{"id":218274,"date":"2024-03-29T09:15:01","date_gmt":"2024-03-29T09:15:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/2024\/03\/29\/the-best-live-tv-streaming-services-to-cut-cable-in-2024\/"},"modified":"2025-06-25T17:19:43","modified_gmt":"2025-06-25T17:19:43","slug":"the-best-live-tv-streaming-services-to-cut-cable-in-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/2024\/03\/29\/the-best-live-tv-streaming-services-to-cut-cable-in-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"The best live TV streaming services to cut cable in 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The major players in live TV streaming are YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, FuboTV, Sling and DirecTV Stream, with Philo rounding things out as a good budget option. Each one purports to replicate cable with vast channel offerings, local news, sports and linear programming \u2014 and most services promise to be cheaper than cable, too. That\u2019s true in some cases, but depending on which and how many add-ons and packages you get in addition to the base service, it can also end up being far more expensive than basic cable. To help you get the most bang for your buck, we break down just what live TV services offer and suggest the best ones for different viewers.<\/p>\n

What to look for in a live TV streaming service<\/h2>\n

How to stream live TV<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Streaming live TV is a lot like using Netflix. You get access through apps on your phone, tablet, smart TV or streaming device<\/a> and the signal arrives over the internet. A faster and more stable connection tends to give you a better experience. Most live TV apps require you to sign up and pay via a web browser. After that, you can activate the app on your device.<\/p>\n

Price<\/strong><\/h3>\n

When I started my cord-cutting research, I was struck by the price difference between live TV and a standard streaming app<\/a> like Netflix or Peacock. Where the latter cost between $5 and $20 per month, many live TV services hit the $75 mark and can go higher than $200 with additional perks, channel packages and premium extras. The higher starting price is mostly due to the cost of providing multiple networks \u2013 particularly sports and local stations. And, in the past year or so, every service except Philo and Sling has raised base plan prices.<\/p>\n

Local channels<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Only two of the services we tried don\u2019t include full local channel coverage for subscribers and one of those makes no effort at carrying sports. That would be Philo and, as you might guess, it\u2019s the cheapest. The next most affordable option, Sling, only carries three local stations, and only in larger markets, but it still manages to include some of the top sports channels.<\/p>\n

When you sign up with any provider that handles local TV, you\u2019ll enter your zip code, ensuring you get your area\u2019s broadcast affiliates for ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC. Of course, you can also get those stations for free. Nearly all modern television sets support a radio frequency (RF) connection, also known as the coaxial port, which means if you buy an HD antenna<\/a>, you\u2019ll receive locally broadcast stations like ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC. And since the signal is digital, reception is much improved over the staticky rabbit-ears era.<\/p>\n

Sports<\/strong><\/h3>\n

One reality that spun my head was the sheer number and iterations of sports networks in existence. Trying to figure out which network will carry the match-up you want to see can be tricky. Google makes it a little easier for sports fans by listing out upcoming games<\/a> (just swap in NFL, MLB, NHL and so on in the search bar). When you click an event, the \u201cTV & streaming\u201d button will tell you which network is covering it.<\/p>\n

That just leaves figuring out if your chosen service carries that regional sports network. Unfortunately, even with add-ons and extra packages, some providers simply don\u2019t have certain channel lineups. It would take a lawyer to understand the ins and outs of streaming rights negotiations<\/a>, and networks leave and return to live TV carriers all the time. That said, most major sporting events in the US are covered by ESPN, Fox Sports, TNT, USA and local affiliates.<\/p>\n

It’s also worth noting that traditional streaming services have started adding live sports to their lineups. Peacock<\/a> carries live<\/a> Premier League matches and Sunday Night Football<\/a>. Max now airs select, regular season games from the NHL, MLB, NCAA and NBA with a $10-per-month add-on<\/a>. You can watch MLS games<\/a> with an add-on through the Apple TV app, and Apple TV+ includes some MLB games<\/a>. And finally, if you subscribe to Paramount Plus, you can see many of the matches you\u2019d see on CBS Sports. While these options won\u2019t cover as much ground as live TV streamers, they could scratch a sports itch without too much added cost.<\/p>\n

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