourself if you weren't already wired. Froze the rate for 5 years. Way less than getting internet and a streaming service.

 

[UCFBfan]

• Get Hulu live with Disney/ESPN+ included. It's $89/mo and it's easy to pause it during the off-season.
• Wait for Black Friday to buy Peacock because they usually run an inexpensive intro price. Last year I got a full year for $19.99.

So when YTTV raised prices we switched to that Hulu live bundle. We were already paying for Disney+ so why not. I regret to this day switching. Hulu is bulky and slow to navigate. I felt YTTV was easy to use and the picture was better. We’re likely switching back.

As for Peacock. If you’re an educator, you can get a rate of $3.99 a month by getting your employment verified. It’s not a one year only thing either. It’s the reason we have it.

 

[CL82]

So when YTTV raised prices we switched to that Hulu live bundle. We were already paying for Disney+ so why not. I regret to this day switching. Hulu is bulky and slow to navigate. I felt YTTV was easy to use and the picture was better. We’re likely switching back.

As for Peacock. If you’re an educator, you can get a rate of $3.99 a month by getting your employment verified. It’s not a one year only thing either. It’s the reason we have it.

I used to have YouTube TV and I found that was slow to run on my old smart TV. Hulu live ran perfectly and without glitches. I now have Hulu TV and it runs well. No problems whatsoever. That's just my experience though.

 

[Waquoit]

YTTV was nice while it lasted. It’s past time to find an alternative.

It's useless to me without ESPN, ABC and the rest. I cancelled and I'm figuring out what I'm really losing. For instance, others in the household mainly watch shows on CBS and that HGTV and Food Channel stuff. I can get 3 months of Paramount+ for free on my AMEX card. HBO Max takes care of the others. I can get that for $75. annually. So I end up saving about grand for the year for the hassle of clicking a couple of more times. I can adapt again.

 

[NowInStorrs]

Fubo has just a news and sports package for like $55 a month that is pretty tempting but it doesn't include CBSSN or TNT/TruTV, which is kind of a big deal.

 

[ZooCougar]

It's useless to me without ESPN, ABC and the rest. I cancelled and I'm figuring out what I'm really losing. For instance, others in the household mainly watch shows on CBS and that HGTV and Food Channel stuff. I can get 3 months of Paramount+ for free on my AMEX card. HBO Max takes care of the others. I can get that for $75. annually. So I end up saving about grand for the year for the hassle of clicking a couple of more times. I can adapt again.

I’ve been doing fine without Disney so far.

 

[Waquoit]

Not at all. They will come to an agreement and YTTV prices will increase. Disney knows what they are doing here, they have them over a barrel here.

I think YTTV has a huge problem. They drew everyone in with the best value when cord-cutting critical mass hit. They have been removing value and raising prices ever since. Now they get hit with this when their price relative to the market is sky-high. How much more can they charge before they start bleeding customers? I'm gone and I'm never going back, I'm sure I'm not alone.

 

[Waquoit]

Fubo has just a news and sports package for like $55 a month that is pretty tempting but it doesn't include CBSSN or TNT/TruTV, which is kind of a big deal.

I just found that the standard tier of HBO Max gives you those Turner sports channels. And Amex has pretty good rebates on Fubo and MAX right now.

 

[UConnTrumbull]

I think YTTV has a huge problem. They drew everyone in with the best value when cord-cutting critical mass hit. They have been removing value and raising prices ever since. Now they get hit with this when their price relative to the market is sky-high. How much more can they charge before they start bleeding customers? I'm gone and I'm never going back, I'm sure I'm not alone.

The other options will be no better. And Disney owns much (almost all) of it. Interestingly enough, Disney+ just raised their prices as of yesterday. If Disney destroys YTTV I’m fairly certain they will charge 100+ a month going forward.

 

[ZooCougar]

I think YTTV has a huge problem. They drew everyone in with the best value when cord-cutting critical mass hit. They have been removing value and raising prices ever since. Now they get hit with this when their price relative to the market is sky-high. How much more can they charge before they start bleeding customers? I'm gone and I'm never going back, I'm sure I'm not alone.

It’s more like they are trying to not raise prices more and Disney knows they have them over the barrel. This is all about Disney trying to push people to their own service.

ESPN even had the gall to have their personalities push this.

Imagine paying UConn for season tickets and then find out that your tickets are no longer good, you have no refund and then Dave Benedict sends you a link to site to buy tickets again.

That’s what this is. A pure shakedown. There are no good guys in this but Disney is definitely the worst.

 

[HuskiesFan1014]

It’s more like they are trying to not raise prices more and Disney knows they have them over the barrel. This is all about Disney trying to push people to their own service.

ESPN even had the gall to have their personalities push this.

Imagine paying UConn for season tickets and then find out that your tickets are no longer good, you have no refund and then Dave Benedict sends you a link to site to buy tickets again.

That’s what this is. A pure shakedown. There are no good guys in this but Disney is definitely the worst.

Argggghhhh. I hate to agree with this, but you're spot on. I've been crazy pissed at YTTV for removing the networks, but my anger is probably misdirected. I just hate switching....again....and likely back to Hulu Live, and we HATE the interface there...it's just absolutely terrible. I emailed Hulu over and over asking them to have their engineers look at YTTV's user interface and apparently that meant nothing. Now I have YTTV sans ESPN/ABC and am paying for ESPN Plus but can't record the games (we have a habit of starting hoops games about a half hour late and then skipping commercials to "go live" by halftime or so.) That's the part that sucks the most. Last year, we were forced to make a switch just for the SNY issue, and now this time it's the same game, different name.

 

[Waquoit]

You Tube is no victim. They've been raising prices faster than their programming costs have risen. Now that has come back to bite them, they have no room to maneuver. Disney sucks of course but since most of that YT added revenue came from customers willing for live sports, the time is ripe for Disney to come asking for their cut of this cash. Screw YouTube, I'm finding my alternative strategy is going to save me a ton of money over the course of a year.

 

[UConnTrumbull]

Screw YouTube, I'm finding my alternative strategy is going to save me a ton of money over the course of a year.

What’s your alternative? Serious question. Hulu Live is 90 a month - essentially the same as YTTV. Like others have said FUBO is cheaper but you miss out on TNT/CBSSN which is all of our home FB games and about 7 men’s bball games. If you mix and match paramount, peacock, hbo, espn/fox app I think you get it all (UConn stuff) but that’s still around 90 per month unless I’m wrong on my math.

As far as I see it’s all about even. IMO, Disney is simply trying to monopolize it and then they’ll charge whatever they want afterwards.

 

[ZooCougar]

You Tube is no victim. They've been raising prices faster than their programming costs have risen. Now that has come back to bite them, they have no room to maneuver. Disney sucks of course but since most of that YT added revenue came from customers willing for live sports, the time is ripe for Disney to come asking for their cut of this cash. Screw YouTube, I'm finding my alternative strategy is going to save me a ton of money over the course of a year.

Nobody else has a DVR and an interface nearly as good.

And oh no I can't watch awful MNF and the SEC. I'll find something else to do.