My roommate and I want to cut the cable cord, so to speak, but we're wary of doing so due to the potential loss of BTN and ESPN for Michigan-related fare (plus Fox Sports Detroit for Tigers games).
How have y'all addressed this issue? We're thinking of Apple TV connected to our HD system as the best option then using Netflix/Hulu Plus -- but that doesn't help with the sports channels. Even if we want to use ESPN3 and BTN2Go, we need a cable subscription.
Thanks!
I'm in the same boat right
grad student at Michigan? If
grad student at Michigan? If so, see my reply below.
"It would be a travesty, it would be ridiculous to all of a sudden come back and get the feeling back, get the health back, feel good again and then all of a sudden go throw some other colors on my shirt and go coach."
No, but elsewhere in the B1G,
No, but elsewhere in the B1G, but this is helpful.
Go to a bar or a friends
Go to a bar or a friends house. Or, get a friend to sign up for it with their subscription and give you the account.
I think you're stuck unless
I think you're stuck unless you just go out to bars for all of the games. Everybody around here is giddy over Google Fiber, but it also does not have ESPN, nor BTN, so we will not be signing up.
Just get a friend or family
Just get a friend or family member to give you their directv/dish network/comcast/X cable provider user name and password. You can watch BTN and espn3 with that.
Edit: I probably should write this. ******This is not legal advice.
Thats what I do @ work.
Thats what I do @ work. Except, it's my account and I shell out the copious amounts of jack for it.
firstrowsports.eu
firstrowsports.eu
wiziwig.tv is also pretty
wiziwig.tv is also pretty fucking good.
and if you know somebody (like a parent or a sibling) who DOES have BTN as part of their package, just ask to use their login info to watch http://www.btn2go.com/btn2go/.
This is home...
Another
You can always use vipbox.tv, too.
Those of you who are into WWE or MMA might want to check out all of the "out of the box" recommendations here on Saturday and Sunday nights if you aren't already doing so. The quality isn't all that great sometimes, but the price is certainly right.
baaaaahhhhhh double post...
I'D BEEN CLEAN FOR SO LONG!!!!
so instead i give you this...
This is home...
Are you a current Michigan
Are you a current Michigan student/staff, and either on-campus or have VPN set up? If so, bang:
"It would be a travesty, it would be ridiculous to all of a sudden come back and get the feeling back, get the health back, feel good again and then all of a sudden go throw some other colors on my shirt and go coach."
Sadly, no.
Sadly, no.
--------------------------------------------
"I cannot think of a better person to guide our university's athletic strategy than the inventor of The Noid."
ESPN3 is based on your
ESPN3 is based on your Internet provider, not your cable company. Just about every major service has it, so you should be set there. BTN is harder, but for the 2-3 games on it you can just go elsewhere.
Ghosts are scary.
Also, the best device for
Also, the best device for streaming now is probably an Xbox 360. Offers far more video choices, including the ability to watch two games at once on ESPN3, plus it can play games and movies. If you do go with an Apple TV make sure you wait until after their September press conference in case they announce new hardware.
Ghosts are scary.
Definitely wait until after
Definitely wait until after September, and go the AppleTV route if you have a late 2011 or 2012 MacBook (desktop mirroring over your network). After that I think there are cheaper comparable or superior options (Xbox/Roku).
To watch ESPN3, make a free
To watch ESPN3, make a free att.net email account and an ESPN account with that email. It works for me and my ISP is Korea Telecom. I think the only games on BTN this year are UMass and Purdue.
Roku and Playon together
give you a ton of video, movie and live programming streamed content to your tv. Buy the lifetime subscription to Playon and get a Roku box for free for about $69. You'll need a high-speed internet connection (15+ mbs), a wireless router and a fairly robust pc. PBS is video only so I have a Mohu HD antenna ($34-$75) and pull in my local PBS and network stations within 45 miles. The subscriptions (account and passwords) are required for BTN2go and all flavors of ESPN, but you can subscribe to the ESPN magazine and get the access with it.
Charter is my ISP and they block BTN unless you have cable tv with them. I'll use the suggestion above for that. TYVM
Roku provides links for your subscriptions to Netflix, Hulu Plus .... Playon runs on your pc and gives you live tv and video via scripts. Superusvox is one of the best scripts. Many offer world-wide programming as well. You can even get Tunein for free which even carries radio stations like WTKA and Sam Webb!
The user interface is clunky, but these are one-time investments that will enable you to cut the cable and save a ton of money.
PBS
Great advice. I might actually try this.
I thought I saw a pbs channel on Roku. Might have been just the News Hour. But it's something.
You're correct
but it is video only. That's not a problem for me except that I like the local programming and Charlie Rose who doesn't appear to be available on PBS channels. PBS is trying to encourage support for its local stations.
I believe that there is streaming at a cost from pbs.org to your pc. I don't know about any script that currently provides it on Playon. It probably will come at some point.
I wonder how much money BTN2GO
would make comparitively, if they allowed direct subscriptions. In my house, if there was a way to get HGTV, BTN2GO, ESPN, HBOGO and Cartoon Network online - the cable would be gone.
Subscribing to btn2go
Check it out on mgoblue multimedia. You can get Michigan only or all big 10 from CBSSports on a yearly or monthly subscription.
BTN
http://lifehacker.com/5931531/hideman-masks-your-ip-address-and-location-offers-anonymous-browsing
Say you are in a foreign country and use BTN 2 Go.
"They're stuck with that quarterback (sophomore Braxton Miller) for the next two or three years, that's fine with me. He throws worse than (Tim) Tebow. - Steve Everitt
i use wiziwig , and atdhe.eu,
i use wiziwig , and atdhe.eu, and espn3
pretty much handles everything except Michigan Wolverines Hockey
too bad somebody can't streamthe BTN, FS Detroit and the Comcast Detroit that are on a more consistent basis...
I'm in the same boat right now. Comcast can be a bit cost prohibitive for the sports-loving poor grad student...