Netflix/Hulu Only at your STR?

Question

Do any of you offer services like Netflix or Hulu, with no cable TV?  Today, we discussed dropping the cable service at our STR's, but I wonder if that would be a negative.  I know guests typically don't visit the area to watch TV all day, but I wonder if elderly guests would expect cable.  If you only have streaming services, what is your experience?

Avery Carl · Answer

I personally don't watch cable, but I know that my guests expect to have it at our rentals. I do think that the older guests who aren't very tech savvy may not be able to figure out the streaming services. I think it's worth keeping around in a vacation rental!

John Underwood · Answer

Absolutley not.  I don't cheap out as I am getting top dollar for my lake house. I wouldn't stay someplace that didn't have cable or Satellite.

Rhonda Blue · Answer

Absolutely NOT. I pay for cable service because I'm old school and like to sometimes just veg out and flip channels. For me it's about consistency. When I stay at hotels for business travel or leisure. I want consistent recognition with being able to catch my shows!

However It has come to my attention with my children that this is a generational thing. They want to have the ability to connect to  Youtube and their own Netflix. They do not care at all about cable unless it is sports related but even then they say they can find it online.

So I have smart tvs in all my cabins that can connect to Hulu, Youtube, Netflix, etc. and are still connected with cable and Sports package. It is worth the cost to help my guests feel comfortable in the space no matter what age they are!

Hope this helps.

Paul Sandhu · Answer

The internet in my market comes bundled with cable.  You have to get cable first, then pay extra for internet.

I do cable and basic internet and provide a SMART HDTV or an HDTV with a Roku.

Cable is important to some people, it could mean less to others.  Some people feel that internet is the most important thing, they never even use the cable.

So I do both.  Cover all the bases and you'll be doing the Wango Tango for a long time.

Andy Zapata · Answer

A lot of it depends on your area, but we provide local TV through an antenna and Netflix. We've had no complaints, but it's worth considering an Apple TV. We've had some trouble with smart TVs freezing up when using Netflix.

If you're in a supported major-metro area, the best value for all the major channels is YouTube TV.

Lucas Milburn · Answer

I don't have cable, but do have hulu, netflix... I have had one complaint and make sure to make it known on my listing.  My place is in Lake Tahoe so your going there to go outside, maybe other areas may need it.  You can also add an antenna possibly and have local channels for fee..

Paul Sandhu · Answer

@Mark Patterson Just get the basic Roku.  It should have Hulu Netflix and all the other streaming services on it.  If your renters have their own account with those services, they can log in with their own account.  That's what I've done with 23 of my STRs.  There is a SMART tv or a Roku that I put in.  The tenants can figure out the rest.  The tv or the Roku does not have access to my credit card.  It doesn't hurt to have a BluRay player with some adult movies in there either.  You can buy them in bulk on Ebay for about $2 each.  I suggest you get about 20 of them.  Leave 3 with each of your 7 tv's.

Mark Patterson · Answer

I'm considering Hulu, Sling, or one of the other streaming services for my STR with 7 TV's (all with Roku).  I don't have access to the house between weekly rentals, and I'm worried that people will log out of the service or make additional purchases on my account.  Does anyone have advice about which of these services has good account management security, e.g. requiring a PIN to make account changes or purchases?

Michael Greenberg · Answer

Netflix (family plan), Amazon Prime, and I use my cable account at my own home to enable stations on my ROKU's.  As long as it is disclosed on your listings (and it is on mine) I do not get complaints about not having cable.

@Rick Baggenstoss  Just a heads up - I believe Youtube TV has technology that may prevent you from using it at multiple locations.  They also only allow a certain number of simultaneous users.

Rick Baggenstoss · Answer

@Eric A.  LOL. I think we have different customers.  St Augustine ain't like Atlanta.

Netflix/Hulu Only at your STR?

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