Can you still cut the cord even if you watch a ton of TV?
The not-so-sexy answer is that it depends. Thankfully, two fairly traditional TV viewers have volunteered to find out.
As a refresher, I'm helping three people cut the cord and documenting their experiences in this column as we go.
Last week, I introduced you to Carol Manifold, 62. She is a prime candidate for a new entertainment diet, primarily because her demands _ "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," PBS, "Feud" of FX and classic movies _ seemed easy to satisfy. Despite an unfortunate complication with her internet setup and email account (more on that in a future installment), Carol is making quick progress on the cord-cutting front, and is testing out the commercial free version of CBS All Access, which costs $10 a month, on her Apple TV.
Now, we're going to head in a completely different direction, as my next subjects, Steve and Alice Hire, 66 and 63 respectively, are high-volume TV viewers. Unlike Carol, they are going to depend upon a cable alternative such as Sling TV or PlayStation Vue to satisfy most of their viewing requirements.
As far as networks go, Steve initially said the couple wanted access to USA, FOX, NBC, CBS, ABC, PBS, TNT, A&E, FX, SPIKE, GOLF Channel, HGTV, AMC, TRAVEL, SCI-FI, Animal Planet and TMC. That's a lot. Plus, their ultimate goal is to save around $70, as they're currently paying $217 per month for cable and internet through Cox.
With that in mind, I asked the couple to keep a log of everything they watched over a four-day period. They did so dutifully. And after reviewing the log, my first recommendation for Steve and Alice is to play around with the five-day trial of PlayStation Vue's "Core Slim" package.
Here's why: It costs $35 a month, comes with live and on-demand access to broadcast and cable network programs, and includes a majority of the networks they want. There are also Fox Sports channels for baseball games and other regional sports material. The only glaring omissions with this bundle are the A&E network and independent San Diego television station KUSI, the latter of which the couple watches every morning.
One hiccup, however, is that Steve and Alice watch most of their TV shows on a few different Samsung smart TVs around the house, but PlayStation Vue does not offer an application for those TV sets yet.
I still think Vue is worth checking out, and Steve agreed, so he's going to give it a go and try PlayStation Vue on his Microsoft Surface tablet (through the device's browser and not a specific app). If it's a fit, then I'll help the couple select a streaming box or stick, as Sony makes the PlayStation Vue application for Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire and Chromecast. Plus, a single PlayStation Vue account can simultaneously stream on up to five of these devices in a single home.
My other slight reservation with Vue is that the product does not offer a true cloud DVR experience. That could very well be a deal-breaker for Steve and Alice, and anyone reliant on a traditional DVR. Instead of a DVR, Vue allows viewers to mark their preferred programs as favorites through a feature called "My Shows." Then, you can watch "recorded" episodes of these shows on-demand, with fast-forwarding through ads available, for a 28-day period after episodes air.
The good news is that this configuration eliminates the storage conundrum that many people encounter when using a physical DVR. The bad news is that you only have 28 days to watch something before it disappears. Plus, the DVR-like functionality is not available for select shows based on licensing restrictions, and, overall, the experience can be a tad confusing.
Still, PlayStation Vue could really work for Steve and Alice. And if not, I have a plan B.
As for accessing A&E, there are several options if the couple only needs to watch certain shows. If so, they can probably get by with their current Netflix subscription or they might consider adding on a Hulu subscription. If not, we'll probably have to revisit their options for a cable alternative.
More on that next week.
Until then, if you'd like to follow along or share your own cord-cutting experiences and concerns, you can join the "SDUT cord-cutters" group on Facebook. It's a closed group, but if you want to participate, go to https://www.facebook.com/groups/257856181342552/ and request access.
