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All the live TV streaming services compared: Which has the best channel lineup?

by Margo Preston (2020-10-15)


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David Katzmaier/CNET


Now that the reality of coronavirus is setting in and we're all at home watching more TV, you might be considering a change in where you get that TV. Deciding to cut the cable TV cord doesn't mean you have to give up your favorite channels, including live news from CNN, Fox News, MSNBC or your local TV station. One way to watch live shows without cable is to connect an antenna, but your channel selection will be relatively small. If you want more options you should check out a live TV streaming service. They start at $15 per month, deliver numerous familiar live channels, features like cloud DVRs and the ability to watch not only on TVs but also on phones, tablets and computers.Seven major services are available today: Google's YouTube TV, Disney's Hulu with Live TV, Dish Network's Sling TV, AT&T's TV Now (formerly DirecTV Now, not to be confused with AT&T TV) and Watch TV, Philo and FuboTV (the eighth, PlayStation Vue, is dead). Our full live-TV streaming guide has all the details about prices and features, but really, it's all about the channels.Read more: Sling TV now totally free during primetime, no credit card requiredSee YouTube TVSee Sling TVSee AT&T Watch TVSee Hulu with Live TVSee AT&T TV NowSee PhiloSee Fubo TV The big chart: Top 100 channels compared (updated for May 2020) The main difference between the services is their channel lineups. All of them offer different slates of channels for various prices.  Below you'll find a chart that shows the top 100 channels across all seven services. There are actually eight listed because Sling TV has two different "base" tiers, Orange and Blue. And if you're wondering, I chose which "top" channels made the cut. Sorry, AXS TV, Discovery Life, GSN and Universal HD. Read more: Best streaming device of 2020: Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV Stick, Nvidia Shield compared


























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This article is updated periodically as channel packages, prices and other information changes.Some more stuff to know about the chart:  Yes = The channel is available on the cheapest pricing tier. That price is listed next to the service's name.
No = The channel isn't available at all on that service. 
$ = The channel is available for an extra fee, either a la carte or as part of a more expensive package or add-on.
Regional sports networks -- channels devoted to showing regular-season games of particular pro baseball, basketball and hockey teams (once games resume) -- are not listed. That's a numeric disadvantage to services like YouTube TV and FuboTV, which carry a lot of RSNs, and an advantage to Philo and AT&T, which don't offer any sports channels, period. 
ABC, CBS, Fox, 만화 NBC, MyNetworkTV and The CW networks are not available in every city and availability of these local channels varies per service. (Disclosure: CNET is owned by ViacomCBS.) In some cities, some services only offer video-on-demand shows from the networks, not the live local channel itself. 
PBS is only currently available on YouTube TV. The chart columns are arranged in order of price, so if you can't see everything you want, try scrolling right.Overwhelmed? An easier-to-grok Google Spreadsheet is here.

AT&T Watch TV vs. Philo vs. Sling TV vs. YouTube TV vs. Hulu vs. AT&T TV Now vs. FuboTV: Top 100 channels compared









Channel





AT&T Watch TV ($15)





Philo ($20)





Sling Orange ($30)





Sling Blue ($30)





YouTube TV ($50)





Hulu with Live TV ($55)





AT&T TV Now ($55)





Fubo TV ($55)











Total channels:





37





39





24





39





67





59





45





62









ABC





No





No





No





No





Yes





Yes





Yes





No









CBS





No





No





No





No





Yes





Yes





Yes





Yes









Fox





No





No





No





Yes





Yes





Yes





Yes





Yes









NBC





No





No





No





Yes





Yes





Yes





Yes





Yes









PBS





No





No





No





No





Yes





No





No





No









CW





No





No





No





No





Yes





Yes





Yes





Yes









MyNetworkTV





No





No





No





No





Yes





Yes





Yes





Yes











Channel





AT&T Watch TV ($15)





Philo ($20)





Sling Orange ($30)





Sling Blue ($30)





YouTube TV ($50)





Hulu with Live TV ($55)





AT&T TV Now ($55)





Fubo TV ($55)









A&E





Yes





Yes





Yes





Yes





No





Yes





$





Yes









ACC Network





No





No





$





No





Yes





Yes





No





No









AMC





Yes





Yes





Yes





Yes





Yes





No





$





Yes









Animal Planet





Yes





Yes





No





No





Yes





Yes





$





Yes









BBC America





Yes





Yes





Yes





Yes





Yes





No





$





Yes









BBC World News





Yes





Yes





$





$





Yes





No





$





$









BET





Yes





Yes





$





Yes





No





No





Yes





Yes









Big Ten Network





No





No





No





No





Yes





Yes





$





Yes









Bloomberg TV





No





No





Yes





Yes





No





No





$





No









Boomerang





Yes





No





$





$





No





Yes





Yes





$









Bravo





No





No





No





Yes





Yes





Yes





Yes





Yes









Channel





AT&T Watch TV ($15)





Philo ($20)





Sling Orange ($30)





Sling Blue ($30)





YouTube TV ($50)





Hulu with Live TV ($55)





AT&T TV Now ($55)





Fubo TV ($55)









Cartoon Network





Yes





No





Yes





Yes





Yes





Yes





Yes





Yes









CBS Sports Network





No





No





No





No





Yes





Yes





$





Yes









Cheddar





No





Yes





Yes





Yes





Yes





Yes





Yes





Yes









Cinemax





No





No





No





No





No





$





$





No









CMT





No





Yes





$





$





No





No





$





Yes









CNBC





No





No





No





$





Yes





Yes





Yes





Yes









CNN





Yes





No





Yes





Yes





Yes





Yes





Yes





Yes









Comedy Central





Yes





Yes





Yes





Yes





No





No





Yes





Yes









Cooking Channel





No





Yes





$





$





No





$





$





$









Destination America





No





Yes





$





$





No





$





$





$









Discovery Channel





Yes





Yes





No





Yes





Yes





Yes





$





Yes









Disney Channel





No





No





Yes





No





Yes





Yes





Yes





No









Disney Junior





No





No





$





No





Yes





Yes





Yes





No









Disney XD





No





No





$





No





Yes





Yes





Yes





No









DIY





No





Yes





$





$





No





$





$





$









E!





No





No





No





Yes





Yes





Yes





Yes





Yes









EPIX





No





No





$





$





$





No





$





No









ESPN





No





No





Yes





No





Yes





Yes