Cutting the Xfinity cord (Houston: home, school, live)

[r0r8744]

Hello --

I currently have cable, internet, and mobile through Xfinity and, for various reasons, I want to cut the cord with them. To that end, I am soliciting recommendations from this community for service providers that "cut the mustard" in Houston:

-- My family primarily watches streaming services and I would like access to Rockets, Texans, and Astros games as well as the national networks (PBS, CBS, ABC, NBC)
-- For internet, both my wife and I work from home and my kids need internet access for schoolwork, gaming, and the aforementioned access to streaming services
-- For mobile, I believe that my best bet is Verizon for robust coverage in Houston, but I am open to other ideas

Thank you in advance for any/all recommendations!

[WRM20]

We use AT&T gigabit fiber for internet and Verizon for phones. We also have Verizon wireless internet for a backup. We subscribe to Netflix, SlingTV and Amazon Prime for streaming. For regular TV we use an antenna to get over the air broadcasts.

Texans games are on regular TV. You will have to look for a streaming provider for Rockets and Astros. MLB TV doesn't work, because it doesn't carry Astros games in Houston.

[Jack Lance]

Originally Posted by r0r8744

Hello --

I currently have cable, internet, and mobile through Xfinity and, for various reasons, I want to cut the cord with them. To that end, I am soliciting recommendations from this community for service providers that "cut the mustard" in Houston:

-- My family primarily watches streaming services and I would like access to Rockets, Texans, and Astros games as well as the national networks (PBS, CBS, ABC, NBC)
-- For internet, both my wife and I work from home and my kids need internet access for schoolwork, gaming, and the aforementioned access to streaming services
-- For mobile, I believe that my best bet is Verizon for robust coverage in Houston, but I am open to other ideas

Thank you in advance for any/all recommendations!

You will need FS1 for Astros and Rockets games and the only way I know how to receive that channel is through Comcast Xfinity.

[WRM20]

Originally Posted by Jack Lance

You will need FS1 for Astros and Rockets games and the only way I know how to receive that channel is through Comcast Xfinity.

FS1 is available on Sling and Hulu.

My general feeling, however, is that if the teams make it hard to watch their games, they do not really want me to watch them. When the Astros were on broadcast TV, I watched about 75% of the games. Today, I watch about 1% of the games.

[Jack Lance]

Originally Posted by WRM20

FS1 is available on Sling and Hulu.

My general feeling, however, is that if the teams make it hard to watch their games, they do not really want me to watch them. When the Astros were on broadcast TV, I watched about 75% of the games. Today, I watch about 1% of the games.

All the sports leagues are drifting to a steaming model and as long as people follow, which they will, it will become more, and more exclusive. Listen to the sheep as they follow bah, bah, bah....

[kreeyax]

Originally Posted by Jack Lance

You will need FS1 for Astros and Rockets games and the only way I know how to receive that channel is through Comcast Xfinity.

Is it only FS1 or do you also need Space City Home Network (formerly AT&T SportsNet)? I'm still on AT&T U-verse so I get pretty much all of the Astros games except the occasional one on Apple TV.

[Jack Lance]

Originally Posted by kreeyax

Is it only FS1 or do you also need Space City Home Network (formerly AT&T SportsNet)? I'm still on AT&T U-verse so I get pretty much all of the Astros games except the occasional one on Apple TV.

What I can tell you is the Astros are on channel 39 and sometimes 114 when the Rockets and the Astros play at the same time, then there is 710 I think it is, but anyway it's all on Xfinity so I stay put.

[a_guerrajr]

What I predicted would happened has happened. Prices are high and you end up roughly the same in the end.

Only formula is to have cheap internet that doesn't have data caps, rabbit ears for the local channels, and then pay as you need for certain channels.

I'm currently paying for YouTubeTV (because my wife can't live w/o a certain channel). Otherwise Netflix is our main platform.
So That's already $100, plus monthly internet @ $63 for gig service. I recall paying Comcast roughly $120-$140 a few years ago for internet and TV.

[r0r8744]

Thank you for all of your useful responses. Seems like Houston sports fans have limited options when it comes to getting away from Xfinity!