FAYETTEVILLE — If you’re like me, the only reason you keep cable is for live sporting events.
Sports are the lifeblood of cable and satellite TV. It’s a mutually beneficial relationship as TV has funded the economic boom in sports over the past quarter-century.
I can watch Seinfeld reruns on Hulu and binge Longmire on Netflix, but for years, the only way to ensure I could see every game of the week is to keep paying a subscription to a cable provider.
Because of bundling, that cost has kept increasing. We pay in excess of $160 per month for cable, Internet and DVR through our provider. And that’s with a $20 monthly discount that I got when I threatened to cancel.
So if you’re like me, you have probably looked into other options. There are plenty of them out there that are threatening the cable and satellite model. Most notably, services like Sling TV and PlayStation Vue have entered the marketplace with success.
Through both services, you can access programming that previously could only be accessed through cable or satellite. And unlike cable and satellite companies, Sling and Vue don’t require contracts, so you can cancel at any time.
Sling and Vue are apps that are accessed on smart TVs or through streaming devices like Roku, Amazon Fire TV Stick and Apple TV. The streaming device plugs into your TV through a USB port and gives you access to other popular apps like Netflix and Hulu - platforms through which I’m sure live sports will one day be shown.
But are Sling and Vue worth it? I recently did trials of both and have some thoughts on their value as it pertains to sports.
Admittedly, you must have a little tech-savvy to pull this off. And there are some upfront costs.
Based on what I have found, you’ll need to pay for Vue’s $45 package or Sling’s $40 package to give yourself the best chance to see every Arkansas game. Even then you’re not guaranteed at that because some neutral-site and away games are televised by regional cable networks or not televised at all.
And you will also need a high-speed Internet connection to play both. The minimum streaming speed is 5 Mbps and recommended speed is 10 Mbps, meaning your Internet bill will likely be at least $60 monthly before taxes and fees.
Vue is my favorite of the two platforms for one big reason: DVR. Through a cloud, Vue allows you to record shows and keep them for up to 28 days. Also unlike Sling, you can access your Vue account on multiple platforms simultaneously, meaning you can watch College GameDay on your iPad while the kids watch cartoons on the living room TV.
Outside of that, there aren’t a lot of differences between the services. Each has a little bit different interface that takes some getting used to, but both stream high-definition pictures that are comparable to — and in some cases better than — cable and satellite.
There is a drawback to both: timeliness. Because they are streamed, neither service plays in real time.
If your 7-second satellite delay grates your nerves, the 90-second or more delay for these services will drive you crazy.
Some won’t find this a problem. But for those who love second-viewing (reading observations in real time through social media or text messages), there is no element of surprise.
One positive that Sling and Vue have in common is their carriage of ESPN3. You used to need a cable or satellite subscription to access that platform, which streams essentially every game shown on an ESPN-affiliated network. Almost every Arkansas game in every sport is available live on ESPN3, but some are subject to blackout.
That’s a nice feature for instances like this week. Arkansas-Texas A&M will be televised by ESPN beginning at 8 p.m. (a shame in its own right), three hours after the kickoff of a game between LSU and Auburn on the same network.
Chances are those watching on TV will miss at least some of the Razorbacks’ game because the preceding one is longer than its three-hour window. Those viewing the game through ESPN3 may not have to miss the opening kickoff.
Either service needs to be companioned with a digital antenna, which gives you access to your local affiliates for networks such as CBS, NBC, ABC and FOX. Those networks are free over-the-air services, and all offer on-demand programming.
You can access ABC, NBC and FOX on-demand through Vue. CBS has a separate on-demand app, All Access, that costs $6 (with commercials) to $10 (without commercials) each month.
CBS All Access streams local affiliates live in some larger markets, and NBC and FOX affiliates are available on Sling in larger markets. None of those markets are in Arkansas - yet.
Altogether, I have figured that it would cost somewhere in the vicinity of $115 per month to make the switch to either of these services. That cost includes Internet and associated taxes and fees.
It would also cost at least $40 up front for a quality digital antenna and around $50 to $100 for a device like a Roku.
We haven’t cut the cord yet, but my guess is that before long we’ll join the millions who already have. Sling and Vue are alternate options now, but as the Netflix generation grows and matures, this will one day become how we all watch sports on TV.
This originally appeared in Hawgs Illustrated magazine