# What is your primary method of TV delivery? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 7, 2020, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-primary-method-of-tv-delivery/922371 "2020-10-07T00:03:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2020, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-primary-method-of-tv-delivery/922371/1 "2020-10-07T00:03:57Z")
And are you happy with it or considering switching? We had satellite for the past 25 years but recently moved to an area with a fast enough and reliable enough ISP that we switched to YoutubeTV. I can’t see ever switching back. _Poll ([view on site](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-primary-method-of-tv-delivery/922371/1))_ ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2020, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-primary-method-of-tv-delivery/922371/2 "2020-10-07T00:19:35Z")
I need to ask for clarification before I vote. Is this solely about providers of live TV, like the YoutubeTV service you mentioned, or do services like Netflix count if that’s what we watch the most often? ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2020, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-primary-method-of-tv-delivery/922371/3 "2020-10-07T00:39:04Z")
We have Cox Cable and we’re satisfied with it. We have all of our local channels, including the subchannels like METV, Cozi, and Antenna TV. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2020, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-primary-method-of-tv-delivery/922371/4 "2020-10-07T00:43:16Z")
Whatever you watch the most. ---
**Author:** ![Paintcharge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paintcharge/32/7946_2.png) [@Paintcharge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paintcharge)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2020, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-primary-method-of-tv-delivery/922371/5 "2020-10-07T00:47:26Z")
I tried out youtube tv briefly and found the interface annoying. Does it get any more intuitive? I’ve been with directv for years and it works well. But they keep jacking up the cost. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2020, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-primary-method-of-tv-delivery/922371/6 "2020-10-07T00:51:16Z")
In that case, I have to vote streaming service. Even though I still have traditional cable, I spend more time watching stuff on Netflix and Prime Video than I do on cable. I really should just cancel the cable service, but I keep putting it off. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2020, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-primary-method-of-tv-delivery/922371/7 "2020-10-07T01:38:35Z")
I’ve had it for a year and AFAICT, it hasn’t changed. I had DISH before and it was a much better interface. It also cost about twice as much. I’ve gotten used to the interface but there is definitely room for improvement. The unlimited DVR goes a long ways in making up for it. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2020, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-primary-method-of-tv-delivery/922371/8 "2020-10-07T02:05:26Z")
I answered satellite but the streaming might have passed it, especially this year. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2020, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-primary-method-of-tv-delivery/922371/9 "2020-10-07T02:14:47Z")
Mostly cable. Streaming is catching up. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2020, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-primary-method-of-tv-delivery/922371/10 "2020-10-07T02:30:41Z")
In the past, I’ve had both cable and satellite. Actually, for a while I had cable, satellite, and an antenna that got all four major US networks as well as four Canadian networks (the fourth was TV Ontario, which sometimes had good movies and documentaries). But that was long before streaming became widespread and technically viable. I haven’t subscribed to cable ever since I moved to the current house (well, for internet, but not TV). Currently it’s a combination of streaming and OTA (antenna). I hardly ever watch normal commercial TV these days except for some hockey and occasionally CBC News, for which the antenna works great. Combination of too much crap and too many commercials. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2020, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-primary-method-of-tv-delivery/922371/11 "2020-10-07T03:02:35Z")
I refuse to answer, on the grounds that it may incriminate me. ---
**Author:** ![eschrodinger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschrodinger/32/122_2.png) [@eschrodinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschrodinger)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2020, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-primary-method-of-tv-delivery/922371/12 "2020-10-07T03:03:59Z")
I watch Netflix and Prime Video almost exclusively. I watch live TV either OTA through an old TiVo, or just OTA directly to the TV. That only happens with things like live sporting events, and presidential debates, that I watch either live or within a day or so of the event. I’ve tried Hulu Plus and just recently tried YouTubeTV, but canceled by the end of the trial period because they didn’t seem worth it. I hated the HuluPlus interface. I didn’t mind the YouTube one, but it was too expensive considering we’ve been without anything like that for years. ETA: I meant this as a general reply. I guess I tapped the wrong reply button. ---
**Author:** ![pirviii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pirviii/32/3233_2.png) [@pirviii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pirviii)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2020, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-primary-method-of-tv-delivery/922371/13 "2020-10-07T03:34:02Z")
We do the streaming thing mostly, Amazon, Sling, Netflix, Pluto, and have an antennae for network and live TV. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2020, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-primary-method-of-tv-delivery/922371/14 "2020-10-07T03:52:28Z")
90% of what we watch on the TV is Netflix. I recently sprang for Disney+. I sometimes buy a movie from Amazon Prime or something. Oh, and I have an antenna, and I’ll probably watch the VP debate on OTA TV via the antenna. I guess I should vote “streaming service”? ---
**Author:** ![mattgg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ccd318/32.png) [@mattgg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mattgg)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2020, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-primary-method-of-tv-delivery/922371/15 "2020-10-07T11:43:12Z")
We have an antenna for local broadcast channels but most of our viewing is on streaming services (Netflix, Hulu, Prime). The main use of the antenna is for sports and news. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2020, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-primary-method-of-tv-delivery/922371/16 "2020-10-07T13:18:31Z")
I live in a rural area about 50 miles west of St. Louis. Have had Dish for 16 years with no issues. Cable not available, and until last year internet wasn’t fast enough to stream anything. But since internet became faster with the installation of fiber down the nearest hiway we can watch Netflix etc. But Dish is still the primary source. ---
**Author:** ![TRC4941](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trc4941/32/6792_2.png) [@TRC4941](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TRC4941)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2020, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-primary-method-of-tv-delivery/922371/17 "2020-10-07T13:51:35Z")
We’ve used cable since the early 80s. Our first cable bills were $10.00!! It’s up to $200 now. I hate the cost, but it’s the easiest way to go for us. We also have Netflix & Amazon Prime. I use those mostly on my tablet or computer (at work). We watch a lot of network TV and certain cable channels. ---
**Author:** ![Rangerdanger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/67e7ee/32.png) [@Rangerdanger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rangerdanger)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2020, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-primary-method-of-tv-delivery/922371/18 "2020-10-07T14:01:24Z")
Direct TV. Ready to drop it, but too lazy to investigate alternatives until forced inside this winter. Their technology and software seem archaic and our account was apparently hacked. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2020, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-primary-method-of-tv-delivery/922371/19 "2020-10-07T14:10:27Z")
Primarily streaming. I have a “local TV” package from Verizon, but only because it’s cheaper to get TV+internet than just either alone. I only ever turn on the cable box for local sports. Otherwise, I mainly watch Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime and YouTube. Recently sprung for the Hulu/Disney+/ESPN+ package; it was just $7/mo more than the Hulu no ads plan. ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2020, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-primary-method-of-tv-delivery/922371/20 "2020-10-07T14:42:23Z")
In the UK, all the main terrestrial broadcasters got together to create a [common digital free-to-air platform](https://www.freeview.co.uk/) to replace analogue broadcasting, and then threw it open to other providers. They also have a [satellite option](https://www.freesat.co.uk). Cable was never more than a minority interest, but a number of commercial cable and ISP companies have assorted TV offerings, having bought up various enticing (to some) options, such as sports. But the terrestrial (Freeview) broadcasters also have their internet streaming options. For me, the Freeview options are quite enough - costs me nothing beyond the basic TV licence fee I’d have to pay anyway. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-primary-method-of-tv-delivery/922371.md?page=2)