Best Live TV Streaming Services in 2024 to Go Cordless With Different Budgets
Tired of your outdated cable? When the world is going cordless, it’s only fair for you to join the bandwagon! In this comprehensive review, we have rounded up the top live TV streaming services that are trying to one-up each other through their exciting offerings. We are talking about premium on-demand content, unlimited networks, and Live streaming! Let’s get right into it!
- Massive library of Disney/Pixar/Marvel/Star Wars
- 4K HDR streaming
4.5
Excellent
Disney+
- Thousands of live niche/college sports events
- Entire 30 for 30 documentary series
4.5
Excellent
ESPN
- Premier destination for live boxing/MMA events
- Stacked fight libraries
4.5
Excellent
DAZN
- Integrates Hulu on-demand with 75+ live TV channels
- Unlimited cloud DVR.
4.5
Excellent
HULU
- Robust channel bundles up to 140+ networks
- Includes regional sports networks.
4.0
Good
DirecTV
- Sports-focused channel lineup and interfaces
- Add-ons like Sports Plus tier
3.5
Good
FuboTV
- Acclaimed original series like Outlander
- Deep movie library from Sony
3.0
Good
STARZ
- Hub for CBS/Viacom content like Yellowstone
- Plus live sports
3.0
Good
Paramount+
- 60+ entertainment/lifestyle channels, no sports/news
- Low $25 cost
3.0
Average
Philo
Best Live TV Streaming Services For Viewers in 2024
- Disney+: Best for Streaming Disney/Marvel/Star Wars content
- ESPN+: Best for sports fans, especially niche sports
- DAZN: Best for boxing and combat sports streaming
- Hulu + Live TV: Best for on-demand library and live TV
- DIRECTV Stream: Best for a robust channel lineup and sports
- fuboTV: Best for sports-centric live TV streaming
- Starz: Best for premium original series and movies
- Paramount+: Best for CBS/Viacom content and live sports
- Sling TV: Best for budget live TV streaming
- Philo: Best for affordable lifestyle channels
Disney+ is famed for its Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic collection. It has also forged a partnership with Hulu to consolidate all its titles onto your screen in a unified space.
Disney+ also offers HDR streaming along with parental controls and multi-screen viewing capabilities. With Disney+ and Hulu, you can also add ESPN to the combo for added value. Fans absolutely eat this service up.
Pros: Disney+ provides an unmatched selection of content that is an absolute gold mine. With parental restrictions and multi-screen viewing, the service is well-suited for families. It brings you the best of the streaming world through its bundles, making it one of the best movie streaming services in the market.
Cons: There’s no live TV component for news, sports, or general entertainment channels.
Pricing: The Disney+ and Hulu combo, which includes ads, costs $9.99 per month. You may get rid of the ads for a premium of $19.99 per month. The Trio Bundle (Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN) costs $14.99 a month. You may go add-free for $24.99 each month.
Are you a hardcore sports nut who loves the niche stuff as much as the mainstream? Then ESPN+ will hit the spot. Each annum, this broadcaster streams live boxing, UFC, global football, scholastic athletics, tennis, rugby, cricket, etc. Additionally, sers can also stream original productions alongside the revered 30 for 30 documentary anthology.
Pros: ESPN+ is a dream for die-hard sports lovers, owing to its expansive repertoire of specialized and less-televised live sports such as collegiate sports, football, pugilism, UFC, golf, tennis, and more. The comprehensive 30-for-30 documentary compilation stands as a considerable boon. It represents a judicious alternative for hardcore ESPN enthusiasts.
Cons: It lacks many of the most popular professional US sports leagues, which require separate subscriptions or cable TV. The on-demand library is relatively small outside of original shows and documentaries.
Pricing: ESPN’s sports streaming platform is $10.99/month or $109.99/annually. It’s also included in the Disney Bundle Trio at a cost of $14.99/month with ads. To go add-free with this plan, you’ll have to cough up $24.99 per month.
If you can’t get enough boxing, MMA, and kickboxing action, then DAZN is an absolute must. This dedicated combat sports streaming service brings the heat with live events from heavy hitters like Matchroom, Golden Boy, Bellator, and more. On top of that, you’re getting stacked on-demand libraries and originals like documentaries and studio shows. A true knockout for fight fans.
Pros: With DAZN, boxing, MMA, and combat sports, fans get unparalleled live event coverage and access to some of the biggest promotions, such as Matchroom and Golden Boy. The service consistently delivers high-profile fights. In addition to the live action, it features solid on-demand libraries and behind-the-scenes original programming.
Cons: DAZN’s content scope is very niche and genre-limited to boxing/MMA, offering little for non-combat sports viewers. While it appeals to diehard fans, it lacks the same charm for the general populace.
Pricing: DAZN presents three subscription alternatives: a $29.99 monthly flexible pass, a $19.99 monthly tariff with a 12-month commitment, and a $224.99 Annual Super Saver scheme remitted upfront.
With Hulu’s on-demand goodies combined with a loaded live TV channel bundle, this streamer delivers stellar value. You’re scoring 75+ live channels – including all the major networks and even ESPN+ and Disney+ bundled in. Moreover, Hulu has a massive library and original catalogue. It is truly a complete package, giving you live and on-demand in one slick interface.
Pros: By combining Hulu’s exceptional on-demand streaming library with a robust live TV channel bundle, this is arguably the most complete live TV streaming service package available. 75+ live channels including ESPN+ and Disney+ are integrated seamlessly. Unlimited cloud DVR and simultaneous stream options sweeten the deal further.
Cons: At around $70/month, it’s one of the pricier streaming options. While the combined content is valuable, the live TV portion alone lacks the depth of DIRECTV Stream or YouTube TV for cord-cutters.
Pricing: For just the Hulu streaming library, you can choose the ad-supported plan for $7.99/month or $79.99/year. You do get the ad-free with the No Ads plan for $17.99/month.
If you want live TV channels, Hulu has bundle packages that include their streaming library combined with Live TV Disney+ and ESPN+. The most affordable is $76.99/month for Hulu + Live TV + Disney+ + ESPN+ (with Ads). For more details, visit their official website.
When you need to feed your live TV habit with lots of channels and options, DIRECTV Stream has you covered. This premium live TV streaming service features robust packages ranging from 65 up to a whopping 140+ channels- local channels, regional sports networks, and even premium add-ons like HBO Max.
Pros: DIRECTV Stream is designed to surrogate ultimate cable TV with channel bundles comprising 65 to over 140 channels encompassing all the essentials – local networks, sports, news, entertainment, and premium enhancements. Sports fans get tons of dedicated channels like regional sports networks. The streaming quality is consistently reliable.
Cons: It resides towards the upper end of the price continuum, ranging between $70 to $150 per month factoring upon the package. Larger channel bundles can be quite expensive. Some popular channels like Comedy Central are still excluded.
Pricing: DirecTV streaming packages can cost you around $69.99/month for 90+ channels in the ENTERTAINMENT package and $159.99/month for 185+ channels in their PREMIER package. You can also go for the intermediate options such as CHOICE and ULTIMATE, priced at $84.99/mo and $114.99/mo..
For sports enthusiasts who probably sleep with one eye open when it’s game day, fuboTV stands out as one of the premier sports streaming platforms. This live television streaming service prioritizes sports with an abundance of live sports channels such as ESPN, FS1, NBCSN, and others included. However, it’s not solely focused on sports – fuboTV also offers a comprehensive array of entertainment channels. Therefore, you can seamlessly transition between the major game and your preferred programs without any interruption.
Pros: Sports fans will love fuboTV’s focus on delivering sports channels galore like ESPN, FS1, NBCSN and more alongside a well-rounded slate of entertainment networks. The sports-centric interface makes finding live games easy. It offers add-ons like Sports Plus for additional action.
Cons: The sports emphasis comes at the expense of lacking some popular non-sports entertainment channels that competitors like YouTube TV carry. The higher pricing tiers for more channels get expensive quickly.
Pricing: fuboTV’s entry-level package with 199 channels is $79.99/month. Upgraded bundles like Elite with 267 channels are $89.99/month. The Premier plan costs $99.99/month for 276 channels. The most budget-friendly plan is the Latino plan, with 65 essential channels at a cost of $32.99/month.
When you’re craving premium original and movie content, Starz TV brings the goods. This is one of the best movie streaming services that is stacked with buzzworthy original series across all genres, giving HBO and Netflix a run for their money. Add in a deep library of recent blockbuster movies and film franchises from major studios like Sony and Starz, which makes for one swanky streaming experience.
Pros: Starz provides some of the most acclaimed premium original series like Outlander, Power, and BMF, which rival HBO and Netflix’s top shows. Beyond originals, it features a deep movie library with recent blockbusters and franchises from Sony. The service delivers excellent 4K HDR streaming quality.
Cons: While the originals are buzzworthy, the volume is limited compared to larger competitors like HBO Max which has a deeper content well overall. The pricing is also higher than many other premium channel add-ons.
Pricing: The Starz premium channel add-on typically runs $8.99/month, though discounted bundles are often available. You can save 66% with the semi-annual plan for $19.99 for 6 months.
Need your fix of CBS hits, Viacom favourites, and live sports action? Then, point your remote at Paramount+. This streamer bundles up all the series, movies, and live sports from channels like CBS, BET, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, Paramount Network, and more. One-stop streaming for all those CBS/Viacom properties you know and love.
Pros: For cord-cutters who don’t want to miss out on CBS, BET, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, MTV, and more Viacom channels, Paramount+ provides a streaming solution with those properties consolidated. Live sports like the NFL and Champions League soccer are included, too. The pricing is very reasonable, considering it is one of the best movie streaming services in the industry.
Cons: While the brand is considered one of the best sports streaming services, the actual volume of content inevitably lacks the depth of larger generalist streaming libraries. The user interface has received some criticism for clunkiness.
Pricing: Paramount+ has an ad-supported Essential plan for $5.99/month or an ad-free Premium for $11.99/month.
Sling TV is the OG “skinny bundle” live TV streaming service made for those on a tighter budget. This live streaming platform serves up slimmed-down channel packages at super affordable pricing compared to cable/satellite. While limited, Sling’s lineup covers lots of popular networks and add-ons to customise your experience without breaking the bank.
Pros: As one of the original skinny bundle cable TV alternative services, Sling TV provides very affordable live TV streaming with its slimmed-down channel packages starting at just $35/month. Add-on channel packs allow customisation while still saving money over cable.
Cons: The base packages contain limited channel counts and tend to lack some popular cable network groups like Viacom channels. You’ll need to shell out more for a la carte add-on channel bundles, which will inflate the cost.
Pricing: Sling’s dual “Orange” and “Blue” bundles each cost $30/month or $35/month respectively. Add-on channel packs cost extra.
Philo TV offers an exceptional live television bundle that emphasizes lifestyle and entertainment networks. With over 60 channels, exclusive of sports and news, are available for your perusal, featuring prominent selections such as AMC, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, and HGTV. You can enjoy all your preferred programs on a singular, convenient platform and relax with some really good options.
Pros: With over 60 channels devoted to entertainment, lifestyle, and family-friendly content, Philo offers great value for only $25/month. It’s a cheap way to watch popular shows on networks like HGTV, Nickelodeon, AMC, and Comedy Central live online.
Cons: The lack of sports, news, and local channels makes Philo more of a general entertainment service than a viable alternative to cable for people looking for those specific channels.
Pricing: Philo keeps pricing very simple and straightforward at just $25/month for its entertainment-focused live TV bundle.
How to Pick the Right Live TV Streaming Service
- The market is saturated with a number of live TV streaming services. This makes it hard to choose one that fits your demands and budget. Consider these things while picking a live TV streaming service:
- Channel Lineup – Make a list of essential local, sports, news, and entertainment channels. Compare this to each service’s channel packages for the greatest fit.
- Sports Access – DIRECTV Stream, fuboTV, and YouTube TV offer substantial sports network coverage, including RSNs, for sports lovers. ESPN+ is a terrific option as well.
- Budget – Entertainment-only bundles cost under $25/month, while robust cable replacements cost over $100/month. Set your budget and make your choice from there.
- Cloud DVR – Recording shows is a useful feature. Compare DVR storage and recording rules.
- Devices: Consider how many devices/screens you’ll stream on simultaneously. Services allow different streams simultaneously.
- On-demand library – These live TV streaming services often offer on-demand content. Choose one that suits you.
- By prioritising your must-haves—premium channels, specialised sports, a large library, or budgetary pricing—you may choose the streaming service that best suits your household’s viewing habits.
How We Review the Best Live TV Streaming Services
- We thoroughly examine and test the top live TV streaming services because the market is continuously changing and new services are appearing every day. Key criteria for our evaluations include:
- Channel Packages – We carefully review each service’s channel lineups across all plans, focusing on major networks, sports channels, regional sports networks, entertainment brands, and premium add-ons.
- Pricing: Basic bundles under $30/month and premium packages over $100/month are available for live TV streaming services. We calculate consumer value by comparing tier prices to channel count.
- User Experience – Are the platform’s interfaces and menus intuitive? We explore responsiveness, load times, video quality, search, and usability on numerous devices.
- Features and DVR – We explore simultaneous streaming, cloud DVR storage, DVR administration tools, program data/guides, and parental controls. These robust characteristics improve viewing noticeably.
- Local & On-Demand – As on-demand libraries and local channel access become more essential, we assess market local channel streams and each service’s on-demand material.
- Sports & Add-Ons – We check sports channels, regional networks, league bundles, and ESPN+ for sports enthusiasts. Supplemental channel bundles and premiums are also examined.
- We bring you the best live TV streaming services for varied viewer demands and budgets by rigorously assessing their content, pricing, design, and features.
Conclusion
These were some of the top live TV streaming services that are popular amongst consumers with varied interests. When you are not sure which live streaming platform to pick, use our comprehensive review and tips to make an informed decision. Put more focus on channels and content offered. See if the price is worth the value and go for bundles for maximum savings.
FAQs
Different live TV streaming services suit different demands. Hulu + Live TV and YouTube TV are known for their huge channel lineups, unlimited DVR, and $65–$75/month cost.
Philo offers the cheapest live TV streaming at $25 per month. About 60 entertainment and leisure channels. Sling TV’s $40 monthly skinny bundles are another economical live TV option with fewer channels than Philo.
There are several legal, free live TV streaming services with restricted channels. The Pluto TV, Tubi, and Crackle applications offer ad-supported live TV channels. With a TV provider login, most TV network apps, including ABC, NBC, Fox, etc., stream live broadcasts for free.
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