Streaming TV has a lot to offer: You're not locked into a cable contract, and you usually don't pay for a lot of content you don't actually want. But if you only subscribe to Netflix and basic Hulu, you may be missing out on some of the benefits of cable, like live sports, local news, and the spontaneity of linear programming (as opposed to on-demand programming). Live TV streaming services simply require an Internet connection and a screen capable of streaming. They also don't come with contracts and typically cost less than cable (and some are even free). We tested a dozen services to find the best live TV streaming services, depending on what type of TV viewer you are.
What to look for in a live TV streaming service
How to stream live television
Streaming live television is a lot like using Netflix. You get access through apps on your phone, tablet, smart TV or streaming device 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 register and pay through a web browser. After that, you can activate the app on your device.
Price
When I began my research into cutting the cord, I was surprised by the price difference between live TV and a standard streaming app like Netflix or Peacock. While the latter costs between $5 and $20 per month, many live TV services hit the $75 mark and can reach over $200 with added benefits, channel packages and premium extras. The higher initial price is mainly due to the cost of providing multiple networks, particularly sports and local stations. And, in the last six months, all services except Philo and Sling have increased prices for the basic plan.
Local channels
Only two of the services we tested don't include full coverage of local channels for subscribers, and one of them makes no effort to stream sports. That would be Philo and as you can imagine, he is the cheapest. The next most affordable option, Sling, only offers three local stations and only in larger markets, but it still manages to include some of the major sports channels.
When you sign up with any provider that handles local television, you'll enter your ZIP code, ensuring you get your area's affiliate broadcasts for ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC. Of course, you can also get those stations for free. Almost all modern televisions support a radio frequency (RF) connection, also known as a coaxial port, which means that if you buy a high definition antenna, you will receive local broadcast stations such as ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC. And since the signal is digital, reception is much improved from the era of static rabbit ears.
Sports
One reality that struck me was the sheer number and iterations of sports networks that exist. Trying to figure out which network will broadcast the matchup you want to watch can be tricky. Google makes it a little easier for sports fans by listing Upcoming games (just swap NFL, MLB, NHL, etc. in the search bar). When you click on an event, the “TV & Streaming” button will tell you which network is covering it.
All that remains is to find out if the chosen service broadcasts that regional sports network. Unfortunately, even with add-ons and additional packages, some providers simply don't have certain channel lists. It would take a lawyer to understand the ins and outs of broadcast rights negotiations, and networks abandon and return to live TV operators all the time. That being said, most major sporting events in the US are covered by ESPN, Fox Sports, TNT, USA and their local affiliates.
It's also worth noting that traditional streaming services have started adding live sports to their programs. Peacock broadcasts live Premier League matches and Sunday Night Football. Max now streams select NHL, MLB and NBA regular season games with a $10 per month add-on. You can see MLS games with an add-on through the Apple TV app, and Apple TV+ includes some Major League Games. And finally, if you subscribe to Paramount Plus, you'll be able to watch many of the games you'd watch on CBS Sports. While these options won't cover as much ground as live TV streamers, they could satisfy your sports itch without too much extra cost.
Traditional cable networks
Dozens of linear programming networks were once only available with cable television, including Bravo, BET, Food Network, HGTV, CNN, Lifetime, SYFY and MTV. If you only subscribe to, say, Netflix or Apple TV+, you won't have access to them. But as with sports, mainstream streamers are starting to incorporate this content into their offerings. After the Warner Bros. merger, Max brought in some content from HGTV, Discovery and TLC. Peacock has Bravo and Hallmark shows, and Paramount+ has stuff from Nickelodeon, MTV, and Comedy Central.
Other channels like AMC+ have standalone apps. He Discovery+ The app gives you 15 unadded channels for $9 a month. And a service called TV friendly It's just $7 a month and streams A&E, Lifetime, Game Show Network, Vice, and about 35 others. Of course, most live TV streaming options will offer larger lists of cable networks, but keep in mind that you may already be paying for some of them, and if all you need is a certain channel, you can get it cheaper by subscribing directly.
How to stream live TV for free
We also tested a few apps that offer free ad-supported TV (FAST), including Freevee, Pipeline, PlutoTV and Honda Freestream. They allow you to visit and watch a more limited selection of live networks at no cost. Most don't even require an email address, much less a credit card. And if you have a Roku device, Amazon Fire TV Stick, or Samsung TV, you already have access to hundreds of live channels via Roku Channelthe live tab on Fire TV or through the Samsung Plus TV application.
Digital Video Recordings (DVR)
Each option we've included offers cloud DVR storage, so you don't need a separate physical device as is often the case with traditional cable. You'll get unlimited storage for recordings that expire after nine months or a year, or you'll get a set number of hours (between 50 and 1,000) that you can keep indefinitely. Typically, all you need to do is designate what you want to record and the DVR component will do all the hard work of saving subsequent episodes for you to watch later.
In addition to being able to watch when it's most convenient, you can also fast-forward through commercials in recorded content. Conversely, you can't skip them on live TV or video on demand (VOD).
Most live TV subscriptions include access to a selection of VOD content, including movies and shows currently airing on subscribed networks. This typically does not cover live events, local shows, and news programming. But it does allow you to watch specific episodes of ongoing shows like Dinners, drive-ins and diving or BET Is standing. Simply find the show in the on-demand library, choose an episode, and press play.
Levels, Packs and Addons
Comparing price-offer ratios is a spreadsheet task. I… made three. Basic plans range from $25 to $80 per month. From there, you can add packages, which are generally groups of live TV channels grouped by topics such as news, sports, entertainment, or international content. Premium VOD extras like Max, AMC+, and Starz are also available. Add-ons cost an additional $5 to $20 each per month and simply appear in the guide where you find the rest of your live TV. This is where streaming can get expensive quickly, raising a subscription from $80 to $200 per month, depending on what you choose.
How we test
When I start testing a guide, I research the most popular and highest-rated players in the category and determine which ones are worth trying. For the paid plans, only six services dominate, so I tried them all. There are many more free live TV contenders, so I tried the four most popular ones. After setting up the accounts using my laptop, I downloaded the apps on a Samsung smart TV running the latest version of Tizen OS. I counted local stations and regional sports coverage, and noted how many of last year's broadcasts major cable networks were available. I then weighed the prices, base packages, and available add-ons.
I then looked at how the programming was organized in each app's user interface and judged how easy it was to navigate everything from the top navigation to the settings. To test the search feature, I searched for the same TV shows on BET, Food Network, HGTV, and Comedy Central, since all six providers carry those channels. I noticed how helpful the searches were and how quickly they took me to episode 13 of season 6 of Native city.
I used DVR to record entire series and individual movies and watched VOD shows, making sure to test the pause and scan functions. On each service with sports, I looked for the same four upcoming NHL, NBA, MLS and NCAA basketball games and used the recording option to save the games and play them a day or two later. Finally, I noticed additional advantages or irritating quirks.
Here's the full list of everything we tried:
Free Live TV with Ads:
Best Free Live TV Streaming Services
Many standard streaming apps have added live components to their rosters. You're paying for the service, so it's not technically “free,” but you can get your live TV fix without spending more than you need to. Peacock includes some NBC regional stations, and Paramount+ subscribers can watch CBS programming on-air. The standard Hulu app has a live ABC news channel and Max now includes a live CNN channel with its service.
Amazon Prime Video contains a Live TV tab, just like the Fire TV interface. And, if you use Year either Samsung As your preferred smart operating system, its built-in proprietary services include hundreds of live channels at no additional cost. Additionally, there are free Plex and PBS apps; even NASA has a free streaming service.
But if you want a full set of live TV networks and don't want to sign up any Paid service, there are a number of free ad-supported television services that have live television. Here's the best of what we tried:
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/best-live-tv-streaming-service-133000410.html?src=rss
