Stream Smarter: Compare 50+ Streaming Channels & Services in 2024!

With channels constantly changing, this is the most up-to-date channel comparison of those across the various Live TV Streaming Services. We compare locals, sports, news, entertainment, and top cable channels across services like DIRECTV STREAM, Fubo, Hulu Live TV, Sling TV, Philo, and YouTube TV. If you’d like a quick way to compare the channels you need, see our Service Matchmaker.

This channel comparison is updated daily with the latest channels and pricing from various Live TV Streaming Services. This makes it easy to compare streaming services.

Local Channels

Most services offer local ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, Telemundo, The CW, and Univision. The “Sling Orange” ($45.99) plan doesn’t include any local channels, while Sling Blue offers FOX, NBC, and ABC affiliates in limited markets.

Local Availability

Even if a service offers live local channels, it may not offer the channels in your area. If you live in an area without live local channels, you still can still access the on demand content after it airs.

To see the local channels available in your area, we suggest that you enter your Zip Code in our Local Channel Finder.

Missing Channels

If you subscribe to a plan that doesn’t offer CBS, consider subscribing to Paramount+ for $7.99. It’s a monthly subscription directly from CBS, which includes live streaming of most sports on CBS and on demand access for many of its shows. If you want your local CBS affiliate, you can upgrade to their $12.99 a month Premium Tier.

If you only need your local NBC feed, just sign up for Peacock at the Premium Plus level ($13.99 / month) and you’ll get live NBC along with the great on demand library.

You can get free access to CW shows with The CW apps with no subscription needed.

Top Cable Channels

Most Live TV Streaming Services include 25-35 Top Cable Channels from Disney, NBCU, Warner Bros. Discovery, Paramount Global, Hallmark, A+E, and AMC.

Fubo ($94.99+) has 19 Top Cable Channels. While they have most major channels like ABC, ESPN, Disney Channel, FX, Nat Geo, Bravo, USA, FS1, and Fox News, they are missing A&E, AMC, Cartoon Network, CNN, Discovery, Food Network, HGTV, History, Investigation Discovery, Lifetime, TBS, TLC, TNT, Travel Channel, truTV, and WE tv. They carry Regional Sports Networks in most markets, including those from Bally Sports.

YouTube TV ($82.99) offers 32 Top Cable Channels, but are missing A&E, History, and Lifetime.

Hulu Live TV ($82.99) includes 33 Top Cable Channels, and is only missing AMC and WE tv. At $82.99, they are the nearly the same price of the others, but include They Disney Bundle (Disney+ and ESPN+), as well as access to Hulu Originals and on-demand library ($12.99 value).

DIRECTV STREAM’s plans start at $86.99+. With 31 of the Top 35 Cable Channels, they have more Top 35 cable channels than any other service. You will need to upgrade to their DIRECTV STREAM’s “Choice” ($114.99) plan to get access to regional sports networks (RSNs), which include Bally Sports RSNs. No live TV streaming service offers a bigger channel lineup than DIRECTV STREAM.

The two best value offerings are Philo ($28) with 18 Top Cable Channels or Sling TV’s “Blue” plan, which includes 24 top cable channels Top Cable Channels for just ($45.99+) a month.

Sports Channels

Sports fans tend to have different needs; some want national sports channels like ESPN and TNT, but others want regional sports networks like YES Network, Bally Sports Detroit, NBC Sports Bay Area, NESN, Altitude, MASN, Spectrum Sportsnet, Altitude or AT&T Sportsnet.

If you need national sports, you have plenty of options. Nearly all the services carry ESPN and FS1, while most carry TNT and TBS.

Sling TV is the best budget option for sports fans but includes ESPN in Sling Orange and FS1, USA Network, and NFL Network in Sling Blue. You can also add the Sports Extra pack ($11) to add channels like NHL Network, College Sports networks like SEC Network, ACC Network, and Pac-12 Network.

If you need local sports, Fubo includes some RSNs including hard-to-get ones like those from Bally Sports, Altitude, MSG, NESN, Marquee Sports Network, AT&T SportsNet Southwest, AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain, AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh, ROOT Sports Northwest. It is also one of the only service with NFL Network, NFL RedZone, NBA TV, MLB Network, and NHL Network.

If you want to watch YES Network, MASN, Spectrum SportsNet, or Spectrum SportsNet LA, you will need DIRECTV STREAM, which also includes national sports channels like ESPN, FS1, USA Network, TNT, and TBS. YouTube TV, Hulu Live TV, and Sling TV no longer carry Bally Sports RSNs.

National Sports Channels

Most services include ESPN/ESPN2, USA Network, FS1/FS2, TBS, and TNT in their basic packages. While Fubo carries ESPN, USA, and FS1, they don’t have TBS or TNT.

Regional Sports Networks (RSNs)

Fubo, Hulu Live TV, and YouTube TV offer regional sports networks (RSNs) in their base plans. DIRECTV STREAM requires an upgraded plan to access RSNs. While Fubo carries RSNs in their base plan which is $74.99 / month/mo., you will pay at least $94.99 / month/ after RSN fees are added.

Due to contract disputes with YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, and Sling TV — Bally Sports RSNs (formerly called Fox Sports RSNs) are now only carried by DIRECTV STREAM and Fubo, who added them in February 2023. All oth those except Sling carry those from NBC Sports like NBC Sports Bay Area and NBC Sports Washington.

Some Regional Sports Networks like Altitude (Denver), MSG/MSG+ (New York), Marquee Sports Network (Chicago), NESN (Boston), AT&T SportsNet Houston, AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh, AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain (Las Vegas/Utah), and ROOT Sports Northwest (Portland/Seattle) are carried by Fubo and DIRECTV STREAM. Spectrum SportsNet, and MASN are only carried by DIRECTV STREAM.

Pro Sports

Most services don’t offer pro sports networks in their base plan.

Fubo is the most comprehensive option and includes NFL Network in their base plan. You can add NBA TV, MLB Network, and NHL Network as part of their $8 “Fubo Extra” add-on. If you want NFL RedZone, you can instead choose their $11 “Sports Plus” add-on, which includes those other channels as well.

One of your least expensive options is Sling Blue ($45.99) + Sports Extra ($11) which includes NFL Network, NFL RedZone, NBA TV, MLB Network, and NHL Network.

Fubo, Hulu Live TV, YouTube TV, and Sling TV each offer NFL Network and NFL RedZone.

College Sports

The major college sports networks are ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS Sports Network, ESPNU, Pac-12 Network, and SEC Network.

Hulu Live TV ($82.99) and Fubo ($94.99+) are strong options for college sports fans. Both services include Big Ten Network, CBS Sports Network, ESPNU, ACC Network, and SEC Network. These channels are also available on DIRECTV STREAM, but only on their upgraded “Ultimate” ($129.99) plan.

Fubo and Sling TV are the only providers of Pac-12 Network. It’s included in Fubo ($94.99+) Extra ($8) or Sports Plus ($11) add-on, or as part of Sling TV’s “Sports Extra” ($11) pack.

Other Sports Channels

Fubo is the ideal streaming service for soccer fans. It includes beIN in its base ($94.99+) plan. You can add Fox Soccer Plus for only $6, which is usually a $15 upgrade on other services.

Premium Channels

Most of the streaming services offer premium channels like Cinemax, HBO Max, Showtime, Starz, and Epix as add-ons to your subscription.

DIRECTV STREAM includes three months of HBO Max if you subscribe to their Choice plan or above.

Hulu Live TV, Fubo, Sling TV, and YouTube TV all offer Showtime for $10–$11 a month, or you could subscribe to Showtime on Amazon for the same price.

Philo offers MGM+ ($6) and STARZ ($9) as add-ons to their service.