Flixed Newsletter 2 - May.14/2019

Flixed Newsletter - How Much Internet Speed Do Cord-Cutters Need, and MORE!

May 14, 2019

Issue 25: May 14, 2019

This week, we take a look at internet speed. Are you getting what you paid for? Are you actually paying for what you need? We look at two topics that might help better inform your internet purchase as you cut the cord.We've also got some must-see information for golf fans (the PGA Championship is streaming THIS WEEK), as well as a few interesting news tidbits (Disney wants to own every bit of Hulu, but that might not be a bad thing).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 Much Internet Speed Do You Need?

Here's a question we often see pop up, especially for new cord-cutters. When you cut the cord on TV and phone, you'll still need to keep your internet plan intact if you want to switch to a streaming service like YouTube TV, Sling TV, Hulu with Live TV, or Philo, among others. 

But just how much internet do you need in order to get the best quality? Here are two things to consider.

1. You'll need more speed if you have more users

If you're a single living at home by yourself, you likely won't be watching multiple HD streams at the same time. As such, you probably don't need to get a shiny (and expensive) Gigabit internet plan from your ISP.

In fact, if you live alone and don't share a connection, you may be able to make do with something as little as 25 Mbps down.

Any less than that and you may run the risk of experiencing reduced-quality video and buffering, especially for HD videos and especially during peak internet usage hours. 

On the other hand, if you're just one of multiple internet users in your home, you're going to need a beefier connection. This is going to be particularly true if you're taking advantage of simultaneous streaming from services like PlayStation Vue, or if you have family members who do a fair amount of online gaming.

2. The advertised speed is never what you'll get

ISPs love to advertise crazy fast speeds, but you're almost never going to achieve those speeds for a few key reasons:

  • Your distance from the ISP's internet exchange point can impact your speed (you can't change this one)

  • Your ISP is throttling internet speeds for everyone at certain times of the day (you also can't change this one)

  • Others sharing your network are using a lot of bandwidth (you can change this one, but it might cause some fights in the house)

  • You're using an old WiFi router (you can change this one)

  • Your devices aren't capable of using higher-speed WiFi signals (you can also change this, but often at great expense)

There are certainly more reasons why you might have slow internet. Few of them are things you can change, especially ISP speed throttling during high-traffic times, or just high traffic on the local network in general. But you can upgrade your WiFi router if it's old, and that can make a significant impact. 

Case in point, I personally pay for 150 Mbps down but was getting less than 50 Mbps down. After upgrading to a

, my average speed jumped to over 100 Mbps down. Sometimes it really is just the equipment you're using.

All of this is to say: don't let the advertised speed be your guide. Always get an internet plan that offers more data than you think you'll need, but don't go overboard.

This Week's Streaming Guide

1. The 2019 PGA Championship Broadcasts Live this THURSDAY

Don't miss Tiger and Golf's other greats get back on the green this week! The US PGA Championship will broadcast live this week from May 16 to May 19 on TNT and CBS.

offers a low-cost option for cord-cutters to get both TNT (which carries events for all 4 days) and CBS (which carries events for the last two days) -

2. Fox's News Dating Show 'Paradise Hotel' Premieres this WEDNESDAY

Kristin Cavallari hosts this revamped Fox reality series featuring sexy singles mingling on the beach in an attempt to win out in love, money, and fame.

is your lowest-cost option for cutting the cord. - 

Streaming Deals

1. Get 40% Off Your Sling TV Subscription 

2. Sign Up For Sling, Get a Free Roku

 is currently giving away a free Roku Express to all new subscribers who prepay for one month of service. -

3. Sign Up For Sling, Get a Free Indoor Antenna and Air TV Bundle

is currently giving away a free indoor antenna and an Air TV Bundle to all new subscribers who prepay for three months of service. -

4. Get $5 Off Your First Month of Philo

Use coupon code "R9RFWJVG" at checkout to get $5 off your

. -

5. Sling TV Currently Giving Free Preview of Add-on Bundle

From now until May 19, Sling TV is giving subscribers free access to four channel add-on bundles: Comedy  Plus Extra, Kids Extra, Lifestyle Plus Extra, and News Extra. -

6. Get $20/Mo. Off the First Three Months of DirecTV Now

New DirecTV Now subscribers can get $20 per month off a new subscription for the first three months of service - a $60 value! -

News and Industry Developments

1. Disney is Angling Harder to Take Full Control of Hulu

Disney is currently working hard to take full control of Hulu with its bid to obtain Comcast's share of the company. The company is also hoping to keep all of the shows currently available on Hulu even after gaining full control from its competitors.

2. FuboTV Developing Free, Ad-Supported Channel, NOT a Service

It appears several reports about fuboTV creating a free, ad-supported may have been misleading. According to the company, it's not looking to create a service like Pluto TV. Instead, it's working to develop a free, ad-supported channel. Where that channel will be offered is as yet unknown. 

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