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The entertainment industry moves fast. Streaming services launch, merge, and disappear. Sports rights shift between apps and channels overnight. Cable packages get quietly restructured. And somewhere in all of it, there's a game you want to watch and a show everyone's talking about. The Lineup is a weekly podcast from the expert team at CableTV.com, a resource that has helped millions of people make smarter TV and internet decisions. Hosts Nathan and Craig dig into the stories shaping how America watches: Entertainment & Industry News: The mergers, acquisitions, and power shifts happening behind the scenes at the networks, studios, and platforms you use every day.Streaming & Cable: What's launching, what's changing, what's getting quietly canceled, and what the latest service shake-ups actually mean for viewers.Sports Coverage: Where the games are moving, which platforms are winning the rights wars, and how to actually find what you want to watch on any given weekend.What to Watch: Honest picks for shows, movies, and events across cable, streaming, and everywhere in between — no algorithm, just two people who watch a lot of TV.Internet & Tech: Broadband news, equipment updates, and the infrastructure shifts quietly reshaping how we connect to all of it.Backed by years of research, hands-on testing, and data-driven analysis at CableTV.com, Nathan and Craig give you an insider's read on the media ecosystem—told in plain language, every week. New episodes every week. Show notes, guides, and everything referenced on the show at cabletv.com/podcast.

Episodes

  1. World Cup Streaming Guide, EarthLink's Big Comeback & Best Soccer Movies

    May 26

    World Cup Streaming Guide, EarthLink's Big Comeback & Best Soccer Movies

    The World Cup is five weeks out — and Nathan and Craig break down exactly which streaming service soccer fans are actually using (the data might surprise you), plus why DIRECTV's 97% live sports satisfaction score matters before you pick your setup. Then the Deal Desk digs into CableTV.com's fresh EarthLink review — a 3 out of 5 with a legitimate installation warning every potential customer needs to hear. They close with CableTV.com's list of the 13 best soccer movies to stream right now, with honest picks for what's actually worth your time before the tournament kicks off. 0:00 — Cold Open 1:00 — Intro & Episode Roadmap2:30 — Lead Story: World Cup Streaming — Where Are Fans Actually Watching? 9:00 — Deal Desk: EarthLink Internet Review — Plans, Pricing & The Installation Problem 15:00 — What's Worth Watching: 13 Best Soccer Movies to Stream Right Now 23:30 — The Closer & Takeaway CableTV.com Streaming Guide — cabletv.com/streaming EarthLink Internet Review — cabletv.com/internet/earthlink-review 13 Best Soccer Movies to Stream — cabletv.com/sports/best-soccer-movies All episodes & show notes — cabletv.com/podcast CableTV.com 2026 Customer Satisfaction Survey: 49% of soccer fans watch on DIRECTV — more than any other streaming service. 97% of DIRECTV streaming subscribers reported satisfaction with their live sports experience. EarthLink editorial rating: 3.0 out of 5. Available in 47 states. Fiber plans from $39.95–$189.95/mo. 5G Home Internet at $59.95/mo. WHERE TO STREAM: SOCCER MOVIES MENTIONED Bend It Like Beckham (2002) — Disney+ The Cup (1999) — Tubi, Pluto TV (free) The Damned United (2009) — search show notes link for current availability Shaolin Soccer (2001) — search show notes link for current availability Full list of all 13 films: cabletv.com/sports/best-soccer-movies AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE CableTV.com may earn a commission from provider links in these show notes. This does not influence our editorial rankings or recommendations. Find more guides and deals at cabletv.com.

    14 min
  2. Dutton Ranch Premiere, Tony Nominations, & the Streaming Overspend Crisis

    May 7

    Dutton Ranch Premiere, Tony Nominations, & the Streaming Overspend Crisis

    Episode Summary The Yellowstone universe keeps growing: Dutton Ranch premieres May 15th on Paramount+, bringing back Beth Dutton and Rip Wheeler for a Texas-set sequel co-starring Annette Bening and Ed Harris. Meanwhile, the 2026 Tony nominations landed, with The Lost Boys and Schmigadoon! tied at 12 nods each; the ceremony airs June 7th on CBS and Paramount+. Plus: CableTV.com’s latest data shows 43% of Americans feel they’re overspending on streaming — and we break down exactly how to stop. Referenced CableTV.com Articles Yellowstone Spinoffs: How to Watch in Order (2026 Guide) — cabletv.com/entertainment/yellowstone-spinoffs Are You Getting Ripped Off by Your Monthly Streaming Bill? — cabletv.com/news/streaming-overspending-crisis 2026 Tony Award Nominations — cabletv.com/news/tony-nominations-2026 How to Watch the Tony Awards — cabletv.com/entertainment/watch-the-tonys Streaming Cancellation Discounts — cabletv.com/deals/streaming-service-cancellation-discounts Student Streaming Discounts — cabletv.com/streaming/student-discounts Monthly Streaming Deals — cabletv.com/blog/best-streaming-tv-deals Timestamped Chapters 0:00 — Cold Open 1:00 — The Intro 2:30 — Lead Story: Dutton Ranch Premieres May 15th — Full Yellowstone Universe Breakdown 9:00 — Deal Desk: The Streaming Overspend Crisis and How to Fix Your Bill 15:00 — What’s Worth Watching: 2026 Tony Nominations, Live on CBS & Paramount+ June 7th 23:30 — The Closer Key Stats From CableTV.com Research 43% of Americans say they feel they’re overspending on streaming Nearly 80% subscribe to two or more streaming services; 22% subscribe to five or more Average American spends $20–$60/month on streaming 35% dropped at least one service in the past year; 43% cited high cost as the primary reason 48% have been charged after forgetting to cancel a free trial 22% say accidental charges happened more than once Nearly 10% of those charged have lost more than $100 to forgotten subscriptions 82% are open to downgrading to ad-supported tiers to cut costs Yellowstone universe: 79 total episodes across 8 seasons The Lost Boys and Schmigadoon! tied for most Tony nominations at 12 each Affiliate Disclosure Some links in these show notes may be affiliate links. CableTV.com may earn a commission if you sign up through them — at no extra cost to you. See our full affiliate disclosure at cabletv.com/affiliate-disclosure.

    7 min
  3. Elden Ring Movie, Endgame Returns, Best TV Deals & NFL Draft

    Apr 23

    Elden Ring Movie, Endgame Returns, Best TV Deals & NFL Draft

    A24 just announced the release date, full cast, and IMAX commitment for the Elden Ring movie — and it might be the most promising video game adaptation ever put into production. In this episode of The Lineup by CableTV.com, hosts Nathan and Craig break down everything announced this morning: director Alex Garland, a stacked ensemble cast, George R. R. Martin's worldbuilding, and why this project has a ceiling that no other video game film in development can touch. Plus, Avengers: Endgame is returning to theaters with brand-new footage — and the window to see it in Infinity Vision premium format is very small. From the Deal Desk, they answer one of CableTV.com's most-asked questions: can college students actually get a discount on cable? The honest answer is no — but there's a practical breakdown of the best options for students who still want live sports and real TV without overpaying. Then it's the weekly watch guide, seven picks for April 20–26 across HBO, Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu, and Tubi. And they close with the full NFL Draft watch guide — three days, Pittsburgh, and yes, a completely free way to watch every single round. In this episode, we cover: The Elden Ring movie announced: Release date, full cast, IMAX commitment, and why Alex Garland + A24 + George R. R. Martin is the combination this adaptation neededAvengers: Endgame theatrical re-release: New exclusive footage, the road to Doomsday, and how to find one of the 75 Infinity Vision screensStudent discounts on cable — the truth: Why no formal program exists, and which cable and streaming options actually make sense on a student budgetWhat's worth watching April 20–26: Seven picks including Half Man on HBO, Kevin on Prime Video, Nikki Glaser: Good Girl on Hulu, and moreHow to watch the 2026 NFL Draft: Full schedule, every channel, best streaming services, and the free antenna play for all three days from PittsburghFor the full watch guide, provider comparisons, and every link mentioned in this episode, visit CableTV.com: https://www.cabletv.com/news/elden-ring-movie-release-datehttps://www.cabletv.com/sports/watch-nfl-drafthttps://www.cabletv.com/deals/can-get-student-discount-cablehttps://www.cabletv.com/what-to-watchDon't forget to follow the CableTV.com podcast and leave a review. For more guides, reviews, and savings tips, visit CableTV.com. This episode was researched and produced by humans, with AI used as a supporting tool in the production process.

    25 min
  4. Streamflation Is Real. Here's How to Beat It in 2026

    Apr 16

    Streamflation Is Real. Here's How to Beat It in 2026

    Is your monthly entertainment bill starting to look like a mortgage payment? In this episode of The Lineup by CableTV.com, hosts Nathan and Craig dig into the history of streaming service price increases and explain why the original heroes of cord-cutting now feel like villains to your wallet. From Netflix’s password-sharing crackdown to Disney’s aggressive price hikes, they walk through how every major platform—Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, Prime Video, Max, Peacock, and more—has raised prices, added ads, or reshuffled plans over the last few years. Then they break down how to respond in 2026 without giving up the shows and sports you actually watch. In this episode, we cover: How streaming got expensive: A quick history of major streaming price hikes, ad-tier launches, and plan changesStreaming vs. cable costs in 2026: Why some households are now paying more than they did with cableThe bundle trap: How streaming bundles and add-ons quietly inflate your monthly billWhich services are still worth it: What to keep, pause, or cancel based on how you actually watchSmart rotation strategies: How to cycle through services seasonally to save money without missing key releasesHow to build a cheaper lineup: Practical frameworks for keeping live sports, prestige TV, and kids’ content without overpaying For charts, timelines, and the latest breakdown of streaming price changes and best-value services, visit CableTV.com: https://www.cabletv.com/news/streaming-service-price-increaseshttps://www.cabletv.com/streaming/best-live-tv-streaming-services Don’t forget to follow the CableTV.com podcast and leave a review. For more guides, reviews, and savings tips, visit CableTV.com. This episode was researched and produced by humans, with AI used as a supporting tool in the production process.

    8 min
  5. Vizio TVs Now Require a Walmart Account. Here’s Why.

    Apr 8

    Vizio TVs Now Require a Walmart Account. Here’s Why.

    Walmart bought Vizio for $2.3 billion, and now it’s collecting on that investment. In this episode of The Lineup by CableTV.com, hosts Nathan and Craig break down why certain new Vizio TVs now require a Walmart account just to access smart TV features, and what that actually means for the people buying them. It’s not just a login screen. Walmart is combining Vizio’s SmartCast viewer data with its own shopper data to build a targeted ad machine, and your TV is the delivery vehicle. Nathan and Craig explain how this changes the smart TV market, who it affects, and what your options are if you’d rather keep Walmart out of your living room. In this episode, we cover: How the Walmart-Vizio deal changed Vizio’s smart TV strategyWhy certain Vizio TVs now prompt you to create or sign in with a Walmart accountHow Walmart uses viewing data and “closed-loop” ads to target shoppersWhat happens to your existing Vizio account and settingsHow this compares to Roku, Amazon Fire TV, and Google TV loginsWhat to watch for when buying your next smart TV—beyond just price and picture qualityRead more on CableTV.com: For a full breakdown of Walmart’s Vizio login requirement, visit CableTV.com: 👉 https://www.cabletv.com/news/vizio-tv-require-walmart-account Don’t forget to follow the CableTV.com podcast and leave a review. For more ways to stream smarter and stay informed on the latest in TV, visit CableTV.com. This episode was researched and produced by humans, with AI used as a supporting tool in the production process.

    8 min
  6. Streaming vs. Cable: The Entertainment Landscape of 2026

    Mar 30

    Streaming vs. Cable: The Entertainment Landscape of 2026

    Is your monthly TV bill out of control? In this episode of The Lineup by CableTV.com, hosts Nathan and Craig break down the high-stakes battle for your living room. With 92% of Americans now using at least one streaming service, the "cord-cutting" revolution has reached a tipping point. But even with streaming's dominance, cable isn't dead yet—it's just getting more expensive. We dive deep into the State of TV Report 2026 to reveal why 21% of viewers are juggling five or more subscriptions and why the average cable bill has ballooned to a staggering $147 per month. Whether you're a die-hard sports fan or a serial "churner" who cancels apps after every binge-watch, this episode provides the data-backed strategies you need to audit your subscriptions and stop overpaying for channels you never watch. Key Topics Covered: The Streaming Takeover: Why 83% of Americans now call streaming their go-to TV source.The Cable Holdouts: Why live sports and "bundle magic" keep 22% of households tied to traditional pay TV.FAST Growth: How Free Ad-Supported Streaming TV (FAST) has become the third pillar of entertainment for 42% of viewers.The Price Gap: Comparing the $30 average streaming bill to the $147 cable mountain.The Art of the Churn: Why 1 in 3 Americans canceled a service last year and how you can use "rotation" to save money. Read the Full Report: For a deep dive into the data, charts, and trends discussed in this episode, check out the official State of TV Report 2026 at CableTV.com: 👉 https://www.cabletv.com/news/state-of-tv-report-2026 Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review! Visit us at CableTV.com for more tips on how to watch what you love without breaking the bank. This episode was researched and produced by humans, with AI used as a supporting tool in the production process.

    10 min
  • 6 Episodes

About

The entertainment industry moves fast. Streaming services launch, merge, and disappear. Sports rights shift between apps and channels overnight. Cable packages get quietly restructured. And somewhere in all of it, there's a game you want to watch and a show everyone's talking about. The Lineup is a weekly podcast from the expert team at CableTV.com, a resource that has helped millions of people make smarter TV and internet decisions. Hosts Nathan and Craig dig into the stories shaping how America watches: Entertainment & Industry News: The mergers, acquisitions, and power shifts happening behind the scenes at the networks, studios, and platforms you use every day.Streaming & Cable: What's launching, what's changing, what's getting quietly canceled, and what the latest service shake-ups actually mean for viewers.Sports Coverage: Where the games are moving, which platforms are winning the rights wars, and how to actually find what you want to watch on any given weekend.What to Watch: Honest picks for shows, movies, and events across cable, streaming, and everywhere in between — no algorithm, just two people who watch a lot of TV.Internet & Tech: Broadband news, equipment updates, and the infrastructure shifts quietly reshaping how we connect to all of it.Backed by years of research, hands-on testing, and data-driven analysis at CableTV.com, Nathan and Craig give you an insider's read on the media ecosystem—told in plain language, every week. New episodes every week. Show notes, guides, and everything referenced on the show at cabletv.com/podcast.

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