This post is part of a Denver Post series on TV options available today — from new and existing companies. The stories may be updated as new information is discovered. Read the series at dpo.st/tvtoday or “Cable TV, satellite, streaming: See your options, lower your bill”
A lot of the extra fees in pay TV bills are taxes or feature add-ons, like DVRs. You can’t do much about taxes, but even budget-minded folks don’t have to give up the ability to pause live TV. Instead of spending $9.99 to $19.99 monthly to rent a DVR from the cable company, try these alternatives:
TiVo Roamio OTA DVR lets broadcast-only viewers still record TV.
• TiVo’s Roamio OTA DVR is $49.99 and costs $14.99 a month. Itap limited to local channels and must be connected to an HD antenna. Like all TiVo’s, the box has access to content like Netflix, Amazon Prime and Hulu Plus. If the goal is to eliminate monthly fees, TiVo’s higher-priced DVRs, which start at $199, have a one-time lifetime plan for $399 to $499.
Tablo DVR also targets cord cutters who only watch broadcast TV.
• Tablo is a whole-home DVR that can record only local broadcast channels and be viewed on any connected TV in the house (Tablo uses Wi-Fi, not HDMI to connect video to a TV). A one-time investment of $220 (plus more for a hard drive and antenna) gets you the Tablo 2-Tuner, which records two channels simultaneously (the four-tuner Tablo is $299). An optional monthly fee of $4.99 (or $150 for life) offers access to a TV guide so you know what shows are coming up.
• Simple.TV is similar to Tablo, where users bring the hard drive and HD antenna and attach the. There are no extra fees to get a simple TV guide, but if you want to access the DVR when away from home, itap $60 a year.
Read the series → Cable TV, satellite, streaming: See your options, lower your bill
Visit the Denver Post special page on consumer TV options: dpo.st/tvtoday
