Purdue University retiree Scott Ksander enjoys communicating about information technology.

Editor’s note: My thanks to Scott Ksander of the Purdue University Retirees Association for agreeing to let the UMRA News publish this slightly abridged version of the “Tech Bytes” column he wrote for the PURA News. If you are tech savvy and enjoy communicating about technology, I’d like to hear from you. The UMRA News is looking for one or more writers to contribute articles for a new “Tech Support” column. Tip from Scott: “It’s not about telling people what you know, it’s about communicating what your audience will understand and find useful.”
—Kristine Mortensen, [email protected]

You have probably heard of the video streaming services Disney+, Discovery+, and Peacock. With more Internet entertainment options becoming available, you have also likely heard the terms “cutting the cord” and “over-the-top” or “OTT.” This can be very confusing.

If we think back a few years before Internet access was available in homes, there were likely only three “cords” coming into your house—the power line, the telephone line, and a cable for TV. Cable or satellite TV was seen as an alternative to broadcast TV, often involving an exterior antenna mounted on your roof. 

The first way that most Internet was provided was via telephone lines, initially with a modem and eventually enhanced with ISDN and DSL technology. As cell phone service became cost effective and Internet service became available via cable providers, the first “cord” many people cut was the telephone line (aka “landline”).  

Now, with 5G wireless and direct fiberoptic services, there is an effective option to get all services to the home via an Internet provider. This is referred to as over-the-top service, or OTT, because it is provided directly to consumers via the Internet. Fox, Disney, Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, and all the major networks now offer some sort of streaming service. But there are two issues that need to be addressed before this option is ready for the average consumer. 

A frustrating adventure
First, you still need some sort of hardware “box” to convert the network connection to video. Examples include Roku, Apple TV, and Amazon Fire TV. With this hardware, you can then subscribe to various content providers such as ESPN, BTN, National Geographic, PBS, etc. Some smart TVs include hardware within the TV. 

The second issue is that none of these options is currently well integrated, and finding programming across providers can be confusing. 

If you want to experiment with OTT, the Amazon Fire TV Stick ($19.99 and up) is a good option for getting started. As for the software, Hulu and YouTube TV are currently leading the field for consumers trying to cut the cord. Both services provide a free trial period.  

This can still be a frustrating adventure, but it is getting closer to something for the average, non-technical consumer.  

—Scott Ksander, Purdue University Retirees Association