Thinking of dropping sub'd TV from comcast for maybe hulu?

[ViviTheMage]

Most of my shows are on the public stations, and some on AMC/DISC/FX/SYFY some on HBO/SHOW, but that I would pay for separate.

How does hulu plus work nowadays? Is it about a day behind the show time? One thing I love about my DVR is that I just set it to record new shows, and when they show up, I watch them. I do not need to check and see if a new season started, or anything like that. Can hulu alert in such a way? Sometimes I get too busy, that I need to go back and watch 1-2 seasons, does hulu allow that?

If not, is there anything worthwhile, or just stick with paying for TV with comcast?

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

Free hulu has some decent content. My wife watches the voice and dancing with the stars. They show up quickly after being aired on TV. I use it to watch the Simpsons and shark tank. I get a decent amount of history, discovery channel type shows with my Netflix sub. Not only that my 3 favorite shows Breaking Bad, Mad Men, and The Office are all available on Netflix so I have no reason to pay for cable.

 

[ViviTheMage]

yeah, but netflix is generally old content, right?

I want something to track and tell me when new stuff is ready for viewing. That is the biggest benefit of my DVR imo.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

yeah, but netflix is generally old content, right?

I want something to track and tell me when new stuff is ready for viewing. That is the biggest benefit of my DVR imo.

Can you wait 6 months after the show airs to watch the latest season? That's typical of Netflix. If you're looking for something to notify you and all that maybe you should stick to cable. Netflix, Hulu, etc.. is a definite step back from cable. But then again my Netflix is $11 a month for one disc at a time with streaming. I'll live with the minor inconvenience and pocket the extra money for other stuff.

 

[ViviTheMage]

Damn, was hoping they have come a longer way then that ... meh, savings is only $50~ a month.

 

[SunnyD]

Hulu is pretty much useless. Even more so since Comcrap bought out NBC - Hulu was a threat to big content so they neutered it.

Your best best imho would be something like Amazon Prime if you don't already have it, then the local network channels for your regular content. ABC, NBC, etc usually have their current programming content available for streaming right on their websites for free.

 

[ViviTheMage]

I do have prime already, but like I said, I just want to be alerted/scheduled when the show's are ready to view. They don't have to download/record, I just want to know where I am in the season and when the next season picks up.

 

[SunnyD]

I do have prime already, but like I said, I just want to be alerted/scheduled when the show's are ready to view. They don't have to download/record, I just want to know where I am in the season and when the next season picks up.

Yeah, you sort of are on your own if you decide to "cut the cord" so to speak in that regard.

If you watch stuff religiously and require to be up to date in the series, then cutting the cord is very much impractical.

 

[ViviTheMage]

I shall not cut the cord then .. .damn, was hoping hulu would be my save all.

With my new fiber/uncapped internet coming in, I was hoping to abuse it with some streaming TV instead of the coax.

 

[SunnyD]

Not saying it's impossible. From what I recall, the only thing that Hulu Plus gives you that Hulu-not-Plus gives you is access to more than like the last three episodes of any given show. It still has ads and whatnot. Perhaps a suggestion would be see if the "Free" hulu does what you sort of what it to when you get your fiber in. But I have a feeling you'll still be underwhelmed.

Cord cutting works really well if you don't need to be "tied down" to shows as soon as they air or watch stuff infrequently and don't need particular channels.

One other thing, if you are looking more for network broadcast channels (ABC, NBC, etc) versus cable channels, then yes, you CAN get away with cutting the cord. Get a good PVR card and a nice aerial antenna. The PVR card can do the recording for you like your DVR normally would. No internet necessary. Then you can possibly fill in the "gaps" with stuff off the 'net if it's available.

 

[ViviTheMage]

So many shows recording too ... I will try it, since my WD TV LIVE does Hulu direct over 1080p if I recall, I can at least try it. But from what I saw, you cannot do the type of scheduling/forewarning that I'd like.

On a side note, is there a website that can tell me what is coming up and what I have watched already? I would not mind marking the shows i've watched down separately, if it would keep track of what has been aired on TV and I can find the episode on my own means (hulu/netflix/bb/prime/etc)?

 

[DaveSimmons]

I dropped cable in May 2011 and haven't really missed it.

I have Netflix discs + streaming for shows where I'm willing to wait 6 months, and Amazon Instant Videos for anything I'm desperate to see as it airs.

I was paying $100/month for cable, so I come out much better even buying a show or two from Amazon at $2/episode.

I'm so used to no commercials now that I probably wouldn't bother to take cable back at $10 a month.

 

[mizzou]

Hulu plus and amazon prime, no cable
Only downside is live sports availability

 

[Cattlegod]

I cut the cord in june 2010

hulu plus, netflix, amazon prime, OTA HD for the major networks

love it and would never turn back. Save about $100 / month

 

[Tommy2000GT]

Newsgroup + NZBMatrix + SABnzdb.

I live on the westcoast and I get my shows even before our start time

 

[DCal430]

If comcast was smart it will have 25GB caps for those who dare to drop its TV service. Make it unusable for internet streaming.

 

[Thebobo]

If comcast was greedy it will have 25GB caps for those who dare to drop its TV service. Make it unusable for internet streaming.

Fixed ~

 

[HeXen]

just depends on how much a TV buff you are. I don't even watch tv or netflix, but the family forces me to pay for it but i would love to get a Roku or something. But one for each room and a Hulu subscription would likely cost more than a few comcast bill.

 

[theshad]

You are able to subscribe to shows on Hulu, if you add them as a favorite they will automatically be added to your queue when a new episode is available. It depends on what channel it airs but most shows are available the next day (Fox shows are typically 8 days after aired, and USA shows are typically 30 days after aired)

It depends what kind of shows you like watching though, there are certain channels that don't put any of their episodes on Hulu.

You don't need to have plus for this either, paying for Hulu is pretty worthless. They do sometimes have shows up earlier if you pay for plus and there is often previous seasons unavailable unless you pay for it.

 

[ViviTheMage]

I dropped cable in May 2011 and haven't really missed it.

I have Netflix discs + streaming for shows where I'm willing to wait 6 months, and Amazon Instant Videos for anything I'm desperate to see as it airs.

I was paying $100/month for cable, so I come out much better even buying a show or two from Amazon at $2/episode.

I'm so used to no commercials now that I probably wouldn't bother to take cable back at $10 a month.

I never see commercials to begin with .. how are the $2 an EP? Are those up to date?

How do you deal with wanting to keep up to date with what's out, where you are in a show, etc?

 

[ViviTheMage]

If comcast was smart it will have 25GB caps for those who dare to drop its TV service. Make it unusable for internet streaming.

I am getting an uncapped 1Gbps fiber service shortly ... so this is a mute point

 

[ViviTheMage]

You are able to subscribe to shows on Hulu, if you add them as a favorite they will automatically be added to your queue when a new episode is available. It depends on what channel it airs but most shows are available the next day (Fox shows are typically 8 days after aired, and USA shows are typically 30 days after aired)

It depends what kind of shows you like watching though, there are certain channels that don't put any of their episodes on Hulu.

You don't need to have plus for this either, paying for Hulu is pretty worthless. They do sometimes have shows up earlier if you pay for plus and there is often previous seasons unavailable unless you pay for it.

I will take another look at hulu, what if you have not viewed it, how far back to they let you view it on hulu plus?

 

[DaveSimmons]

I never see commercials to begin with .. how are the $2 an EP? Are those up to date?

How do you deal with wanting to keep up to date with what's out, where you are in a show, etc?

Amazon's $2 episodes are as current as the networks let them be -- Dr. Who was only a 1-day delay after the BBC America first broadcast.

That's the price for SD, which looks about as good as SD cable so not as good as HD cable or Netflix. If it's a show you are picky about they do have $3/episode HD.

If you prefer Apple to Amazon, iTunes video has basically the same selection and prices.

For that price you own the episode so if you want to watch it again in 5 months you can. I'd rather have $1 an episode rentals but the networks won't allow that

For older shows, Netflix remembers where you are in the series -- if you stream season 3 episode 2 then the next time you select that show in the Netflix app it will offer to show you episode 3.

 

[ViviTheMage]

Yeah, I am familiar with netflix, it's nice, but is hulu like that with newer stuff?

how far back does hulu plus go?

 

[DaveSimmons]

Hulu Plus has weird and annoying limitations -- earlier this year they added Supernatural season 7, but starting with episode 2 of the season. Thanks for nothing! It took Netflix an extra 6+ months to get it, but at least they started with episode 1 of the season.

Before I cancelled it, I wasn't that happy with Hulu Plus' streaming, it was much less reliable than Netflix and Amazon. It would sometimes get stuck in a loop trying to restart after buffering failed, playing the same segment over and over and over -- often part of an annoying commercial just to twist the knife.