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This is the second installment in our series Watch This Way, aimed at making watching TV over the Internet easier. If you missed the first one, you can find it here.
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The beers are cold, the wings are hot, the guac is fresh — there’s just one thing left to figure out: How are you going to watch that college basketball game, big football spectacular, or tennis match Down Under this weekend on the big, new TV you picked up over the holidays?

First, you don’t need cable. (What? Yes. Really.) In fact, if you’re a cord-cutter — or you have gigabit Internet and prefer a superior watching experience — you can watch most games, matches, and championships in real time over the Internet. Consider this your three-step plan to becoming the ultimate watch party host.

  • Choose your cable substitute.  Some channels will let you watch for free over the web or their apps, and there are also channels that have their own apps, like ESPN+. Most cable alternatives — like YouTube TV, fuboTV, AT&T TV Now, Sling TV, or Hulu+Live TV — carry local broadcast affiliates, which means you’ll be able to watch games and matches there, too. (Be sure to check listings in advance, so you’re not disappointed.) Got a digital antenna? You can also use that to watch sports broadcast over-the-air for free.
  • Pick your device.  You can watch on your computer, tablet, or phone, but assuming you’re making a party out of it, you’ll want to connect your TV to the Internet. You can do so by using a streaming device such as a Roku Player, Google Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV, XBox One, Android TV, or Apple TV (Gen 4 or above). And with many smart TVs, you can watch directly by using the app of your choice. 
  • Decide if you’ll be watching in 4K Ultra HD. Sports are often the first events to take advantage of the biggest, brightest resolution — and yes, that includes live broadcasts, too. When you watch in 4K UHD, you get four times the resolution than you’d get with standard HD, which makes it four times clearer. You just need a 4K TV to take advantage of that superior viewing experience. 

Watching in 4K requires more bandwidth than watching in standard definition (SD) or HD,  so make sure that your Internet’s high speed and comes with unlimited data. That way, you don’t have to worry about any limitations or frustrations (other than your team making you sweat the outcome!). With gigabit Internet, you should be good to go.

Now you’re set to be the ultimate watch party host, no matter the sport … provided your food game is as strong as your TV game. Go [insert your team here]!

Posted by Google Fiber Marketing


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One thing we think about a lot at Google Fiber is how to help our customers get more out of their Internet. We get a lot of questions about what you can do with a gig and how to make sure you are taking advantage of all that truly fast speed. Customers from coast to coast want to know more about watching TV over the Internet — how it works, what devices to use, and where to get the content you want. With that in mind, we’re kicking off a series of blog posts called “Watch This Way” on all things streaming, beginning with a look at how things have changed over the last 10 years.
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A lot has happened over the past decade, like the onset of ride-sharing apps, the rise of plant-based meat, and the invention of the selfie-stick. But one thing that’s really changed is how we watch TV. The Internet’s evolution has opened up new innovations and technologies both for how content is created and how content is viewed.

In 2009, on the cusp of the last decade, there were only 1.8 billion Internet users. That means just 26% of the world’s population regularly accessed the web. Now way more people are online. By 2019, the number of Internet users rose to a reported 4.5 billion (that’s 59% of the world’s population!).

Way back then, the way we watched must-see TV was certainly different. In 2010, Netflix had yet to release its first original show (that’s right — no House of Cards, Orange Is the New Black, or Stranger Things) — they were still shipping a lot of DVDs to your house. There were actually a handful of streaming services, mostly for those early-adopter types who like to be trying the next big thing before everyone else.

Today, there are many streaming services to choose from, each with their own perks — and programming. So if you only enjoy watching live sports and your significant other refuses to watch shows that aren’t critically acclaimed horror masterpieces, you can still make your relationship work. As more programming becomes available, more and more people are tuning in. 74% of people stream some sort of TV, whether it’s live sports with a side of horror movies or something entirely different.

Our TVs have gotten a lot smarter too. Ten years ago, the technology was still emerging, and companies were taking different approaches at getting it right. The evolution of smart TVs has made the impossible totally possible — you can watch TV and stream videos over the Internet, right to your TV screen without an additional device (and probably also check your email and tweet about the shows you are watching too). Not only can they do more than your typical TV, like work with smart home devices, but they also have a bunch of built-in or downloadable streaming services to meet your every content desire.

All this has led to one big change. In 2010, most people had cable and couldn’t imagine living without it. In 2013, approximately 10 million American households had cut the cord. By 2019, that number nearly tripled — about 29 million have cut the cord, and it’s expected to rise further. By 2023, the number of cutters is expected to rise to 41 million. And by as soon as 2022, 22% of Internet videos and 62% of TVs will be 4K, which means that not only is there more to watch, but we’ll be doing it in higher quality. . .which means one thing for sure: Gigabit Internet will definitely come in handy.

Learn more about how to make the switch to streaming.

Posted by Google Fiber Marketing


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Google Fiber has supported the Austin Area Heritage Council’s MLK Oratory Competition in Austin, Texas, for the past six years. This extraordinary programs brings students from across the city together to deliver original speeches commemorating Dr. King’s ideals and principles and encourage his legacy of peace and racial equality. This year’s winner, Kennedi Jeffries, a student at Volma Overton Early College Prep, brought that legacy to life during the January 16th event. She was also invited to speak at the annual MLK Community March. Like Kennedi, we believe in fighting for future generations and we’re proud to help amplify Dr. King’s message in Austin. But please don’t take our word for it - you can listen to Kennedi’s entire speech in the video below. Congratulations to all the students who competed in this event!




Posted by Daniel Lucio, Government & Community Affairs Manager, Austin

 




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