Streaming TV with DVR and ad skipping

None do automatic ad skipping, it is all manual at this point in time. And that is only on recorded stuff, not VOD. The on demand tends to have ads that can’t be skipped.

I’ve done it on AT&T, YTTV, Sling and Philo. Not tried any of the others.

 

All of the recordings I ever tried on them, yeah I could do trickplay with them.

 

For 'basic cable, type programming, the first hurdle is whether ota/antenna service is available at your location, as there are several commercial units that record and allow playback and ad skipping over your home network to single or multiple streaming boxes; having such capability makes the choice of cable replacement streamers much easier as you won't be limited to those which carry network or independent stations (which would be available ota).

Hulu without commercials is excellent currently for abc/nbc/fox and a smattering of additional content, just not cbs, which is only on ota or their own streaming package or on a service that carries your local networks; again goes back to whether ota is capable at your location, or you have a work around like locast and are willing to try to bash up (and pay) for a dvr system that would work with it.

By far the best streaming service with an 'ultimate' dvr system is youtube tv; with most major networks including pbs and unlimited dvr space up to 8 months + of storage. But limited subchannels (national feeds of 3 or so) but almost all the major 'cable' channels, not as good as the old psvue but close. For folks like me out in the sticks between two major markets (100+ miles in both directions) where ota is a physical impossibility, it is the best option. One market has locast and I subscribe but the dvr options are way too expensive and clumsy at best. YouTube tv plus hulu no ads fits my bill.

But the options depending on your needs and capability make a decision very unique to your location and wants.

 

YTTV let’s you FF thru ads on all DVRed content.

 

The cheapest solution would be to use an OTA antenna and DVR to record shows from the major broadcast nets (ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, CW, PBS, etc.). Does your current TiVo work with OTA or only cable?

Alternatively, you could subscribe to Hulu ad-free at $12/mo and that will give you next-day access to primetime shows from ABC, NBC and Fox. For PBS, you can use their free app, which is ad-free other than a short sponsor thank-you "ad" at the start of some shows. For CBS, you'd need to also subscribe to ad-free CBS All Access at $10/mo. (That service will soon be replaced by the bigger Paramount+, which will still offer next-day access to CBS primetime shows, along with lots of other stuff. No word yet on pricing.)

The cheapest way to get CNN and several other popular cable nets would be to go with Sling. They offer two different base packages with somewhat different channels, each at $35/mo with a 50-hr cloud DVR that allows you to rewind and FF in all recordings, including skipping over ads.

If all that sounds like a hassle, well, you could instead go with a fuller streaming cable TV service that includes your locals (Sling doesn't) plus the most popular cable channels. YouTube TV, Fubo TV and Hulu with Live TV all cost $65/mo while AT&T TV (best picture and sound quality) starts at $70/mo for their lowest-tier package.