Are online streaming services still worth it?

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384 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3124958 8-Sep-2023 11:52

scuwp:
Netflix seems to stay consistent with us but others come and go depending on the current library. Last one we tried was Amazon Prime but then realizing afterwards that the price was in USD we didn't keep it long as converted it's damned expensive for what you get.

I'm charged NZ$8 per month for Prime.

BlakJak

1254 posts

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#3124961 8-Sep-2023 12:07

mclean:
BlakJak: ...Have not yet been inclined to buy Youtube Premium, but do spend quite a bit of time watching 'less intense' content there, i'm on the fence about giving them money because I actually think their advertising has gotten worse and worse lately (to the point where i'm less inclined to give them money on principle) but I think if we wanted to pick up another pay service, we'd have to drop one...

The whole point of YouTube Premium is it has zero advertising. Apart from sponsorship messages within the content, which is pretty minimal and usually related to the topic.

I realise this. But on principle if I'm convinced to give them money and remove advertising because of how obnoxious their ads can be, I'm rewarding bad behaviour. I do not want to be bullied into a subscription.

No signature to see here, move along...

Dratsab

3946 posts

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Lifetime subscriber

#3124965 8-Sep-2023 12:33

I only have Netflix. I have previously had Amazon Prime Video and Disney+ but wasn't really watching either so canned them. I am supposed to have Amazon again at the moment, having re-signed to 2degrees a little while ago, but the freebie they offered was limited to signing up in 30 days.

By the time I got to it that time had expired so meh - I guess no opportunity for Amazon to convince me to part with any dosh in the future. I'm considering signing back up with Disney+ as they're offering 3 months for $14.99. I've had Neon in the past but didn't like the interface or the content.

Spotify increasing their pricing recently saw me drop from Duo down to a single premium account. When their price goes up again next year I'll be going back to a free account. Like @muppet, using Plex a reasonable amount too.

johno1234

2743 posts

Uber Geek

#3124966 8-Sep-2023 12:39

JPNZ:

MikeB4: @johno1234 that is what I was referring to. The only Sky Apps on Apple TV are Sport and Neon

I was going to add it would be very unlikely Sky would add a skygo app to apple tv. It would ruin SSN

Not sure why. SSN is sport only with its own subscription. Sky Go is part of the whole Sky satellite TV enchilada. Even if your Sky (Satellite) account subscription is expired SG still gets you Prime and Trackside (that I can see). In my case, having Sky Go on my Apple TV or Fire TV would have zero impact on my SSN as they are different content - I don't want all the other non-sport Sky stuff like Movies.

I just want to add Sky Open (formally Prime).

There are two less convenient alternatives - AirPlay from iPhone to Apple TV or use an IPTV app. Both a bit too cumbersome.

sen8or

1779 posts

Uber Geek

#3124971 8-Sep-2023 13:00

We have Spotify family ($25), Prime ($8), Neon ($15) and Sky Sport now ($45), Youtube lite ($7) so $100/mth just on. Sky sport will get dropped at the end of the NRL and I may pick it back up again when the golf majors start again next year and for NRL, we'll see.

Neon I may drop once we finish a few series (Better call saul, Yellowstone and Outlander). Try not to watch movies (due to no discrete multi-channel sound). Prime seems to be getting better and better movies, haven't had Netflix for about 3-4 months, so once sky sport and/or Neon goes, will give netflix another crack for a while. $70 a month is about where I want entertainment to sit as an average

MikeB4

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#3124974 8-Sep-2023 13:09

Oh I forgot to post here. The TVNZ+ App that was all cattywampus on our LG TV and still refuses to work is now decided that it will play silly on our Apple TV 4K. I swear I must have upset the various IT/Comms Deities in someway.

JPNZ

1520 posts

Uber Geek

#3124990 8-Sep-2023 13:35

MikeB4:

Oh I forgot to post here. The TVNZ+ App that was all cattywampus on our LG TV and still refuses to work is now decided that it will play silly on our Apple TV 4K. I swear I must have upset the various IT/Comms Deities in someway.

Interesting... I use TVNZ+ almost daily on my ATV4K and its faultless

Panasonic 65GZ1000, Onkyo RZ730, Atmos 5.1.2, AppleTV 4K, Nest Mini's, PS5, PS3, MacbookPro, iPad Pro, Apple watch SE2, iPhone 15+

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JPNZ

1520 posts

Uber Geek

#3124993 8-Sep-2023 13:37

johno1234:

Not sure why. SSN is sport only with its own subscription. Sky Go is part of the whole Sky satellite TV enchilada. Even if your Sky (Satellite) account subscription is expired SG still gets you Prime and Trackside (that I can see). In my case, having Sky Go on my Apple TV or Fire TV would have zero impact on my SSN as they are different content - I don't want all the other non-sport Sky stuff like Movies.

I just want to add Sky Open (formally Prime).

There are two less convenient alternatives - AirPlay from iPhone to Apple TV or use an IPTV app. Both a bit too cumbersome.

I think because the quality and stability of SG was far better than SSN ( I do hear SSN has improved though) Don't forget that Sky go can be streamed on two concurrent devices so I could effectively have two other uses watching Sky go whilst I pay for the Sat box.

Panasonic 65GZ1000, Onkyo RZ730, Atmos 5.1.2, AppleTV 4K, Nest Mini's, PS5, PS3, MacbookPro, iPad Pro, Apple watch SE2, iPhone 15+

MikeB4

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#3124995 8-Sep-2023 13:41

JPNZ:

Interesting... I use TVNZ+ almost daily on my ATV4K and its faultless

Its got me baffled. I might mess with turning off IPV6 and other network setting. I will give Wifi only on both devices.

johno1234

2743 posts

Uber Geek

#3125031 8-Sep-2023 15:54

MikeB4:

Oh I forgot to post here. The TVNZ+ App that was all cattywampus on our LG TV and still refuses to work is now decided that it will play silly on our Apple TV 4K. I swear I must have upset the various IT/Comms Deities in someway.

TVNZ+ currently stable on our AppleTV 4K as is SkySportNow but I find SSN to be a bit flakey on a Fire TV stick...

Have you tried log out/login, followed by power cycle and failing that uninstall and re-install?

Oh, forgot to mention that TVNZ+ wants to be updated on Fire TV but the update doesn't want to work and it's trying to get a different version to what is on the Amazon App Store.

loceff13

1060 posts

Uber Geek

#3125045 8-Sep-2023 16:34

I feel like we should be paying whatever price the provider asks in other countries so I shop around.

I often use VPN's to subscribe for the best monthly price, iirc Netflix <$8/mo(Turkish VPN and giftcard required for initial setup) for standard, Prime Video $0.72/mo via Turkey signup(no VPN needed). Disney+ was $5.44/mo via turkey(pain in the ass for this one) before I cancelled it.

Initial setup can be a pain(especially Netflix) but worth it once you get it working correctly.

Wombat1

586 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

#3125144 8-Sep-2023 19:55

So how much are you saving a month when you factor in the vpn costs?

BlakJak

1254 posts

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#3125303 9-Sep-2023 13:19

Building your entire streaming experience on misleading them as to your location feels like you're doing it wrong. There's not much that I've I've ever needed to consume that has required me to go to that much trouble.

No signature to see here, move along...

loceff13

1060 posts

Uber Geek

#3125438 9-Sep-2023 18:35

Wombat1: So how much are you saving a month when you factor in the vpn costs?

I got 96% cashback on a nordvpn deal so about $8 for 3 years iirc but it's only for activation not for everyday use. Keeping in mind with VPN deals that are that cheap you are the product for nordvpn they are likely selling your browsing info or doing something with that info.

BlakJak: Building your entire streaming experience on misleading them as to your location feels like you're doing it wrong. There's not much that I've I've ever needed to consume that has required me to go to that much trouble.

Yeah but India gets the same Disney+ product(plus cricket streaming too) for <$20NZD/yr compared to ~$170/yr here without sports. I think they offer really poor value operating here.

BlakJak

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#3125446 9-Sep-2023 19:30

You're taking advantage of localised economies of scale and pretty much ensuring local pricing is less likely to improve. I don't agree with it myself, basically it's piracy by another name.

No signature to see here, move along...

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