Live TV Streaming Services

Review These Popular Options

$72.99/month

YouTube TV allows subscribers to stream over 100 “live” TV channels from ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN, & other popular cable networks — including the NFL Network and the NBA Network. YouTube TV only has one tier option of “live” channels to choose from. Subscribers can add premium networks like Max, SHOWTIME, and MGM+ (formerly EPIX). With YouTube TV, subscribers can also record without any DVR storage space limits or extra charges.

Fire TV Stick, Apple TV, Google Chromecast, Roku, Playstation, iOS, Windows, macOS, Android, Android TV, XBOX, LG, Samsung, VIZIO and Sony are compatible.

FAQ’s

Actually, the content from YouTube.com and YouTube TV reside in two separate worlds. So, you won’t find many YouTube clips in your search results when using the YouTube TV app.

Yes, YouTube TV has a “Sports Add-ons” package ($10.99 per month) which includes NFL RedZone and 12 additional sports channels. Once you become a member, click on the Membership tab under Setting to sign up for the “Sports Add-ons.”

Simply go to https://tv.youtube.com/ and scroll down the page to area requesting your zip code. Type in your zip code and the available local stations streamed by YouTube TV will appear.

1) Log in to YouTube TV from a web browser, at tv.youtube.com.
2) Choose the “Live” section at the top.
3) Under “Sort,” choose “Custom” and then “Edit.” (Alternatively, you can just scroll all the way to the bottom of the listings and select “Customize.”)
4) Now put a check next to any new channels you want to actually see.

YouTube TV only comes with three simultaneous streams, but it allows up to six household members to share one subscription account. Once a person subscribes as a member of YouTube TV, they simply create a family group. Each member has their own login, DVR storage, and personalized recommendations.

For the YouTube TV members with a Base Plan, the NFL Sunday Ticket add-on is $299 for the season. They are also offering a bundle option with NFL Sunday Ticket and NFL RedZone for a total of $339 for the season. Fans who sign up for NFL Sunday Ticket with the YouTube TV Base Plan will have access to not only 100+ live channels, but also every Sunday game, including local, national, and out-of-market games. If you aren’t a YouTube TV subscriber, you can receive NFL Sunday Ticket for $399. Click here to sign up.

Starting at $79.99/month

DIRECTV STREAM includes over 75 “live” TV channels in the base Entertainment package and over 150 channels in the Premier package — plus gives access to over 40,000 Video on Demand (VOD) titles. This is very similar to the satellite version of DIRECTV, but without the big satellite dish installed on the outside of your house.

Fire TV Stick, Apple TV, Google Chromecast, Roku, iOS, Windows, macOS, Android, Android TV, LG, Samsung, VIZIO, and Sony are compatible.

FAQ’s

No, the NFL Sunday Ticket is currently not available with DIRECTV STREAM.

DIRECTV STREAM offers many Premium channels including Max, Showtime, STARZ, MGM+ (formerly EPIX), and Cinemax.

The DIRECTV STREAM website provides a searchable page. Go to: https://streamtv.directv.com/channels/ and click on Regional Sports and Local and then type in your zip code. A listing of local channels and Regional Sports Networks will appear.

Roku has a feature called Bandwidth Saver to help people with data or bandwidth caps. After 4 hours without remote activity, you may be asked if you want to keep streaming. Click “Keep Streaming” to continue playback. If you do nothing, DIRECTV STREAM will close. You can disable this feature in the Settings/Network menu.

Starting at $76.99/month

Hulu + Live TV is one of the most popular “live” streaming providers. Hulu + Live TV allows subscribers to not only to stream over 85 “live” TV channels, but also gives subscribers access to the entire Hulu Video on Demand (VOD) library of popular, award-winding original series and documentaries. You will receive a Disney+ and ESPN+ subscription for free when signing up for Hulu + Live TV.

Fire TV Stick, Apple TV, Google Chromecast, Roku, PlayStation, iOS, Windows, macOS, Android, Android TV, XBOX, LG, Samsung, VIZIO, Sony, and Nintendo are compatible.

FAQ’s

Ads are included with all of the Hulu plans that include live TV. However, you can upgrade your plan to eliminate the ads on Hulu On-Demand, ESPN+, and Disney+. Click here to view all of your options.

Yes, Hulu + Live TV has a “Sports Add-ons” package which includes NFL RedZone. Click here to see details.

Hulu + Live TV has a “Network and Zip Code Checker Tool” located at www.hulu.com/live-tv. Scroll down to “All Your TV in One Place” and click on “View Channels in Your Area” then type in your zip code.

Roku has a feature called Bandwidth Saver to help people with data or bandwidth caps. After 4 hours without remote activity, you may be asked if you want to keep streaming. Click “Keep Streaming” to continue playback. If you do nothing, Hulu + Live TV will close. You can disable this feature in the Settings/Network menu.

Starting at $79.99/month

Fubo is the world’s only sports-focused “live” TV streaming service. Fubo features two basic plans—Pro, and Elite. The Pro package includes over 100 “live” TV channels, 130+ sporting events (with full coverage on specials like Super Bowl, NBA Finals, World Series, Stanley Cup, PGA Tour, NASCAR, etc.), streaming of league soccer games and tournaments, plus thousands of Video on Demand (VOD) TV episodes and hundreds of movies.

Fire TV Stick, Apple TV, Google Chromecast, Roku, iOS, Windows, macOS, Android, Android TV, LG, Samsung, VIZIO, Xbox, and Sony are compatible.

FAQ’s

Fubo does not actually own or have much control over the VOD content of popular TV shows. This content is owned by the networks (i.e. HGTV, MotorTrend, Food Network, and History Channel) so you’ll mostly only find the most recent episodes, not the episodes from previous seasons.

Yes, Fubo streams lots of RSN including: AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh, AT&T SportsNet Southwest, Marquee Sports Network, Root Sports Northwest, MSG, MSG+, NBC Sports Bay Area, NBC Sports Boston, NBC Sports California, NBC Sports California+, NBC Sports Chicago, NBC Sports Chicago+, NBC Sports Philadelphia, NBC Sports Philadelphia+, NBC Sports Washington, NESN, SNY, Bally Sports and more to come.

Fubo does provide streaming of local news, weather, and sports channels. Click here for a listing of local channels from the Fubo Help Center.

Roku has a feature called Bandwidth Saver to help people with data or bandwidth caps. After 4 hours without remote activity, you may be asked if you want to keep streaming. Click “Keep Streaming” to continue playback. If you do nothing, Fubo will close. You can disable this feature in the Settings/Network menu.

$40/month

Sling TV offers the cheapest option of getting access to “live” streaming content. One of the reasons for the lower price is Sling TV plans doesn’t offer local news/weather/sports channels and thus no ABC, NBC, CBS, or FOX shows. An HD antenna and AirTV2 are needed to watch local channels, although Sling is rolling out local channels in some areas. Its Sling Orange and Sling Blue plans offer options for different viewing preferences. The Extras and Add-Ons allow subscribers to customize their plans with additional content, i.e. Comedy, News, Kids, Lifestyle, Hollywood, Hallmark Movies — plus add Premium channels like SHOWTIME, STARZ AND MGM+ (formerly EPIX).

Fire TV Stick, Apple TV, Google Chromecast, Roku, LG, XBOX, Samsung, VIZIO, and Sony are compatible.

FAQ’s

Yes. Click here to see the channels offered in twenty different languages.

Yes, a majority of Sling TV channels are available in HD. Sling TV’s goal is to provide a high-quality video experience inside or outside of the home anywhere a solid wi-fi or mobile connection is available.

Sling TV’s Catch-Up TV feature allows subscribers to watch, or rewatch, just about anything that aired within the last three to eight days, depending on the channel and the type of content. Catch-Up TV also allows subscribers to fast forward or rewind previously aired content without the need to manually record content using the DVR feature.

Roku has a feature called Bandwidth Saver to help people with data or bandwidth caps. After 4 hours without remote activity, you may be asked if you want to keep streaming. Click “Keep Streaming” to continue playback. If you do nothing, Sling TV will close. You can disable this feature in the Settings/Network menu.

Streaming devices include Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Google Chromecast, and Apple TV.

$25/month

Philo is one of the most affordable, “best value” streaming services but is geared to subscribers who want no sports, no national news channels, no local channels, and no ABC, NBC, CBS, or FOX shows. Philo does provide both “live” and Video On Demand (VOD) titles. These include over 70 “live” TV channels and over 60,000 VOD titles.

Fire TV Stick, Apple TV, Google Chromecast, Roku, VIZIO, and Sony are compatible.

FAQ’s

A simple option is to also subscribe to the ESPN+ app. This will not only give you access to streamed “live” sporting events, but also lots of Video On Demand (VOD) content including the full 30 for 30 library.

Philo has a “no sports and no locals” approach to its content. This allows them to offer lots of channels but still at less than half the cost when compared to YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV.

Although there are no DVR storage space limits on Philo, recorded content is stored for only one year from the recording. 

Roku has a feature called Bandwidth Saver to help people with data or bandwidth caps. After 4 hours without remote activity, you may be asked if you want to keep streaming. Click “Keep Streaming” to continue playback. If you do nothing, Philo will close. You can disable this feature in the Settings/Network menu.

Starting at $5.99/month

Paramount+ has something for everyone, with over 45,000 full episodes from BET, CBS, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon and more! You can also enjoy exclusive Paramount+ Originals such as Lawmen Bass Reeves, Frasier, Special Ops: Lioness, and 1883, as well as live sports, big movies, and family fun. Paramount+ Essential is $5.99 per month, and Paramount+ with SHOWTIME is $11.99 per month. Both Paramount+ plans offer 24/7 live news with CBS News. However, neither plan offers the streaming of local news/weather/sports from ABC, NBC, and FOX — or of other shows from those three channels. (You may need to purchase an HD antenna to watch local channels.)

Fire TV Stick, Apple TV, Google Chromecast, Roku, iOS, Windows, macOS, Android, Android TV, LG, Samsung, VIZIO, Xbox, PlayStation, and Sony are compatible.

FAQ’s

No, the Video On Demand library of movies are included in the subscription. If you subscribe to the Paramount+ with SHOWTIME plan, the movies are commercial free.

You’ll only be able to stream your local CBS news/weather/sports station. Click here to see the list of local CBS stations across the country.

“Live” shows will continue to include commercials. So, you’ll continue to see ads on CBS, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, CBSN, etc.

Roku has a feature called Bandwidth Saver to help people with data or bandwidth caps. After four hours without remote activity, you may be asked if you want to keep streaming. Click “Keep Streaming” to continue playback. If you do nothing, Paramount+ will close. You can disable this feature in the Settings/Network menu.

Streaming devices include Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Google Chromecast, and Apple TV.

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Starting at $5.99/month

Peacock is a streaming “live” TV and on demand movie service owned by NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast. Popular “live” TV channels offered include the WWE Network, Premier League, GolfPass, and NBC Sports. Peacock’s Premium tier ($5.99 per month) permits access to its full library of content, which includes over 40,000 hours of movies and TV shows, and includes over 50 “live” TV channels. The Premium tier include a maximum of five minutes of commercials per hour. The Premium Plus tier ($11.99 per month) is mostly commercial-free and allows for downloading of select titles for viewing offline.

Fire TV Stick, Apple TV, Google Chromecast, Roku, Playstation, iOS, Windows, macOS, Android, Android TV, XBOX, LG, Samsung, VIZIO, and Sony are compatible.

FAQ’s

Peacock includes TV shows like The Office, Psych, Saturday Night Live, Law and Order, Yellowstone, Parks and Recreation, King of Queens, Cheers, Downton Abby, 30 Rock, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Keeping up with the Kardashians, The George Lopez Show, Two and a Half Men, Everybody Loves Raymond, and Frasier. It also include  live events such as WWE programming and NBC’s NFL games. The Premium Plus tier ($11.99) is mostly ad free with the ability to download and watch select titles offline.

Yes, popular movies include the Bourne movies, the Fast and Furious movies, Despicable Me movies, Field of Dreams, Jaws, Shrek, ET, Bridesmaids, Casino, and Erin Brockovich.

NBC Sunday Night Football is available via streaming on Peacock.

These games can be streamed on the Premium tier of Peacock, but it’s only $5.99 per month. So, if you’re a fan, it’s still a great deal.

Starting at $7.99/month

Frndly TV offers an affordable live streaming option but only comes with 40+ channel options. The Classic tier offers HD quality, two simultaneous streams, and unlimited DVR recordings. The Premium tier offers HD quality, four simultaneous streams, and unlimited DVR recordings. If you binge watch the Lifetime and Hallmark channels, this may be your ticket.

Fire TV Stick, Apple TV, Google Chromecast, Roku, iOS, Windows, macOS, Android, Android TV, and Sony are compatible.

FAQ’s

Yes, in addition to streaming all three Hallmark channels, subscribers can add on-demand Hallmark movies for an additional $5.99 per month.

This will not only give you access to streamed “live” sporting events, but also lots of Video On Demand (VOD) content including the full 30 for 30 library.

Frndly has a “no sports and no locals” approach to its content. This allows them to offer lots of channels but still at less than half the cost when compared to YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV.

If you’re on the Classic Plan, recorded content is stored for three months. Recorded shows are saved for nine months on the Premium Plan.