Verizon cable card support discontinued

[joefr]

I noticed a few weeks ago that my HD Homerun was tuning in ~84 channels, which is significantly less than the 300+ I have been getting. Just got off a chat session with Verizon support and they informed me that support for premium channels has been deprecated and that pretty soon all cable card support would be removed. The only option I was offered was to get a new set top box with DVR capabilities that would increase my bill. So pretty soon my HD HomeRun device that has been working for over 15 years will become a beautiful black coaster.

Wondering if others are running into this and what options I should be considering?

[greynolds]

We received notice about a month ago with a firm end date of CableCard support for early November.

I took a look at the available options and Verizon’s DVR seems behind the curve, storing recordings on a fixed size (not user upgradable) hard drive, rather than using the cloud like pretty much every other option.

We “need” an option that includes NESN (for Boston hockey), so that limits us to Verizon’s DVR, DirecTV Streaming, or Fubo. Fubo seems to be having contract disputes with one of the major networks, so we’ve decided to give DirecTV Streaming a try, planning to start a subscription this weekend and then call Verizon to remove TV service.

We’ll continue to use our HDHomerun OTA tuners with JRiver for local channels, either as a backup to DirecTV or as the primary way to watch content on those channels, depending on how much we like the DirecTV service.

[PL1]

We “need” an option that includes NESN (for Boston hockey), so that limits us to Verizon’s DVR, DirecTV Streaming, or Fubo.

There is another option. DTC. Direct from NESN for $240/yr. https://watch.nesn.com/?internal_ref=header on sale for $180 for the first year. It is not great, but it is usable. For those 13 games that are on ESPN/TBS, I plan on getting a day pass with Sling Orange for $5. https://www.sling.com/service/sling-orange

[greynolds]

We “need” an option that includes NESN (for Boston hockey), so that limits us to Verizon’s DVR, DirecTV Streaming, or Fubo.

There is another option. DTC. Direct from NESN for $240/yr. https://watch.nesn.com/?internal_ref=header on sale for $180 for the first year. It is not great, but it is usable. For those 13 games that are on ESPN/TBS, I plan on getting a day pass with Sling Orange for $5. https://www.sling.com/service/sling-orange

Given that we're going to be paying a monthly fee for some sort of TV service, whether it be DirecTV Streaming, Fubo, YouTube TV, etc., we're not interested in paying a non-trivial amount separately to get NESN. We also always start watching the games in progress so we can skip over commercials and intermissions and I'm not sure if that's possible when streaming the current game direct from NESN. DirecTV Streaming will end up costing us a bit less than we've been paying Verizon for our current TV service with 3 CableCards AND give us NESN in the package. I just hope we end up being happy (enough) with it - one thing I'm a bit concerned about is that there's no ability to add padding at the start or end of recordings, so there will be a risk of missing a bit at times.

Sadly, none of the available options are as good as being able to use JRiver, Windows Media Center, NextPVR, etc. as the TV recording engine with a mix of OTA and CableCard tuners.

[PL1]

Given that we're going to be paying a monthly fee for some sort of TV service, whether it be DirecTV Streaming, Fubo, YouTube TV, etc., we're not interested in paying a non-trivial amount separately to get NESN.

Both Fubo & DTV charge extra for NESN.
DTV (Regional Sports Fee estimate​ $15.99/mo.)
Fubo (The Regional Sports Fee is based on your area, and will be up to $16.99/month.)

We also always start watching the games in progress so we can skip over commercials and intermissions and I'm not sure if that's possible when streaming the current game direct from NESN.

Yes, it is possible to chase live with NESN streaming, but, I have not found an option to start from the beginning, so I start an hour into a game and hide the score while I rewind to the start of a game. It is definitely not a good DVR, but it saves a bundle compared to the 100+ channels you never watch, but pay for.

DirecTV Streaming will end up costing us a bit less than we've been paying Verizon for our current TV service with 3 CableCards AND give us NESN in the package.

Watch out for the pricing. It is very confusing. The price that is stricken out is good for two years and does not include the RSN (NESN). There is a current discussion regarding DTV where the person called in and was told the price would increase $64 after two years. https://www.tivocommunity.com/threads/e ... t-13146822

[greynolds]

NESN is included in the published price they showed for the Choice package. The price is discounted $30 for the first month and $20 for the 2nd and 3rd months, then goes to the normal price. I saw nothing about a price guarantee for 2 years and from the research I've done, prices go up as one would expect over time, kind of like Netflix does.

Having to start live and go back on NESN's live streaming honestly isn't a great option as it would be really hard to avoid seeing the current score, which takes all the suspense out of watching the game.

If the price does go up by a huge amount in 2 years (or whatever), we can re-evaluate our options. By that time Verizon might have a better DVR option, Fubo might have their contract issues sorted out, YouTube TV might have NESN, SiliconDust might (a guy can dream...) have an IPTV option that gives us something equivalent to CableCard...

We'll be using the service with our AppleTV's that we already use for other content, so we won't have any special hardware investment to worry about.

[PL1]

YouTube TV might have NESN,

They do not. They "did". I had it and left when they dropped NESN.

[greynolds]

YouTube TV might have NESN,

They do not. They "did". I had it and left when they dropped NESN.

I know they don’t currently have it, that’s why I had narrowed my current choices to DirecTV and Fubo. My point was that they could potentially have it 2 years from now if we decide to explore other options, so it could be an option for us in the future.

[PL1]

I know they don’t currently have it, that’s why I had narrowed my current choices to DirecTV and Fubo. My point was that they could potentially have it 2 years from now if we decide to explore other options, so it could be an option for us in the future.

Gottya. Ideally, the league gets rid of blackouts and lets everyone access to their local team with ESPN+. I think most leagues are going this way, eventually.

[PL1]

Having to start live and go back on NESN's live streaming honestly isn't a great option as it would be really hard to avoid seeing the current score, which takes all the suspense out of watching the game.

Now that I have had a chance to watch a couple of the pre-season hockey games with NESN 360, I'd say you are making the right decision. The app is horrible with Android and Roku, probably the same with Apple TV.

[greynolds]

Having to start live and go back on NESN's live streaming honestly isn't a great option as it would be really hard to avoid seeing the current score, which takes all the suspense out of watching the game.

Now that I have had a chance to watch a couple of the pre-season hockey games with NESN 360, I'd say you are making the right decision. The app is horrible with Android and Roku, probably the same with Apple TV.

Well, the AppleTV DirecTV app isn't exactly fantastic either. It amazes me how bad some apps are, to the point where I truly question if they even had someone test basic functionality before putting the current version in the app store. I was trying to use the search feature to find a show I wanted to set up recordings for. The onscreen keyboard displayed with previous searches I had done in the web browser interface overlayed over the keyboard. That was bad enough, but the down key on the remote wouldn't move the highlight down on the keyboard, making it impossible to enter the show name. Exiting the app is also poorly handled - it requires a long press of the Menu button, which isn't how most apps are implemented.

I really hope some better options come along at some point. We really don't want to pay for 20 different services to get exactly what we want, but would also like to have a reasonable user experience. I haven't used YouTube TV and it isn't really an option unless they bring NESN back, but the regular AppleTV YouTube works pretty well overall. I have no idea if some sort of IPTV tuner functionality for Windows/Linux/Mac/Tivo with the ability to go back to using the DVR solutions we've been using with CableCard tuners is realistic to even hope for at some point, but that would be the ideal solution for me.

Of course, if Bruins management doesn't put some effort into assembling a better team, I may decide it just isn't worth the effort and cost it takes to watch the games. Even though they ended up doing surprisingly well in the end last year, I never thought they had any chance at all of winning the cup and don't see any sort of plan for them to improve much any time soon. They also haven't been playing what I would consider exciting hockey in recent years and watching the games has started to feel more like a chore than entertainment. I'm definitely not expecting them to win the cup every year, as that obviously isn't realistic. But I do expect management to be making what at least appears to be an effort to head in that direction.

[PL1]

Well, the AppleTV DirecTV app isn't exactly fantastic either. It amazes me how bad some apps are, to the point where I truly question if they even had someone test basic functionality before putting the current version in the app store. I was trying to use the search feature to find a show I wanted to set up recordings for. The onscreen keyboard displayed with previous searches I had done in the web browser interface overlayed over the keyboard. That was bad enough, but the down key on the remote wouldn't move the highlight down on the keyboard, making it impossible to enter the show name. Exiting the app is also poorly handled - it requires a long press of the Menu button, which isn't how most apps are implemented.

A lot of people recommend the gemini device, or whatever they give you for $10/Mo. They recommend buying your own off of Ebay for $50 and this gets you more of a cable like experience. There is some discussion here. https://www.tivocommunity.com/posts/13039939/

I really hope some better options come along at some point. We really don't want to pay for 20 different services to get exactly what we want, but would also like to have a reasonable user experience. I haven't used YouTube TV and it isn't really an option unless they bring NESN back, but the regular AppleTV YouTube works pretty well overall. I have no idea if some sort of IPTV tuner functionality for Windows/Linux/Mac/Tivo with the ability to go back to using the DVR solutions we've been using with CableCard tuners is realistic to even hope for at some point, but that would be the ideal solution for me.

I totally agree. I cut the cord a LONG time ago. I was with YTTV, Sling & Fubo. I went back to RF/QAM with TiVo five years ago, because I was so fed up with streaming. I really dislike it, but there is no way around it now. And if you are going to pay your local cableco for IPTV plus hardware, might as well go with DTV or Fubo. This is why I am "trying" to live with OTA using a HDHomeRun Flex Quad, and a couple of DTC sites. I got a fair deal of $180 on NESN for one year and $99 for another channel for one year. So, it is not too much of a loss if I just cut them off and go back to Fubo or try DTV, which might happen (although that is the same price I was paying Fios). I'm even "thinking" of trying Comcast again (who I hate) just to see what they have to offer. Or maybe even trying Fios again.

Of course, if Bruins management doesn't put some effort into assembling a better team, I may decide it just isn't worth the effort and cost it takes to watch the games. Even though they ended up doing surprisingly well in the end last year, I never thought they had any chance at all of winning the cup and don't see any sort of plan for them to improve much any time soon. They also haven't been playing what I would consider exciting hockey in recent years and watching the games has started to feel more like a chore than entertainment. I'm definitely not expecting them to win the cup every year, as that obviously isn't realistic. But I do expect management to be making what at least appears to be an effort to head in that direction.

I watched the two prospect games and the two preseason games, and I think there is a lot of good youth, especially Hagens. But, we have seen this time and time again where we don't pay and they get away. Just remember, like all professional sports leagues, the teams are all pushed to the center. The bad teams get all kinds of great picks to make them better and the good teams get nothing to make them worse. So it is hard to stay on top. I think of the Red Wings. They "were" a powerful team and look at them now. But, you're right, the Bruins have a LONG history going back to Harry Sinden, which I always believed was really Jeremy Jacobs.

[jasonl]

The only potential good thing to come of the Paramount/WBD merger is that Fubo carries Paramount channels but not WBD channels. If they can get TNT then they suddenly become perhaps the best option for NHL fans. Their app has to be better than DirecTV's because I don't think there's any way it could be worse.

[PL1]

The only potential good thing to come of the Paramount/WBD merger is that Fubo carries Paramount channels but not WBD channels. If they can get TNT then they suddenly become perhaps the best option for NHL fans. Their app has to be better than DirecTV's because I don't think there's any way it could be worse.

Try their free trial first. I remember it not having great picture quality and when chasing a game, it would end on the final goal, and cut off the video until the recording was re-created. But, this was over five years ago. Last I looked, they are missing NBC, A&E, Bravo, USA, TNT, TBS, NHL. I don't know who owns what at this point, so maybe they would get these channels. If so, I would be more inclined to go back to them.

Fubo is part of Hulu now, so some people are surprised Fubo even exists. https://ir.fubo.tv/news/news-details/20 ... fault.aspx

[PL1]

I just received and returned a current Amazon Fire 4K streaming stick. The reason I bought it was to try NESN on it. When I went to search for the app, the only app they offered was buying NESN 360 "through Prime"! I hope this isn't another case where the only way to watch a sport (like football) is through Amazon. Since I already have a subscription directly from NESN, this is useless to me.
I got the 4K stick for $20 ($32 discount) which I thought was awfully cheap. I figured I would just keep it if it didn't work "well", but, since I could not even install the app, I returned it to make a statement. Amazon even offered me a couple bucks to keep it. Now I know why they were trying to dump it on me.