The first of YouTube TV’s skinny channel packages is launching this week, and the streamer is leading things off with its Sports plan. This is the latest product on the market to give viewers access to only sports channels, without forcing them to pay for entertainment networks they won’t want included in their plan.

But YouTube TV isn’t the first to bring slimmed-down channel packages like its Sports plan to market. DIRECTV, Fubo, and Sling TV all have similar offerings, and our experts are here to help break down the differences between each product to help shoppers decide on the right skinny sports bundle for their needs.

Comparing DIRECTV, Fubo, Sling TV, and YouTube TV sports plans

Which package offers the most access to local channels?

Offering ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC is crucial for sports fans, as each channel carries a wide range of top sporting events — including the NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB, as well as premier college football and basketball games, and a lot more.

YouTube TV’s Sports plan beats out DIRECTV’s MySports Genre Pack, the Fubo Sports plan, and definitely Sling TV in terms of access to local channels. It’s the only one of the four options that includes The CW and PBS in its package. DIRECTV comes in second, with ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC available in almost all markets around the United States.

Fubo Sports offers ABC, CBS, and Fox in most areas, but it did not offer NBC at launch (due to an ongoing carriage dispute), and still does not include that channel as of the time of this writing. Sling TV only carries ABC, Fox, and NBC, and only in a handful of large media markets. Sling does not offer CBS in any markets around the United States.

• Winner: YouTube TV
• Runner-up: DIRECTV

Which package offers the most sports channels overall?

DIRECTV’s MySports, Fubo Sports, and the YouTube TV Sports plan all offer a comparable selection of cable sports channels, with around 25 to 30 channels each; the channels on the margins aren’t likely ones that mainstream sports fans will be too worried about. All options provide access to top cable sports channels like the ESPN and Fox Sports families of networks, but there is a key gap in the Fubo Sports service: it does not include TNT, TBS, or truTV, which DIRECTV and YouTube TV both offer.

Sling TV does not offer a dedicated, sports-only plan. Rather, it splits major sports channels between its Orange and Blue packages to keep prices lower. Sling Orange carries ESPN networks, while Sling Blue offers FS1 and NFL Network. Other networks included in DIRECTV, Fubo, and YouTube’s sports plans, like ACC Network, CBS Sports Network, and Golf Channel are either not included in any Sling package or require the purchase of the Sling Sports Extra add-on.

One major inclusion that YouTube TV can boast that other services on this list cannot is the list of NBC Sports regional sports networks, which are offered in applicable markets at no extra cost. DIRECTV’s MySports, Fubo Sports, and Sling’s Orange and Blue packages omit regional sports networks.

• Winner by a nose: YouTube TV
• Runner-up: DIRECTV

Which package is cheapest?

Sling TV is the least expensive of these various options, but only up to a point. If viewers want to watch an event or two on ESPN without having to make a monthlong commitment, Sling’s Orange plan is perfect, as it offers Passes which allow customers to sign up for $5 per day, $10 per three days, or $15 per week. Both Sling Orange and Blue start at $46 per month, and the Sling Select plan with local channels (where applicable) and NFL Network starts at $20 per month.

But as mentioned, Sling doesn’t offer as many pure sports networks as DIRECTV MySports, Fubo Sports, and YouTube TV Sports. Fubo Sports is the cheapest of these options, with a regular monthly price of $56. However, Fubo Sports doesn’t include Turner Sports channels or CBS.

To get these, viewers will have to upgrade to the YouTube TV Sports plan at $65 per month. But even this package has some omissions; namely, YouTube TV Sports does not carry cable news channels like CNN, Fox News, and MS NOW.

DIRECTV’s MySports package does include all sports channels listed above, as well as cable news networks. It’s the most expensive product on this list; as a result, however, its pricing in at $70 per month.

• Winner: Sling TV
• Runner-up: Fubo

Which streamers include additional services free?

DIRECTV’s MySports, Fubo Sports, and YouTube TV Sports all include (or will include) the ESPN Unlimited streaming service at no additional cost. Sling TV does not, but customers of Sling Orange can log into the ESPN app with their Sling credentials and watch live sports in that way as well. Viewers will be able to watch ESPN Unlimited with YouTube TV Sports starting in fall 2026.

Winner: Push

Do any of these services offer 4K sports for free?

Yes! DIRECTV’s MySports will allow fans to stream any 4K content appearing on the channels in its package at no additional cost. Sling TV also includes any 4K content found on its channels for free, but carries such channels in fewer markets overall.

Fubo Sports does not include the ability to stream in 4K. YouTube TV Sports compels customers to pay an extra $10 for the 4K Plus add-on pack to receive any programming in 4K.

• Winner: DIRECTV
• Runner-up: Sling TV

Bottom line

YouTube TV’s Sports plan is the newest of these offerings, and it’s going to be a strong contender for most viewers. It comes in slightly cheaper than DIRECTV’s MySports, and includes local broadcast channels, plus a free subscription to ESPN Unlimited starting this fall.

Fubo Sports is a good middle-of-the-road option for viewers who don’t need to see Turner Sports channels or NBC in their package, while Sling TV is best for casual sports fans who only need to watch an event here and there. Nevertheless, sports fans can rejoice that they have so many lower-cost options to watch live events with, instead of being forced to stomach all-in-one plans with bloated channel counts just to watch major sports.