How Does Cox Streaming TV Work?
Cox Streaming TV is the internet TV service through which Cox Communications aims to offer a live cable TV experience without depending on a cable box or a satellite dish. Streaming TV from Cox enables the users to watch several cable programs, shows, sports events, etc., through an internet connection when that is not bound to a fixed location or a device.
How Does Cox Streaming TV Work?
Cox Streaming TV is available on mobile devices like smartphones, tablet devices, computers, and smart TVs. There is no hardware involved as the service transmits live television channels received by the Cox network through a broadband internet connection to the compatible device of a subscriber. Here's an overview of how Cox Streaming TV works:
Internet Connection:
Cox Streaming TV relies on high-speed internet such as Cox Internet to provide the streaming platform. The internet connection offers the framework through which the video and audio of the available TV channels get delivered to a user. Better broadband download speeds are ideal for streaming TV to reduce instances of buffering or low video quality on the internet.
Cox Streaming App:
To watch content through the Cox Streaming TV service, the user has to install the Cox Streaming TV app on their device. Currently, the Cox Streaming TV app can be used on Apple products, namely iOS phones and tablets, Apple TV, Android devices, Amazon Fire TV, and computers. Once downloaded, the users are required to sign in using their Cox Streaming TV subscriber details as a form of identification before they can start streaming TV.
Content Delivery Network:
As for streaming, Cox Streaming TV employs CDN, which is designed to receive channel streams from different broadcast sources and deliver these signals over the internet to the subscribers’ devices. This implies that Cox controls its CDN network to facilitate end-to-end delivery of live video streams over the internet. It also allows Cox to have a clear and efficient means to bring streaming TV into the market.
Cox Network Interconnection:
What Cox Streaming TV is not: Cox Streaming TV is not an internet TV service, even though it delivers TV through the internet. Like any other MVPD; Cox has legal entitlements from TV networks and broadcasters for the transmission of their content signals. This entitles Cox to the rights to deliver streams of some of the most demanded programs from the networks of NBC, CBS, FOX, Disney, and Discovery among others. These network interconnection arrangements mean that without them, Cox Streaming TV would not be legally allowed to air many of the modern Cable TV channels that people enjoy watching today.
Live Streaming & On-Demand:
Cox Streaming TV: This service is positioned as a cable TV service substitute but it has more freedom since it operates over the internet. This allows features like:
- Regular Television – Similar to cable TV service, users can watch their preferred TV channel at the time of airing.
- Media on request – Streaming TV provides video on request which allows users to have a database of movies and programs they can watch whenever they need to or prefer.
- Cloud DVR – This involves recording programs for viewing at a later time, and it is also part of the standard package from streaming TV service providers.
- Live events discovery/Missed the start? Streaming TV is similar to the streaming service in that it allows users to pause live content and start over from the top no matter how long the content is currently broadcasting.
Streaming Device Support:
The Cox Streaming TV app is designed to be compatible with a range of popular streaming devices and platforms including:
- Apple products - iPad, iPhone; iOS version 13 and above
- Android smartphones & tablets with operating system Android 6.0 and later.
- Apple iPad (iPad 13 or higher), iPhone (iOS 13 or higher), Apple TV (4th Gen and 4K model)
- Amazon Fire tablets and Fire TV devices allow the delivery of content that is relevant to the target audience.
- Web browsers – Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Apple Safari
Consumers can get the mobile app to stream the content on supported devices and download it. There is also the ability to have multiple users per household to each have their recordings and watched list. They can also be used both at home and away by being able to bring your streaming TV service with you wherever you go and have an internet connection.
Video Resolution Quality:
Video stream quality on streaming TV relies on factors of resolution. This entails the internet speed and connectivity of devices, and the technical features of the screen. For example:
SD Video (480p) – It streams videos in 480p and requires a minimum of 3 Mbps internet speeds.
HD Video (1080p) — This is a high-quality video stream that needs a minimum of 8Mbps internet connection to enable smooth streaming.
4K Video (2160p) – Best suited to a connection with a minimum bandwidth of 25 Mbps and a compatible 4K streaming device/TV.
For example with a fast internet connection and newer 4K streaming equipment the user can get full high definition and 4K ultra HD picture quality on supported programs and channels. This makes it possible for streaming TV services to put up a better visual quality than that of a cable on supported devices and displays.
Number of Streams:
Currently, most streaming TV providers enable a limited number of simultaneous connections per account for basic packages. For Cox Streaming TV, the number of viewers allowed to stream simultaneously depends on the market and the offered plan. For example:
- Basic subscription plans can only allow a single stream or at most a couple of streams. This restricts television to one device at a time and is an area where Sky has an advantage over YouView.
- Affordable channel packages usually allow 3-4 concurrent streams when channel packages are upgraded. So that there can be more of the family members watching different channels/shows simultaneously over more of the devices.
Users may come across error messages stating that no more streams are being allowed if they try to go beyond the number of streams offered in a subscriber plan. Increasing the number of streams in a higher channel package or creating more profiles to have more streams can resolve these stream limitations.
Internet Data Usage:
However, streaming TV being based on a user’s home internet service, does consume some amount of monthly data. Its usage depends on such factors as the stream quality and the hours spent watching the stream. Regarding data usage, on average, Cox Streaming TV consumes about 2.3 GB to 9 GB per hour for streaming across devices.
If a household watches TV through streaming at an equivalent of 4-6 hours a day, then the streaming TV usage generated in a month would be 200GB-400GB. There is nothing wrong with streaming TV but ensuring that this is done within reasonable bounds and not in 4K quality can help save internet data. Subscribers sensitive to data need to correlate its usage with home internet data usage if any.
Cloud DVR Storage:
While the cloud DVR feature was once considered something that could be added to a streaming TV service, today most of them have it as a native part of the service with no additional charges. Streaming TV from Cox has the liberty of an unlimited cloud DVR where users can record the programs, games, and movies to watch later.
Cloud DVR features enable users to record several shows at the same time, without limitations from storage capacity. Taped calls are then saved in a cloud as opposed to a hard drive box in the process which is also self-explanatory. This content can then be viewed from any streaming device and the risk of having the recording capacity full like with old cable DVR hardware is not a concern.
The specific cloud DVR features and limits with Cox include:
- Unlimited storage space
- One of the many features of the machine was the ability to record several programs simultaneously.
- Recordings that are retained as a library for up to 90 days from the air date.
The recordings of the calls are purged after 90 days to make way for new calls that are likely to be recorded. However, this offers the advantage of getting to watch most of the recorded shows before their expiration without coming at the expense of occupying scarce disk space.
Streaming TV Cost:
The monthly cost for Cox Streaming TV varies based on factors like:
- Number/package of channels – The prevailing basic packages offered are cheaper and have fewer channels. This is the most expensive option but will give you all the top cable networks in a channel package.
- Cloud DVR offering; Base DVR functions may well be offered as standard with regards to the quantity of concurrent streams and the length of time accessibility is available for recordings.
- Subscriber streams – this is more allowed concurrent connections which leads to higher subscription fees.
- Taxes and fees – Other regional taxes, regulatory recovery fees together with broadcast fees also go into the final monthly rates just like how they increase costs for cable television.
As for the various tiers of streaming TV from Cox as compared to traditional cable TV from the same provider, the former is generally $10-$30 cheaper per month with all things considered. Any Internet service charges would have to be paid on a stand-alone basis and not based on the selection of the television service. Customers can find out the precise details of the prices and plans by visiting Cox’s local websites or by talking to their representatives.
To sum it all up, the following is the complete guide that outlines how internet streaming TV services work from Cox Communications. With the help of broadband connection support and streaming device app compatibility, offerings such as Cox Streaming TV can offer a comprehensive cable-like viewing experience with DVR services and libraries alongside tailored channel packages for low or high levels of TV consumption.
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