How to watch the Illini

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#1      

APS iMBA

Urbana, IL
Anyone who has cut the cable have good advice on which streaming service will get me access to the most Illini games?
 
#8      
YoutubeTV. I got it for basketball season. It's ~$60/mo, so not cheap, so I canceled it after the season (I only watch Illini sports) and will probably restart it at some point.
 
#10      

blackdog

Champaign
Sling was pretty good except that it doesn't get the broadcast channels by default for some reason. If there was a game on CBS or Fox it was a bit of a challenge to watch.
 
#11      
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These?
 
#12      
Sling was pretty good except that it doesn't get the broadcast channels by default for some reason. If there was a game on CBS or Fox it was a bit of a challenge to watch.

Don't the broadcast channels stream their content with ads on their website? I seem to recall watching a game or two directly off cbs online, but my memory on that is a bit hazy....
 
#13      
If you like sports, YouTubeTV provides many channels in addition to BTN. They include FS1, FS2, SEC, ACC, NBC SN, MLB, NBA, NFL, NBC Sports Chicago, and all of the ESPN channels. During the BBall season you can watch almost every top team on one of the stations. As mentioned above, the DVR works well. Just select a team and all of their games are recorded no matter when or where. Also for all recorded programs you can join late and have the option of starting from the beginning or live. If you watch several programs at once you can move back and forth picking up where you left off and fast forwarding thru the commercials. Also if you travel or live in more than one place, you can stream from any place. We spend winters in Florida so there is no stopping and starting service. One monthly cost whether we are in Illinois or Florida.
 
#14      
Anyone who has cut the cable have good advice on which streaming service will get me access to the most Illini games?
I also had YouTube TV. It’s a bit pricey at like $65 per month. But most games were televised. I dropped it as soon as the season was over. I plan on subscribing again in November—assuming it includes the BIG10 Network (These things are always changing).
 
#15      

APS iMBA

Urbana, IL
I ended up getting YouTube TV. So far, I like it! Recording a few 1-hr highlight games of the football team tonight. Thanks for the advice everyone!
 
#16      
What do you cord cutters use and pay for internet? When I factor that in, I don't see the savings unless you drop your provider for several months. A couple of years ago I got my Roku devices and was all ready to cut the cord, but when I called to cancel, Xfinity gave me a pretty sweet deal. The deal is up in a couple of months and I want to be ready to cut the cord.
 
#17      
What do you cord cutters use and pay for internet? When I factor that in, I don't see the savings unless you drop your provider for several months. A couple of years ago I got my Roku devices and was all ready to cut the cord, but when I called to cancel, Xfinity gave me a pretty sweet deal. The deal is up in a couple of months and I want to be ready to cut the cord.
I pay $39 per month in Illinois for Comcast and $22 in Florida for Spectrum. (Both are the minimum service but it works fine.) Added to the $65 for YouTubeTV it is still way below what comcast charges.
 
#18      

cuillini

San Bernardino, Ca.
I still use Directv. I get everything but the Pac12 channel. I've been a customer so long they even give me NFL Season Ticket for free.
 
#19      
I pay $39 per month in Illinois for Comcast and $22 in Florida for Spectrum. (Both are the minimum service but it works fine.) Added to the $65 for YouTubeTV it is still way below what comcast charges.
Thank you for the information. I didn't know you could get Comcast internet for $39. I thought that they were telling me $60 or something like that (I don't remember).

I'm actually paying less than $100* for Xfinity now, but I don't get ESPNU, ACC or SEC networks. I have to figure something out for the football game at Virginia.

*It was less than $90 when I first signed up, but they added this bogus broadcast fee that keeps going up to my "locked in" price.
 
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#21      
Find a local sports bar that carries the most sports channels and start making friends with the bar staff.
If Covid wasn't ramping up, for sure. I might see if any of these outdoor tents have TVs, but will probably go with a free trial.
 
#22      

hooraybeer

Pittsburgh, PA
signed up for youtube TV as well. seems like the best sports value from what I can tell
 
#23      
Does anyone use Sling to get B10 Network?

It looks kind of "ify", it says yes but through Fox Sports. I cut the cord and went antenna TV with Fire Recast DVR, saving $120 a month. I'd don't mind paying $50 (Sling Orange & Blue - nice touch) to stream College Football & Basketball, & NFL.
 
#24      

blackdog

Champaign
Does anyone use Sling to get B10 Network?

It looks kind of "ify", it says yes but through Fox Sports. I cut the cord and went antenna TV with Fire Recast DVR, saving $120 a month. I'd don't mind paying $50 (Sling Orange & Blue - nice touch) to stream College Football & Basketball, & NFL.
I do and it works just fine for btn and all the other sports channels. Like I mentioned earlier though you won't get the broadcast channels with those packages so it can be challenging to get some of the national broadcasts
 
#25      
If you like sports, YouTubeTV provides many channels in addition to BTN. They include FS1, FS2, SEC, ACC, NBC SN, MLB, NBA, NFL, NBC Sports Chicago, and all of the ESPN channels. During the BBall season you can watch almost every top team on one of the stations. As mentioned above, the DVR works well. Just select a team and all of their games are recorded no matter when or where. Also for all recorded programs you can join late and have the option of starting from the beginning or live. If you watch several programs at once you can move back and forth picking up where you left off and fast forwarding thru the commercials. Also if you travel or live in more than one place, you can stream from any place. We spend winters in Florida so there is no stopping and starting service. One monthly cost whether we are in Illinois or Florida.
YouTube TV is also really handy during the Tourney. Just add "NCAA Basketball" to your library and it records every single game, regardless of channel.
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