USA Network & Lifetime....easiest/cheapest way to get them?

Sling would be the cheapest, it works well but you will need multiple devices with wired ethernet or wi-fi. For your situation plug the cord back in for now and revisit later on. I say this as a person running a Tivo Bolt OTA, a Roku, and an Apple TV who's used Sling Tv and ATT TV Now. A lot of cord cutting is really cord shaving and I've put up with things that would drive most people crazy. Beware the candy coated "cord cutting" bias on the internet. Reality is a bit more complicated.
Since you have the investment in the equipment go back to Fios for now. Your household will be happier for it. Revisit in a year, a lot can change in 12 months.

If you want to save money your wife will need to make some compromises. $30/month for Sling just to get 2 channels seems outrageous to me. If she can live with just Lifetime, Philo TV is $20/month and carries both Lifetime and Lifetime Movie Network. There is also the option to subscribe to the Lifetime Movie Club through Amazon for $3.99/month.

Adam C. said:

If you want to save money your wife will need to make some compromises. $30/month for Sling just to get 2 channels seems outrageous to me. If she can live with just Lifetime, Philo TV is $20/month and carries both Lifetime and Lifetime Movie Network. There is also the option to subscribe to the Lifetime Movie Club through Amazon for $3.99/month.

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But they'll still need streaming devices so you're back to square one. MikeTx already has sunken costs in equipment.

tenthplanet said:

But they'll still need streaming devices so you're back to square one. MikeTx already has sunken costs in equipment.

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You can buy a Roku or Fire Stick for $25. That's a one time cost. I don't see how that's a big deal if he's willing to pay $30/month for Sling TV. And actually, some of these streaming services will give you a free device if you prepay for a certain number of months.

Much might depend on how long you've been gone from FiOS and who is your Internet provider now! If you've been gone from FiOS for some time you could maybe 'negotiate' something that actually might improve your position. Does the Roamio have PLS?

Adam C. said:

You can buy a Roku or Fire Stick for $25. That's a one time cost. I don't see how that's a big deal if he's willing to pay $30/month for Sling TV. And actually, some of these streaming services will give you a free device if you prepay for a certain number of months.

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Wi-fi only streaming sticks are their own level of pain..

tenthplanet said:

Wi-fi only streaming sticks are their own level of pain..

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Pain in terms of what? My house has 4 Fire Sticks and a Roku. We run several at the same time and have no problems. If your home has bad wifi, then that's a separate issue. Don't blame the device.

Yeah seems like a waste to pay $30/mo for 2 channels. I don't think it's any better to pay $20/mo for 1 channel either though.

I guess I would find out what she likes about these channels. Is there a specific series or 2 or 3 on USA ? If so you can buy those from Amazon or iTunes most likely at $2-$3/episode and less for a full season. Perhaps you can do that with Lifetime as well.

You can watch some current content on the Lifetime website and app. You can subscribe to the LIfetime Movie Club (as someone said.) You might be able to watch some current USA content via app/website.

OTherwise borrow someone's cable login/password and use those to watch through the (channel) apps.


Your Minis are worth money on eBay if you wanted to go streaming boxes. Bolt only worth something if it has lifetime afaik.

Buying shows by the episode or season ain't cheap. Especially if there are more than a few seasons.

Ok, so everyone has confirmed what I already had determined. A) buy some additional streaming boxes for a few TVs, and stack Sling on top B) Bite the bullet and go back to Fios. Although if I do that, then I'll have two OTA boxes sitting idle (Bolt and Roamio). I'd sell them but things might change again (like Tivo adding more streaming options to the older boxes....hahahahaha.....I can dream).

I'm using Spectrum for internet right now. Spectrum has it's own nightmare with TV services and Tivo (gotta have the extra adapter...no thanks). For the record, we cut the cord 3 years ago, and except for a few channels my wife misses, we've never regretted it. So much cheaper.

I appreciate all the input! Thanks!

Aside from just having OTA TiVO box it looks as though a move back to FiOS could easily accomplish your desired content and actually improve the 'experience/convenience'. A used Roamio with 3TB and your Minis or used Bolt (either with PLS) would actually likely improve your experience. Does your OTA Bolt have PLS? FiOS in some locations actually does some sports in 4K, much depends I'd say on display (TV) maybe your use of an AVR or no.

CableCard slots in the past have been mentioned to be possible adds to some Roamio or Bolt models.

I thought you mentioned a Roamio + in your original post!!!

Post#9 - SHARE !!!

WVZR1 said:

FiOS in some locations actually does some sports in 4K, much depends I'd say on display (TV) maybe your use of an AVR or no.

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FiOS 4K sports apparently requires a package that has sports channels (even if the non-4K broadcast is on a network channel). Adding a package with sports adds the Regional Sports Fee. FiOS Custom TV Action & Entertainment includes USA and Lifetime without the RSF.

DVR_Dave said:

FiOS 4K sports apparently requires a package that has sports channels (even if the non-4K broadcast is on a network channel). Adding a package with sports adds the Regional Sports Fee. FiOS Custom TV Action & Entertainment includes USA and Lifetime without the RSF.

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I understand that BUT the OP has never mentioned his 'DISPLAY' or any other interests that could possible make the decision more 'appetizing'. There's way more to 'entertainment' than just 'CHEAP' ..... maybe for some NOT!!!

OP mentioned having a Roamio+???

mattyro7878 said:

Buying shows by the episode or season ain't cheap. Especially if there are more than a few seasons.

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IT's all relative. If someone wants 2 channels only, it might be cheaper to directly buy the shows one watches than pay $30/mo for Slingtv to get them. The question of course is what shows and how many episodes do they have per season.

Also would one be willing to buy the SD verison of any of those shows? I always found SD versions were actually are of pretty good quality actually compared to cable. SD versions are 67% the price of HD ones. I know my wife wouldn't care.

Last one can get discounts at least on iTunes. Every xmas itunes cards go on sale for 20% off at many places. The rest of the year 10% deals are a regular occurrence with better deals sometimes making an appearance.

WVZR1 said:

I thought you mentioned a Roamio + in your original post!!!

Post#9 - SHARE !!!

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I did mention it....and it's in my sig line. And all my boxes have lifetime.

WVZR1 said:

I understand that BUT the OP has never mentioned his 'DISPLAY' or any other interests that could possible make the decision more 'appetizing'. There's way more to 'entertainment' than just 'CHEAP' ..... maybe for some NOT!!!

OP mentioned having a Roamio+???

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Yes, I have a Roamio +......I used to have Frontier Fios for years, with a cablecard. When I cut the cord, I switched to a Roamio OTA for a few years, then to a Bolt OTA. I still have all the boxes. Tried to sell the Roamio + locally a few times, but no bites.
I'm not hung up on 4k. My main TV is 4k, but my older AVR doesn't pass 4k, so everything we watch is 1080p....which honestly is really nice. The OTA picture we get locally is crystal clear, so 4k is not a big deal.

It costs 'nothing' to do the math and make a decision as to convenience VS maybe 'CHEAP'!!!

It still amazes me 'I CUT THE CORD' - there's very few who have actually 'CUT THE CORD'!!!!!

***I've a friend who used to be a 'SMOKER' - he often relates cost comparisons to - how many 'PACKS OF CIGARETTES' !!!

WVZR1 said:

It costs 'nothing' to do the math and make a decision as to convenience VS maybe 'CHEAP'!!!

It still amazes me 'I CUT THE CORD' - there's very few who have actually 'CUT THE CORD'!!!!!

***I've a friend who used to be a 'SMOKER' - he often relates cost comparisons to - how many 'PACKS OF CIGARETTES' !!!

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Yeah cut the cord is basically the equivalent of canceling your season tickets and instead going to just 1 game per year. And then saying it's so much cheaper! Screw the man!

miketx said:

So my wife wants USA and Lifetime. We are a long time Tivo subscriber, and currently run a Bolt OTA with 5 Minis. We have Amazon Prime, Hulu and Netflix.
I've looked into YTTV and Hulu Live, but both of those are overkill and still need an extra device (unless Tivo finally breaks down and puts the app on their legacy boxes......hahaha). Sling TV seems to have the best trimmed down package which has both for $30/month......but of course I need to buy a Fire TV, Roku, or some other device (and multiples.....for at least 2 TVs). More devices/remotes = unhappy wife......but I realize there may be no choice.
Any other ideas?
I hate to plug the cord back in, but for just a few bucks more I could reinstall Fios TV (and fire up my old Roamio Plus with a cablecard, which I used for years).

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You could sell all of your Tivo equipment and purchase an Amazon recast 4 tuner OTA dvr and 6 fire TV sticks. The fire tv sticks will have full throated versions of the apps you're looking for.