Dawkins

September 18th, 2015 at 5:11 PM ^

Ho Lee Fuk. This is huge.

I'm a big Roku advocate. I cut the cord back in February, but lack of sports content is one of the drawbacks that required me to reactivate Comcast for football season. That may change now.

Joined: 05/24/2015

MGoPoints: 5799

Dawkins

September 18th, 2015 at 5:52 PM ^

No, but many people share logins. For example, roku has an espn app that has all of espn's channels and content, and i access it using a relative's comcast login. But its still much easier to switch between 3-4 games at a time through comcast. Theres also no rewind or slow mo option on roku, and i probably use comcast's 15-second rewind button 30 times when im watching a game. So cable is still by far the superior sports viewing experience, but having more sports content available on roku is a step in the right direction.

Joined: 05/24/2015

MGoPoints: 5799

Stashamo

September 18th, 2015 at 5:37 PM ^

Kodi - formerly XBMC, is a huge saviour for me when it comes to cutting the chord.  You can install it on Firestick.  Xfinity also has an app for firestick (many providers let you watch some live tv through their app, Time Warner does as well).  Look into NaviX for live sports through Kodi if you're really stuck.  There are a slew of Youtube videos and pages to help through install, but you can always hmu. 

Joined: 03/09/2013

MGoPoints: 644

FGB

September 18th, 2015 at 11:47 PM ^

What's wrong with this "cutting the cord" ethos is the self-righteousness in it all, like it's some badge of honor or something.  Truly getting rid of cable is not the same as "I only use my buddy's password to watch sports...all day Saturday...and Sunday...and Thursday night."  It's like the guy who always takes a free beer when his friends buy a round, but never buys a round for anyone else, then talks about how he doesn't waste money on booze.

You're not "free of cable," you're just not paying for it.  That's not anymore "cutting the cord" than one of those guys in the 80s who had the shady friend-of-a-friend connect a wire to the telephone pole without paying. 

 

Joined: 09/24/2009

MGoPoints: 3197

Heteroskedastic

September 19th, 2015 at 6:37 AM ^

channelpear is a private roku channel that allows you to stream different feeds. You go to the website on the interwebs, create an account, add the private channel to your roku from the website, pair it with your roku via a code and select up to five feeds to your library. When you reenter channelpear on roku your feeds are available to stream. No charge for up to five feeds and two devices. 

Joined: 08/23/2014

MGoPoints: 495

Wolverine Devotee

September 18th, 2015 at 5:18 PM ^

BTN+ is included. Success.

I no longer have to hook my laptop up to the back of my TV to watch Michigan Basketball/Hockey/Softball/Soccer etc games that are on BTN+ on my TV.

I have no idea what Roku is. From what I understand it's just a thing you plug into your HDMI port on your TV and all the content is on the little stick? I know a remote comes with it.

Joined: 06/29/2009

MGoPoints: 31528

Dawkins

September 18th, 2015 at 5:56 PM ^

Everyone should avoid the sticks, whether roku, fire or apple. I had to return both a roku and fire stick because the processors are so slow as to make the content virtually inaccessible. My roku 3s are great though, and u can get them refurbished from amazon for $70, or new for $90.

Joined: 05/24/2015

MGoPoints: 5799

Heteroskedastic

September 18th, 2015 at 6:12 PM ^

I couldn't agree with you more. I started with a chromecast and then went to the Roku 2. The difference in responsiveness was so great and the surfing experience so much better I bought a 3 as well and went all in on the cable cutting. The small box is definately worth the extra $50. With Sling (upgraded with the Sports extra package during FB season) there is almost no reason to have cable for sports now. The sports extra package is an extra $5 a month and gives you ESPN2, ESPN News ESPNU and GoalLine. If you have a Paul Finebaum hankering SEC Network is included too.

Joined: 08/23/2014

MGoPoints: 495

Bleedmaizeblue

September 18th, 2015 at 6:25 PM ^

I don't get the point of paying extra for BTN2GO PLUS...You can't watch sports without having a cable subscription, so what do you pay $120 a yr for? Or $15 a month...doesn't make sense to me. The network of the B1G is ran just like the conference itself, behind the times. They should catch up and offer streaming services like most companies are phasing towards



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Joined: 07/11/2013

MGoPoints: 2919

UMProud

September 18th, 2015 at 6:29 PM ^

Primer on Cable/Cable-less sports

BTN/BTN2GO is only available to cable/satellite subscribers.  If you download an APP for BTN to use on your phone, tablet, or streaming device (Roku, FireTV, Chrome stick, etc) it will NOT work unless you are a customer of their approved cable satellite subscriber.

BTN does NOT have a stand alone subscription you can buy to stream via these apps.  Same goes with Fox Sports Network.

Roku is a 4"x4" box that you can plug an ethernet cable from your cable modem/router directly into (best option) or will use your wireless signal off router (lots of stuttering).  Roku has apps (like android phone or iphone) that are channels.  Some channels are free some are pay.  Some require you to have a cable / satellite subscription to access content.

Fore those with NO SUBSCRIPTION....

HD antenna to pickup local games off channel 2, 7, 4, etc in metro Detroit

Sports events can be viewed illegally off various internet sites for free if you want the risk

ESPN/ESPN2/TNT is available via streaming device from Sling TV.  It costs $20/month and delivers these channels over the internet without having a subscription to Comcast, etc.  Quality sometimes is good...sometimes is not so good which I suspect Sling hardware isn't up to demand yet.  Sling is owned by Dish Network.

Joined: 12/18/2014

MGoPoints: 2705

O S Who

September 19th, 2015 at 8:22 AM ^

It's not a pain at all. To simplify - 1 - buy a roku and plug into hdmi 2 - install sling tv app on roku and subscribe to sling tv for 20/month 3 - buy the $7 homeworx indoor antenna off amazon and plug into tv 4 - install btn2go app on roku and use someone's login Now u have all the local channels such as ABC, NBC, CBS, fox, etc through antenna for free. You get popular channels such as ESPN, espn 2, tbs, tnt, amc, hgtv, etc through sling tv. Then u also have btn2go because u have someone's password. But I'm guessing btn2go will be added to the sports package of slingtv in due time.

Joined: 01/02/2011

MGoPoints: 1751

Danwillhor

September 18th, 2015 at 7:27 PM ^

this is for m.go.blue and those looking for a free webstream. I gave the info of a great app for Android last week but messed up the name. If you have any Android based device, don't have cable/satellite but a decent WiFi connection you should get an app called 'MOBDRO'. I called it 'WEBDRO' last week (booze). It's not on the Play Store so you have to Google the name. It's website will be up top. Go there and they'll walk you through installing it if you're not already savvy with homebrew/open source APK files (Android App files). It's safe. APP BASICS: Free+great! Don't bother with the premium mentioned at the bottom of the site. The free download version has almost no ads. You get a 10 sec, mostly static ad for roughly every hour OR every 3rd channel you change to. Even then I only had them during commercial break so it may work that way. The stream is only about 30 seconds behind the actual live channel. I'd say it's about DVD/480p quality, sometimes higher but never lower and rock solid. No artifacts or buffering once loaded. As for channels, it has every sports channel you can imagine PLUS most cable channels. I think it has pay channels but not all and I don't think it has HBO. It has American and foreign channels for soccer lovers. It also has dedicated user channels where individuals stream movies, specific shows, etc. It has a search option and it's all categorized well, IMO. I was helping my Brother find a way to watch away games (no tv) and heard about this, tested it and it blows away any streaming site I've ever heard of. I don't stream much but this app crushes every experience I've ever had. Google MOBDRO. Good luck, fellows that need a streaming option. Hope this helps!

Joined: 12/02/2008

MGoPoints: 8609

megalomanick

September 18th, 2015 at 8:35 PM ^

I got excited at first. I thought it was the full package, games and all. Probably should have known better. The only thing keeping millions of potential cord cutters paying their cable or satellite bills every month is live sports, and you can bet your ass Viacom/Disney/Fox/Comcast know this. ...Maybe in a decade or two?

Joined: 07/06/2008

MGoPoints: 2423

blueinmilwaukee

September 18th, 2015 at 9:33 PM ^

The only live TV I have interest in watching is certain sporting events, including Michigan football. I wish I could pay $2.99 or whatever for each instance instead of needing to subscribe to something I don't use 99.554% of the year.

Joined: 11/09/2012

MGoPoints: 1694

Danwillhor

September 18th, 2015 at 10:17 PM ^

I don't recall exactly who is doing it first but they're rolling out a true "pay as you go" system in hopes of having every home technically connected. Others would have to follow suit if/when done or get left behind as it makes too much sense. I'd just read an article about it, too. Fios, maybe? I guess roll out testing starts soon in a few smaller areas.

Joined: 12/02/2008

MGoPoints: 8609