My Streaming Life

A recent report from Cord Cutters News, " Most Cord Cutters Are Ditching Cable TV For On-Demand Services Instead of Options Like YouTube TV to Save Money ", confirms a dramatic and welcome shift in the streaming market: more cord cutters are now skipping virtual live TV providers (vMVPDs) like YouTube TV entirely, opting instead for purely on-demand subscription services to save money. This market trend powerfully validates a conclusion I first drew after analyzing my own viewing habits back in 2011, and which has been something we've discussed for years . The simple truth is this: cutting the cord does not need to mean simply stopping a massive monthly payment to a cable company only to start paying nearly the same amount to a streaming provider. It means looking at the massive world of streaming to find what truly works best for your viewing needs and, most importantly, your budget. The Problem: The Cost of "Live" The reason for this mass consumer shift is...

The college football season is officially complete, with the playoff field selected and the final rankings released. For two decades, I have publicly advocated for a 16-team format, and I am doing so again this year. The premise remains simple and equitable: every conference champion automatically qualifies, and a committee fills the remaining slots until the field reaches 16. I believe had the NCAA adopted this structure back then, we could have avoided or at least greatly reduced the turmoil that has plagued the sport. This turmoil includes the near collapse of the Big 12, the dissolution of the Big East, and the continuous erosion of the mid-major landscape. Even the Pac-12 conference, which managed to reconstitute itself, was forced into a crisis that should never have occurred. By establishing a clear, guaranteed path to a national championship for every league winner, the incentive for ceaseless conference expansion and abandonment would have been severely curtailed. This mode...

The original goal of cutting the cord was simple: save money and gain control. When I officially became a cord-cutter, the pathway was clear: I used my antenna for live local channels and supplemented my viewing with free streaming services like the browser-based Hulu. I bought current TV seasons, which was still far cheaper than the cable bill I eliminated. This focus on maximizing free content and minimizing subscriptions defined the initial phase of cord-cutting. The unsolved problems driving modern TV: I recently looked at the most popular posts on the blog over the last year, and the data made one thing crystal clear: Massive, consistent reader interest is focused on complex Over-the-Air (OTA) recording and remote viewing solutions. This seems odd, as overall antenna adoption continues to shrink. I am genuinely wondering if this is the area I need to focus on. I am also surprised that people are coming here for OTA, DVR, and out-of-home viewing information when a knowledgeable,...

The question many people ask when they cut the cord or start streaming is, "How can I still watch TV like I'm used to watching it?" The simple answer is, you can't. You may be able to watch the same content, but the overall experience won't be the same. Is the difference difficult? For some people, it is. But for most, it's really not that difficult. I'm older, and I had no trouble with it. So, how do you determine how difficult it will be? Let me answer the question with a question: How upset do you get when the cable company changes the channel numbers, or drops a channel and replaces it with something else? If you throw a fit over such changes, you might find the switch to streaming frustrating. If you can deal with change, then you'll be just fine. It's not exactly the same when you go to streaming, but it's similar to moving to a new city with a different cable system. You have the shows you want to watch; you just need to find where...

The Hallmark Channel has long meant quality television, especially during the Christmas season. If you're looking to stream Hallmark Christmas movies, you might be wondering where you can watch the Hallmark Channel and its related sister channels. The answer is: a lot of places. Which particular place is right for you depends on exactly what you want, as answers are rarely simple. We will cover that, as well as Hallmark's other channels -- Hallmark Mystery and Hallmark Family -- as well as its on demand services and the differences. Plus, some free Hallmark content. The free streaming channels do not have the current movies. They have Hallmark movies, to be sure, but not the same ones you can see on the standard Hallmark Channel. If the mere fact of Hallmark content -- albeit older Hallmark content -- is enough, then you can watch it for free at a few places. Plex Live Hallmark Movies & More On demand Hallmark Movies & More Roku Channel Live Hallmark Movies ...

I saw this video recently, and I found it fascinating and troubling. It shows just how absurd things are when you simply want to buy things and be left alone. The video, titled "They Asked For My Name. I Said No.," features Naomi Brockwell of the Naomi Brockwell TV channel, and it directly illustrates this problem. [ YouTube ] I found the most insightful part of this story to be the sheer difference between shopping online and shopping in a physical store. If Naomi had simply walked into the store and paid with cash or a non-traceable gift card, nobody would have asked her for a name, a phone number, or an address. Yet, because she made a proper online payment using a secure, masked card, the merchant's system effectively treated her like a fraud risk simply because her billing details (made-up because the card requires none) did not match her shipping details. This process is overly intrusive and demonstrates how merchants prioritize data collection over customer pr...

I've been a dedicated cord-cutter blogger since January 2011, and I often write about the financial and freedom benefits of leaving the cable company behind. However, after years of talking with readers and helping family members, I’ve had to step back and recognize a simple, powerful truth: cutting the cord isn't for everyone, and pressuring our loved ones to switch is often counterproductive. For many of your grandparents, cable isn't just a service -- it is a constant, familiar companion in their home. It is comfortable, it is reliable, and honestly, that comfort is worth a lot. The Comfort of Routine and the Price of Peace of Mind The biggest hurdle isn't the technology -- it's the comfort of the routine. They have decades of muscle memory built around that remote control, the grid guide, and the set channel numbers. When we look at a $100+ cable bill, we see waste. We see all the sports packages and channels they never watch. But they see guaranteed simplic...

The college football regular season concludes with a decisive weekend of conference championship games. This week features nine championship matchups, which determine the five guaranteed spots for the highest-ranked conference champions and key seeding for the 12-team College Football Playoff. The action includes four games between two CFP-ranked teams: the American Athletic Conference Championship, the Big 12 Championship, the Southeastern Conference Championship, and the Big Ten Championship. Conference Championship Games Nine conferences hold championship games this weekend, featuring several College Football Playoff contenders. Friday, December 5 Sun Belt Conference Championship Troy at (#25) James Madison (7:00 PM on ESPN) Conference USA Championship Kennesaw State at Jacksonville State (7:00 PM on CBSSN) American Athletic Conference Championship (#24) North Texas at (#20) Tulane (8:00 PM on ABC) Mountain West Conference Championship UNLV (#29 AP) at Boise Stat...

When you decide to cut the cord, installing a quality Over-the-Air (OTA) antenna to grab your local channels is essential. But then comes the immediate physical problem: how do you get that strong signal from the antenna, often located in the attic or on the roof, to every television in your house? There are generally three core ways to solve this problem. A recent article from Tablo TV outlined these methods , and they serve as an excellent starting point for comparison. I've been down every one of these paths: re-using old cable, installing new cable, and using a network DVR . I'm going to take those three options (wired, rewired, and wireless) and compare them based on effort, cost, and the most critical factor for a cord-cutter: long-term reliability . Option 1: Re-Using What You Have (The DIY Bargain) This is the simplest and cheapest solution, provided you previously had cable or satellite television. The Method: You locate the main cable splitter, usually in a uti...

If you're deeply invested in the world of cord-cutting, you know the name Phillip Swann, the man behind TV Answer Man . For years, he has been a consistent source of insightful, in-depth coverage on the complex business and technology side of television. His dedication has made his site a daily read for me, and for many who rely on accurate and consistent reporting to navigate the ever-evolving landscape of streaming and satellite TV. Phillip recently announced a significant decision regarding the future of his website . While the site didn't meet its subscription goal to sustain the incredibly demanding level of business and tech reporting he's been doing, the good news is: TV Answer Man isn't going away! Instead, Phillip is making a change he feels he needs to. Starting soon, the site will shift its focus from the nitty-gritty of industry business and technology to entertainment and programming . This means we can look forward to even more content designed to help ...

Plex Puts Remote Streaming Behind a Paywall A significant change is coming to how Plex treats your personal media library when you are away from home. I received a copy of an email sent this week to a family member's Plex account, who is a non-Pass server owner. The message clearly announced that one of Plex's longest-standing free features -- remote streaming of personal media -- is being phased out and placed behind a paywall. For the vast majority of Plex's free users, this shift will mean paying a subscription fee if they want to access their movies, shows, or recordings when they are traveling or simply away from their home Wi-Fi network. For long-time users like me, this change simply reinforces the strategic value of the Lifetime Plex Pass. The Full Text of the Email Here is the email sent to affected Plex users this week: Hi Plex User, As of April 29, 2025 , we’ve changed how remote streaming works for personal media libraries, and it is no longer a free feat...

December is the busiest time of year for streaming, dominated by the constant loop of cheerful Christmas movies. For the savvy cord-cutter, the challenge isn't finding a movie, but finding all the movies -- the new Hallmark premieres, the timeless classics, and the streaming originals -- without paying a cable-sized bill. The great news is that you can cover every major Christmas programming source for well under $40 a month. This guide breaks down the essential services you need, focusing exclusively on those budget-friendly options that replace cable. The Major Channels: Budget Live TV Streaming (Under $40/Month) These live TV services are the only way to watch the new Christmas movie premieres live on the same day they air. We focus only on packages priced under $40 per month. Hallmark Channel, Hallmark Mystery, and Hallmark Drama The king of Christmas programming. All three Hallmark networks are required for the full "Countdown to Christmas" experience. Frnd...

The end of support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025, has left millions of users facing a critical decision. Since many of those devices do not meet the strict hardware requirements for Windows 11 -- such as the mandatory Trusted Platform Module (TPM) version 2.0 and specific CPU generations -- they are suddenly deemed obsolete. My recommendation for anyone with a perfectly functional Windows 10 machine is clear: do not rush out to buy a new computer. If spending money on a new PC is not an option, and you want to maintain a safe and secure computing environment, the most reliable and cost-effective solutions are to install ChromeOS Flex or a supported Linux distribution. These free operating systems can provide the necessary security updates and breathe new life into older hardware, keeping it out of the e-waste stream. However, my approach is not universal, and I admit that not everyone agrees with it. For many users, the idea of leaving the Windows environment presents a sig...

The final week of the 2025 college football regular season concludes with a massive Saturday slate. Most teams are fighting for bowl eligibility, rivalry bragging rights, or a final spot in the College Football Playoff rankings. On today's schedule, 51 games are scheduled to be played. Thirteen of those games involve a team ranked in the College Football Playoff Top 25. Ranked Team Matchups This week delivers with three games featuring ranked opponents squaring off. No. 1 Ohio State at No. 15 Michigan No. 12 Miami at No. 22 Pittsburgh No. 14 Vanderbilt at No. 19 Tennessee How to Watch Most of the games are available for viewing live by streaming, or with an antenna. Here are the networks carrying the games this season: ABC Antenna: Free DirecTV Stream MySports (in select markets): ($70/month) YouTube TV: ($83/month) Fubo: ($85/month) DirecTV Stream Entertainment: ($90/month) Hulu+Live TV: ($90/month) CBS Antenna: Free Paramount Plus Premium: ($13/month) You...

A Disney Plus and Hulu bundle deal is currently running for Black Friday, and Michael Timmermann of the Michael Saves channel has all the details. For a full breakdown of the deal's terms, including the price and expiration date, see his first video below. [ YouTube ] The Ad-Free Option Michael says that it is possible to upgrade that deal to an ad-free experience. Since many people prefer viewing their content without interruptions, knowing this option exists allows a streamer to choose the viewing level that best suits their habits. For a clear, step-by-step guide on how to upgrade to the ad-free tier, watch his follow-up video below. [ YouTube ] The Black Friday deal is a great example of how streamers can save money on content. I am always looking for the best way to manage my subscriptions and get the most value for my family, and I often take advantage of Hulu deals on Black Friday. My Streaming Life is built on flexibility and finding those deals that make cord cutt...

Thanksgiving Proclamation Issued by President George Washington, at the request of Congress, on October 3, 1789 By the President of the United States of America, a Proclamation. Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and—Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me “to recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:” Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or th...

The final week of the 2025 college football regular season is officially underway, with two games already played on Tuesday. While most of the action will be reserved for a packed Saturday slate, the next few days deliver with rivalry and holiday matchups. Between now and Saturday, 14 games are on the schedule: one tomorrow, and 13 on Friday. Six of those games involve a team ranked in the College Football Playoff Top 25. Ranked Team Matchups This week delivers with three games featuring ranked opponents squaring off. No. 4 Georgia at No. 23 Georgia Tech No. 3 Texas A&M at No. 16 Texas No. 25 Arizona at No. 20 Arizona State How to Watch Most of the games are available for viewing live by streaming, or with an antenna. Here are the networks carrying the games this season: ABC Antenna: Free DirecTV Stream MySports (in select markets): ($70/month) YouTube TV: ($83/month) Fubo: ($85/month) DirecTV Stream Entertainment: ($90/month) Hulu+Live TV: ($90/month) CBS An...

Tyler, the Antenna Man , has put out an important video explaining the major risks involved with the FCC's recent action on ATSC 3.0 DRM, and he details exactly how you can submit your own fact-based comment to the commission. [ YouTube ] The core of the video warns viewers that the FCC's Fifth Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FNPRM) in Docket No. 16-142 threatens the future of free, open OTA television. Tyler stresses that Digital Rights Management (DRM) encryption is preventing whole-home DVR devices like Tablo and HDHomeRun from functioning and that eliminating the ATSC 1.0 simulcasting rule could force consumers to buy new hardware. Most critically, he points out that internet-reliant DRM poses a serious public safety risk by locking viewers out of local emergency alerts when their broadband connection is lost. If you want to protect your ability to receive free, unencrypted OTA TV, you can file your comment referencing GN Docket No. 16-142 on the FCC's Elect...

Recently, I detailed the absolute nightmare scenario of having multiple DVRs fail in quick succession . My trusty AirTV Anywhere died after just three years. When that happened, I tried to revive my legacy Tablo, which I had replaced previously due to intermittent network issues, but I found it was no longer working at all. Suddenly, I was left with zero working ways to record broadcast TV. Navigating the current market to find a replacement was confusing because the landscape has shifted dramatically. There is no longer one perfect device for everyone. Instead, the market has split into two distinct paths: the simple, affordable path for the homebody, and the complex, robust path for the enthusiast. I want to break down these two paths to help you decide which one fits your needs, and explain why I ultimately chose the more complicated route. The Missing Competitors: Why Not AirTV or TiVo? Before comparing the top contenders, we have to address the elephants in the room. AirTV:...

The Federal Communications Commission is currently weighing a decision that could fundamentally change how we receive over-the-air television. In a recent publication , the FCC opened a comment period to discuss the eventual "sunset" of the current ATSC 1.0 broadcast standard. While the transition to the new ATSC 3.0 "NextGen TV" standard promises better picture quality and audio, it has come with a significant catch that is causing headaches for cord-cutters everywhere: encryption. The Problem With Encryption For decades, broadcast television has been transmitted over the public airwaves in the clear. If you had an antenna and a tuner, you could watch. However, the new ATSC 3.0 standard allows broadcasters to encrypt their signals. This Digital Rights Management (DRM) acts as a digital lock, restricting which devices can decode the picture. This shift threatens to turn "free TV" into a gatekept service controlled entirely by broadcasters. It specifical...