The latest Tablo news along with tips to maximize your free TV experience. 

Tablo OTA DVR vs. Cable DVR – How Much Money Can I Be Saving?

SAVING MONEY CABLE ALTERNATIVE OTA TV

In a recent survey, 40% of Tablo users said that saving money was their primary reason for moving away from cable. (The second most popular reason was that cable programming wasn’t worth the cost…)

Given the rising costs of maintaining access to those 300+ channels of reality shows and speciality programs you likely never watch, it’s not surprising people are looking for alternatives to cable TV. The average cost of a mid-range cable TV package is between $70-$100 a month. And that’s just for content, not the rental of hardware or extra fees your provider might charge.

Given that 47 of the top 50 shows are available via Over-the-Air broadcast networks, the cost vs. benefit analysis just doesn’t add up for most viewers.

In the chart below, we’ve done the side-by-side comparison of what cutting the cord on your cable DVR and switching to Tablo DVR could save you over both one and two year periods.Tablo vs. cable TCO

Notes – Estimates are based on average costs for mid-tier HD cable and hardware rental. Does not include additional fees some cable companies may charge. All Tablo hardware costs are one-time whereas cable company hardware is based on long-term rental fees.
*Accessories include an indoor flat antenna ($40) and a 500 GB USB hard drive for storage ($50).
**Additional TV support includes a Roku 3 ($90) for Tablo units and additional DVR rentals for cable.
*** Support for mobile and out-of-home streaming for cable requires the addition of a Slingbox and may include restrictions on which content can be streamed.

As you can see based on our calculations, to achieve a similar setup that a Tablo DVR provides vs. what you can get through your cable provider, moving away from cable and getting your content Over-the-Air will save you over $800 per year at least.

Imagine what you could do with those savings… One of our users bought a second car. Another installed solar panels making his home energy bill-free too.

What are you putting your savings towards? And if you haven’t switched over, what are you waiting for?!

UPDATE: We’ve built a Tablo Calculator to help you find out exactly how much money YOU can be saving. Check it out today!

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How to restart your phone/tablet

Sometimes, just restarting your smartphone or tablet can clear up issues with apps. The links below will provide detailed instructions on how to force close your Tablo app. 

Apple iPhone

Android smartphones 

Most Android smartphones and tablets can be restarted by holding the POWER button and then selecting RESTART or POWER OFF and RESTART from the POWER OPTIONS menu.

NOTE: Newer Samsung devices require you to hold the POWER/SIDE button and VOLUME DOWN to make the POWER OPTIONS menu appear. On the Google Pixel 6, hold the POWER and VOLUME UP buttons.

How to force close your Tablo app?

Sometimes, just restarting the app can fix things. The links below will provide detailed instructions on how to force close your Tablo app. 

Apple iPhone/iPad

Android smartphones/tablets 

Need help with the final steps?

Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.  Follow the steps in the video below for a full walkthrough of the remaining parts of the Tablo setup process.

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Getting your channels...

You can get channels for free!
Over-the-Air Channels
i
Streaming Channels
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Tablo gives you more!
  • Pause, Record, Replay
  • Enjoy your shows whenever it’s convenient for you.
  • 50+ hours of built-in storage
  • Expandable via USB for up to 8TB of additional space.
  • Your Local Channels
  • Watch Free OTA channels – news, sports, live events, and more.
Tablo gives you more!
  • Popular Streaming Channels
  • Far more than a standard antenna can deliver.
  • Subscription-Free Entertainment
  • Get premium content without paying for costly streaming services.
  • Pause, Record, Replay
  • Enjoy your shows whenever it’s convenient for you.
  • 50+ hours of built-in storage
  • Expandable via USB for up to 8TB of additional space.

This is an estimate only. Actual broadcast TV channels received may vary based on TV antenna location, reception, topography, and other obstructions. Streaming channels require an internet connection. View the Channel Details Report for specifics of each channel and to help determine what antenna is needed. 

Reception alert:  Based upon the location you entered, you may not get many of the major networks.  As a result, Tablo may not be the best fit for you.  Please enter your full address above for best accuracy. 

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