Don’t Let Catching Up Cost You Big Time!

As we continue to stroll into fall, many of our favorite TV shows return with new seasons. Are you ready to pick up watching where you left off? Or are there tiny but important details you’ve forgotten from last season? In my case, it’s definitely the latter. Mrs. Buckler and I watch so many shows that it’s sometimes hard for me to remember every little detail of this ongoing tale. I mean, with network TV, I have to wait a year between each season; with streaming, it’s sometimes even longer than that. It’s easy to forget things in that time. For example, I might ask my wife…

…”How Did Jack Pearson Die Again?”

Okay, that’s actually a bad example. Even I didn’t forget that. I don’t think anyone who’s watched that episode of This is Us has forgotten that heart-wrenching scene. That’s because it was practically a mini-trauma that was burned into the brains of everyone who watched it all unfold in that hospital room in Pittsburgh. In case you slept through that episode, or never watch This is Us, here’s that heart-wrenching scene:

Not every show has that ability to burn its plot points into the minds of its viewers. Even the best TV series have forgettable moments, and I find myself forgetting these moments more and more. Mrs. Buckler gets annoyed with me shouting out questions in the middle of watching the latest episode. This is why I’ve turned to catching up on past episodes before the new season starts. It’s a great way to refresh my memory and get back into the mindset of enjoying the latest season.

This Got Me Thinking…

…How do streamers get caught up on past seasons of their favorite network TV shows? This could get expensive if you have a streaming service provider like Hulu. Yes, streamers who subscribe to this service can watch past seasons of their favorite TV shows, but they’ll have to pay for that privilege. And the real kick in the pants is that it costs them more if they don’t want to be bothered with commercials. Escaping commercials is one of the reasons why many of stream in the first place.

Whether it’s ABC, CBS, FOX, or NBC, Hulu’s pricing structure breaks down to this:

  • $5.99/month with ads
  • $11.99/month with no ads
  • $44.99/month for live TV option

As I said, those costs can rack up for anyone who wants to catch up on shows across these networks. That might have some people thinking…

…Is There an Alternative?

As a matter of fact, there is if you have DIRECTV. The satellite TV provider allows its users to authenticate their accounts with each TV network app for free. That’s right, DIRECTV customers can get caught up on all the past seasons of their favorite shows and not have to pay extra for the privilege. Since we’re talking about DIRECTV and network TV, it’s also fair to mention that you get up to seven local TV channels. If you want even more live TV, you can use a TV antenna alongside your satellite dish.

So, how does this authentication think work? Well, keep in mind, every app is different. Generally speaking, you need to go to the Settings menu and find the log in option. Choose your provider, then log in with the same credentials you use at the AT&T or DIRECTV web site. This is usually all it takes to authenticate your DIRECTV account with the apps from each major TV network.

Sometimes You Just Gotta Admit it…

DIRECTV has streaming beat here. Yeah, I know I’m the streaming guy and all that, but the truth is the truth. When it comes to watching past seasons of network TV, DIRECTV has the edge. Free always beats monthly rates in my book, and I think that’s something that all of us can agree on. With that said, I really can’t continue praising DIRECTV and keep this a Streaming Saturday post.

In my personal case, I don’t have Hulu. For our network TV watching, Mrs. Buckler rely on our trusty outdoor TV antenna on the roof. This means I don’t have previous seasons to go back to unless they’re on Netflix. I don’t think I need to do that though because I pay attention to every show we watch. Which reminds me, I’m looking forward to another season of Blue Bloods this fall. Hey… did Jamie and Edit ever tie the knot or what?

About the Author

Jake Buckler
Jake Buckler is a cord-cutter, consumer electronics geek, and Celtic folk music fan. Those qualities, and his writing experience, helped him land a copywriting gig at Signal Group, LLC. He also contributes to The Solid Signal Blog.