Need help with Netflix and other infotainment options.

we have finally decided to move into the 20th century.

Currently, we have digital cable, with the phone/internet bundle.

But we are paying entirely too much for premium movie channels we rarely watch, and when we do, the movies are older and we’ve usually seen them.

It’s more habit than anything, and I don’t want to jeep paying a premium for services that we don’t use.

What I have heard about Netflix sounds good on the surface. But are their drawbacks?

For instance, if I get rid of all of my movie channels, can we watch netflix on every tv hooked up to receive netflix, or does net flix not have that capability?

Do companies like HBO receive movies before Netflix can run them, or does netflix get the same access to new movies? This isn’t a huge deal, but occasionally we catch a movie on HBO that has just come out. Not that we couldn’t wait 6 months to see it, I am just wondering.

Are there any restrictions to movies available on netflix? Or can you basically get whatever you want to watch out there?

What about tv shows? Do I need to have a Hulu plus account, or can I catch TV shows through netflix as well?

I have heard that I will be able to watch shows like “The Wire”, but what about a show like “Nurse Jackie”, which is currently still running (I think) on Showtime?
I’d love to hear your experiences with these services, and what we should expect when we move from cable movie channels to netflix/hulu/whatever.

Right now, my plan is to keep the cable company with phone/internet bundle, and reduce the cable tv package to a bare bones, minimum service offering.

I know eventually we will move away from the cable company all together, but I don’t have the time right now to explore all options and I don’t want to deal with 5-6 different companies right now.

My cable company is not the best, but I have very limited options WRT changing it… I could go dish, of course, but I really don’t want to do that right now.

Thanks in advance for taking the time to read this and sharing your experiences!

You can hook up your Netflix account to any device with Netflix. You can’t watch them all simultaneously. I think you get maybe 2 or 3 simultaneous streams.

Netflix doesn’t seem to get new movies. They have a lot of new and old TV shows, some quality unique content (Orange is the new Black and House of Cards are my faves), tons of awesome documentaries, and some older and newer movies you might want to watch.

The best way to watch new movies digitally, IMHO, is to have a device that streams Amazon too. And then you rent the new movies, for a variety of different prices. You can get dollars off streaming content by selecting “no rush” shipping when you buy stuff on Amazon, $1 off digital content per shipment.

Amazon also has free content, different from Netflix. Their free (well, Prime, which is $99/year) selection is not as large as Netflix’s selection but together you have quite a library at your fingertips.

ZipperJJ,

Thanks for the reply. Adding Amazon for $99 might not be a bad option, especially if that “Prime” includes other benefits, like the free 2 day shipping on some items.

Can I search the Netflix offerings before I join?

Note that this is true of the Netflix streaming service. But the old-fashioned DVD-by-mail service gets every movie released on DVD or BluRay. It’s what I still use most of the time. (Although you might just get newly released titles from the Redbox kiosk for about a buck each day.)

There’s an (unofficial) website that searches the catalogues of content providers and lets you know who offers what where. It’s called “Can I Stream It”. I used it myself before signing up for Netflix to try and figure out exactly what it is they offer. I wish there was a browsable catalogue straight from Netflix but this was the best I found at the time. As mentioned before, on Netflix’s digital streaming service you’ll get a lot of TV shows and older movies, while only the DVD/BluRay service has the newest movies.

Periodically Netflix needs to renew contracts with the companies that hold the rights to these movies. That means sometimes Netflix drops the catalogues of some studios entirely on their streaming service. For example, a couple years ago it cost Netflix too much to renew with Universal and thus they dropped their thousands of titles from the library. That does of course include lots of movies I’d been hankering to stream such as Jurassic Park or Gladiator.

Their TV library also goes through the same cycles. So don’t believe that everything is set in stone with these services.

The TL;DR is that Netflix is lacking some very major things, but it is arguably the best streaming option out there.

20th? Wait till you check out the talkies! I am looking forward to seeing more after I take the autogyro back from Prussia.

Seriously, me too. I just bought my first flatscreen TV ever (I have had like 3 LCD monitors though). Some day I might get a smart phone.

Consider: How will you watch Netflix/etc.? On a computer? Computer hooked to a TV? Roku or other streaming box?

US prices (I believe these are not including tax so will be higher):
$8 = one device at a time
$9 = two devices
$12 = four devices
There are increased HD options with each price point as well

Netflix doesn’t get HBO Original content (Game of Thrones etc.), but movie options are similar, can’t comment on dates. HBO has their own streaming service for their content.

There are some big holes in their programming (as well as the other services). For example, Avengers (the first one from 2012) isn’t available on most (all?) streaming services without paying a rental fee.

Netflix has both movies and TV.

Side question: apparently you can’t watch the free Hulu on Roku? :mad:

Awesome! Thanks.

Netflix is great for watching TV series as long as you don’t mind missing the current season. They’ll typically be a season behind. They’re not very good for new movies. Their movies are like what you find in the bargain bin at Walmart. You get 30? days free trial on Netflix after you sign up. Cancel before then and you don’t get charged. I’m not sure how much searching you can do without an account.

A Hulu subscription will get you access to many current TV shows. They may only be a day or two behind when it was originally broadcast. I think they have a 7? day trial. I’m pretty sure you can search Hulu without an account.

Do you have “smart” TV’s or some other device to access the streaming services like Netflix/Hulu/etc? If not, you’ll need a standalone device which can output to your TV. I have a Roku and it works great. Others are the AppleTV, Google Chromecast, Amazon ??something??

Don’t forget about over-the-air channels. You may be able to get all the networks and a few other channels with just an antenna.

I ditched cable and have a Tivo to record the over-the-air networks. I use a Roku to watch Netflix and order movies from Amazon, Vudu, Block Buster, and other rental services. I don’t fret about the cost of renting movies because my bill is $35 for internet only instead of 100+ for internet and cable. I consider the $65+ difference to be fun money.

I like CanIStream.it BUT it seems to be unreliable! My friend was trying to figure out if she should subscribe to Netflix to watch some show she likes (I am blanking on what, now) and almost didn’t subscribe because CanIStream.it said it wasn’t available. But she did subscribe and she watched the whole show.

I was just looking up Six Feet Under last week and the site said it wasn’t anywhere but XFinity. But it is RIGHT THERE on Amazon!

So, I dunno what’s up with CanIStream.it. Great concept but their data is bad, at the moment at least.

There are free months of Netflix all over the place. I would find one of those coupons, SFP, and browse through. And even if you can’t find a free coupon, it’s only $9 a month to try with no commitment past 1 month.

You can also use Instant Watcher.

Between Netflix and Amazon Prime (I don’t know if it’s applicable, but they have a reduced price for college students [or anyone with a .edu email address] btw), you’d have to watch an awful lot of television to get through everything they have to offer.

We ditched cable about 8 months ago. We now use Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime (which I already had before)

I do not miss cable at all.

You might find this useful:instantwatcher.com the ultimate guide for streaming
For Netflix US

I use Netfix for everything except Jeopardy. I get that OTA. There is quite a bit of network stuff on the internet.

Well I’m way ahead of the OP; I bounded into the 20th century at least 6 months ago. Let me climb down from my rumble seat and ask a few questions.

I too would like to ditch the cable. I’ve got the smart tv and Roku so I’m pretty covered for movies. What about broadcast stuff? I do like the convenience of turning on the tv and listening to the local news and weather while I get ready for work. I hear people mention antennas but the only thing I know about that is the giant ones you’d put on your roof. I saw some kind of streaming package - possibly here- where you were supposed to be able to get all the broadcast channels but when I went to sign up it turned out it was for military personnel (?)

Also I have the lowest price Roku. I see there are a few levels above it. Is it worth the upgrade? Aside from maybe playing games, which I don’t do? Does I ever need to upgrade / replace it?

I’m sure I have many more questions but I need to go beat my laundry on a rock right now.

I use the RCA sold here: TV Antennas

There are some online maps that show what you can get OTA.

The broadcast stuff works just like the old days. You hook up the antenna to your TV and you get the channels. You don’t need a special HD antenna. You can use the same exact rabbit ears you used back in the 70’s. And the good thing is that the signal is uncompressed HD–it looks better than cable (provided you get good reception).

There are many sites on the web which will give you an idea of the channels you should be able to receive based on your location. Search for ‘over the air guide’ or ‘ota guide’ and you’ll find them. Put in your address and it will tell you what channels it thinks you should be able to get.

Their website has a comparison (1, 2, 3, and Stick). I decided on the Roku 2, as the 3 is mostly voice commands and such which I don’t really need.

The standalone streaming devices will generally be a lot easier to use than the smart TV. My TV can do streaming, but the interface is clunky and slow and I never use it. It seems like something they quickly tacked onto the TV so they could charge a little more for an extra feature. If you end up using streaming a lot, it may be worth it to get one of the external devices.

Free Amazon Prime Video is incredibly short on recent films. Much worse than Netflix. And Netflix streaming is really crappy vs. Netflix mail if your tastes are at all slightly off the mainstream, big time Hollywood movies. Amazon Prime Video, OTOH, while not an extensive archive of old/odd films, does have enough to keep you occupied for many, many lifetimes.

Netflix has better TV shows of its own, but Amazon is coming along. Amazon also carries quite a few of the classic HBO (and several other networks) tv series.

And if you want to pay Amazon Real Money to watch recent films, you can do that too. Just not an option if you are trying to save money.

You and I could be best buds!

Great info so far.

I have to show some serious ignorance here. I had no idea you could still get OTA channels with an antenna. I don’t know why I thought that was dead, but I did. I thought you needed to go out and buy a special antenna/converter box something, and since I had cable already, I figured that was what they were doing… Forcing people to pay for their TV. No free over-the-air programming. Now I find out that was wrong.

I don’t mind if I have to wait 6 more months to see a recent movie. And it wouldn’t bother me to have to wait a season to watch current TV shows. I have so little free time, that the only way I even get to see a tv series now is if I catch it in syndication. It is sad, I know, but that’s my life now.

What I DON’T need is to pay a premium for 10 year old movies that are constanty played over and over on most of the premium movie channels. Yes, HBO and Showtime have original programming, but it has become such an expensive luxury for us. We rarely watch anything when it comes out new. In fact, the last TV series I watched like that was The Sopranos. So I won’t miss that much at all.

Sigh. I am officially old. I’m so far behind the home entertainment revolution curve.

One caveat… you need a newer TV or receiver to get over-the-air now. They changed the signals from analog to digital a few years back. If you have a flat-screen TV you’re probably okay, but a CRT probably can’t get the signals. For the older TVs, you would need an external converter box (or something like Tivo).

i have both Netflix and Hulu Plus. lately I’ve been watching the latter a bit more.

My Apple TV also gets Crackle and Yahoo Screen for free and I’ve watched stuff on both.

The general drawback is that if you want to watch something in particular the. You’re often stuck. But if you’re happy just finding something good to watch it’s almost bottomless.