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Issue 37: August 5, 2019

Do you need the most expensive cord-cutting device on the market? Not at all. This week, we quickly explore how to pick the streaming device you want. We also have a few streaming guides, and some critical news, including DirecTV Now's sudden and confusing name change. Read on to find out more in this week's Stream Report.

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Cord-Cutting Tip of the Week:

Does Your Streaming Device Matter?

'

Recently, we

put the Amazon Fire TV Cube to the test

. Our results weren't so positive, as we found the device's key feature (voice control) is not ready for prime time. That leads us to consider another important point: the device you use when cord-cutting matters. There are a few points to consider when choosing a streaming device, including price and whether streaming services you use work on the device.

1. Only get high-powered devices if you need them

On the low-end of the market, you have low-cost devices like the Amazon Fire TV Stick ($40), Roku Stick+ ($50), or the Chromecast ($35). These devices support a large number of streaming apps but are uniquely underpowered. The Fire TV Stick, for example, has 8GB of RAM and a 1.7 GHz processor. It's designed to store just as much as it needs to, and its processing power is good enough to run HD streaming, but just that.

Meanwhile, the upper end of the market offers devices like the Nvidia Shield, which is a super-high-powered device which runs Android TV, supports 4K streaming, and runs on a processor offering 3 GB RAM with 16 GB of storage space. The Nvidia Shield is designed for both streaming and gaming, making it more powerful, but making it far more expensive at $179.

Most cord-cutters don't need the most powerful device on the market, or even the most expensive option each company sells. Few offer a comparative advantage for streaming with added power. If you're just focused on day-to-day streaming, go for the cheap offer.

2. Make sure there's an app for that

One thing that often frustrates cord-cutters is app functionality. It's easy to assume that there's an app for every device, but that's unfortunately not the case. Some devices, such as the Chromecast, don't have apps available for every streaming service. Before purchasing a device, make sure it has apps for the streaming services you plan to use. Philo users spent over a year waiting for an Android app, while Fire TV users spent over 2 years waiting for a dedicated YouTube TV app.

This Week's Streaming Guide

1. Bravo dives into the house-flipping market with 'Flipping Exes', this TUESDAY

HGTV isn't the only channel that can do the house-flipping genre. Bravo's new show

Flipping Exes

premieres this Tuesday at 10 P.M. EST. -

Flixed

2. Teen Choice Awards back this week on SUNDAY

Follow up on your teens' favorite musicians and actors this week at the Teen Choice Awards at 5 P.M. on FOX.

.

-

Flixed

News and Industry Developments

1. Cable TV fees for local TV broadcast channels up 600 percent since 2006.

Broadcast affiliates, like ABC, FOX, CBS, and NBC, are all up, by a lot. Prices have risen over 600 percent since 2006. -

ArmStrong

2. DirecTV Now changes now to AT&T TV Now

AT&T announced this week a sudden name change for its DirecTV Now service. It's not called AT&T TV Now, which has left a lot of users confused.

- TheVerge