home theater, cord cutting, video streaming, a/v tech, and more!

Postby **nocera** » Thu Mar 25, 2021 9:45 am

Oh they do the cheaper limited commercial model too? I just subbed to Peacock with the limited commercial plan. Got the 4 months for $10 deal with WWE. The commercials are horrible. I'm either going to cancel completely at the end of the four months or upgrade to commercial free plan.

Side note: word is HBO Max will also be announcing a cheaper plan with commercials included. Streaming services are truly becoming cable.

Postby **DigitalGypsy66** » Thu Mar 25, 2021 9:48 am

I can't imagine HBO programming with commercials during a show. That would be weird - like an ad in the middle of the Sopranos or something. That would really be jarring.

Postby **nocera** » Thu Mar 25, 2021 9:50 am

I can't imagine HBO programming with commercials during a show. That would be weird - like an ad in the middle of the Sopranos or something. That would really be jarring.

Rumor is all HBO programming would remain commercial free. The ads would be in everything else.

Postby **NTP66** » Thu Mar 25, 2021 9:51 am

I've only watched one thing on Peacock, and that was the latest Psych movie. It had a string of commercials 4+ minutes long, then the movie played uninterrupted. For movies, I'm fine with that. Being a TiVo user for over 20 years, I have grown accustomed to watching everything with no commercial breaks.

Postby **nocera** » Thu Mar 25, 2021 9:53 am

Source of the post It had a string of commercials 4+ minutes long, then the movie played uninterrupted.

That hasn't been my experience so far. Commercials at the start then peppered throughout. This has been consistent in TV shows, movies, and WWE stuff. Maybe it's different for Psych and other Peacock originals. I haven't watched any of that yet.

Postby **NTP66** » Thu Mar 25, 2021 10:00 am

They could very well have changed things up. This was literally the first day Peacock was available, because Psych was a day one release.

Postby **dodint** » Thu Mar 25, 2021 3:39 pm

I will not pay for streaming services that have ads. Period. The only one I use is Amazon Prime and it does one skippable ad at the beginning; but I'm not really 'paying' for Prime Video.

I'd rather they charge the true cost rather than trying to make it up with ads. I'll pay the difference, I already do with Youtube Premium.

Postby **nocera** » Thu Mar 25, 2021 3:47 pm

Source of the post I'd rather they charge the true cost rather than trying to make it up with ads. I'll pay the difference, I already do with Youtube Premium.

It seems that the services with ads offer an ad-free version at a higher cost.

Postby **dodint** » Thu Mar 25, 2021 3:48 pm

I vaguely remember Hulu promising that, but it was only for certain programming, so I scratched them off the list and haven't looked back.

Postby **nocera** » Thu Mar 25, 2021 4:05 pm

I vaguely remember Hulu promising that, but it was only for certain programming, so I scratched them off the list and haven't looked back.

I believe some of the network shows have contractual agreements for limited commercials on Hulu and Peacock. I have the ad-free Hulu and have never seen an ad but it might just be because I don't watch the network shows.

Postby **dodint** » Thu Mar 25, 2021 4:11 pm

Yeah, that sounds right.

Stopping in the middle of a piece of produced content to watch some 30 second skits about soap, beer, and car insurance is a holdover vestige of broadcast television when that was the true way to raise revenue. That's over, either give it to me with no fee (Pluto TV, which I use) or ad-free (Netflix, HBO Max, which I also use); I'm not rewarding the double-dip. YTTV is a compromise, but I only watch programs I've DVR'd or are not paying attention to so the ads are a non-factor there.

Postby **MWB** » Fri Mar 26, 2021 10:14 pm

Laptop recommendations? Probably going with a Chromebook, as it will basically be used for web surfing, some streaming, and not much else.

Postby **Lemon Berry Lobster** » Tue Mar 30, 2021 4:38 pm

Just decided to order the Samsung 55 inch Q80T. Was going to wait and see how this year's model reviewed, but it's too much of a price jump.

First new tv since '12.
I went with the Sony X750H. First new TV since 2008 for me.
How's that working out for ya? I'm very happy with my decision so far.

Just got the stand in today and have it all set up. Enjoying it so far. One negative is when using the Twitch app the audio and video go out of sync, one positive is my remotes for my old Sony blu ray player and surround sound system work with the new TV.

Postby **NTP66** » Tue Mar 30, 2021 4:40 pm

How is your surround system setup? Run everything through your receiver if possible.

Postby **Lemon Berry Lobster** » Tue Mar 30, 2021 5:02 pm

Yeah I have the blu ray, and record player into the receiver. Should probably put the PC into it as well. Have a digital optical cable on the way for the TV audio. This is the model I have. Not top of the line but more than enough for me. https://www.crutchfield.com/S-DPFy6uKU6 ... S2300.html

Postby **eddy** » Tue Apr 06, 2021 3:05 pm

Sonos roam getting pretty good reviews. I absolutely love my 4th husky child (sonos move), but this will be nice to toss in a bag hiking or biking. Still wish they'd add a 3.5mm jack as well. Anyone have 2 moves for stereo?