It’s Spoilerin’ Time 142

Cordkillers / October 26th, 2016

Westworld (103), Justified (401) Walking Dead (701) Black Mirror (301-302)

00:35 – Winter Movie Draft. Chatrealm signups are extended to Friday! Go to http://draft.diamondclub.tv/form
05:19 – Westworld (104)
23:39 – Walking Dead (701)
30:58 – Black Mirror (301-302)
38:55 – Justified (402)

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Cordkillers 142 – A New Type of Extortion! w/ Ben Howard

Cordkillers / October 25th, 2016

Do we want AT&T to buy TimeWarner? Vudu starts a free streaming service. FireTV gets a makeover. With special guest Ben Howard.

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CordKillers: Ep. 142 – A New Type of Extortion! 
Recorded: October 24 2016
Guest: Ben Howard

Intro Video

Primary Target

How to Watch

  • Walmart launches a free streaming service, Vudu Movies on Us
    – Vudu launched a free ad-supported video on demand service in the US, called Vudu Movies on Us. The service will not focus on new movies or original content, but rather build a back catalogue which will increase over the next several months. The site will be marketed by Vudu’s parent company Walmart, both in stores and online. Movies will stream at 1080p with pre-roll and some mid-roll ads. The company is also working with Nielsen to track mobile and connected TV viewing. 
  • Amazon’s Fire TV software is getting a new look soon
  • Amazon cuts Fire TV’s price to keep up with 4K competitors
    – Amazon started shipping its refreshed FireTV Stick with Alexa-enabled remote for $40.
    – FireTV price cut to $90. Antenna bundle $100, Gaming edition $130
    – Amazon also started showing off an update to its Fire TV interface coming later this year
    – Primary navigation has shifted from left side to the top
    – More accessibility for screen readers
    – Individual apps can be reoreded

 

What We’re Watching

Front Lines

  • Google reportedly signs CBS for web TV service
    – The Wall Street Journal reports that Google signed a deal with CBS to carry the network on an as yet unannounced YouTube TV service called Unplugged. Google is also reportedly nearing a similar deal with 21st Century Fox, and in advanced talks with NBCUniversal and Disney. The Unplugged service will supposedly offer bundles from $25 to $40. If talks advance, the service could launch in early 2017. One sticking point in negotiations, the right for YouTube to overlay data on top of network live feeds. 
  • Vimeo launches a TV store featuring top series from Lionsgate, STARZ
    – Vimeo launched its partnership with Lionsgate and STARZ to sell shows in the Vimeo store. Lionsgate produced shows liek Orange is the New Black and Mad Men are in there and will be joined shortly by Starz original series like Ash vs. Evil Dead and Black Sails. The store is at vimeo.com/tvstore. 
  • YouTube is now available on your Dish DVR
    – Dish has added a YouTube app to its Hopper 3 DVR accessible on Channel 371. You can also cast videos from a YouTube app to the DVR. The Hopper 3 also supports Netflix, Pandora, Vevo, and Weather Channel channel apps.
  • Sling TV adds NHL Network to its add-on Sports Extra package
    – Sling TV added the NHL network to its sports extra package. It’s the first over the top service to get the NHL. The NHL Network offers 75 games a year. The Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries were added to the “Lifestyle Plus Extra” add-on. 
  • Why Netflix shouldn’t be scared of the ‘Netflix of China’ and its splashy US debut — yet
    – Chinese company LeEco which offers a service often called the “Netflix of China” announced a video service for its new phones and TVs launching in the US. While the servie announced partners like Showtime, Lionsgate and even Sling, it turns out the service is more of an app ecosystem where you have to subscribe to each service individually but can then use them seamlessly across LeEco devices. The one exception is Lionsgate which will license some movies directly to the LeEco Live platform.
  • The NBA is adding a zoomed-in view for smartphones to all League Pass streams
    – NBA League Pass customers will have the option to choose a Mobile View for every game streamed on the service this season. The option which appears in the app for phones and tablets has a dedicated producer and camera working to shoot video that’s more zoomed in and easier to see on a smaller screen. The NBA also announced one game a week will be streamed in VR with its own dedicated crew and announcers. 

Dispatches from the Front

Hey Tom and Brian!

So today I decided to sign up for the PS Vue free trial, and I got a Roku Stick to put in the living room as well. I decided to tell my family to just try this “new cable service” for a week and tell me if they miss anything from before. I’m crossing my fingers that they don’t notice so we can cut the cord. Currently I’m paying around $180 per month just for the cable (not including internet or phone) thanks to box rentals, extra fees, and taxes. I’ll make sure to follow up next week and let you know how successful this experiment was!

– Alex

 

Hello I love the show it gave me the strength to cut the cord. I did it a year ago and have never looked back. It surprised me that half the shows I watched weekly were no longer important when I had to make an effort to watch them. This also includes mutliple sports.
My question is what show or sport you thought you couldn’t live without but after cutting the cord you haven’t missed? Mine was soccer.

– Kevin

 

 

 

Hey Brian and Tom,

I wanted to let Tom know (someone also mentioned this in the emails) that With PlayStation Vue, you can login to almost all channel standalone apps (Not Watch NFL Network for some reason). I use the Fox Sports Go app (Android, iOS, Roku, Chromecast, Web Browser, maybe more availability). It works really slick! Try it out.

That is how I get around the in home restrictions from PS Vue.

– Michael

 

 

 

Hey guys, as a Comcast employee one reason I see a decline in ESPN subs is because we install a lot of basic and limited basic TV packages which doesn’t include ESPN. When I asked why only basic service to these customers they respond with “I’m only getting the TV service so I can have a cheaper price on my Internet service .” Just thought I would throw my two cents in. Thanks guys and keep up the great work. 
 

Links

2016 Winter Movie Draft
patreon.com/cordkillers

Cordkillers 140 – HomeCast

Cordkillers / October 11th, 2016

Netflix declares war on theaters, why you need a new Roku and Chromecast, and Dark Tower leaks!

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CordKillers: Ep. 140 – HomeCast
Recorded: October 10 2016
Guest: None

Intro Video

Primary Target

How to Watch

  • Roku makes it easy to launch a streaming TV channel
    – Roku has introduced the Roku Direct Publisher tool which lets anyone create a Roku channel without having to code. Users must host the videos themselves. Rolling Stone, Us Weekly and Cracked have used the tool to make apps. Channels built in the tool cannot charge subscriptions or video on demand fees yet. — And a 50-inch Roku TV from Hitachi is now available from Sam’s Club in the US for $499. 55 and 65-inch models are coming soon.
  • Apple Discontinues Third-Generation Apple TV
    – MacRumors notes the Apple TV third generation is no longer listed in Apple’s stores. The older Apple TV sold for $69 but did not support the app store or Siri. The 4th gen Apple TV sells for $149 at the cheapest.
  • Chromecast Ultra gives you 4K content for just $69
    – Chromecast Ultra
    – 4k, HDR and Dolby Vision
    – Google Play Movies adding 4K in November
    – Ethernet port in the power adapter
    – $69 in November
  • The Google Cast app is getting a new name and purpose
    – The Google Cast app is being renamed again to Google Home and adds in features for Google’s new connected speaker.  

What to Watch

What We’re Watching

Front Lines

  • HBO releases Westworld’s second episode two days early
    – HBO released Westworld’s second episode two days early on HBO Go, HBO Now, and on demand in order to avoid people skipping the episode to watch the US Presidential Debate. 
  • Why Cord Cutting Is Spreading to Broadband Internet Subscribers
    – Pew Research issued a report on a different kind of cord-cutting, dropping a home Internet connection in favor of a smartphone. In 2015 13% of US adults used a smartphone as their only Net connection up from 8% in 2013. And adults with home broadband connections dropped from 70% in 2013 to 67% in 2015. 
  • BitTorrent Fires CEOs, Closes Los Angeles Studio, Shutters BitTorrent Now
    – BitTorrent fired its Co-CEOs and is closing its LA-based production studio and closing its BuiTorrent Now streaming efforts. BitTorrent Now, an ad-supported music and video streaming platform that launched in June. 
  • AT&T Turns to Media Acquisitions as Its Video Ambitions Grow
    – Sources tell Bloomberg that AT&T plans to acquire content producers and shift its model toward owning some of the content it distributes. AT&T owns DirecTV and has partnered with the Chernin Group on Otter Media which intends to bring content targeting a young audience to the cord-cutting service DirecTV Now.
  • This fall, more new milestones for the DVR
    – DVRs are starting to materially affect ratings. During fall premiere week, five programs grew at least 100 percent from Live+Same Day to live-plus-seven-day-DVR playback, more than ever before. In total, 37 broadcast shows grew by at least 50 percent in 18-49s. This means the network will push to charge ad buyers on the 7 day rating, currently they generally charge on 3-day playback.
  • Toca TV is a new streaming service just for kids
    – Popular kids app maker Toca Boca has launched Toca TV a $5 a month subscription service of kid-friendly videos for iOS. Minecraft gameplay, DIY crafts, recipes, songs and more are made by partners including Broadband TV (BBTV), DreamworksTV, AwesomenessTV, Studio71, and Freedom!

Dispatches from the Front

There was a question about travel router on #cordkillers. Here’s my pick. 

– @ecardwell1
 

If you’re like me, you’ve been listening/watching since this was FrameRate. I’m always looking for more info on streaming services, and Inside.com has a newsletter just for that (https://inside.com/streaming). They put out a bunch of topics, people vote, & when a topic has enough subscribers, they create a newsletter.

– Chris

 

 

 

Hey guys!

First off, thanks for the show. We’ve come to the most wonderful time of the year, hockey season. It’s also the time where it’s toughest for me to be a cord cutter.

I’m a Flyers fan, living in a flyers market. My ISP showed me across state in a Pittsburgh location. Last season I signed up for NHL Gamecenter, but missed out on games against Pens, This season, my ISP has relocated (yay faster speeds), so now I’m thinking of signing up for Playstation Vue. Vue has CSN so I’d get the majority of games, along with NBC Sports.

Quick questions about Vue, how does it work for viewing outside the home? If I end up traveling for work outside my home market, can I still watch the games? I know when Eklund was on, he mentioned some problems, all of that get cleared up? At home, am I better off using a dedicated device like a Fire Stick or casting it from an Android phone?

Thanks for the help!

– Bob

 

 

 

So I was doing some volunteering the other day. Including me it was 8 people. I’m 51, and six of the people were in their early 20’s. so I asked how many of them were “Cord-cutters”. I received six puzzled expressions. So I started saying Roku and Apple TV and they all went ‘Oh, yeah. Why would you pay for cable when you just want to watch a couple things. Cable is so expensive.’ So all the young people don’t know the term Cord-cutter.

Also, when a younger person starts talking about how they just started lifting… they probably mean Lyft. Because all the kids seemed to know what that person was talking about, because their responses confused me and I had to ask. I thought they were talking about working out. But it was about the driving service.

Have a better than good day!

– Blair

 

 

 

Hi guys. Dave82 from the chat room letting you know Charter called my Ooma land line last Friday.They wanted me to sign up to cable again.Like always,they wanted me to sign up for a triple bundle.

I declined the triple bundle.She then offered me a double bundle.The original offer was Charter Cable Select 125 channels + 60mbps internet for $96.98.I declined.At the last second,she offered the bundle for $86.98 for 12,months.

I took the offer.I agreed to a Wednesday installation for the cable box with DVR that’s free.The install will be $34.00.Having seen the first 2 episodes of West World,I’ve decided to bump the cable package to Silver.They said that will be an additional $20.00 a month.But I’ll have access to Cinemax,HBO,and Showtime.

I cancelled my Slingtv Orange package this morning.Halt and Catch Fire on AMC was really the only reason I kept my subscription.As I’m all caught up.I figured I’ll watch the rest with Charter.Really recommend episode 8 if you have not seen it yet.

I liked Sling TV.But reliability and adds with AMC On Demand were very frustrating.Also,no cable authentication with Cable channel web sights as well.I could of went with PlayStation Vue.If I would,I would choose Core package with HBO add on having did some research.

I’ll email next week how my re- connection to Charter Cable went.

– David  in Fond Du Lac,Wisconsin

 

 

 

It breaks my heart that you guys seem to have given up on The Get Down after only two episodes. Yes, the early episodes had some cheesy moments (although much of that seems deliberate), but it is a very fun, and in some ways surprisingly accurate, almost-fairy tale/children’s book retelling of the origins of hip hop — and does an especially good job of showing the four elements of hip hop culture, deejaying, bboying (breaking), emceeing, and graffiti “writing”.

 

 

Links

patreon.com/cordkillers