There are now five options for watching your favorite channels and content: satellite TV, cable TV, fiber TV, live TV streaming, and on-demand streaming. Satellite TV is best for those who live in rural areas or want 300+ channels. Cable TV is great for people who want traditional TV at a price that won’t break the bank. If you’re one of the lucky ones where fiber TV is offered, then you might enjoy 400+ channels with a guaranteed reliable connection. If you don’t need 100s of channels and would rather save a little dough, live TV streaming is something to consider. Or, if you love binge-watching drama or crime TV series, there are loads of on-demand streaming services available. So between satellite, cable, fiber, live TV streaming, and on-demand streaming—which is the best TV provider for you? It’s going to depend entirely on what kind of TV experience you are looking for and, of course, your budget. Let’s get into the details of channel lineups, pricing, availability, and content. Here’s our list of the best of the best: But before you do, you should know what to look for when choosing a satellite, cable, fiber, or live TV streaming service. Most satellite TV providers also offer free installation, so you won’t have to worry about climbing onto your roof to install the satellite dish. If you’ve seen The Holiday with Vince Vaughn, then you understand what you could be avoiding. Most cable TV services also provide either a no-contract option or a solid deal with a contract. You can also enjoy sufficient DVR storage space to avoid family … altercations. You’ll most likely get double the channels than you would with standard cable, and for a reasonable price. The only problem is it’s not widely available across the US. But we’re crossing our fingers that it will be in the future. It does require an internet connection, so be aware of that. As with all TV services, you’ll want to take notice of the dollar-to-channel ratio. But bear in mind that you won’t get access to as many channels as you would with satellite and cable TV. Not all on-demand streaming services are created equal as they all have their purpose (for example, Disney+ gives you content from Disney, Pixar, Star Wars, etc. and HBO Max releases Warner Bros. movies). And if you don’t care for live sports or news, on-demand streaming services are the go-to for most people (although some might have a few live channels, such as Paramount+). DIRECTV has the largest number of channels, while DISH Network doesn’t have second-year price hikes and is cheaper in the longrun. If you’re looking for the best all-around satellite TV provider, we choose DISH. We’ve got good news for college sports fans—DISH carries more college sports channels than DIRECTV, including the ACCN, SEC, PAC-12, Longhorn, and Big Ten Networks, along with ESPNU. And if you’re a huge fan of the Utah Jazz, Milwaukee Bucks or Golden State Warriors, we’ve named DISH the best satellite TV option for watching NBA games. DIRECTV’s top plan offers about 40 more channels than DISH’s top plan if you’re looking for abundance. Yes, it does cost a bit more. But if you and your family want lots of channels (like over 330), DISH won’t be your pick. However, keep in mind that the Hopper Duo (with 125 hours of DVR storage) is your only choice unless you get three or more set-top boxes. You’ll have to pay an extra $10 per month for the Hopper 3 and an additional $7 per month for each added 4K Joey receiver. No longer must you sift through the couch cushions to find your lost remote. You can simply tell Alexa to turn on This Is Us and cry your eyes out with the rest of us. Xfinity is the best cable provider because it’s widely available across the country, reliable, and decently priced. The channel selection for Xfinity’s starter package is pretty similar to DISH’s base-level package (including channels like ESPN, TNT, Food Network, and Disney Channel). When you upgrade to Xfinity’s Ultimate TV plan, you’ll get Cartoon Network, Cooking Channel, Disney Junior, FX Movie Channel, and Paramount Pictures. If you’re an NFL fanatic, you’ll like Xfinity because it’s one of the best options for the NFL RedZone Channel. So if you decide to become an Xfinity customer and order this channel, you’ll be set to watch all of the exciting moments of Sunday’s games. And Xfinity has plenty of fees to watch out for, such as regional sports fees (up to $11 per month), broadcast TV fees (up to $26 per month), DVR fees ($0–$20 per month), and a fee for each TV box ($7.50 per month). They can really start to add up quickly on top of your base price, so we recommend you double-check how much your total monthly price will be during the checkout process before you commit.
Xfinity no longer holds you down with a contract
Xfinity TV no longer requires you to sign a 1-year contract! Besides the fees, the contract was another downside to Xfinity TV. But now that there is no term agreement to sign, this cable TV provider just went up a few points in our book. Even without a contract that sometimes brings your monthly price down, you might also notice Xfinity’s prices still beat out many cable TV providers. Read our full review of Xfinity for more details on packages, equipment, and channel lineups. Verizon Fios is the number one fiber TV provider that we recommend, and it will guarantee you speed, reliability, and a ton of channels. In short, Fios is good for bigger families, people who work or go to school from home, and families that use the internet constantly. Verizon Fios TV doesn’t require an annual contract. So you can cancel your service if you move, switch over to a live TV streaming service, or want to cut back on bills. The Most Fios TV plan gives you the most channels you could possibly get with any TV provider: 425 channels! We would hands down recommend this TV service over many others, but it’s only available in less than 15% of the country.
The flaw of fiber-optic cable is the availability
The biggest downside about this oh-so-great TV service is it’s available in only nine states. Maybe Verizon won’t be so shy and will venture out to other states one day. If you live in one of these East Coast states, check if Verizon Fios is offered in your city:
DelawareNew JerseyNew YorkMarylandMassachusettsPennsylvania
fuboTV takes the crown for the best live TV streaming service. fuboTV has the best dollar-to-channel ratio, offers over 100 channels, and provides more sports channels than any other TV service in the industry. It’s also one of our top picks for streaming NFL games this 2023 season. fuboTV caters to all types of sports fans. You’ll get channels like ESPN, Big Ten Network, PAC-12 Networks, Tennis Channel, TUDN, and Zona Fútbol. You’ll also get all major national sports channels like NFL Network, MLB Network, NBA TV, and NHL Network. Check out the channel lineup to see all 160+ channels you could get. Honestly, fuboTV has little to no faults compared to its competitors. It has the best dollar-to-channel ratio, gives you access to lots of channels, and has the smoothest interface and user experience. But, although fuboTV is one of the best services for sports, it’s not perfect for NBA-watching. It doesn’t have TNT. If your Abuelito wants to watch sports in Spanish, fuboTV has a Latino package for $33 per month with 40+ Spanish-language channels. But if you just want on-demand content (like Originals you can’t find anywhere else) and you’d like to save some cash, then an on-demand service will suffice for you. Netflix is king when it comes to on-demand streaming services. This big-time service has come in at the number one spot for our Top 10 Streaming Apps, Best On-Demand Streaming Services, and Best Streaming Services for Kids. You’ll get access to a vast 6,500-title library of TV shows, movies, Originals, and comedy specials (and it gets updated often). Watch New Girl while you’re working from home, distract the kids with CoComelon while you’re talking to the landscaper, and enjoy Stranger Things or Hustle on the weekend with some popcorn. You can watch Jason Bateman in Ozark, Jonah Hill in You People, Penn Badgley in You, and Catherine-Zeta Jones in Wednesday. Talk about a movie night. And there are many more of these great movies or shows with great actors that you really won’t want to miss. It’s no wonder why this streaming service is one of the best.
Netflix’s starter plan is for those who don’t need to share an account
Netflix is the priciest on-demand streaming service out there, and you might be someone looking for a service that doesn’t break the bank. So you might get the Basic with ads plan or the Basic plan. Just know that you won’t be getting access to Netflix’s entire library while viewing with the Basic with ads plan, and you’ll only have access to one “simultaneous” stream with both plans. You won’t be able to share your account with anyone else in the household unless you want to risk not being able to sign in because someone else is using the app already. You can get over 340 channels for news, entertainment, lifestyle, movies, kids, and music with this satellite TV service! To make your entertainment grander, DIRECTV offers à-la-carte programming for most major sports leagues, including:
MLB EXTRA INNINGS NBA League Pass NHL CENTER ICE MLS Direct Kick
If you want to know more about which channels each DIRECTV package carries, check out our full DIRECTV review.
DIRECTV’s Genie DVR
DIRECTV also offers more high-definition (HD) channels than any other TV service, and it can record up to 200 hours of HD video content.
DIRECTV’s biggest downfall
Second-year price hikes are a real caveat. DIRECTV racks up the price by about double for the second year of your two-year contract. We’re torn on this policy. On the one hand, you get a pretty good deal for the first year of service. But on the other hand, price hikes suck. It’s a pretty big knock on DIRECTV. But as long as you’re aware of the jump up-front, you can budget for it. Each provider has its purpose and qualities, such as specific location and channel lineups. We give a break down on each one below. Not only will you get channels for sports, movies, and news, you’ll also get thousands of on-demand titles that you can watch whenever you’d like—whether it be Saturday night in your living room or on a roadtrip. Spectrum raises its prices after your first year of service. We’re here to give you a heads up that you’ll need to budget for $77 monthly after year one. But the good news is that you only have to pay $5 per month for the DVR service, or $10 for DVR service on two or more HD set-top boxes. That DVR fee might be the cheapest in the TV industry. The best part about Optimum is you get more than 200 of these great channels for just $75 per month, which is one of the best deals we’ve seen in the cable TV industry. As you upgrade, you’ll get more sports, movie, and entertainment channels for the whole family to enjoy. You can even get over 300 channels for a lower price than satellite TV and without a contract.
TV box ($0–$10/month for each)Cloud DVR storage ($8.00–$20.00)
And Optimum installs your TV service for free. But we do have to warn you that during the checkout process, we noticed Optimum TV won’t offer its customers TV service unless you order Internet service, as well. Its download speeds range from 300–5,000 Mbps.
Optimum TV’s availability favors five East coast states
Unfortunately, Optimum is only available in five states, so you’ll want to check this availability map to see if your city is serviced by this cable TV provider. Optimum TV is available in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina. Optimum may have fewer fees, but Xfinity TV is available in 2x more states. You create your service, Cox delivers. In a nutshell, you’ll want the Starter TV plan if you just want local channels, the Preferred TV plan if you want popular channels like Disney Channel and Fox News, or the Ultimate TV package if you want premium channels in your lineup. The Essential and Preferred DVR service each gives you 250 hours of DVR storage space (but Essential lets you record two shows simultaneously while Preferred lets you record six). And the Ultimate DVR service is, well, pretty ultimate. This is the one that lets you record 24 shows at once, and it gives you and the fam 1,000 hours of DVR storage. How much are Cox’s DVR service fees?
Essential DVR service: $10.00/mo. (for one year)Preferred DVR service: $20.00/mo.Ultimate DVR service: $30.00/mo.
Cox TV’s pricing brings it down to the bottom of our cable TV list
Cox TV is on the pricier side of the cable TV providers with its high dollar-to-channel ratio. Xfinity TV gives you 125+ channels for $50 per month, making that $48 cheaper than Cox TV’s Preferred plan. (Geez, that’s half the price.) You could get local channels for $53 per month, but if that sounds like too much, consider an HD antenna to get your local channels for free. Cox’s availability isn’t so wide across the US, but if your area only offers Cox TV, it’s not a bad option for bundling four services in one. These live TV streaming services are the best behind fuboTV, and each is unique. We’ll get into the details to see which one you should subscribe to. Keep in mind these prices don’t include internet service charges (which you’ll need in order to stream), but you can check those out in our best internet for streaming article. YouTube TV is well-rounded with a decent number of channels (including some major sports channels) and many add-ons for everyone in the family. Like fuboTV, YouTube TV is one of our top picks for streaming NFL games. And in 2023, this will be home to NFL SUNDAY TICKET. Unlimited DVR space means you can literally record anything and everything you want. You also get a robust channel lineup with lots of top lifestyle and entertainment channels. You even get major sports channels like NFL Network and NBA TV. MLB Network was once included, but YouTube TV’s deal with MLB Network ended in January 2023, so you won’t find that channel on YouTube TV anymore. All this easily makes YouTube TV one of the best streaming services available. PS: If you’re looking for a service to stream all NBA games, YouTube TV is our number one pick. You can find more options in our How to Stream NBA Games Live piece.
YouTube TV doesn’t have all the channels under the sun
YouTube TV is missing a few channels some of us might “need.” We understand. A few of those channels include History Channel, MLB Network, Tennis Channel, and PAC-12 Network. That means you’ll have to miss out on Alone, Wimbledon, and some intense college football games. But we have to say we’re proud of YouTube TV for adding the three Hallmark channels to its lineup. Now, they are one of the best live TV streaming services for your Hallmark-movie fix. As far as live channels are concerned, you get all the essentials, like ABC, ESPN, FOX, Food Network, and HGTV. Nothing good on TV? Catch up on This is Us, The Bachelor, or Rick and Morty. You’ll also get access to well-known originals, such as Little Fires Everywhere, The Handmaid’s Tale, Only Murders In the Building, and Letterkenny. Rest assured, you won’t run out of stuff to watch with this improved live TV streaming service.
Hulu Live’s DVR storage space is now one of the best
Hulu + Live TV’s cloud DVR used to store only 50 hours! We’re happy this live TV streaming service made the change to unlimited DVR storage. So now, you can record every Modern Family episode because you just can’t enough of Phil and every series of Friends to have on standby when you need a laugh. We recommend Sling Orange if you want more kids and lifestyle channels (like Disney Channel and Comedy Central), and you’ll like Sling Blue if you want a TV package with more news and sports channels (like FOX News and NFL Network). Sling Orange + Blue only gives you six more channels than the Sling Blue plan, but you’ll get the Disney Channel, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, Motortrend, and Freeform. We’re still in the camp that Sling gives you quality over quantity, and you can add over 20 different channel packages for $5 to $10 each. You’ll have to pay an extra $5 more per month for the 200-hour cloud DVR. But if 50 hours is enough for you, then that means more savings for you. With any plan, you’ll get the SHOWTIME, and CINEMAX® channels in your lineup free for the first 3 months. If you get the CHOICE package or above, you’ll get three free months of HBO Max. We guarantee you’ll want to marathon-watch Friends, The Nevers, or Mare of Easttown. Since DIRECTV STREAM is the live TV streaming version of DIRECTV, you can enjoy the traditional TV experience without installing a satellite dish. Instead, you’ll receive a set-top box and voice-activated remote control. It truly is the streamable version of DIRECTV, which comes with satellite TV pricing. Watch Step Brothers while you’re waiting for your car to be serviced, or distract your kids with Spongebob Square Pants while you’re grocery shopping. Each on-demand streaming service is unique in its own way. For example, Disney+ gives you content from Disney, Pixar, Star Wars, and more. And Hulu has network shows available to stream the day after they air on television. Let’s find out which one has the content you like most. Throw on Moana or Toy Story when the kids eat lunch, watch Holes to bring back memories, or binge-watch all of the Iron Man movies if that’s more your thing. Disney+ might also be a must if you want to catch season 3 of The Mandalorian. The debut for the newest season will be on this platform on March 1, 2023. Currently, some of the most popular Originals are Star Wars: Andor, Hocus Pocus 2, and Pinocchio (so we don’t blame you if you’re feeling a little bit of FOMO). Under the Originals tab of Disney+’s homepage, you’ll also find Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Hawkeye.
Disney+ might not be the only service you subscribe to.
If you need your CBS, ESPN, HGTV, or Food Network shows in on-demand form, you won’t find it with Disney+. But luckily, you can easily bundle Disney+, ESPN+, and Hulu or Hulu + Live TV! (PS: we named this one of our favorite money-saving bundles.) Another on-demand streaming service that can fill the content gap is Peacock. Peacock will give you all of your NBC shows, such as The Voice (you can even get this service for free). Or if you’re more of a Love Island fan, you’ll benefit more with Paramount+, which will give you Paramount+ content from more networks like Comedy Central and BET. And lastly, if you’re a lifestyle and entertainment type of fan, you’ll like Discovery+ because you’ll get on-demand content from networks such as Food Network, HGTV, and TLC. Hulu releases lots of recently broadcasted TV shows on its platform within hours. So when Abbott Elementary airs on Wednesday night, you’ll find that episode ready for you to watch on demand the next day. You’ll find other new episodes on Hulu from TV shows like Blue Bloods, The Amazing Race, Bob’s Burgers, The Masked Singer, 9-11, The Voice, 60 Minutes and Survivor. On top of that, you can watch all of Hulu’s terrific Originals, such as The Kardashians and Nine Perfect Strangers. This service has outstanding Originals, such as The Handmaid’s Tale with Elisabeth Moss, The Act, The Mindy Project, and Little Fires Everywhere with Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington.
Hulu was the first to include an ad-supported tier for those who want to save
Hulu does this thing where you have to pay $5 more to exclude ads from your binge-watching marathon. But we guess it’s nice Hulu gives you the option to go a cheaper route if you can patiently wait through a few ads. Netflix and HBO Max recently took a page from Hulu’s book and now offers a less expensive option with ads. But an extra $5 isn’t so bad for no interruptions. All Warner Brothers movies released in theaters will also be released on HBO Max the same day (subscribed). You don’t even have to pay a fee to unlock one of these new movies. You just simply have to be a subscriber. And you’ll want to stay a subscriber because this new streaming service is two in one. It has all of HBO’s content and HBO Max’s new content in its library. You can find old favorites like Insecure and Game of Thrones in your library. You’ll also find HBO Max Originals like House of the Dragon and The White Lotus.
HBO Max has half the titles Netflix does
We love the content HBO Max has in its library, but you could say you might “run out of things to watch.” HBO Max has 2,500 titles, while Netflix has nearly 6,500. HBO Max might not be a streaming service that you can live off of if you had to choose one, but it’s certainly a great addition to your streaming apps. The free plan gives you access to 40,000+ hours of movies and TV shows with limited ads. If you upgrade to Peacock Premium or Premium Plus, you’ll be able to watch 20,000+ hours of more content, but get Premium Plus if you want zero commercials. Sports fans will benefit from either Premium plan because you’ll get access to live sporting events, such as Sunday Night Football, Premier League, and WWE. For example, Peacock has 24/7 replay channels of Dateline, Love Island, Saturday Night Live, and Jimmy Fallon. And with NBC Sports, you’ll be able to stream Sunday Night Football or any sporting events that air on NBC (past subscribers got to stream Super Bowl 2022 and the 2022 Winter Olympics). But Peacock is not a cable replacement because you won’t get your local channels. You also won’t get your Disney Channel, HGTV, Food Network, or CNN like you would with a TV provider. If you’re looking for a service that is easy on the wallet, has a few channels, and loads of quality on-demand content (and you’re excited to watch season 4 of Yellowstone), Peacock might be your next subscription. This streaming service is great for kid’s shows, for movie night (I Love You, Man or Hancock), and for original content you can’t find anywhere else (Coming 2 America, and The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power).
Prime Video doesn’t have a smooth, user-friendly interface
You won’t get a smooth experience like you will with dedicated on-demand streaming services, so you’ll just have to learn your way around the app. CBS produces so many great TV shows, so they created an app to put it all in one place for you. And now, Paramount+ provides you with even more. In the Paramount+ library, you’re also going to find classic and original content from MTV, Comedy Central, The Smithsonian Channel, Nickelodeon, and BET. To break it down, Paramount+ has a library filled with 450 TV shows and more than 580 movies. And last but definitely not least, you’ll be able to watch 1,000 live sporting events annually. Paramount+ allows you to watch live CBS television channels with the Premium subscription: your local CBS station, CBSN, CBS Sports HQ, and ET Live. But you’ll have to live in an area where CBS is available. We recommend you sign up for Paramount+’s free trial to see if you like what it offers. If Paramount+’s channels aren’t available in your region, then you can just enjoy this streaming service’s library of 30,000+ hours of on-demand content. To decide which TV providers are worth your attention, we have put loads of hours and a few years into our research. (I mean, this page is close to 8,000 words long). We have personally tested out all of these services to come up with our own analysis of who the provider is best for and where the provider ranks amongst the competitors. And finally, we have put in all of this effort to give you our true review of each cable and satellite provider, live TV streaming service, and on-demand streaming service. The downsides are that you need to have a satellite dish installed on your roof, which can mean extra installation fees, and satellite just isn’t as reliable. Sometimes your signal can get interrupted by bad weather, like harsh snow or wind. And even though the monthly price can sometimes start off higher than satellite, you usually won’t see second-year price hikes, or you can avoid a contract with cable. This makes it easier to budget upfront since you won’t fall for sweet promotional deals that come back to haunt your bank account in 12 months. Seamless and uninterrupted live TV streaming relies on your internet service. To stream content, you need an internet connection fast enough to handle it. This means if you live in a more rural area, you may not get a strong enough internet connection speed to livestream TV. If you cancel a DIRECTV contract, DIRECTV will charge you a $20 fee for every month remaining on your contract. So if you need to get out of your contract, but you still have nine months left, you’re looking at a hefty fee. It’s steep, for sure, but it’s all in the contract agreement. Make sure to ask your provider about early termination fees before you sign, just in case. For example, when you get DIRECTV, you’ll receive a promotional price for the first 12 months, and then your monthly price will increase in year two. It’s definitely not good for your blood pressure, but if you’re careful, it shouldn’t come as a surprise. Make sure to ask about any price changes that may happen after your promotional period ends so that you’re not blindsided with a giant bill. Sling TV: $40–$55/mo. for 31–47 channels Xfinity TV: $20.00–$68.50/mo. (for the first year of your service) for 10–185 channels DISH TV: $79.99–$109.99 for 190–290 channels If you want more details on the pros and cons of these services, check out our Sling TV, Xfinity TV, and DISH TV reviews. You can save even more money when you bundle your internet, TV, and phone. Xfinity, AT&T, Cox, Frontier, and Verizon Fios offer some of the best-triple play bundles.
