First time making an OT here so here goes nothing. Thread will be updated whenever new services come and go:
FAQ:
What does it mean to "Cut the Cord"?
Cord-cutting means to quit using cable TV and rely on internet streaming services, such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Hulu.
Why should I cut the cord?
As you continue to use your cable TV service, your total bill will continue to go up out of nowhere.
Do I have to subscribe to every paid service to watch everything?
You don't always have to subscribe to every service, just sign up for free trials for any paid service and keep the service(s) that you enjoy the most.
I can use an antenna to watch my shows?
Yes, most modern TVs come with an antenna port. When your TV has an indoor/outdoor antenna, you will be able to watch free TV channels. You can even hook up an antenna to your TV tuner that is plugged into your PC or Android TV box. You will however miss out on premium channels such as HBO.
My internet speed is acting up. What can I do to make it faster?
One thing that you can do is to buy a wifi mesh router, such as the Google Wifi router, to make your internet less clogged.
Can I watch live TV on my game console/phone/tablet/Smart TV?
Yes, it is possible to watch live TV on those devices. However, it depends on the service and device supported.
--------------------------------
Services:
On-Demand:
Netflix (paid): The grand-daddy of all streaming services. Contains tons of original movies and shows as well as Anime. Higher tiers include better picture quality (up to 4K) and additional streams.
Hulu (paid): Comes in two tiers, with limited ads and no ads. Also contains original series and movies.
Kanopy (free, requires library card number): On demand service for library guests and college students. Completely free to watch movies and tv series with library card. Content may be unavailable at times at request of library owner.
Amazon Prime Video (paid): Contains original movies and series. Requires Amazon Prime subscription to watch original content. Has dedicated website for international territories. Supports Movies Anywhere.
VUDU (freemium): Wal-Mart-owned movies and TV on demand service. Has movies that can be watched for free with ads. Supports Movies Anywhere.
Movies Anywhere: Unified movie locker. Originally made for Dinsey movies but later expanded to Warner Bros. and Universal. Accounts that link to Microsoft/Amazon/Google/Xfinity/FandangoNow/Vudu/Apple will have their owned movies available to own for free on the corresponding retailer. Doesn't support Paramount, MGM and Lionsgate as of this writing.
Britbox (paid; $6.99 /mo or 69.99 /year): Netflix-like on-demand service with focus on UK television programs from ITV and BBC. US version has derth of original content. Also available in UK and Canada with different programming.
Apple TV+ (paid): Streaming service by Apple. Currently has mostly original series and movies, can be watched on iOS, tvOS, and macOS. Extremely light on TV-MA/R content. Coming September 2019.
Viki (freemium): On-demand programming service by Rakuten with focus on Asian dramas and movies (mostly Korean and Japanese), though Russian and English dramas are available. Some shows require Viki Pass or Viki Pass Plus to watch. Not all shows available in all regions. Viki Pass plus tier contains programming from Kocowa TV service.
Kocowa TV (freemium): On demand TV service for Korean-only programming. Has daily, monthly and yearly memberships for ad-free viewing as well as access to free select episodes daily. Some programs are available on Viki via Viki Pass plus and On Demand Korea Premium membership.
On Demand Korea (freemium): Yet another Korean on demand service. Includes Christianity and kids programming, as well as content from Kocowa through Premium membership.
HBO Now (paid; $14.99 /mo): HBO's streaming service. Only available in the US and certain US territories. Latin America version is known as HBO GO.
All Japan Pro Wrestling TV (paid): On demand service by All Japan Pro Wrestling. Can watch AJPW matches from 2000 onwards (rights for 90s matches are currently owned by Nippon TV).
Crunchyroll (freemium): Originally a host for fansubbed anime, Crunchyroll is the largest anime streaming service in the US. Contains 900+ anime series with simulcasts for currently airing anime. In addition to having dubs (as well as multilingual dubs) for recent anime, Crunchyroll also contains manga and Asian dramas. Premium service is $7.99 /mo and gives you access to all anime and manga as well as no ads and ability to watch on every device.
VRV (paid): An streaming service by Otter Media akin to Sling TV's a la carte model. You can subscribe to any "channel" individually or all channels for $39.99 as a combo pack. Contains content from Boomerang, RoosterTeeth, and NickSplat. You can also watch Crunchyroll content if you link your Crunchyroll account that has a premium membership active.
NFL Gamepass ( NFL Football, every game, a lot of original content and NFL Network 24/7. Blackouts apply in the UK. Great in Europe, a lot of limitations in the US)
MLB.tv (Every game of the MLB season. Blackouts apply in the US)
NBA (Every game of the NBA season and post-season with additional content. Blackouts apply in the US)
NHL TV (Every game of the NHL season and post-season with additional content. Blackouts apply in the US)
UFC TV (Every UFC event. PPV events sold separately)
WWE Network (Every WWE event)
LiveBasketball TV (International basketball and FIBA competitions)
Tennis TV (ATP Tennis, every tournament except Slams)
WTA TV (WTA Tennis, every tournament except Slams)
Formula 1 TV
Lacrosse Network
Golf TV
Espn Player (College sports)
Eurosport Player (Only available in Europe I think, different sports available depending on your country. They usually have ATP Tennis, Snooker, Rally, Darts and other stuff)
DAZN (Available in DE, AT, CH, JP, IT, CA, US, ES and BR. Different sports depending on your location. They have NFL, MLB, NHL, Serie A, MLS, Ligue 1, La Liga, UFC and many other events)
Cable TV Replacement:
YouTube TV (paid; $49.99 /mo): Regarded to many as the best paid live TV service due to its friendly user interface, DVR and ability to stream up to 3 screens. Contains 80+ channels in one single package including Discovery channels as well as a standalone channels for YouTube exclusive original series and movies. Add-ons include Starz, Epix and AMC Premiere. Can be used on web, Smart TVs, Android TV (no Live Channels app support), iOS/tvOS, and mobile with fireTV apps on the way.
Philo TV (paid; $20 /mo): A good paid TV service for a tight budget. Used by cord-cutters for those who want Viacom channels. Contains 50+ channels in a single package. No add-on packages as of this writing.
Sling TV (paid): Dish Network's live tv service inspired by the Air TV device. Comes in two tiers. Has international channels as add-ons.
Hulu with Live TV (paid): Comes with Unlimited simultaneous screens when at home, up to 3 on the go. Ads will still play during live TV so be warned.
Playstation Vue (paid): Comes in 4 tiers, can watch on PlayStation 4 consoles, as well as TVs and on mobile.
DirecTV Now (paid): The least used paid TV service. Channels come in 5 tiers. DVR is paid add-on.
Pluto TV (free): Free legal TV service with channels based on IGN, Shout Factory, and more. Also contains channels based on Nickelodeon, MTV and Comedy Central due to Viacom ownership. Mobile apps come with international versions.
Apple TV Channels (paid): All in one live tv aggregation service.
Fubo TV (paid): Paid live tv service with a focus on live sports.
Amazon Channels (paid):
Hybrid:
CBS All Access (paid; on-demand/live tv): CBS's streaming service with live TV. Available in US and Canada. $5.99 for limited commercial plan and $9.99 for commercial free plan with live TV. Live TV still plays ads on commercial free plan. Original content consists of Star Trek: Discovery, Big Brother: Over the Top and The Good Fight.
------------------------------
DEVICES
Streaming Boxes/Sticks:
NVIDIA SHIELD: The best streaming box for cord cutting. Powered with the Tegra X1 chip, the NVIDIA SHIELD is a certified Android TV box that can play movies and shows in 4K as well as both PC games via GeForce Now and native Android TV games. Also compatible with many smart home devices such as the Logitech Harmony hub and Samsung SmartThings. NVIDIA SHIELD also has a version sold in Mainland China with a focus on gaming, contains legally emulated versions of select Nintendo games like Super Mario Galaxy.
Roku: A nice line of streaming devices developed by a former Netflix employee. Product line consists of streaming players, streaming sticks and TVs that run a proprietary OS. Apps on Roku are known as "Channels" and are free to download. Some apps require a paid subscription to use.
Amazon Fire TV: Part of the Fire line of devices, comes in Box, Cube, and Stick forms as well as dedicated TVs. All of them run Fire OS (a customized version of Android). Has the Amazon appstore though it can run most sideloaded Android apps via external downloading app.
Mi Box S: Set top box by Xiaomi. Comes in two regional versions. One with a customized interface and app store for Mainland China and the other with Android TV and Google Play store for International audiences. The least used box for cord cutters due to issues with 4k playback and casting issues. Site says its exclusively sold at Walmart online, though its also available at Amazon and other online shops.
Feel free to write your experiences with cord-cutting here, as well as advice for newcomers and veterans.
Oh, and one more thing. DO NOT LINK TO ILLEGAL STREAMS OR PIRATED CONTENT ON THIS THREAD
FAQ:
What does it mean to "Cut the Cord"?
Cord-cutting means to quit using cable TV and rely on internet streaming services, such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Hulu.
Why should I cut the cord?
As you continue to use your cable TV service, your total bill will continue to go up out of nowhere.
Do I have to subscribe to every paid service to watch everything?
You don't always have to subscribe to every service, just sign up for free trials for any paid service and keep the service(s) that you enjoy the most.
I can use an antenna to watch my shows?
Yes, most modern TVs come with an antenna port. When your TV has an indoor/outdoor antenna, you will be able to watch free TV channels. You can even hook up an antenna to your TV tuner that is plugged into your PC or Android TV box. You will however miss out on premium channels such as HBO.
My internet speed is acting up. What can I do to make it faster?
One thing that you can do is to buy a wifi mesh router, such as the Google Wifi router, to make your internet less clogged.
Can I watch live TV on my game console/phone/tablet/Smart TV?
Yes, it is possible to watch live TV on those devices. However, it depends on the service and device supported.
--------------------------------
Services:
On-Demand:
Netflix (paid): The grand-daddy of all streaming services. Contains tons of original movies and shows as well as Anime. Higher tiers include better picture quality (up to 4K) and additional streams.
Hulu (paid): Comes in two tiers, with limited ads and no ads. Also contains original series and movies.
Kanopy (free, requires library card number): On demand service for library guests and college students. Completely free to watch movies and tv series with library card. Content may be unavailable at times at request of library owner.
Amazon Prime Video (paid): Contains original movies and series. Requires Amazon Prime subscription to watch original content. Has dedicated website for international territories. Supports Movies Anywhere.
VUDU (freemium): Wal-Mart-owned movies and TV on demand service. Has movies that can be watched for free with ads. Supports Movies Anywhere.
Movies Anywhere: Unified movie locker. Originally made for Dinsey movies but later expanded to Warner Bros. and Universal. Accounts that link to Microsoft/Amazon/Google/Xfinity/FandangoNow/Vudu/Apple will have their owned movies available to own for free on the corresponding retailer. Doesn't support Paramount, MGM and Lionsgate as of this writing.
Britbox (paid; $6.99 /mo or 69.99 /year): Netflix-like on-demand service with focus on UK television programs from ITV and BBC. US version has derth of original content. Also available in UK and Canada with different programming.
Apple TV+ (paid): Streaming service by Apple. Currently has mostly original series and movies, can be watched on iOS, tvOS, and macOS. Extremely light on TV-MA/R content. Coming September 2019.
Viki (freemium): On-demand programming service by Rakuten with focus on Asian dramas and movies (mostly Korean and Japanese), though Russian and English dramas are available. Some shows require Viki Pass or Viki Pass Plus to watch. Not all shows available in all regions. Viki Pass plus tier contains programming from Kocowa TV service.
Kocowa TV (freemium): On demand TV service for Korean-only programming. Has daily, monthly and yearly memberships for ad-free viewing as well as access to free select episodes daily. Some programs are available on Viki via Viki Pass plus and On Demand Korea Premium membership.
On Demand Korea (freemium): Yet another Korean on demand service. Includes Christianity and kids programming, as well as content from Kocowa through Premium membership.
HBO Now (paid; $14.99 /mo): HBO's streaming service. Only available in the US and certain US territories. Latin America version is known as HBO GO.
All Japan Pro Wrestling TV (paid): On demand service by All Japan Pro Wrestling. Can watch AJPW matches from 2000 onwards (rights for 90s matches are currently owned by Nippon TV).
Crunchyroll (freemium): Originally a host for fansubbed anime, Crunchyroll is the largest anime streaming service in the US. Contains 900+ anime series with simulcasts for currently airing anime. In addition to having dubs (as well as multilingual dubs) for recent anime, Crunchyroll also contains manga and Asian dramas. Premium service is $7.99 /mo and gives you access to all anime and manga as well as no ads and ability to watch on every device.
VRV (paid): An streaming service by Otter Media akin to Sling TV's a la carte model. You can subscribe to any "channel" individually or all channels for $39.99 as a combo pack. Contains content from Boomerang, RoosterTeeth, and NickSplat. You can also watch Crunchyroll content if you link your Crunchyroll account that has a premium membership active.
NFL Gamepass ( NFL Football, every game, a lot of original content and NFL Network 24/7. Blackouts apply in the UK. Great in Europe, a lot of limitations in the US)
MLB.tv (Every game of the MLB season. Blackouts apply in the US)
NBA (Every game of the NBA season and post-season with additional content. Blackouts apply in the US)
NHL TV (Every game of the NHL season and post-season with additional content. Blackouts apply in the US)
UFC TV (Every UFC event. PPV events sold separately)
WWE Network (Every WWE event)
LiveBasketball TV (International basketball and FIBA competitions)
Tennis TV (ATP Tennis, every tournament except Slams)
WTA TV (WTA Tennis, every tournament except Slams)
Formula 1 TV
Lacrosse Network
Golf TV
Espn Player (College sports)
Eurosport Player (Only available in Europe I think, different sports available depending on your country. They usually have ATP Tennis, Snooker, Rally, Darts and other stuff)
DAZN (Available in DE, AT, CH, JP, IT, CA, US, ES and BR. Different sports depending on your location. They have NFL, MLB, NHL, Serie A, MLS, Ligue 1, La Liga, UFC and many other events)
Cable TV Replacement:
YouTube TV (paid; $49.99 /mo): Regarded to many as the best paid live TV service due to its friendly user interface, DVR and ability to stream up to 3 screens. Contains 80+ channels in one single package including Discovery channels as well as a standalone channels for YouTube exclusive original series and movies. Add-ons include Starz, Epix and AMC Premiere. Can be used on web, Smart TVs, Android TV (no Live Channels app support), iOS/tvOS, and mobile with fireTV apps on the way.
Philo TV (paid; $20 /mo): A good paid TV service for a tight budget. Used by cord-cutters for those who want Viacom channels. Contains 50+ channels in a single package. No add-on packages as of this writing.
Sling TV (paid): Dish Network's live tv service inspired by the Air TV device. Comes in two tiers. Has international channels as add-ons.
Hulu with Live TV (paid): Comes with Unlimited simultaneous screens when at home, up to 3 on the go. Ads will still play during live TV so be warned.
Playstation Vue (paid): Comes in 4 tiers, can watch on PlayStation 4 consoles, as well as TVs and on mobile.
DirecTV Now (paid): The least used paid TV service. Channels come in 5 tiers. DVR is paid add-on.
Pluto TV (free): Free legal TV service with channels based on IGN, Shout Factory, and more. Also contains channels based on Nickelodeon, MTV and Comedy Central due to Viacom ownership. Mobile apps come with international versions.
Apple TV Channels (paid): All in one live tv aggregation service.
Fubo TV (paid): Paid live tv service with a focus on live sports.
Amazon Channels (paid):
Hybrid:
CBS All Access (paid; on-demand/live tv): CBS's streaming service with live TV. Available in US and Canada. $5.99 for limited commercial plan and $9.99 for commercial free plan with live TV. Live TV still plays ads on commercial free plan. Original content consists of Star Trek: Discovery, Big Brother: Over the Top and The Good Fight.
------------------------------
DEVICES
Streaming Boxes/Sticks:
NVIDIA SHIELD: The best streaming box for cord cutting. Powered with the Tegra X1 chip, the NVIDIA SHIELD is a certified Android TV box that can play movies and shows in 4K as well as both PC games via GeForce Now and native Android TV games. Also compatible with many smart home devices such as the Logitech Harmony hub and Samsung SmartThings. NVIDIA SHIELD also has a version sold in Mainland China with a focus on gaming, contains legally emulated versions of select Nintendo games like Super Mario Galaxy.
Roku: A nice line of streaming devices developed by a former Netflix employee. Product line consists of streaming players, streaming sticks and TVs that run a proprietary OS. Apps on Roku are known as "Channels" and are free to download. Some apps require a paid subscription to use.
Amazon Fire TV: Part of the Fire line of devices, comes in Box, Cube, and Stick forms as well as dedicated TVs. All of them run Fire OS (a customized version of Android). Has the Amazon appstore though it can run most sideloaded Android apps via external downloading app.
Mi Box S: Set top box by Xiaomi. Comes in two regional versions. One with a customized interface and app store for Mainland China and the other with Android TV and Google Play store for International audiences. The least used box for cord cutters due to issues with 4k playback and casting issues. Site says its exclusively sold at Walmart online, though its also available at Amazon and other online shops.
Feel free to write your experiences with cord-cutting here, as well as advice for newcomers and veterans.
Oh, and one more thing. DO NOT LINK TO ILLEGAL STREAMS OR PIRATED CONTENT ON THIS THREAD
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