View this email in your browser

Issue 39: August 19, 2019

This week, we take a quick dive into streaming qualities and offer a few tips to improve your streaming quality through internet TV services. We also deliver a few helpful industry news blips and must-see TV releases this week, including Netflix's highly-controversial 13 Reasons Why. Read on to find out more in this week's Stream Report.

.Interested in sharing Stream Report with a friend? Send them here!

Cord-Cutting Tip of the Week:

How to Improve Streaming Quality

As much as we love and support cord-cutting, one thing that's consistently true (at least for now) is that traditional cable tends to have better streaming quality than many internet TV streaming options. There are a few ways you can improve your streaming quality through cord-cutting options, however.

1. Make sure you have good bandwidth

The amount of internet you're paying for from your ISP will impact your streaming quality. For example, if you're on a 10 Mbps subscription plan, don't expect to get good quality while streaming, especially during peak internet hours, and especially not if you're sharing your connection with others.

You'll need 25 Mbps of free bandwidth to stream in UHD quality. Traditional cable can offer higher quality without an internet connection, but if you're cutting the cord and want to maintain those higher quality streams, invest in more internet speeds, if you aren't already.

2. Use ethernet versus wifi

WiFi routers are getting better than ever, and many newer, pricier routers maintain most of the speed you're getting through your modem. But if you're still using an older or cheap router, you may be losing 50 percent or more of the speeds you're paying for. One option to get better internet speeds for your TV-connected streaming devices is to use ethernet instead of WiFi. You'll maximize your available bandwidth to the device, and get better streaming quality in the process.

3. Make sure your provider doesn't throttle video streaming data

Some providers now actively throttle video streaming data, especially mobile internet providers. Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MNVOs), like Xfinity Mobile and MetroPCS will throttle video streaming, often all the way down to 480p. This may be true of some home ISP providers as well. Check to make sure your provider doesn't throttle speeds.

This Week's Streaming Guide

1. Watch 'This Way Up' Season 1 on Hulu this WEDNESDAY

Critics are raving about Hulu's upcoming comedy series,

This Way Up

. According to Guardian critic Lucy Mangan, "If a second series isn't commissioned, I'll Brexit the lot of you." -

Next Season TV

2. Netflix's Controversial Suicide Show '13 Reasons Why' Returns FRIDAY

Just how much controversy will

13 Reasons Why

Season 3 spark? There's only one way to find out. Binge

13 Seasons Why

this FRIDAY on Netflix. -

N

etflix

News and Industry Developments

1. How Bad Will it Get for Netflix?

After nearly 10 years as the single largest and most prominent streaming service on the market, 2019 may be the year Netflix's fate turns. -

Wall Street Journal

2. Thinking of Getting a Roku Ultra? Read Our 2019 Review

This week, we reviewed the Roku Ultra, and trust us -- if you're a Fire TV user, you may be tempted to switch.

- Flixed