OT - Sports without Cable
how do you do it? is there any way for me to enjoy my precious michigan athletics without succumbing to the grasp of the shadowy trans-global telecom cartel? life without "cheaters", "diners, drive-ins, and dives", "miami valet parkers", "beverly hills roofers", and tlc's "i didn't know i was being murdered", will be tough, no doubt, but i'm willing to make the sacrifice if there's some way for me to keep watching sports. please advise.
I do a lot of streaming through justin.tv, however most BTN games are not carried. BTN programming is hard to come by in the streaming world. I also use sopcast, which works pretty well.
The resolution isn't that great when you're watching streaming video, but it's serviceable.
I still get ABC, obviously, so that helps. For the other games, I have to hit up bars or my friends' places.
That's exactly right, but this last season was the final straw. I was watching the U of M MSU game last year online, but i missed significant chunks including the end, due to streams being taken down, or choppiness. I also realized I was spending a good enough amount of money on beer at the bars, so I decided to get FiOS. (Mind you after the season) but hey, it's awesome.
Personally, I don't have fun watching games that I stream online. And it's tough to justify paying for cable right now, because my building (which has kind of high rent to start with) has a open internet point in the lobby, and I can access it from my apartment. And I think that Comcast is really expensive if you don't get at least two of their services (internet/phone/cable).
My building has a big lobby and a gym, both of which get ESPN. Unfortunately, BTN has been shaky in my building (I think they keep switching to the cheapest package).
So for BTN games, I'll hit up my friend's apartment or Buffalo Wild Wings.
I have a my Michigan VPN client so I get ESPN360 and BTN through the IPTV.
I didn't know you could get ESPN360 through the VPN client. I thought you needed a Comcast (or other cable) subscription in order to login to ESPN360. How do you do it?
Please, do tell! Thanks in advance!
If anyone cares still, all you need to do is download the Cisco VPN client from the ITCS website, log in with your uniqname and password, and then head over to ESPN 360 and you'll have access. Good deal...especially since I wouldn't have access to the hockey game otherwise.
I've done it the last two years. As long as you have high speed internet you should be fine. You'll have to download some software and keep track of sites like justin.tv, myp2pforum.eu, channelsurfing.net, and probably a few others. For really big games you can hit the bars a few times a month and it should still be cheaper than paying for a premium cable package (and more fun).
My gal and I basically replaced a high end cable package with streamed sports, a $15 a month Blockbuster online account, Hulu, and the occasional bar tab for UM football/tournament action. Big money saver and I'm never short on entertainment. I'm also a recovering cable/reality tv addict, and I can safely say that the first time you can honestly say "No" when somebody asks if you saw "Rock of Love" or "Jersey Shore" last night is one of the bigger self esteem boosts you'll ever have.
... the story of my life.
It definitely is hard at first, but netflix + hulu + streaming gets me more than enough entertainment. Plus the quality of entertainment is so much better.
Over the last two years I've been introduced to 30 Rock, Battlestar Gallactica, Arrested Development, and Breaking Bad.
Downside: There is no guarantee you'll see every game. I had to listen to one or two on the radio then get the torrent later in the week.
May I ask why you don't have cable? That's all you would need is basic cable. Call your local cable compny up and ask how much it would cost to get basic cable.
I don't want to pay for it because, as I said above, I already get internet from my building. So the cable alone would cost like $50, which just isn't worth it for me. The only time I wish I had cable is when UM is playing on cable. And, like I said, most of the time I can watch those games with friends or at a bar.
I have cable right now but I'm really trying to get out of it's clutches. Sadly, I know this is all a pipe dream because my wife will not tolerate life without "Cleanhouse" and all those bullshit Bravo shows.
I'm also thinking of dropping my cable in favor of the glories of the internet.
My problem is MLB and Tigers games. I can't see myself living without Fox Detroit during the summer.
Anyone have MLB.tv? How's that treating ya?
March 26th, 2010 at 11:17 PM ^
I think you can get MLB TV on the Roku HD for like $15.99/month.
if going to the bar saves you money
I'm saving a years worth of cable and instead I go to the bars for 4-5 football games. Sure, the individual bar trip will be a little expensive, but not compared to the annual cost of cable.
More importantly, though, I'd probably be going to the bars sooner or later anyways!
March 26th, 2010 at 11:02 PM ^
I did it until I was 13, and even now I'm not sure how.
Lots of time at friends and relatives houses is a must.
March 26th, 2010 at 11:17 PM ^
If you're using the bar more than your own tv, then maybe right now that's a better investment. But keep in mind with basic cable you get espn, espn2, fox Detroit, and I think you get Big Ten Network with it. And for 7 or 8 dollars more a month you could get the sports tier package, which has the NFL network.
Unfortunately getting the NFL Network forces you to watch the NFL.
March 26th, 2010 at 11:20 PM ^
I just went over my sister's house. Her husband runs the RF cable that goes into their cable modem into a TV tuner. This allows him to get local channels plus a few basics like ESPN, ESPN2, Comedy Central, etc all while only paying for internet access. Obviously, it's not HD quality, but still.
Apparently, Comcast is pretty open about the fact that you can do this.
March 26th, 2010 at 11:45 PM ^
Sweet. Now you just need the big screen tv to go along with it. Last year I got a tc-p50s1 50 inch Panasonic plasma for $999.00 at Best Buy, including delivery and set up. I paid nothing for it. I applied for the Best Buy credit card and got it for zero down, zero interest for three years. At about $30.00 a month with zero interest I'll have that thing paid off in three years.
You don't need to pay $2,000 for the LED or lcd 50 inch. Plasmas are just as good if not better. You could even get the 720p version in the 50" Panasonic plasma for about $799.00. There's not that much of a difference between 720p and 1080p unless you play Play station. You could get the Panasonic 42" plasma for less than $600.
I've went the last three years without cable and it's pretty friggin nice actually. For the couple games each year that are on the BTN I just go to a buddies house or a BDubs and you're good to go there...Most other games are either on ABC or I can get on espn360 since I have AT&T DSL..I do miss Tigers baseball in the summer but at the same time there is something special about baseball on the radio...I enjoy being on the deck, grilling something good, drinking a cold beer and listen to the action from Comerica...