Which Live TV Streaming Service Has the Best Sports Add-On? Comparing YouTube TV, Hulu Live TV, Sling TV, fuboTV, and DIRECTV STREAM
Starting today, YouTube TV has expanded their “Sports Plus” ($11) add-on to include seven additional channels - headlined by beIn Sports. In August, Hulu Live TV added a “Sports Add-On”, joining fuboTV “Sports Plus” and Sling TV Sports Extra. While DIRECTV STREAM doesn’t have an add-on, it includes many of the same channels in their higher price tiers.
So how do they compare?
For starters, all four Sports Add-ons cost $10-11. Hulu Live TV Sports Add-On is $10, while fuboTV, YouTube TV, and Sling TV offer theirs for $10.99. DIRECTV STREAM has additional sports starting in their $84.99 “Choice Plan” including Bally Sports RSNs, but no official add-on.
All four Sports add-ons from Hulu Live TV, fuboTV, Sling TV (Blue Plan), and YouTube TV include NFL RedZone as main channel in the package. A sports-fan favorite, it switches between the biggest plays across NFL games every Sunday, even to those that aren’t available in your local market.
While YouTube TV includes MLB Network and NBA TV in their base plan, those two channels, along with NHL Network are including in the fuboTV and Sling TV (Blue Plan) Sports Add-on.
When you add the Sports Add-on to fuboTV and Sling TV, they are the only services that will get you all four major sports league channels with your streaming subscription.
While DIRECTV STREAM doesn’t offer NFL Network, they include MLB Network and NBA TV in their $84.99 “Choice Plan”, which also includes regional sports from Bally Sports, YES Network, and others. You can also get NHL Network in their $94.99 “Ultimate Plan.”
Pro Sports
| DTV STREAM | Fubo | Hulu | Philo | Sling TV | YouTube | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free Trial | Free Trial | Free Trial | Free Trial | Get 50% Off | Sign Up | |||
| $79.99 | $91.99 | $76.99 | $25 | $40 | $40 | $72.99 | ||
| MLB Network | + $15 | + $8 | ✓ | - | + $11 | + $11 | - | |
| NBA TV | + $15 | + $8 | - | - | + $11 | + $11 | ✓ | |
| NFL Network | + $15 | ✓ | ✓ | - | - | ✓ | ✓ | |
| NFL RedZone | + $15 | + $11 | + $10 | - | - | + $11 | + $11 | |
| NHL Network | + $15 | + $8 | - | - | + $11 | + $11 | - | |
Hulu Live TV, fuboTV, and YouTube TV include many College Sports channels in their base tier including ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS Sports Network, and SEC Network. Most of those channels require the DIRECTV STREAM “Choice” Plan or Sling TV (Orange/Blue) “Sports Extra” Plan.
Where fuboTV and Sling TV shine is that their Sports Add-on include Pac-12 Network and in Sling’s case Longhorn Network.
College Sports
| DTV STREAM | Fubo | Hulu | Philo | Sling TV | YouTube | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free Trial | Free Trial | Free Trial | Free Trial | Get 50% Off | Sign Up | |||
| $79.99 | $91.99 | $76.99 | $25 | $40 | $40 | $72.99 | ||
| ACC Network | + $29 | ✓ | ✓ | - | + $11 | - | ✓ | |
| ACC Network Extra | - | - | ✓ | - | + $11 | - | ✓ | |
| Big Ten Network | + $15 | ✓ | ✓ | - | - | + $11 | ✓ | |
| CBS Sports Network | + $15 | ✓ | ✓ | - | - | - | ✓ | |
| ESPNU | + $15 | + $8 | ✓ | - | + $11 | - | ✓ | |
| Longhorn Network | + $15 | - | - | - | + $11 | - | - | |
| Pac-12 Network | - | + $8 | - | - | + $11 | + $11 | - | |
| SEC Network | + $15 | + $8 | ✓ | - | + $11 | - | ✓ | |
| truTV | ✓ | - | ✓ | - | + $6 | ✓ | ✓ | |
The major addition in YouTube TV’s expansion of their Sports Plus add-on was beIn Sports, which is included in the fuboTV base plan and Sling TV Sports Extra pack.
fuboTV and Sling TV are the only services that offer Tennis Channel in their sports add-ons. YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV include ESPNews in their base plan, while that requires the add-on from fuboTV and Sling TV.
fuboTV is the only service that includes Next Level Sports (formerly Eleven Sports) in their service. They also include Fox Soccer Plus in their Sports Add-On, which is also included in the YouTube TV Sports Plus Add-On.
Other Sports
| DTV STREAM | Fubo | Hulu | Philo | Sling TV | YouTube | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free Trial | Free Trial | Free Trial | Free Trial | Get 50% Off | Sign Up | |||
| $79.99 | $91.99 | $76.99 | $25 | $40 | $40 | $72.99 | ||
| beIN Sports | - | ✓ | - | - | + $11 | + $11 | + $11 | |
| Next Level Sports | + $15 | + $6 | - | - | - | - | - | |
| ESPNEWS | + $15 | + $8 | ✓ | - | + $11 | - | ✓ | |
| FanDuel TV | + $15 | - | + $10 | - | - | - | + $11 | |
| Fox Soccer Plus | - | + $6 | - | - | - | - | + $11 | |
| Golf Channel | + $15 | ✓ | ✓ | - | - | + $11 | ✓ | |
| Tennis Channel | + $15 | + $8 | - | - | + $11 | + $11 | + $11 | |
What Other Channels?
Most of the other channels in the add-ons niche networks with a focus on outdoor, sports betting, and auto, and horse racing. Depending on your service, some that will be included are Outdoor Channel, TVG, and VSiN.
| AT&T TV | Fubo | Hulu | Sling TV | YouTube | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sign Up | Free Trial | Free Trial | Get 50% Off | Sign Up | |||
| $69.99 | $91.99 | $76.99 | $40 | $40 | $72.99 | ||
| Outdoor Channel | - | + $5 | + $10 | + $6 | + $6 | - | |
| Sportsman Channel | + $25 | + $5 | + $10 | + $6 | + $6 | - | |
| MAVTV | - | + $5 | + $10 | - | - | + $11 | |
| VSiN | - | - | - | - | - | + $11 | |
| TVG | + $15 | + $10 | + $10 | - | - | + $11 | |
| TVG2 | - | - | + $10 | - | - | - | |
The Verdict
For the most part, if you want NFL RedZone, you can choose any of the Sports Add-ons. However, your least expensive option is Sling TV. For a limited time, you can get Sling + Sports Extra for just $21 for your first month.
If you want NHL Network, Pac-12 Network, Tennis Channel, and beIn Sports, your best options are Sling TV or fuboTV, which offers a 7-Day Free Trial.
If you don’t need NFL Network or NFL RedZone, and you want Regional Sports Networks like Bally Sports, YES Network, AT&T SportsNet, MASN, Spectrum SportsNet, Altitude, and ROOT Sports Northwest – the DIRECTV STREAM “Choice Plan” is your best options.
If you don’t want fuboTV or Sling TV, and your options are Hulu and YouTube TV. If you want Outdoor Channel and Sportsman Channel, you should pick Hulu Live TV, but if you want beIn Sports, you should pick YouTube TV.