P.O. Box 1408 Dickinson, ND 58602 A Publication of Consolidated Telcom
701-483-4000 consolidatednd.com Rhonda Fitterer, Editor
www.facebook.com/ConsolidatedTelcom
Photo by Albert Myran
What is Streaming?
Streaming is watching TV shows and movies over the Internet. You do not "store" the content while you watch (like downloading), you are experiencing it as it streams. Who offers streaming? There are dozens of companies you can stream tv shows and movies from including Netflix, Disney Plus, Hulu, Amazon, YouTube, ABC, NBC, HGTV, ESPN, History Channel and many more. Streaming service like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon offer content from a variety of producers while specific channels only offer their own content.
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Consolidated Telcom is the recipient of Federal financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The USDA prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or a part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice & TDD). The person responsible for coordinating this organization’s nondiscrimination compliance efforts is Bryan W. Personne. To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S., STOP 9410 W., Washington, D. C. 20250-9410, or call toll free (866) 632-9992 (English) or (800) 877-8339 (TDD) or (866) 377-8642 (English Federal-relay) or (800) 845-6136 (Spanish Federal-relay). “USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.”
What do you need? You need a high-speed Internet connection with the necessary bandwidth, a device capable of streaming, and an account with the service(s) to stream through. What does it cost? There are three costs: Internet connection, device(s), and streaming service. As for the streaming service, there are a range of costs, mostly depending on the quality and quantity of the content. Providers such as Netflix, Disney Plus, or Hulu services start around $6.99 per month. Network stations offer some content for free but you need a cable/satellite subscription to get live/extended content. Cable channels require a TV package to watch their online content. With your Consolidated Cable subscription, for example, online access to over 100 channels plus special content like the Olympics and NCAA Final Four are available to you for no additional charge. Internet - You will need the connection to support your streaming, which is one of the higher bandwidth consuming activities. Depending on the devices you wish to stream from and the number of people/devices in your household that might also be using the Internet, we recommend at least 50 Mbps for basic streaming or 200 Mbps for HD streaming or in a household with other devices often online. You also need good Wi-Fi signal to the location of your streaming device(s) which means you may need to get Wi-Fi access points that extend the signal down to your family room in the basement or up to a bedroom, etc. Consolidated can help you with this.
Watch for the Netf lix article in the next newsletter!
Spring 2020
watchTVeverywhere - watchTVeverywhere (WTVE) is a subscription service included with Consolidated Cable TV for accessing a variety of specific channels that stream online. Each channel is independent so content and availability is not controlled by Consolidated - the WTVE service is just your "pass" to access each channel's content. You can watch shows using WTVE from a computer at wtve.net, on streaming devices, and on mobile devices via the app of the channel(s) you want to watch. Prior to viewing, you will need to register for WTVE with your Consolidated account number at consolidatednd.com/wtve, or contact us for instructions. · WTVE includes live-stream, past shows, and past seasons. · Get full access to the NCAA Final Four and the Olympics. · WTVE is included at no extra cost with Consolidated cable. · Network stations offer their primetime (nationwide) content, not local news, Viking or Packer games, etc. Devices - The "access" is one side of streaming and the device is the other side. Here are some of the device options to watch your WTVE, Disney Plus, Netflix etc. content: · Smart TV - HD TV with built-in apps for Disney Plus, Netflix, Hulu, and specific channels. (Some allow you to search/add more and some do not). · Streaming box/stick - If your TV is not a "smart" TV, you can connect a streaming box or stick (Roku, Chromecast, Apple TV, etc.) to your TV through a USB port to give it the "smart" capabilities. The Wi-Fi and apps will be in the streaming box/stick which is then plugged into the TV. · Mobile Device - With a tablet or smartphone, you can download Disney Plus, Netflix and/or individual channels available through your WTVE account. It probably will not include any apps but you are not limited to what is built-in either. You will download apps through your tablet or phone’s "store" (Apple Store, Google Play Store, etc.) · Computer - You can also watch Disney Plus, Netflix, WTVE channels on a laptop or desktop by going to their websites. (disneyplus.com netflix.com, wtve.net). · Other Smart Devices - Game consoles (PS4, XBOX, etc.), Blu-ray players, etc., often have built-in apps like Netflix, so you can stream through those devices to your TV.