![cable-isn’t-the-only-way-to-watch-your-favorite-tv-channels-live-–-cnet-[cnet]](https://i0.wp.com/upmytech.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/52396-cable-isnt-the-only-way-to-watch-your-favorite-tv-channels-live-cnet-cnet.jpg?resize=800%2C445&ssl=1)
Cable Isn’t the Only Way to Watch Your Favorite TV Channels Live – CNET [CNET]
Cable TV can be expensive, and if you decide that it’s no longer worth the cost, there are plenty of other options to access your favorite channels. Plus, cutting the cord has some major perks. Live TV streaming services offer a much wider selection of channels than an antenna would, and you can stream on your phone or computer, too.
Six major services are available today: AT&T’s DirecTV Stream (formerly AT&T TV, AT&T TV Now and DirecTV Now), Google’s YouTube TV, Disney’s Hulu Plus Live TV, Dish Network’s Sling TV, FuboTV and Philo. Our full live-TV streaming guide has all the details about prices and features of the various services, but really, it’s all about the channels.
Read more: NFL: How to Stream, Watch Football Without Cable
The Big Chart: Top 100 Channels Compared (Updated February 2022)
The main difference between the services is their channel lineups. All of them offer different slates of channels for various prices.
Below you’ll find a chart that shows the top 100 channels across all six services. There are actually seven listed because Sling TV has two different “base” tiers, Orange and Blue. And if you’re wondering, I chose which “top” channels made the cut. Sorry, AXS TV, Discovery Life, GSN and Universal HD. The most recent additions to the list are the Olympics Channel, which replaces the now-defunct NBC Sports Network, and Magnolia Network, which reflects DIY’s rebrand.
The past year has been very busy for live TV streaming. December had YouTube TV locked in a carriage dispute with Disney and 18 channels were blacked out for one day, but all were restored. In November DirecTV Stream launched its first PBS channels and YouTube TV added the Hallmark network (just in time for the holidays) while in October YouTube TV renewed a deal to keep NBC channels. Those changes are reflected in the chart below where applicable.
Hulu Plus Live TV increased its price by $5 — and threw in Disney Plus and ESPN Plus. It also added OWN to its channel lineup in 2022.
Some more stuff to know about the chart:
- Yes = The channel is available on the cheapest pricing tier. That price is listed next to the service’s name.
- No = The channel isn’t available at all on that service.
- $ = The channel is available for an extra fee, either a la carte or as part of a more expensive package or add-on.
- Regional sports networks — local channels devoted to showing regular-season games of particular pro baseball, basketball and hockey teams — are not listed. DirecTV Stream’s $85 tier has the most RSNs by far, but a few are available on other services. See our NBA and NHL streaming guides for details.
- Local ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, MyNetworkTV and The CW networks are not available in every city. Since availability of these channels varies, you’ll want to check the service’s website to make sure it carries your local network.
- Local PBS stations are only currently available on YouTube TV and DirecTV Stream. Again you’ll want to check local availability.
- Fubo subscribers may find that the ACC Network and SEC Network are included with their basic package at no extra cost. Check availability for your state.
- The chart columns are arranged in order of price, so if you can’t see everything you want, try scrolling right.
- Overwhelmed? An easier-to-understand Google Spreadsheet is here.
PHILO VS. SLING TV VS. FUBO VS. YOUTUBE TV VS. HULU VS. DIRECTV STREAM: Top 100 channels compared
| Channel | Philo ($25) | Sling Orange ($35) | Sling Blue ($35) | YouTube TV ($65) | FuboTV ($65) | Hulu with Live TV ($70) | DirecTV Stream ($70) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total channels: | 42 | 25 | 36 | 79 | 59 | 73 | 62 |
| ABC | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| CBS | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Fox | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| NBC | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| PBS | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| CW | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| MyNetworkTV | No | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Channel | Philo ($25) | Sling Orange ($35) | Sling Blue ($35) | YouTube TV ($65) | FuboTV ($65) | Hulu with Live TV ($70) | DirecTV Stream ($70) |
| A&E | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| ACC Network | No | $ | No | Yes | $ | Yes | $ |
| Accuweather | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| AMC | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Animal Planet | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| BBC America | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| BBC World News | Yes | $ | $ | Yes | $ | No | $ |
| BET | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Big Ten Network | No | No | $ | Yes | Yes | Yes | $ |
| Bloomberg TV | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Boomerang | No | $ | $ | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Bravo | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Channel | Philo ($25) | Sling Orange ($35) | Sling Blue ($35) | YouTube TV ($65) | FuboTV ($65) | Hulu with Live TV ($70) | DirecTV Stream ($70) |
| Cartoon Network | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| CBS Sports Network | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | $ |
| Cheddar | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | $ |
| Cinemax | No | No | No | $ | No | $ | $ |
| CMT | Yes | $ | $ | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| CNBC | No | No | $ | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| CNN | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Comedy Central | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Cooking Channel | Yes | $ | $ | No | $ | $ | $ |
| Destination America | Yes | $ | $ | No | $ | $ | $ |
| Discovery Channel | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Disney Channel | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Disney Junior | No | $ | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Disney XD | No | $ | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| E! | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| EPIX | $ | $ | $ | $ | No | No | $ |
| ESPN | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| ESPN 2 | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| ESPNEWS | No | $ | No | Yes | $ | Yes | $ |
| ESPNU | No | $ | No | Yes | $ | Yes | $ |
| Channel | Philo ($25) | Sling Orange ($35) | Sling Blue ($35) | YouTube TV ($65) | FuboTV ($65) | Hulu with Live TV ($70) | DirecTV Stream ($70) |
| Food Network | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Fox Business | No | No | $ | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Fox News | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| FS1 | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| FS2 | No | No | $ | Yes | Yes | Yes | $ |
| Freeform | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| FX | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| FX Movies | No | No | $ | Yes | $ | Yes | $ |
| FXX | No | No | $ | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| FYI | Yes | $ | $ | No | No | Yes | $ |
| Golf Channel | No | No | $ | Yes | Yes | Yes | $ |
| Hallmark | Yes | $ | $ | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| HBO/HBO Max | No | No | No | $ | No | $ | $ |
| HGTV | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| History | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| HLN | No | $ | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| IFC | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Investigation Discovery | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Lifetime | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Lifetime Movie Network | Yes | $ | $ | No | No | Yes | $ |
| Channel | Philo ($25) | Sling Orange ($35) | Sling Blue ($35) | YouTube TV ($65) | FuboTV ($65) | Hulu with Live TV ($70) | DirecTV Stream ($70) |
| Magnolia Network (formerly DIY) | Yes | $ | $ | No | $ | $ | $ |
| MLB Network | No | $ | $ | Yes | $ | No | $ |
| Motor Trend | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| MSNBC | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| MTV | Yes | $ | $ | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| MTV2 | Yes | $ | $ | Yes | $ | $ | Yes |
| National Geographic | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Nat Geo Wild | No | No | $ | Yes | $ | Yes | $ |
| NBA TV | No | $ | $ | Yes | $ | No | $ |
| NFL Network | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| NFL Red Zone | No | No | $ | $ | $ | $ | No |
| NHL Network | No | $ | $ | No | $ | No | $ |
| Nickelodeon | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Nick Jr. | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | $ |
| Nicktoons | Yes | $ | $ | Yes | $ | $ | $ |
| Olympic Channel | No | No | $ | Yes | Yes | Yes | $ |
| OWN | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | $ |
| Oxygen | No | No | $ | Yes | Yes | Yes | $ |
| Paramount Network | Yes | $ | $ | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Science | Yes | $ | $ | No | $ | $ | $ |
| Channel | Philo ($25) | Sling Orange ($35) | Sling Blue ($35) | FuboTV ($65) | YouTube TV ($65) | Hulu with Live TV ($70) | DirecTV Stream ($70) |
| SEC Network | No | $ | No | Yes | $ | Yes | $ |
| Showtime | No | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ |
| Smithsonian | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | $ |
| Starz | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ |
| Sundance TV | Yes | $ | $ | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Syfy | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Tastemade | Yes | $ | $ | Yes | Yes | No | $ |
| TBS | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| TCM | No | $ | $ | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| TeenNick | Yes | $ | $ | Yes | $ | $ | Yes |
| Telemundo | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | $ |
| Tennis Channel | No | $ | $ | No | $ | No | $ |
| TLC | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| TNT | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Travel Channel | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | $ |
| TruTV | No | $ | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| TV Land | Yes | $ | $ | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| USA Network | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| VH1 | Yes | $ | $ | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Vice | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| WE tv | Yes | $ | $ | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Channel | Philo ($25) | Sling Orange ($35) | Sling Blue ($35) | FuboTV ($65) | YouTube TV ($65) | Hulu with Live TV ($70) | DirecTV Stream ($70) |
![12-great-gifts-under-$100-that-you-can-buy-now.-seriously,-don’t-wait-–-cnet-[cnet]](https://i0.wp.com/upmytech.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/46040-12-great-gifts-under-100-that-you-can-buy-now-seriously-dont-wait-cnet-cnet.jpg?resize=390%2C205&ssl=1)
![peloton-is-partnering-up-with-the-nba.-here’s-how-to-watch-games-on-your-bike-–-cnet-[cnet]](https://i0.wp.com/upmytech.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/147852-peloton-is-partnering-up-with-the-nba-heres-how-to-watch-games-on-your-bike-cnet-cnet.jpg?resize=300%2C169&ssl=1)