Live TV Streaming Services Compared: YouTube TV vs Hulu + Live TV vs Sling vs Fubo vs DirecTV
86 preserved extracts. Unpublished draft; claims and verification flags are retained.
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tv blog draft B5 live tv streaming services compared
title: "Live TV Streaming Services Compared: YouTube TV vs Hulu + Live TV vs Sling vs Fubo vs DirecTV"
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tv blog draft B5 live tv streaming services compared
metadescription: "YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling, Fubo and DirecTV compared for September 2026: prices, skinny plans, locals, DVR, sports and recent blackouts."
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tv blog draft B5 live tv streaming services compared
primarykeyword: live TV streaming services compared
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tv blog draft B5 live tv streaming services compared
audience: US cord-cutters choosing a cable replacement for live TV, local channels and sports
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tv blog draft B5 live tv streaming services compared
updatefrequency: Monthly during football season (Aug–Jan); otherwise every two months and after any price change or carriage dispute
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Live TV Streaming Services Compared: YouTube TV vs Hulu + Live TV vs Sling vs Fubo vs DirecTV
If you want cable-style live TV without a cable box, the five big US options are YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, Fubo and DirecTV. As of September 2026, full-size bundles with local channels cost about $74 to $90 a month before taxes and fees, while Sling and the genre-based "skinny" plans from YouTube TV and DirecTV start between roughly $21 and $55. The right pick comes down to three things: whether you need local channels, which sports you follow, and how much you rely on DVR.
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Live TV Streaming Services Compared: YouTube TV vs Hulu + Live TV vs Sling vs Fubo vs DirecTV
All prices are in US dollars, as of September 2026, before taxes. They change often, vary by ZIP code and are frequently discounted for new customers, so confirm at checkout.
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The quick comparison
Service — Main bundle (regular price) — Cheaper options — Local channels (ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC) — Cloud DVR — Best for
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The quick comparison
YouTube TV — $82.99/mo (100+ channels) — Six genre "YouTube TV Plans," $54.99–$77.99 — Yes, in most markets, on all plans — Unlimited, on all plans — Most households that want locals and an easy interface
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The quick comparison
Hulu + Live TV — $89.99/mo with ads; $99.99 with ad-free Hulu library — None — Yes, in most markets — Unlimited, kept up to 9 months — People who want Disney+ and Hulu included
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The quick comparison
Sling TV — Orange or Blue from $45.99/mo; Orange & Blue from $60.99 — Day passes (Orange Day Pass $4.99) — Limited: no ABC or CBS [VERIFY FOX/NBC markets on Blue] — Limited allowance [VERIFY hours] — Budget viewers with an antenna
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The quick comparison
Fubo — Pro $73.99/mo; Elite $83.99 [VERIFY on fubo.tv] — Sports + News $55.99 [VERIFY] — Yes, in most markets — Unlimited — Soccer and international sports fans
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The quick comparison
DirecTV — Entertainment $89.99/mo [VERIFY current regular price] — Genre Packs from $20.99 (MyKids) to $64.99 (MySports) — Yes, in most markets (and MyNews includes locals) — Unlimited [VERIFY] — Regional sports networks; flexible genre packs
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YouTube TV
Price: The main plan is $82.99 a month for 100+ channels (YouTube TV). YouTube has run temporary discounts, including one on the main plan through June 30, 2026 (Tech Times), and all plans currently come with a 10-day free trial for eligible customers.
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YouTube TV
Skinny plans: YouTube TV's biggest 2026 change is genre-based "YouTube TV Plans," which launched in February 2026 (TechCrunch; YouTube Blog). As of September 2026, YouTube lists:
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YouTube TV
YouTube TV plan — Price — Channels
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YouTube TV
Entertainment — $54.99/mo — 50+
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YouTube TV
News + Entertainment — $62.99/mo — 70+
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YouTube TV
News + Entertainment + Family — $69.99/mo — 80+
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YouTube TV
Sports + Entertainment + Family — $77.99/mo — 90+
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YouTube TV
Sports + News + Family — $77.99/mo — 60+
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YouTube TV
Main plan (everything) — $82.99/mo — 100+
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YouTube TV
YouTube says every plan includes local channels and unlimited cloud DVR (YouTube TV). Some genre plans are easy to miss during signup (PCWorld), so compare the full plans page. [VERIFY the "from $44.99" figure in the page title, which did not match any listed plan on September 17, 2026.]
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YouTube TV
Features: Recordings are kept for nine months, and NFL Sunday Ticket is sold as an add-on. VERIFY simultaneous-stream limit and household profile count on [YouTube TV Help.]
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YouTube TV
Watch out for: Carriage fights. Disney's channels, including ABC, ESPN, FX, Freeform and National Geographic, were pulled from YouTube TV from October 30 to November 14, 2025. YouTube offered a $20 credit, but subscribers had to claim it (TheWrap; Broadband TV News).
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Hulu + Live TV
Price: $89.99 a month with ads, or $99.99 for the Premium version, which removes ads from Hulu's on-demand library only; live channels and Live TV on-demand content still have ads (Hulu).
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Hulu + Live TV
What you get: 100+ live channels, unlimited DVR with recordings kept up to nine months, and Hulu, Disney+ (With Ads) and ESPN Select included. Two screens at once are standard; an Unlimited Screens add-on is available (Hulu). If you would pay for Disney+ and Hulu anyway, the effective cost of the live channels drops considerably.
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Hulu + Live TV
Ownership change: Disney combined Hulu + Live TV with Fubo in a deal that closed in October 2025, and Disney holds a majority of the combined company. The two are still sold as separate products (Fubo investor relations). Fubo Sports Network joined the Hulu + Live TV lineup in February 2026 (Fubo IR).
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Sling TV
Price: Sling is still the cheapest traditional live bundle. Sling Orange (30+ channels, built around ESPN and Disney networks) and Sling Blue (40+ channels, more news and entertainment) each start at $45.99 a month, and Orange & Blue together (50+ channels) starts at $60.99 (Sling). Sling's recent price increases have varied by market, which is why it says "starting at" (Yahoo Tech).
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Sling TV
Passes: Sling also sells short passes, including a $4.99 Orange Day Pass, plus multi-day options (Sling). That's handy for a single game.
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Sling TV
Trade-offs: No ABC or CBS stations, limited local coverage overall, a small DVR allowance and tighter stream limits on Orange [VERIFY DVR hours and stream counts on sling.com]. Pairing Sling with an over-the-air antenna fills most of the local gap.
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Fubo
Price: A third-party guide updated in June 2026 lists Fubo Pro at $73.99 a month, Elite at $83.99 and a Sports + News plan at $55.99, with a regional sports fee of $3–$17 on Pro in some areas (CableTV.com). [VERIFY all Fubo prices on fubo.tv; the official plan page did not load for us on September 17, 2026.] Fubo also runs frequent promotions (Variety).
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Fubo
Strengths: Deep sports coverage, especially soccer and international leagues, and unlimited cloud DVR on all plans.
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Fubo
Watch out for: NBCUniversal pulled its networks from Fubo for about seven months, including NBC, Bravo, Telemundo, Universo and several NBC Sports regional networks. The companies announced a new deal on June 11, 2026, just before the FIFA World Cup, with Spanish-language channels returning immediately and English-language networks over the following weeks (Barrett Media; TV Tech). Fubo said the missing NBC sports raised cancellations in its fiscal second quarter (The Desk).
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DirecTV
DirecTV now markets its internet-delivered service simply as DIRECTV (formerly DIRECTV STREAM), with no satellite dish required (DirecTV).
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DirecTV
Full packages: The streaming page shows the Entertainment package's regular price as $89.99 a month, with football-season promotions below that (DirecTV). DirecTV's advantage is regional sports networks, usually from the Choice tier up. [VERIFY Choice, Ultimate and Premier prices on directv.com.]
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DirecTV
Genre Packs: DirecTV was early to skinny bundles. As of September 2026, its Genre Packs page lists (DirecTV):
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DirecTV
Genre Pack — Regular price — Notes
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DirecTV
MyKids — $20.99/mo — Includes Disney+
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DirecTV
MiEspañol — $37.99/mo — Includes ViX Premium with Ads
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DirecTV
MyEntertainment — $42.99/mo — 60+ channels; includes Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max Basic With Ads and AMC+ with ads
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DirecTV
MyNews — $44.99/mo — Includes local channels
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DirecTV
MySports — $64.99/mo — Includes ESPN Unlimited; promo $44.99 for the first 6 months
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DirecTV
Add-ons include MySports Extra ($13.99, with NFL RedZone) and MyHome Team for local regional sports networks ($19.99). DirecTV raised Genre Pack prices in June 2026 (The Desk).
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DirecTV
Watch out for: Local station disputes. E.W. Scripps stations were dropped from DirecTV in late May 2026 and returned in July after about five weeks (The Desk; Deadline).
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Skinny bundles: are they worth it?
Skinny bundles drop channel groups you don't watch in exchange for a lower price. In 2026 the main options are YouTube TV Plans, DirecTV Genre Packs, and Sling Orange or Blue on their own.
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Skinny bundles: are they worth it?
They are worth it if one genre covers almost everything you watch. They stop making sense once you add a second pack: YouTube TV's Sports + Entertainment + Family plan ($77.99) is only $5 less than the full plan, and DirecTV's MySports + MyNews duo is listed at $79.99.
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Local channels
YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo and DirecTV carry ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC affiliates in most US markets, but coverage varies by ZIP code and can vanish during a retransmission dispute. Sling's local coverage is limited. An indoor antenna is the most reliable backup.
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Sports
NFL: Local games need your CBS, FOX and NBC affiliates; out-of-market Sunday games require NFL Sunday Ticket through YouTube.
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Sports
ESPN: Carried on all five services' sports-inclusive plans, though tiers differ (Hulu + Live TV includes ESPN Select on demand; DirecTV MySports includes ESPN Unlimited).
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Sports
Regional sports networks: DirecTV and Fubo carry more RSNs than YouTube TV or Hulu + Live TV.
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DVR
Unlimited DVR is standard on YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV and Fubo. Check retention rules (nine months on YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV) before relying on a recording for a full season.
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How carriage disputes affect you
A carriage (or retransmission) dispute happens when a channel owner and a TV distributor can't agree on fees, so the channels are pulled until a deal is done. Recent examples include Disney vs. YouTube TV (two weeks in 2025), NBCUniversal vs. Fubo (about seven months, ending June 2026) and Scripps vs. DirecTV (about five weeks in 2026). Credits are not guaranteed and may need to be requested.
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What is the cheapest live TV streaming service in 2026?
Sling TV is the cheapest full live bundle, with Orange or Blue starting at $45.99 a month as of September 2026. DirecTV's MyKids Genre Pack ($20.99) and YouTube TV's Entertainment plan ($54.99) are cheaper or comparable niche options.
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Which live TV streaming services include local channels?
YouTube TV (on every plan), Hulu + Live TV, Fubo and DirecTV carry ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC in most US markets. Sling does not carry ABC or CBS.
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Is YouTube TV or Hulu + Live TV better?
YouTube TV is cheaper at $82.99 and offers genre plans. Hulu + Live TV costs $89.99 but includes Hulu, Disney+ and ESPN Select, which is better value if you'd pay for those anyway.
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What is a skinny bundle?
A skinny bundle is a smaller, cheaper live TV package built around one type of programming, such as sports, news or entertainment. YouTube TV Plans and DirecTV Genre Packs are examples.
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Why did channels disappear from my live TV service?
Usually because of a carriage dispute: the channel owner and the service failed to renew their fee agreement, so the channels were removed until a new deal was signed.
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Do live TV streaming services require a contract?
No. YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling, Fubo and DirecTV's streaming packages are month-to-month, though promotional prices end after the promo period.
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Sources
YouTube TV, Explore plans: https://tv.youtube.com/learn/explore-plans/
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Sources
YouTube Blog, YouTube TV Plans launch pricing: https://blog.youtube/news-and-events/youtube-tv-plans-launch-pricing/
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Sources
YouTube TV Help, Learn about YouTube TV Plans: https://support.google.com/youtubetv/answer/16865391?hl=en
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Sources
TechCrunch, YouTube TV introduces cheaper bundles (Feb. 9, 2026): https://techcrunch.com/2026/02/09/youtube-tv-introduces-cheaper-bundles-including-a-65-month-sports-package/
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Sources
PCWorld, YouTube TV's hidden genre plans: https://www.pcworld.com/article/3109634/youtube-tvs-hidden-genre-plans-what-they-are-and-how-find-them.html
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Sources
Tech Times, YouTube TV main plan discount (June 2026): https://www.techtimes.com/articles/318236/20260611/youtube-tv-drops-base-plan-price-through-june-30-cable-still-costs-30-more-monthly.htm
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Sources
TheWrap, Disney and YouTube TV reach carriage deal: https://www.thewrap.com/disney-youtube-tv-reach-new-carriage-deal-end-programming-blackout/
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Sources
Broadband TV News, Disney and YouTube settle carriage dispute (Nov. 17, 2025): https://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2025/11/17/disney-and-youtube-settle-carriage-dispute/
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Sources
Hulu, Hulu + Live TV: https://www.hulu.com/live-tv
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Sources
Fubo IR, Fubo and Disney's Hulu + Live TV complete business combination (2025): https://ir.fubo.tv/news/news-details/2025/Fubo-Disneys-Hulu--Live-TV-Complete-Business-Combination-Creating-Unique-Consumer-Focused-vMVPD/default.aspx
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Sources
Fubo IR, Hulu + Live TV adds Fubo Sports Network (2026): https://ir.fubo.tv/news/news-details/2026/Hulu--Live-TV-Adds-Fubo-Sports-Network-to-Channel-Line-up/default.aspx
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Sources
Sling TV, Orange & Blue: https://www.sling.com/service/sling-orange-and-blue
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Sources
Yahoo Tech, Sling TV price hike varies by market: https://tech.yahoo.com/streaming/articles/sling-tv-getting-price-hike-223054256.html
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Sources
CableTV.com, Fubo plans and pricing (updated June 11, 2026): https://www.cabletv.com/fubotv
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Sources
Variety, Fubo holiday promotion (2025): https://variety.com/2025/shopping/news/best-fubo-live-tv-streaming-deals-offers-promotions-1236387267/
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Sources
Barrett Media, FuboTV and NBCUniversal end dispute (June 11, 2026): https://barrettmedia.com/2026/06/11/fubotv-nbcuniversal-ends-dispute-fifa/
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Sources
TV Tech, Fubo and NBCU carriage dispute: https://www.tvtechnology.com/news/fubo-nbcu-trade-barbs-in-carriage-dispute
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Sources
The Desk, Fubo fiscal Q2 2026 earnings (May 2026): https://thedesk.net/2026/05/fubo-fiscal-q2-2026-earnings-report/
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Sources
DirecTV, Streaming: https://www.directv.com/stream/
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Sources
DirecTV, Genre Packs: https://www.directv.com/genre-packs/
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Sources
The Desk, DirecTV Genre Pack price increases (May 2026): https://thedesk.net/2026/05/directv-myentertainment-mynews-price-increases/
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Sources
The Desk, Scripps channels dropped from DirecTV (May 2026): https://thedesk.net/2026/05/directv-drops-scripps-local-channels/
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Sources
Deadline, Scripps stations return to DirecTV (July 2026): https://deadline.com/2026/07/scripps-directv-retransmission-battle-tv-stations-go-dark-1236931598/
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Image suggestions
Original comparison graphic: five columns (one per service) showing price, locals, DVR and "best for," built from the table above. Update whenever prices change.
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Image suggestions
Official logos from each company's press or brand page (YouTube Blog press assets, Disney/Hulu press site, Sling newsroom, Fubo IR media kit, DirecTV newsroom), used only for identification.
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Image suggestions
Original simple diagram explaining a carriage dispute: programmer → fee negotiation → distributor → viewer, with a "blackout" branch.
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Image suggestions
Do not use screenshots of channel guides that show third-party programming thumbnails unless taken from official press kits.