There are several threads that have discussions on the $8/mo, $96/year fee. You should search for them.
Here is what I think. If you don’t think it’s worth the price, don’t purchase it, there are alternatives out there, so vote with your pocketbook. It’s better than a blog post. There are other DVR solutions using your hardware and SD hardware that aren’t as expensive. if you don’t have the hardware already, then all the solutions in this arena like SDs, Kodi, Plex, etc don’t matter. If you already have it then you can’t amortize it against the Channels DVR, because you already did that for its initial purchase. The DVR is now running on almost everything with direct attached storage created in the last 3 years.
But, there are a lot of people that find that this solution is AT LEAST 2.742857142857143 times better than the other solutions out there.
Personally:
I like the apps better, they look great and have great features and are stable.
I like the DVR better. it has great features already and it hasn’t left beta.
I like the support better. Even with such a small team running on caffeine and lima beans, it’s been a pleasure.
I like the responsiveness better. They are listening and weighing worthiness and developing so fast.
I like the honesty better. When they can’t do something (like encrypted channels) they let us know. They don’t give us a lot of promises they don’t keep.
if you already have the hardware and TVOs clients, then give it a whirl and see what you think, it’ll only cost you $8 and you can cancel if your right, or don’t and use the other services.
Because of $8/mo, it forced me to get Plex Lifetime Premium Pass, which I was very reluctant to get. But, at least this is just a one-time purchase.