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We may be living in the on-demand age, but there's still so much great content worth watching live -- from sporting events like March Madness, to primetime shows, to big events such as the 2022 Academy Awards. If you've recently cut that cable cord and are missing live TV, keep reading to find the best way to get it through your streaming subscription.
The top products in this article:
$70atHuluStart Watching Now$3000atSamsungWith so many streaming services pushing binge-worthy original shows and Oscar-nominated movies, it can be hard to remember the benefits of live TV.But there are many.
Whether you're a cord cutter who misses your cable subscription, or a sports fan who wants to keep up with a favorite team in real time, we've got you covered. From pricier live TV options such as Hulu + Live TV or DirecTV Stream, to the totally free, totally old-school Pluto TV, there's a way to get live content without getting stuck with a cable subscription.
Keep reading to learn which live TV streaming service is right for you. Looking for what to stream next? Check out our guides for what's new on Amazon Prime Video, what's new on Paramount+, what's new on Hulu and more.
Pluto, Paramount+ and Essentials are all subsidiaries of Paramount.
Best overall live TV streaming services
If you're looking for a little bit of everything when it comes to live TV, here are the best streaming platforms to consider:
Hulu + Live TV
A standard Hulu + Live TV subscription gets you more than 75 channels, including ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN, ESPN 2, The CW, A&E, FX, Pop TV, TBS, TNT, USA and more. The streamer's live-TV tier grants you access to a wide range of news, live sports and events, including the 2022 Academy Awards, all available live or on-demand. With a Hulu + Live TV subscription, you can watch on two screens at the same time, plus record live TV with 50 hours of Cloud DVR storage.
Hulu + Live TV also includes access to the ad-supported Hulu tier, which has shows such as "The Dropout," "Only Murders in the Building," and more great Hulu original programming.
Hulu + Live TV starts at $70 monthly. New subscribers can try Hulu + Live TV free for seven days.
Hulu + Live TV, $70 and up per month
Try FreePhilo TV
Philo is a great budget-friendly option for the TV watcher looking for a little bit of everything. The platform has more than 60 channels available to watch live or record on unlimited DVR space, including HGTV, History, Discovery, AMC, BBC America, World News, the Hallmark Channel, the Lifetime Movie Channel, plus kids channels such as Nickelodeon, Nick Jr. and Nicktoons. Philo also has a substantial library of on-demand titles and the option of add-ons including Epix and Starz.
Philo is available for $25 monthly. New subscribers can try Philo free for one week.
Philo, $25 per month
Try FreeDirecTV Stream
The rebranded live-TV streaming service (formerly known as AT&T TV) follows a no-contract, no-hassle, loads-of-channels script that cable vets will likely find refreshing, but still offers the familiar tiered packages and pricing.
No matter what your viewing needs are, from keeping up with the 2022 MLB season to watching the evening news, DirecTV Stream should have a monthly package that will serve.
How much does DirecTV Stream cost?
Prices on DirecTV Stream services start at $70 a month.
DirecTV Stream, $70 and up per month
70Best live TV streaming services for watching sports
Whether you love March Madness, baseball, soccer, WWE or just sports in general, these are the best live TV streaming platforms for catching all of your favorites:
FuboTV
Though FuboTV offers a wide range of more than 100 channels, its main focus is sports. The streaming platform's most popular subscription plan provides access to NBA and NHL games, plus Fox (based on your local available channels), the NFL Network and optional RedZone.
FuboTV plans start at $65 per month. FuboTV currently offers new subscribers a seven-day free trial.
FuboTV, $65 and up per month
Try FreeSling TV
Sling TV is a great, budget-friendly streaming option for sports fans. Sling TV offers access to more than 40 channels, including ESPN, Disney, BBC America, Comedy Central, Discovery, MSNBC, NBC Sports, Syfy, FS1, TBS, and Fox (based on your local available channels).
Sling TV plans start at $35 monthly, with the most expensive base plan starting at $50 monthly. You have the option to add on special packages for an extra fee. New subscribers to Sling TV can try any plan free for three days.
Sling TV, $35 and up per month
Try FreeParamount+
Maybe you love Paramount channels such as MTV, Comedy Central and Nickelodeon. Maybe you just love anything related to "Star Trek," and you enjoy live sports games. If so, then Paramount+ might be right for you. Get access to everything CBS Sports has to offer, including the NFL on CBS, the PGA Tour and the Masters, and NCAA Division 1 Men's basketball. Soccer fans will be especially happy with the tons of soccer action available on the platform, including the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and UEFA Europa Conference League.
On top of being the exclusive streaming home for all things Nickelodeon and "Star Trek," the platform is launching its long-anticipated "Halo" series later this month, along with a slate of other exciting upcoming projects.
Paramount+ currently has two subscription tiers available: The Essential plan is ad-supported and costs $5 per month, granting access to the platform's entire library. The Premium plan is ad-free and includes access to your local live CBS station for $10 monthly. You can also try Paramount+ free for one week.
Paramount+, $5 and up per month
Try freeEssentials and Paramount+ are both subsidiaries of Paramount.
Peacock
Peacock is NBCUniversal's streaming service; unlike others on this list, it offers a totally free, ad-supported tier with access to a limited number of titles in the Peacock library. The platform is now the exclusive home to popular, binge-worthy sitcoms such as "Parks and Recreation" and "The Office," but it's live sports that make up a huge part of Peacock's appeal.
Premium Peacock subscribers enjoy access to live events via Premier League and WWE Network, plus motorsports, tennis, track and field, golf games and more.
Peacock has three tiers -- a free, ad-supported tier that grants you limited access to Peacock's library; an ad-supported, premium tier for $5 monthly or $50 annually; or an ad-free premium tier for $10 monthly or $100 annually.
Peacock, $0 and up per month
Sign UpBest free live TV streaming service: Pluto TV
Pluto TV is your free trip back to the good old days of surfing those free TV channels in your living room. The fully free streaming service offers more than 200 channels to stream, including content from Comedy Central, MTV, Fuse, the Paramount Movie Channel, Food TV and even kid's channels like Nick Jr. and Pluto TV Kids. There are channels devoted entirely to popular shows as well, so you can always catch an episode of "CSI," "Survivor," "Star Trek," "Dr. Phil" and more.
The platform boasts an ever-changing (and growing) selection of channels, shows and movies to stream live or on-demand, so if you're one of the few who truly miss the opportunity to endlessly scroll, Pluto TV might be right for you.
Pluto TV, $0
Start watching nowFor a flat $29, the U Must Have amplified, indoor HD digital TV antenna will deliver the live content from any free digital channels in your area. No subscription, no monthly fee. Just connect the U Must Have to your set, and watch. It's the 20th century TV-viewing experience with 21st century technology.
Keep in mind that part of the reason cable TV became so popular is that some areas get poor TV reception. Today's digital antennae are far better than the rabbit ears of yore, but even they can only do so much if your home is reception-challenged.
U Must Have indoor HD digital TV antenna, $29
$29atAmazonThe best TV deals right now
Looking to upgrade your viewing experience at home? Keep reading to check out the best deals on smart TVs, TV stands and more.
A premium Samsung TV can cost a lot, especially when it's something like Samsung QN900A Neo TV, which boasts 8K resolution, AI upscaling and a Quantum LED panel. Factor in a massive, 65-inch screen and you're looking at a $5,000 TV. Luckily, Samsung has a great deal that knocks a hefty $2,000 off the price, bringing it down to $3,000.
65" Samsung QN900A Neo QLED TV, $3,000 (reduced from $5,000)
$3,000atSamsung75" Samsung QN900A Neo QLED TV, $4,000 (reduced from $7,000)
$4,000atSamsung58" Samsung class 4K Crystal UHD LED smart TV with HDR: $478
This 58-inch LED smart 4K TV from Samsung features a processor that can upscale your favorite HD shows and streams.
Samsung 58" class 4K Crystal UHD LED smart TV with HDR, $478 (regularly $600)
$478atWalmart32" Toshiba set (720p) with Fire TV: $160
At just 32 inches, this budget-friendly Toshiba TV is suited for small spaces like bedrooms or offices. It runs Amazon's FireTV platform, so you can stream new shows from Hulu, Netflix and more without plugging in extra equipment. You can also watch live TV on this device.
32" Toshiba set (720p) with Fire TV, $160 (reduced from $200)
$160atBest BuyFull motion TV wall mount: $45
Mount your new TV with ease with this tilted 4.8-star-rated wall mount, now on sale at Amazon. It's designed to handle televisions ranging in size from 47 to 84 inches.
Full motion TV wall mount (for 47" - 84" TVs), $45 (reduced from $53)
$45atAmazonAmazon Fire TV Stick with 4K Ultra HD: $25
This Amazon streaming stick with a new Wi-Fi antenna design is optimized for 4K streaming. The Amazon Fire TV Stick pairs with compatible Bluetooth headphones and comes equipped with Alexa-enabled voice-control technology.
Amazon Fire TV Stick with 4K Ultra HD, $40 (reduced from $50)
$40atAmazonFirst published on March 22, 2022 / 8:00 AM
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