OK. Here's my situation. I have around 24MPS internet bandwidth available most of the time. ATT Uverse Bundled with digital landlines and Direct TV for television programing. Cost is $200+ per month)
There are three TVs, several computers, and smart devices in use here wirelessly connected.
In the near future it is likely that I will be able to have fiber service (100MPS for $69 per month)
1. What is my best option for replacing direct TV in my current situation?
2. Should I forget that and wait for the fiber?
Now is EXACTLY the time for experimentation, Providing you have enough bandwidth for streaming reasonably, which you barely do.
IF you do, and are satisfactorily accommodated otherwise, why wait? And there will be an interim period where you are uncomfortable with the new thing, but right now you can become comfortable without messing up what you are used to... When you become acclimatized to the new thing, THEN kick DirectTV to the curb, and good riddance.
3. What would be my best option (least costly) for replacing the programming I currently get from direct TV? I do not want to have subscriptions for multiple streaming services and do not want to put up an antenna to get local channels.
Well, certainly an external antenna if it will do you any good. You are up high as I recall, so you are likely to be able to catch digital transmissions pretty easy. Talk to your neighbors and see what actually comes in and which antennas work where you are to understand the value and expectations before the fact - Since you are higher than your neighbors, you will likely be guaranteed to do it better than them.
Secondly, ROKU. A decent add-on ROKU device (providing your TV is HDMI capable, any modern flat screen is) runs about 75 bucks, and can be free thereafter (you can do paid subscriptions through it, but don't need to).
And finally, and most importantly, an experiment: With any computer or internet device, start exploring online. I can recommend PeacockTV, IMDB TV, which is a free extension of Amazon Prime, and PLUTOTV , USTVGO, and Crackle with lesser recommendation.
Use a browser you don't normally use - If you normally use firefox, then use Chrome instead or Edge... Use the bookmark toolbar in that browser to allow for easy navigation to the places you find and frequent... You can find nearly anything direct from the internet for FREE (if you don't mind a little legal hacking anyway).
The ultimate purpose of this experiment would be to find a cheap used computer and attach it to your TV(s)... Once you have a Windows desktop on your TV, anything you have done from your computer can be exactly replicated on your TV.
Look, I am a YOUTUBE freak. Most of my entertainment is on YT and Rumble. Conventional 'TV' is ancillary anymore. But I DO go to Peacock and IMDB ALOT. and to the others I mentioned upon occasion. and I do use ROKU a bit. But if you are like me, once you overcome your thumb-to-clicker addiction, you will find ala carte to be far superior. I would not go back to programmed TV even if they paid me.
So be aware that your preferences may change, and be open to that.
The upshot being, I may be hardware heavy (3 tvs, so 3 computers, and one roku), but the cost of the used computers was negligible - a used 5-10 year old machine will work fine and cost almost nothing. But I can pay for a station (less the actual TV) for less than I used to pay for cable for two months.... And mostly just about for nothing.
The only subscription I pay for is Netflix. I have Amazon Prime too, because I needed it for shipping anyway. the rest, and I would say the majority by a ways, is FREE tv and youtube/Rumble/Bitchute/etc.
