Live TV streaming services have evolved to feel a lot more like traditional cable, thanks to frequent price hikes, media consolidation, and channel blackouts during contract disputes. However, for most people, cutting the cord with a streaming service remains a better deal than a cable subscription. For sports fans and news junkies, a live TV streaming service is still the best way to get comprehensive coverage. After testing all the major options, YouTube TV is the top recommendation for most viewers, but other services have their own strengths worth considering. When choosing a service, key factors include monthly price, local channel availability, live sports coverage, and the selection of traditional cable networks. Most services start between $75 and $85 per month, a significant increase from just a few years ago. They typically include local ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC affiliates, though availability varies by zip code. Sports coverage is a major draw, with networks like ESPN, Fox Sports, and regional sports networks included, though specific channel lineups differ. Many services also bundle popular cable channels like Bravo, CNN, HGTV, and MTV. Essential features to compare are cloud DVR storage, which ranges from 50 hours to unlimited, and the number of simultaneous streams allowed on one account. Some services, like YouTube TV, FuboTV, and DirecTV Stream, offer advanced viewing options like multiview, which lets you watch up to four streams at once on one screen. A few also provide select live content in 4K resolution, though this often requires a specific streaming device or an extra fee. For watching NFL games, live TV streaming services are a primary solution. The 2025 season sees games spread across CBS, Fox, NBC, ABC, ESPN, NFL Network, Prime Video, and Netflix. Most paid services carry the necessary local broadcast stations and sports networks for the majority of games. To watch every out-of-market Sunday afternoon game, you would need the NFL Sunday Ticket add-on, which is now exclusive to YouTube TV. Notably, Christmas Day games will air on Netflix and Prime Video, requiring subscriptions beyond a standard live TV package. For those looking to spend nothing, free ad-supported TV (FAST) services offer a surprising amount of live and on-demand content. Apps like Tubi, Pluto TV, Sling Freestream, and Plex provide hundreds of live channels and vast libraries of movies and shows at no cost. These are safe, legitimate platforms funded by commercials and are a great way to supplement paid subscriptions or for very budget-conscious viewers. The live TV streaming landscape continues to shift. Traditional streamers like Netflix, Peacock, and Prime Video are adding live sports and events. New, cheaper sports-focused plans are emerging from providers like Fubo and ESPN. While the base prices have risen, the flexibility of no contracts and the ability to customize with add-ons still provides an advantage over traditional cable for many households. The best service ultimately depends on which specific channels, features, and sports packages are most important to the individual viewer.
