Look, I've thrown a lot at you in this column over the past couple weeks. I know that. With that in mind, I think it's time for a commercial break.
As a reminder, this series is intended to help you navigate the changing landscape of broadcast television and teach you how to live _ happily, hopefully _ without cable TV if that's what you want.
This week, I'm going to hit the pause button and revisit some reader questions that may not have been answered in full yet.
Q. We currently pay something like $145 per month to Cox for TV service, which includes one DVR for my wife's TV. We do not have any premium channels. All I want is the network channels, TNT, Golf Channel, ESPN, and the NFL Network. Can this be addressed in a cost-effective manner?
A: Yes. I believe you can get everything you want with the Playstation Vue "Core Slim" package. It costs $35 a month and is available as an app on most streaming devices, including the newest Apple TV model. This bundle includes all your cable network requests. You'll also get live and on-demand content from NBC and CBS, whereas content from ABC and FOX is also offered, but only on-demand. If that's a problem, pick up a digital TV antenna to fill in broadcast network blanks.
Something to note: Vue doesn't offer a traditional DVR. Instead, you can save your favorite programs through a feature called "My Shows." Episodes are then automatically stored for up to 28 days after they air and there are no space constraints.
Playstation Vue offers a seven-day free trial. Give that a try before you go all in.
Q. I have a Roku streaming stick. How do you record something and play it back at a later time without using cable?
A: The Roku stick is a great device, but it's not like your traditional cable box that comes with a DVR feature. The stick merely acts as a gateway to the internet. You can think of it as a browser. But that doesn't mean you can't record shows. The easiest way to do so is to subscribe to a cable alternative such as Sling TV, which offers a true cloud DVR feature on Roku for fast-forwarding through commercials.
You may also want to consider a separate DVR box such as the Tablo DVR or TiVo Roamio OTA, which connects to an HD antenna to record over-the-air broadcasts. They're pricey so do your research or wait for a future column on how these work.
