Suns Sign New Free-TV Deal

[95pro]

What is the channel number for 3tv on directv?

 

[Mainstreet]

What is the channel number for 3tv on directv?

It's on channel 3.

December 2nd is the first game that is not listed to be televised on 3TV or a national channel.

 

[95pro]

It's on channel 3.

December 2nd is the first game that is not listed to be televised on 3TV or a national channel.

Channel 3 for my folks is PBS here. I don’t know how else to explain to them.

Are you on stream or satellite?

 

[Mainstreet]

Channel 3 for my folks is PBS here. I don’t know how else to explain to them.

Are you on stream or satellite?

I'm on satellite. The local channels such as 3, 5, 10, 12 and 15 show up on their normal Phoenix channels.

 

[95pro]

I'm on satellite. The local channels such as 3, 5, 10, 12 and 15 show up on their normal Phoenix channels.

3 and 5 are PBS here.

I have nothing on 10 and 12

15 is KRMA but doesn’t show up.

What package are you on?

 

[Mainstreet]

3 and 5 are PBS here.

I have nothing on 10 and 12

15 is KRMA but doesn’t show up.

What package are you on?

Channel 15 is ABC (KNXV) showing Texas-SanAntonio vs Tulane at the moment.

On channel 10 is local Fox and channel 12 is local NBC. Channel 8 is KAET.

Btw, I have a Regional Sports Package, but I think that is mostly about NBA TV, channel 216. I'm not sure what else that covers.

 

[gimpy]

I think those channels they listed on dtv are the local channels in the Phoenix area. If your local channels are not from the Phoenix area, I doubt they would show up on those channels. But, I don't have dtv anymore, so I could be way off.

 

[Covert Rain]

I'm still hearing a lot of complaining about the Suns game availability so I put together a chart that represents local TV/streaming availability from last season to this season.

Local Game Availability.

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The only people who have a valid complaint are DirecTV users but a game has yet to air solely on AZFS 44 yet so they haven't missed anything.

I've heard some rumblings about the quality of the broadcast, but I haven't noticed anything significant compared to Bally Sports.

Factor in the FREE OTA broadcasts and the stand alone streaming service for those who don't can't pick up antenna signal, and the lingering complaints seem ridiculous to me.

All of the complaining I've seen is coming from YouTube TV subscribers who didn't even get Bally Sports last season.

Don’t agree. Streamers have a legit complaint. Especially when AZFamily is available on some services but still subject to blackout for games. This chart is helpful though.

I finally found a cheap solution with the HDHomerun OTA tuner. Is only $99 bucks and you can hook up an external hardwire and pay a monthly fee for DVR or you can hook it up to plex amd DVR for free.

 

[Superbone]

Well I returned the TABLO DVR (4th gen). It basically wasn't compatible YET with Apple TV when watching LIVE TV. It worked on all my other devices but the Apple TV or my OLED LG TV. I got it on a Black Friday sale. I just ordered an HDHomerun DVR instead. It's supposed to work well with Apple TV and Plex. On to attempt #2 to record OTA Suns games.

Just moved to Phoenix and I love my Apple TV. Looks like HDHomerun might be the best solution for me as well. Are you happy with it?

 

[Superbone]

Don’t agree. Streamers have a legit complaint. Especially when AZFamily is available on some services but still subject to blackout for games. This chart is helpful though.

I finally found a cheap solution with the HDHomerun OTA tuner. Is only $99 bucks and you can hook up an external hardwire and pay a monthly fee for DVR or you can hook it up to plex amd DVR for free.

Can you fill me in on what plex amd DVR is and which one you'd recommend?

 

[Covert Rain]

Can you fill me in on what plex amd DVR is and which one you'd recommend?

Plex is just software that you can use to setup a streaming like experience. For example, you can digitize your movie library, setup a server and it allows you to download the app on various devices to watch that content. It also has some free TV content and sometime this year, they are rolling out PPV and the ability to buy digital movies or rent digital movies.

DVR is just a modern day VCR but instead of tape it puts in on a hard drive on the device. Some brands work only on OTA content and others will let you record some streaming content. It's the cheaper way to go unless you have a PC with some hefty storage.

Plex is way more functional but the cost is higher because you either need to add a bunch of hard drives to a PC (it would have to be a tower) or you could buy a server chasis and add hard drives to it (this is what I did). I previously had my PC running my Plex server but now moved to a standalone device. It also works with HomeRUN TV tuners so that you can use PLEX as a DVR. It stores the shows on your server.

So it depends on what you want to spend, how much time you want to put into and how much functionality you want. DVR is the simpler way but you have to do a bit of research to find out what content the DVR works with (i.e. cable, Satellite, Streaming services and over the air content).

 

[Superbone]

Plex is just software that you can use to setup a streaming like experience. For example, you can digitize your movie library, setup a server and it allows you to download the app on various devices to watch that content. It also has some free TV content and sometime this year, they are rolling out PPV and the ability to buy digital movies or rent digital movies.

DVR is just a modern day VCR but instead of tape it puts in on a hard drive on the device. Some brands work only on OTA content and others will let you record some streaming content. It's the cheaper way to go unless you have a PC with some hefty storage.

Plex is way more functional but the cost is higher because you either need to add a bunch of hard drives to a PC (it would have to be a tower) or you could buy a server chasis and add hard drives to it (this is what I did). I previously had my PC running my Plex server but now moved to a standalone device. It also works with HomeRUN TV tuners so that you can use PLEX as a DVR. It stores the shows on your server.

So it depends on what you want to spend, how much time you want to put into and how much functionality you want.

Thanks for all that info! OK, yeah, that's probably overkill for what I need. I just need to record OTA Jeopardy and Suns games. Apple TV is my goto streaming hardware. Sounds like HDHomerun with subscription might be my best bet since as you said above that Tablo doesn't play nice with Apple TV.

 

[Covert Rain]

Can you fill me in on what plex amd DVR is and which one you'd recommend?

One last thing. If you are doing this for watching Suns games and are subject to blackout here that's important. Because had I gone the DVR way it wouldn't have helped me because I subscribe to Hulu TV and they don't carry AZFAMILY during Suns games. So, that's why I use an OTA because I know I get the games that way and have options to record. DVR's in general will record OTA content.

 

[Covert Rain]

Thanks for all that info! OK, yeah, that's probably overkill for what I need. I just need to record OTA Jeopardy and Suns games. Apple TV is my goto streaming hardware. Sounds like HDHomerun with subscription might be my best bet since as you said above that Tablo doesn't play nice with Apple TV.

Yeah, I tried Tablo and it didn't play nice at all with my AppleTV. My HomeRun had zero issues.

 

[Superbone]

One last thing. If you are doing this for watching Suns games and are subject to blackout here that's important. Because had I gone the DVR way it wouldn't have helped me because I subscribe to Hulu TV and they don't carry AZFAMILY during Suns games. So, that's why I use an OTA because I know I get the games that way and have options to record. DVR's in general will record OTA content.

Yep, that's my issue as well. I just got in Phoenix late last week. Just signed up with YouTube TV and discovered it has the same issue. The same channel is the only one in Phoenix to watch Jeopardy as well. So OTA for Suns and Jeopardy and YouTubeTV for everything else (NBA TV, TNT, ESPN).

 

[Superbone]

Yeah, I tried Tablo and it didn't play nice at all with my AppleTV. My HomeRun had zero issues.

I'm just glad I searched and found your post before getting the Tablo and finding out the hard way! Thanks!

 

[dreamcastrocks]

When I lived in Phoenix, I loved to use the LocalBTV.com website to stream on my PC. It was available on phones too. They used to also have free DVR options as well, but that might cost money now.

Wanted to point out another option for people to be able to get local TV if you are in the PHX area without an antenna. (or use a VPN service that has a Phoenix area IP address)

 

[Covert Rain]

When I lived in Phoenix, I loved to use the LocalBTV.com website to stream on my PC. It was available on phones too. They used to also have free DVR options as well, but that might cost money now.

Wanted to point out another option for people to be able to get local TV if you are in the PHX area without an antenna. (or use a VPN service that has a Phoenix area IP address)

On the site it says it's been down since November. Also, I think he was looking for a simple setup verses running a VPN.