Does your cable TV bill increase every few months? Do you have access to hundreds of channels but only watch a few? Are you getting bored with the standard broadcast channels but don’t want to pay the high cost of adding a bundle of channels? This presentation provides ideas on how to reduce your monthly cable bill by gaining greater control over the channels you access and pay for. In the presentation, we’ll discuss a variety of topics including how to access over-the-air broadcast channels, streaming media services (such as Acorn-TV, Hulu, Netflix, and Sling-TV), streaming media devices (Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku) and cloud-based DVR (digital video recorder) services. The presentation also includes a checklist of steps that can lead you to greater “television freedom.”

1. JCCC Retirees Association TechTalk
October 26, 2017
Presented by Jonathan Bacon

2. TV-Cable Cost History
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
May-17 Jun-17 Sep-17 Maybe
SlingTV
Acorn TV
Netflix
U-Verse

3. Significant Survey Results (n=100)
• 40% High Definition (HD) TVs
• 8% 4K TV sets
• 32% Google Fiber
• 37% Amazon Prime
• 42% Amazon Prime Video
• 26% Hulu
• 69% Netflix
• 52% concerned with minimizing costs
• Survey Results at
www.surveymonkey.com/results/SM-9WRQ59DY8/

4. “Our streaming costs almost equal our past basic cable costs. True savings
occurs because the channels/programs provided better fit our needs.”
“Practically everything…is on Youtube. Spend $35 on a…Roku and you're set.”
“If you must see sporting events live then cutting the cable cord is probably
not wise.”
“What is available for older model televisions? Not everyone can afford the
latest model television (e.g. a Roku TV) that allows wifi access internally.”
“The amount of money saved going solely streaming (coupled with an OTA HD
antenna) is hard to beat. The only thing I [miss] is the convenient DVR.”
“I primarily want uncomplicated service, few bells and whistles, just some key
channels - local, CNN, ESPN, Animal Planet, National Geographic.”
“[Need] captioning and alerting for people who have a hearing loss.”

5. The Road to Cost Savings…
• Which channels do
you routinely watch?
• Which channels
can you live without?
• Are you willing to
change your viewing
habits?
This presentation
available online at
slideshare.net/jbacon

6. Cutting the Cable Cost Checklist
• What TV channels you require/want?
• Willing to use indoor or outdoor antennae?
– Find an antenna
• Where will you get your Internet connectivity?
– Google Fiber $70, U-verse $70, other?
• What capabilities and ports does your TV have?
• What streaming media player will you use?
• What streaming video services will you use?
• Do you want to record for later playback?
– Home-based or cloud DVR
• What’s your target price range?

7. Which Channels Do You Watch?
Channel Sling Blue $25
(single stream)
Sling Orange $20
(multi-stream)
Off-the-Air
(Overland Park)
ABC No Yes +$5 Broadcast Yes
Bravo Yes No No
CBS No No Yes
CNN Yes No No
Fox Yes No Yes
Hallmark Yes +$5 LifeStyle Yes +$5 LifeStyle No
History Yes Yes No
HGTV Yes Yes No
Ion No No Yes
MSNBC Yes, +$5 News Extra No No
NBC Yes No Yes
PBS No No Yes
TBS Yes Yes No
TNT Yes Yes No

8. Over-the-Air (OTA) Broadcast TV
• February 2009, FCC mandated Digital Transmissions
• Sub channels also!
• Emergency backup
• Find available OTA, broadcast TV stations
– antennapoint.com (good site)
– www.fcc.gov/media/engineering/dtvmaps (FCC site)

9. https://www.antennasdirect.com/transmitter-locator.html

11. DTV Reception Maps
www.fcc.gov/media/engineering/dtvmaps

12. Antenna
Checklist
• Range (35+, 50+, 60+, 70+ miles)
• Coaxial connection for signal, USB for power
• Cost ($39.99 - $129.99 or more)
• Uni-directional or
Omni-directional
• Indoor or Outdoor
• Flat, vertical, horizontal,
adjustable
• Powered and amplified
• HDTV or 4K TV ready
Flat Indoor Antenna

13. Outdoor extreme long range
Outdoor 65
mile range
Terk indoor
60+ mile range
Mohu
outdoor
amplified

14. Internet Connectivity?
• 5, 25, 30, 50, 75 megabit Internet speeds equal number of
megabits per second (Mbps)
• 1 Gigabit service means 1 gigabit per second (Gbps) or 1000
Mbps per second
• Many factors diminish actual speed you get
o Connected by Wi-Fi
o Number of devices active
o Lack of recent reboot
o < 10% of hard drive free
o Use of VPN, proxy servers,
improper firewall setup
o Et cetera!

15. Speed Test Results: 1Gbps AT&T
Computer connected by Wi-Fi.

16. Internet Speeds Needed for…
Streaming
Service
Video Resolution Pixels Recommended
Speeds
Amazon Video SD 480p 0.9 Mbps
Hulu SD 480p 1.5 Mbps
Netflix SD 480p 3 Mbps
YouTube SD 360p 0.7-2.5 Mbps
Amazon Video HD 720p 3.5 Mbps
Hulu HD 720p 3 Mbps
Netflix HD 720p 5 Mbps
YouTube HD 720p >2.5 Mbps
Netflix Full HD 1080p 10 Mbps
Netflix Ultra HD (4K) >4,000p 25 Mbps
SD = Standard Definition, HD = High Definition. p = progressive, i = interlaced.

17. SD vs HD vs 4K
Standard definition (SD) can be 360p or 480p, high definition (HD)
can be 720p, 960p or 1080p, 4K Ultra HD is 4000p or greater.

18. Capabilities and Ports on Your TV?
• Streaming video devices connect using an HDMI port
• RCA Component to HDMI Cable/Converter $9.98-$34 or Roku
Express+ connect to older TVs
• USB port can power streaming device, but if using DVR (to
record programs) plug into wall outlet with power cable
• Unless you plan to upgrade, match streaming device with
current TV’s resolution (SD, HD, 4K)
• Need Coaxial port for antenna

19. Popular Streaming Media Players
Device Price Range (one time
cost)
Amazon Fire TV $39.99-$74.99
Apple TV $149-$199
Google Chromecast $35-$69.99
Roku $29.99-$99.99
Other devices: PS4, Xbox One, SmartTVs

20. Amazon Fire TV
• Amazon Fire Stick, $39.99, HDTV, Alexa voice remote
• Amazon Fire TV $69.99, 4K HDR* support, Alexa voice remote
• Amazon Fire TV + HD Antenna, $74.99
• Plug into HDMI port, connect to Wi-Fi
• Amazon Prime $99 annual membership, 1000s TV
episodes and movies, free 2-day Amazon shipping
• Plays streaming digital
media content (Hulu,
Netflix, etc.)
*High dynamic range – the
contrast between the brightest
whites and the darkest blacks

21. Apple TV
• Apple TV (4th Gen.), HDTV 32GB $149
• Apple TV 4K (5th Gen.), 4K, 32GB @ $179 or 64GB @ $199
• AirPlay and streaming apps and games (from App Store)
• Connections: Wi-Fi, Ethernet, Blue Tooth
• Plugs into HDMI port
• Siri powered voice remote
• Also Apple TV Remote app
• Plays streaming digital media
content (Hulu, Netflix, etc.)

22. Google Chromecast
• Chromecast, $35, HDTV support
• Chromecast Ultra, $69.99, 4K Ultra and HDR support
• Download Cast app and plugs device into HDMI port on TV
• Enables streaming from smartphone or computer using Wi-Fi
• Can mirror your android device, or Google Chrome Browser
• Pair with any Google home device
• Your mobile device is the remote
• Plays streaming digital media
content (Hulu, Netflix, etc.)

23. Roku
• Roku Express, $29.99, HDTV, connects via Wi-Fi
• Roku Express+, $39.99, HDTV, Wi-Fi, HDMI or composite
• Roku Streaming Stick, $49.99, HDTV, Wi-Fi,
wireless remote with voice control
• Roku Streaming Stick+, $69.99,
4K Ultra HD, HDR, Wi-Fi,
wireless voice remote (greater range)
• Roku Ultra, $99.99, 4K Ultra, HDR, Wi-Fi or Ethernet, wireless
voice remote with headphone jack
• Also Roku TV available
• Control and Voice search through Roku mobile app
• Roku Channel: access to all your free content
• Plays streaming digital media content (Hulu, Netflix, etc.)

24. Which Streaming Media Provider?

25. Hulu and Hulu Live
• Offers 7 day free trial
• Hulu with limited commercials, $7.99 per month ($5.99 1st
year - limited time offer)
• Hulu with no commercials (few exceptions), $11.99
• Hulu Live with limited commercials, $39.99 (50 hrs cloud DVR)
• Hulu Live with no commercials (few exceptions), $43.99
• iOS & Android apps – mobile watching
• Best for TV fans and cord cutters
• Unlimited streams
• Original programming
• Add-ons: Showtime, HBO, Cinemax

26. Sling TV
• Blue $20, Orange $25, Both $40 per month
• Orange offers 20 channels: AMC, CNN, Comedy Central,
Disney Channel, ESPN, HGTV, History Channel, IFC, Lifetime,
TBS, and more, stream 1 channel
• Blue offers 45 channels: AMC, BET, Bravo, CNN, Comedy
Central, Fox, Fox Sports 2, FXX, HGTV, History Channel, IFC,
NBC, Nick Jr., Lifetime, NFL Network, TBS, USA and more, 3
streams
• Live TV streaming or on-demand
• Requires 4th or 5th Gen Apple TV
• Can add 50 hrs. DVR @ $5 per month
• Designed for cord cutters

27. On the Sling.com home page
scroll to the bottom and select
the Channels link.

28. Netflix
• $7.99 (SD, single screen), $9.99 (HD, 2 screens), $11.99 (4K, 4
screens)
• No ads, no live TV, includes Netflix originals
• DVR not required, all programming on-demand
• Price increase coming
• Best for fans of original programming: Orange is the New
Black, House of Cards
• Android, iOS and web access
• Offers 30 day free trial

29. Digital Video Recorder?
• No need to DVR on-demand programs (Netflix, Hulu)
• SlingTV offers Cloud DVR as $5 add-on
– Offers 50 hours of Cloud DVR storage
– Not available for all channels on Sling, such as All Disney and
ESPN channels
– Can record local channels received through Sling but not using
OTA antenna
• Hulu Live offers 50 hours Cloud DVR storage ($39.99) or
upgrade to 200 hours storage
– Not available for HBO, Cinemax and Showtime
• YouTubeTV, watch 40+ live TV channels and unlimited cloud
DVR storage, $35 a month
• Also checkout Freeair.tv

30. Two Scenarios
Services Cost
Uverse 1GB $70
SlingTV Blue $30
SlingTV DVR $5
Netflix $9.99
Total $114.99 +
taxes
Services Cost
Google Fiber 1
GB
$70
Hulu $7.99
Netflix $9.99
Total $87.98 + taxes
Both options use OTA HDTV antenna for free local channels.

31. Questions or Comments?

32. Guides to What to Watch
• What’s new on all major streaming services decider.com
• PC Mags Best Streaming Service 2017 https://goo.gl/PYw43Z

33. Sources
• Steps to TV Freedom
https://goo.gl/UVj1AS
• Guide to SlingTV Blue vs Orange
https://goo.gl/TzoPLt
• SlingTV Review
https://goo.gl/sQoMs5
• Roku vs Apple TV vs Amazon Fire TV
https://goo.gl/gfTu94
• Best Internet Streaming –
comparison of speeds for streaming
media services https://goo.gl/54j4YY
• Comparing streaming video providers
https://goo.gl/Tjf941
• Consumer Reports Guide to
Streaming Video Services
https://goo.gl/HauHcH