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.
- Pros
- No annual contract is required.
- There are no hidden fees.
- Local news, weather, and sports are available in most areas.
- There is no limit on DVR storage space.
- It includes the NFL, NBA, and PBS networks.
- Cons
- Only three simultaneous streams are permitted.
- Many regional sports networks are not available.
- Fast forwarding through commercials isn’t allowed unless you are using the DVR feature.
- Devices
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.
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.
Starting at $86.99/month
DIRECTV STREAM includes over 90 “live” TV channels in the base Entertainment package and over 185 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.
- Pros
- It allow for twenty simultaneous streams on your home network and three concurrent streams when traveling.
- No annual contract is required.
- Fast forwarding through commercials is permitted when using your DVR.
- DIRECTV streaming devices include a “traditional/familiar looking” TV remote.
- Regional sports network options are included.
- Unlimited DVR storage is available.
- Cons
- This is the priciest “live” TV streaming option.
- Packages may automatically include lots of channels you never watch.
- Purchase or rental of a streaming device from DIRECTV is more expensive.
- NFL Sunday Ticket is not available as an add-on to DIRECTV STREAM.
- Multiple user accounts cannot be created with one membership.
- Devices
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.
$46/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).
- Pros
- It’s a cheap option for accessing “live” TV.
- No annual contract is required.
- There are no hidden fees.
- Fast forwarding through commercials is permitted when using your DVR.
- Premium channels such as SHOWTIME, STARZ, AND NFL RedZone packages can be added.
- Cons
- You may need to purchase an HD antenna and AirTV2 to watch local channels.
- Only one simultaneous stream is allowed with Sling Orange.
- Only three simultaneous streams are allowed with Sling Blue.
- Discovery, Fox News, MSNBC, or NFL Network are not available on Sling Orange.
- Disney, ESPN, Freeform, and MotorTrend are not available on Sling Blue.
- Only 50 hours of DVR storage are included.
- Devices
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.
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.
Starting at $82.99/month
Hulu + Live TV is one of the most popular “live” streaming providers. Hulu + Live TV allows subscribers to not only to stream over 95 “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.
- Pros
- No annual contract is required.
- There are no hidden fees.
- Local news, weather and sports are available in over 200 of the 210 DMAs in the US.
- Disney+ and ESPN+ are included with Hulu + Live TV purchase.
- Get access to 85,000+ TV shows and other Video on Demand (VOD) — including Hulu originals.
- There are no DVR storage space limits.
- You can upgrade to Hulu (No Ads) + Live TV.
- Cons
- Only two simultaneous streams are allowed.
- It doesn’t include the NBA or NFL networks.
- Devices
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.
$28/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.
- Pros
- A seven-day free trial is available.
- No annual contract is required.
- There are no hidden fees.
- There are no DVR storage space limits.
- Their Video On Demand library contains over 70,000 movies, shows, and specials.
- Cons
- Only three simultaneous streams are allowed.
- DVR storage is only saved for a year.
- No local sports or news channels are included.
- No national news channels are included.
- Fast forwarding through commercials is only permitted when using your DVR.
- Devices
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 $7.99/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 $7.99 per month, and Paramount+ with SHOWTIME is $12.99 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.)
- Pros
- A one-week free trial is available for new subscribers.
- No annual contract is required.
- There are no hidden fees.
- It offers tens of thousands of episodes and movies.
- You can watch NFL on CBS and UEFA Championship League.
- The Paramount+ Essential plan has limited ads, and Paramount+ with SHOWTIME has no ads (except live TV and a few shows).
- It’s a good entertainment value for the money.
- You can download shows to your mobile device with the Paramount+ with SHOWTIME plan.
- Cons
- Paramount+ does not have a DVR feature for recording live shows for replaying.
- Only Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers can watch live TV with CBS and college football.
- Local NBC, ABC, and FOX news/weather/sports channels are not available for streaming.
- An HD antenna and AirTV2 are needed to watch local news/weather/sports channels.
- Devices
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
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.
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.
Starting at $7.99/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 ($7.99 per month) permits access to its full library of content which includes over 40000 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 ($13.99 per month) is mostly commercial-free and allows for downloading of select titles for viewing offline.
- Pros
- It’s an affordable option.
- Full seasons of The Office are available.
- Parental controls can be set to block access to inappropriate content.
- Subscribers have access to original Peacock content.
- A profile can be created to include kid-friendly content.
- Cons
- It’s missing the major, popular TV shows found on ABC, CBS, and Fox.
- Downloading content for offline viewing is only available with the Premium Plus tier.
- You’ll need to connect to a US IP address via a VPN app to stream Peacock when overseas.
- Devices
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 ($13.99) 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 $7.99 per month. So, if you’re a fan, it’s still a great deal.
Starting at $79.99/month
Fubo is the world’s only sports-focused “live” TV streaming service. Fubo features three basic plans—Pro, Elite with Sports Plus and Deluxe. The Pro package includes over 189 “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. The second and third tiers now include NFL RedZone and other sports networks that previously required paid add-ons.
- Pros
- A seven-day free trial is available.
- No annual contract is required.
- There are no hidden fees.
- It includes most local news, weather, and sports channels.
- Create up to six profiles per account.
- 1,000 hours of cloud DVR storage are included.
- Cons
- Only three simultaneous streams are allowed.
- It doesn’t include TBS, TCM, TNT, truTV, Vice, Animal Planet, Discovery channels, Magnolia Network, HGTV, TLC, Food Network, MotorTrend, and Travel Channel.
- Devices
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 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.
Starting at $69.99/month
Vidgo is a newer “live” TV streaming service with over 150 channels included in its Premium package ($84.99 per month) and over 110 channels in its Plus package ($69.99 per month). The Spanish Package ($39.95 per month) includes over 45 channels. Vidgo also has over 14,000 shows and movies ready for viewing on demand. Hundreds of hours of new content are added daily. Vidgo also has TV Everywhere so you’re able to watch content when you’re on-the-go. It’s a free added service for Vidgo subscribers.
- Pros
- It includes both the Hallmark Channel and the Lifetime Channel.
- Disney-owned channels are available.
- Major sports networks like ESPN and FOX Sports are in the channel lineup.
- There are no hidden fees or annual contracts.
- It’s an economical “live” streaming option.
- Cons
- Only 20 hours of free DVR space is included.
- It only allows three devices to stream simultaneously.
- There is no original content.
- PBS is not included.
- Devices
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
Yes, Vidgo does include the RFD TV channel and the Cowboy Channel in its Premium Package. INSP is included in both its Plus Package and in the Premium Package.
Vidgo offers some local FOX and ABC stations for many major cities across the US. However, it doesn’t offer the NBC or CBS Networks, so you won’t be able to watch shows on those channels nor be able to view local news on NBC and CBS affiliate stations.
Starting at $6.99/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.
- Pros
- It’s an affordable option.
- No annual contract is required.
- There are no hidden fees.
- A seven-day free trial is available.
- Recording multiple shows and movies at the same time is allowable.
- Cons
- The Basic Plan doesn’t include any DVR hours.
- The Basic Plan only allows one simultaneous stream.
- No live news or live sports are available.
- There are a low number of TV channels in their lineup.
- Devices
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.
