Playstation Vue vs Sling TV

[HuskAir]

Hey all, I know this topic has come up in the past multiple times. The Mrs and I are looking at options to cut cable. We are taking a good, hard look at Vue and Sling TV (in addition to snagging an antenna for the local channels).

I've done some of my own research and am sure doing the 7-day trial will give us a good idea, but wanted to hear as sports and primarily college football enthusiasts...

-Do you feel you are getting enough college football in your life with whichever service and plan you went with?
-What made you select one service over the other?
-What do you wish the service you went with had?
-What are using to stream?
-I already have a PS4 on our main TV, would you see any reason to invest in a Roku/Apple TV/Fire TV?

Thanks all!

 

[bigboxes]

I don't have a PS4. how ever, I have VUE and three Fire TV devices. If you have a PS4 then you don't need anything else. VUE is not perfect, but it is easily worth the savings over cable. There are so much sports on VUE. I also, have antennas for OTA programming.

 

[Red Law]

I've used both services. I stream them through their respective apps on my Roku. Sling is cheaper but has fewer channels. And Sling doesn't have BTN which is inconvenient during college football season. Vue does have BTN and if I recall FS1 and other sports offerings I didn't get on Sling. I found the Vue Roku app to be very clunky and the live streams lagged on occassion. But I've read that it's a much better experience through a PS4.

Usually when I'm watching live sports, rather than watch in Sling (or Vue when I had it) I watch in the ESPN3 app. The ESPN live streams rarely lag or leave HD. I experimented quite a bit last fall and always went back to ESPN app for live sports.

 

[bigboxes]

With VUE, I have the following channels (Core package) for sports:

Fox Sports (regional) (for me that covers Rangers, Stars, Mavericks; I'm in DFW)
FS1
FS2
ESPN
ESPN2
ESPNEWS
ESPNU
NBA
NFL
MLB
MLB Alternate
TNT (NBA)
TBS (NCAA MBB)
NBCSN (NHL)
BTN
BTN Alternate
BTN Alternate
BTN Alternate
SEC Network
BeIN Sports
Golf Channel
Longhorn Network (who cares)

Plus, I get the local NBC, FOX and CBS. ABC is only on demand, so useless for live sports. I've got an antenna for OTA. I use VUE for local when it's windy.

 

[huskerfan830]

I have PSVue, and it's not perfect as mentioned, but an excellent replacement. In addition I still have Cox's most basic TV package and mini boxes connected to every TV in the house. I think it's a nice combo, just in case the internet is acting up I can watch sports on the local networks in high def. I won't be going back to Cox exclusively for my TV service.

 

[jedihusker]

I have Vue but have never tried Sling TV, so I can't speak to any differences there. One big reason I chose Vue over Sling originally is Vue gave you a lot more access to the various "Watch" apps than Sling did; not sure if that's still the case, but I liked that. By Watch apps, I'm referring to things like Watch AMC, Watch ESPN, etc... Basically the apps that various networks have to watch their content.

Talking about devices to watch on. When I first signed up for Vue, the main devices I used were a first generation Fire TV Stick and my PS3. The Vue app on PS3 was pretty good and smooth, not much to complain about, but not perfect. On the First Gen Fire TV Stick, it wasn't horrible, but it wasn't great. The guide and just navigation in general was pretty choppy and slow, especially when you first logged in. It got a little better as you went on, but still just generally slow. Definitely usable, but not really desirable.

Since then, I've gotten a PS4 and the newer version of the Fire TV Stick they came out with last fall. The newer Fire TV Stick; which has an updated interface and better processor; is much better, the interface overall is better, and in the Vue app specifically, everything is much smoother and quicker navigation. Much easier to use, probably the best cheap option out there for Vue. The PS4 is the best experience I've had. Everything is 100% smooth and quick to navigate, basically just like watching TV on a cable box (in fact, the interface is probably quicker than some cable boxes I've used). The PS4 Vue app also has; which I don't remember seeing on other versions of the app, though someone can correct me if I'm wrong, where it will keep whatever you are currently watching on up in the corner while you are scrolling the Guide, much like most currently satellite and cable boxes do.

 

[HuskAir]

Thanks for all of the great feedback. I wish Vue had Pac12 network for those super late games on Saturday's....but I will survive without.

Do you guys use the Vue's DVR feature?

 

[LonghornInOmaha]

Thanks for all of the great feedback. I wish Vue had Pac12 network for those super late games on Saturday's....but I will survive without.

Do you guys use the Vue's DVR feature?

I agree with bigboxes. I had PlayStation Vue all last fall for football season. Can't complain too much, especially for the cost compared to cable. Plus, you'll be able to log into all the other apps on your smart devices to watch lots more games, including the PAC 12 network.

 

[gcadays99]

Has vue got comedy central back yet? I dropped them after football season was over and they lost a bunch of stations including comedy central.

 

[jawatkins]

I've had both, I found VUE to be more reliable, I used a PlayStation and Roku. VUE allows 5 streams, sling streams allowed is based on package choice.

 

[bigboxes]

Has vue got comedy central back yet? I dropped them after football season was over and they lost a bunch of stations including comedy central.

I don't give a crap about Viacom programming. I can torrent any show that I want to watch. I'm not willing to pay more just to have their package.

 

[gcadays99]

I don't give a crap about Viacom programming. I can torrent any show that I want to watch. I'm not willing to pay more just to have their package.

Unlike you we don't get local channels here in Lincoln all of them are just on demand stuff. I wasn't going to pay for something I hardly use once football was over.

 

[bigboxes]

Unlike you we don't get local channels here in Lincoln all of them are just on demand stuff. I wasn't going to pay for something I hardly use once football was over.

I totally get it. You want what you want. There's no contract. Pick it back up at any time. However, it's not just me. My wife watches a lot of that stuff. She'd be happier if they had the local ABC affiliate and not just ABC On Demand.

 

[TFC2001]

I'm cutting the cord as well...have a ps4 so going with the Slim package for $34.99 (still has all the sports channels). Then getting the HBO Now app for $15.00...and CBS All Access App ($9.99 for commercial free) because my wife and I watch a lot of CBS shows. All in will be $60...not the $127.00 we are currently paying good ole DirecTV. Been extremely happy with the service so far.

My question for those with streaming devices (in Omaha) is do you have Cox or CenturyLink? Cox 50 mbps is $78 and CenturyLink 40 mbps (dedicated line) is $35.00. Any major difference there? My understanding is the Cox 50 mbps is a shared line between my neighbors and us so we should not see a huge difference, correct? (Thinking about making this switch as well).

 

[NorthWillRiseAgain]

I use Vue, it's pretty reliable on my roku premiere, the Roku 2 xs is hit or miss though.

The good
-many quality channels, not as many fillers as dish or cable
-good sports channels, about where the top tier is on dish and cable.
-good on demand movies for the price
-price

Bad
-guide on Rokus
-no local channels in area, will have to use espn3
-DVR feature that I'm still not completely understanding, as some shows won't save.
-slow on older players, but that's expected.
-lack of Viacom (mtvs, history, vh1, etc.)

 

[bleedhuskerred]

Did you see this from Youtube https://tv.youtube.com/welcome/ Looks like a solid line up to me. No Hallmark channel, the wife would not be happy.

 

[meanmachine]

l went with PSV and I am very happy with it. I use a Amazon tv box to get it. Being west of Lincoln I like that I can watch 10/11 out of Lincoln on the Vue, now just waiting for them to pick up the other local stations and I will be set. I use a digital antenna to get NBC out of Hastings and mytv (which are both ran by 10/11 and don't understand why Vue doesn't have them on the line up, and I need a Fox station), but they don't 'always come in. I like their lineup but I miss the History Channel. I get plenty of college sports. I will stay with it but if the others like Hulu or Youtube carry all the locals I most likely will switch. I left directv after they raised my bill.

 

[gcadays99]

I totally get it. You want what you want. There's no contract. Pick it back up at any time. However, it's not just me. My wife watches a lot of that stuff. She'd be happier if they had the local ABC affiliate and not just ABC On Demand.

exactly as far as sports goes it has a great lineup for 35/month so I'm sure I'll pick it up once football season starts again and the flexibility of adding and dropping whenever is nice.

 

[Redd Webster]

Vue has stepped up its game from a year ago. It was so limited with no Roku app and support of providers apps were limited.

Programming:
$35.00 package in Omaha give enough content for my and kids needs. Sports and Movies channels with all the Disney, cartoon/ boomerang and Discovery channels works well.

Device : Using a FireTV box & Roku TV. I really like the FireTV box as the guide is really easy to use. Roku guide is really not great. But Both work well with the DVR & on demand stuff.

Streams & Profiles: 5 concurrent streams works well. We will get 4 streams going at once and have no issues. Also the individual profiles for all family members.

Channel Apps:
While the VUE app does not work well out of the house. The app credential work on all of my channels. ESPN app get all channels with ESPN3. FoxSportsGo and BTN work well. While not the most convenient way to watch but it is nice to have the option.

For content, streams and app support, it work well for us. And the $45 we save every month is well worth it.

No Locals but we use a TIVO for DVR function.

 

[Redd Webster]

[QUOTE="TFC2001,

My question for those with streaming devices (in Omaha) is do you have Cox or CenturyLink? Cox 50 mbps is $78 and CenturyLink 40 mbps (dedicated line) is $35.00. Any major difference there? My understanding is the Cox 50 mbps is a shared line between my neighbors and us so we should not see a huge difference, correct? (Thinking about making this switch as well).[/QUOTE]

Using both service was never issue. We use Cox service mostly for the because after 9 years with US West Qwest Centurylink they screwed up so much it was always an issue. Beyond the billing mistakes on a monthly basis. They cut our buried line as they needed to upgrade and we had a temp drop line when we got tried the Prism service and they did not fix it for over a year. To many minutes spent fighting they. We pay $60 in service for what we could get at $35 but we don't have the head aches.

I can't say we notice a difference but never used Centurylink for streaming service more than Netflix.

 

[Huskers_Rule]

I get all local channels as part of my basic ISP service so Vue is on top of that. I find the quality of the cable signal still superior to Vue yet not worth the price differential.

My favorite part of Vue (and services like it) are the lack of gov't fees, $34.99 means $34.99.

 

[bigboxes]

My favorite part of Vue (and services like it) are the lack of gov't fees, $34.99 means $34.99.

I started paying sales tax this month. That's ok with me as long as there are no hidden fees.

 

[tk39]

I have Vue and have had it for a little over 1 year. I'm in the DFW area so i get NBC, Fox, and CBS live while ABC is on demand.
I have a ps4, ps3, and roku 3 and it works well on all those platforms.

It can get a little fuzzy when you're watching live sports but most of the husker games I've watched have been great quality.

i have the core package and it is 44.99 a month, can't complain about that.

the dvr really stinks when it comes to recording a football game because it will record all the football games. you can't specify that you want to just record a husker game. i have to filter through everything to find the husker game.

 

[Huskers_Rule]

I have Vue and have had it for a little over 1 year. I'm in the DFW area so i get NBC, Fox, and CBS live while ABC is on demand.
I have a ps4, ps3, and roku 3 and it works well on all those platforms.

It can get a little fuzzy when you're watching live sports but most of the husker games I've watched have been great quality.

i have the core package and it is 44.99 a month, can't complain about that.

the dvr really stinks when it comes to recording a football game because it will record all the football games. you can't specify that you want to just record a husker game. i have to filter through everything to find the husker game.

Yea but I love that, you select to record college football and you get every game for the season.