2017 Is Going to Be a Great Year for Cord Cutting

Posted: 05 Jan, 2017

From a host of new streaming services to probably several new devices here are a few things we know and a few things we expect to happen in 2017.

Here is what we know:

ESPN Standalone Streaming Service

ESPN will launch a standalone streaming service, but it may not be everything you want. The new streaming service will be separate from the current ESPN channels and we are not certain what sports it will offer.

“Bringing a multi-sport service directly to fans is an exciting opportunity that capitalizes on BAMTech’s premier digital distribution platform and continues ESPN’s heritage of embracing technology to create new ways to connect fans with sports,” said John Skipper, ESPN president and Co-Chair, Disney Media Networks. “As WatchESPN continues to grow and add value to the multichannel video subscription, this new service will be an outstanding complement.”

We do expect it to be released at some point in 2017. Here is a full breakdown of what we know.

Hulu Live

Hulu has confirmed that it will have a new live TV streaming service in 2017. It already has deals with many providers but has been unwilling to give a lot of details about the new streaming service. For now what we do know is it will be separate from the current Hulu service.

You can find a full breakdown of what we know about Hulu Live here.

Other Live TV Streaming Services

Not only is Hulu launching a live TV streaming service but so are YouTube, FuboTV, and Vidgo. Details are still thin on all of them but they are expected in 2017.

New Nvidia Shield

The Nvidia Shield has been widely recognized as the best Android TV device on the market. Although it is not inexpensive, it is a powerful streaming player.

Now we know that Nvidia is having a new Nvidia Shield coming out in 2017. Details are still few but it looks smaller with new gaming controllers. You can find out more about the New Nvidia Shield HERE.

Here is what we expect:

Although there are a few highlights of what we know will happen in 2017 here are a few things I expect to happen.

New Apple TV

It seems as though Apple is working on a “new every two years” schedule for the Apple TV, which would mean we’ll get a new one in late 2017. For now nothing is certain and we are likely still almost a year away. So I wouldn’t wait for the new Apple TV.

New Roku TVs

In 2016 we got a whole new lineup of 4K Roku TVs and even Roku streaming players; however, at CES last year Roku announced that an HDR Roku TV prototype was in the works but it never made it to market. We did get a Roku HDR player in the Roku Ultra.

So it is likely in 2017 we will get new Roku TVs and possibly an HDR version of the Roku TV.

New Fire TV

Amazon has also been running on a “new every two years” plan for its Fire TV devices. No details have been leaked or announced but we do expect a new Fire TV in late 2017. We did get a new Fire TV Stick in 2016 so a new box seems likely in 2017.

Local TV Streamed

Nothing official has been announced, but the slow march of local TV channels coming to services such as Sling TV and DirecTV Now will continue. It is possible that by the end of 2017 a majority of local stations will be streamed on one server or the other.

NFL Sunday Ticket

It was recently leaked that DirecTV was surveying its subscribers asking if they would subscribe to a streaming version of the NFL Sunday Ticket. Details are thin but it looks as though AT&T is considering offering a streaming service that would stream every Sunday NFL game to your streaming player.

If even half of these happen 2017 will be a great year for cord cutters.

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