Why You May Want to Switch Live TV Streaming Services Right Now

Written by |
Advertisement

If you’ve cut the cable TV cord and aren’t 100% happy with your streaming TV service, now is a good opportunity to try a new and possibly cheaper option.

At a time when most of us are home due to the coronavirus pandemic, programming on major sports networks has changed dramatically.

Should You Switch Live TV Streaming Services Now? Here’s What to Consider 

Sporting events across the country have been canceled. That means nobody is watching live NBA, NHL, NCAA and other games right now or for the foreseeable future.

YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV and AT&T TV Now carry the networks that normally broadcast these games, and you’re still paying for them.

If you’re looking for ways to cut costs amid the coronavirus pandemic, you can switch to a cheaper live TV streaming service that doesn’t have the sports networks that drive up cable, satellite and streaming TV bills.

Since the major streaming TV providers have no contracts, you can always switch back when life returns to normal.

In the meantime, my two recommendations are Philo and Sling TV. They both have skinny TV bundles that cost about half the price of YouTube TV’s $50 monthly rate.

  • Philo’s $20 a month plan carries nearly 60 networks that focus on lifestyle and entertainment. No sports or local news.
  • Sling TV has two packages that cost $30 per month each: Sling Orange and Sling Blue. Local news is limited, but you’ll get a mix of sports, entertainment and cable news. For more channels, combine the packages and pay $45 a month.

With either of these services, you may be able to use a digital antenna to pick up your local ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC and independent stations.

To determine if switching to one of these streaming TV services makes sense for your household, take a look at the channel lineups and think about the type of content you’ll want to watch during the coronavirus pandemic.

Philo Channel Lineup

Philo
A&E
AccuWeather
AMC
American Heroes Channel
Animal Planet
aspireTV
AXS TV
BBC America
BBC World News
BET
BET Her
Cheddar
Cleo TV
CMT
Comedy Central
Cooking Channel
Crime-Investigation
Destination America
Discovery Channel
Discovery Family
Discovery Life
DIY Network
Food Network
FYI
Game Show Network
getTV
Great American Country
Hallmark Channel
Hallmark Drama
Hallmark Movies & Mysteries
HGTV
History Channel
IFC
INSP
Investigation Discovery
Law&Crime
Lifetime
LMN
Logo
MotorTrend
MTV
MTV Classic
MTV Live
MTV2
Newsy
Nick Jr.
Nickelodeon
Nicktoons
OWN
Paramount Network
PeopleTV
REVOLT
Science Channel
Sundance TV
Tastemade
TeenNick
TLC
Travel Channel
TV Land
TV One
UPtv
VH1
Vice
WE tv

Advertisement

Sling TV Channel Lineups

Sling Orange
$35/month
Sling Blue
$35/month
Sling Orange + Blue
$50/month
A&EA&EA&E
AMCAMCAMC
AXS TVAXS TVAXS TV
BBC AmericaBBC AmericaBBC America
BETBETBET
BloombergBloombergBloomberg
BravoBravo
Cartoon NetworkCartoon NetworkCartoon Network
Cheddar Cheddar Cheddar
CNNCNNCNN
Comedy CentralComedy CentralComedy Central
CometCometComet
Discovery ChannelDiscovery Channel
Disney ChannelDisney Channel
E!E!
EPIX Drive-InEPIX Drive-InEPIX Drive-In
ESPNESPN
ESPN2ESPN2
ESPN3ESPN3
Food NetworkFood NetworkFood Network
Fox News ChannelFox News Channel
FOX (select markets)FOX (select markets)
Fox Sports 1 (FS1)Fox Sports 1 (FS1)
FreeformFreeform
FXFX
FuseFuseFuse
HGTVHGTVHGTV
History ChannelHistory ChannelHistory Channel
HLNHLN
IFCIFCIFC
Investigation Discovery (ID)Investigation Discovery (ID)Investigation Discovery (ID)
Lifetime Lifetime Lifetime
Local Now Local Now Local Now
MotorTrendMotorTrend
MSNBCMSNBC
National GeographicNational Geographic
NBC (select markets)NBC (select markets)
NBCSNNBCSN
NewsyNewsyNewsy
NFL NetworkNFL Network
Nick Jr. Nick Jr.Nick Jr.
StadiumStadiumStadium
SYFYSYFY
TBSTBSTBS
TLCTLC
TNTTNTTNT
Travel ChannelTravel ChannelTravel Channel
truTVtruTV
USAUSA
ViceViceVice

Philo and Sling TV both offer free trials. You can always test them out before deciding to pause or cancel your existing service.

In addition to live TV streaming services, there are other subscription video streaming services and even free streaming services that you can try out if you’re spending more time on the couch these days!

More Clark.com Stories You May Like: 

Advertisement