Vidgo Outage Continues as Streamer Hunts for Funding; What Are Best Alternative Live TV Services for Cord Cutters?
Outwardly, the trouble signs at Vidgo were few and far between this year. The company offered a fantastic deal for new customers at the start of football season in September, and users had no indication whatever that executives were already turning over couch cushions in search of a few million dollars.
- A new report details the issues at Vidgo which have led to a monthslong outage of the service.
- One source close to the company says it could be preparing to relaunch in December.
- Alternatives like DIRECTV STREAM and Fubo are available for users who are ready to leave Vidgo behind.
Choose $15 OFF each month for the first 2 months of Entertainment with Sports Pack or $20 OFF each month for the first 3 months of Choice or Ultimate.
What’s Going on with Vidgo?
Things took a turn for Vidgo in a hurry at the end of September. According to a report from Stream TV Insider, that’s when the company ran out of funding to pay Harmonic — one of its most important vendors, and the company responsible for the processing software that helps Vidgo operate its various streaming apps.
Those missed payments led to Harmonic pulling its support for Vidgo apps on Sept. 29, but the company sent out an email to users the following week telling them they expected resolution for the outage soon. Nearly two months later, however, Vidgo customers are stuck attempting to use their TV Everywhere credentials to access channels they’ve been paying for but unable to watch. The trouble is, Vidgo only has distribution agreements with around 30 TV Everywhere apps.
Stream TV Insider says that one source close to the company received word that Vidgo finally had enough to pay its vendors and programmers and that it would be resuming service in early December. But Vidgo customers have heard promises and predictions before, so it would be wisest to assume nothing is certain for the seemingly spiraling company.
What Replacement Services for Vidgo Are There?
If the Vidgo outage has you fed up, and you’re ready to say goodbye to the service and try a new live TV streaming platform, you have plenty of options. One of the ways Vidgo set itself apart was by offering the Newsmax channel, and there are three other live TV services that offer the hard-right news network.
The first is DIRECTV STREAM, which is offering $25 off your first two months of service for any plan for a limited time, after the standard five-day free trial. DIRECTV STREAM carries Newsmax, plus the largest selection of top cable news, sports, and entertainment channels of all its competitors, with prices starting at $54.99 per month for a limited time.
Choose $15 OFF each month for the first 2 months of Entertainment with Sports Pack or $20 OFF each month for the first 3 months of Choice or Ultimate.
Fubo also carries Newsmax, and it also allows users a free trial to test out the service before purchasing. Fubo plans start at around $85.98 including regional sports network fees. But it too is offering a fantastic deal currently: $20 off any plan you choose for your first two months of service.
Get Your First Month of Fubo for Only $74.99 (normally $95) after your Free Trial.
Sling TV users have to purchase the News Extra add-on pack to get Newsmax. But with plans starting at just $40 per month and the News Extra pack costing just $6 extra, Sling is the cheapest way to get the channel. Users can also add selections like Great American Family via other add-on packs, and Sling is offering a deal in which new customers can get 50% off their first month of service, plus a free Amazon Fire TV Stick Lite.
Limited Time: Get 50% OFF Your First Month of Sling TV