Live Streaming and Cord Cutting
Streaming vs. Cable in 2024
Here at HTBLO we’ve been bumping up against platforms and services that seem to be popping up out of nowhere or presenting us with options we didn’t know they had. For instance, Deanna tripped over a robust subscription she had to Audible ($15/month) while she was tooling around on amazon.com. A subscription that she simply didn’t know she had signed up for. Then just last week we learned that YouTube has a live tv streaming service of its very own. Please note - YouTube Red no longer exists, it’s now called YouTube Premium. We were throwing the “red” term around in last week’s podcast and that has simply gone the way of the dodo. Please also note that there is a major difference between YouTube Premium and YouTube TV!
YouTube TV is a live TV streaming service with major broadcast and popular cable networks. YouTube Premium gives you YouTube and YouTube Music ad-free, offline, and in the background. YouTube Premium isn't included in your YouTube TV membership.
We knew about the ad free version of YouTube but the live-tv streaming service was new news. Felt like it was a good time to take a look at these “cut the cord” services and see what was really going on.
We both made on-the-spot adjustments to our streaming packages while writing this piece!
Which Live TV streaming services were rated the best and why? We’ve sifted through the reviews for you! The service rated the best based on our research— drumroll please 🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁
HULU PLUS LIVE TV - BEST OVERALL
What does Hulu Plus Live TV have going for it?
Unlimited DVR
Disney Plus and ESPN Plus
Decent channel selection
All the Hulu content and exclusive titles like “The Bear” and “Only Murders In The Building”
Hulu Plus Live TV doesn’t quite have the channel selection that YouTube TV has but seems it’s close. You aren’t getting your AMC or BBC America.
PRICE: Base plan $77 includes the ad-supported version of the Disney Bundle. The ad-free bundle is $90/month.
YouTube TV - BEST CHANNEL SELECTION
YouTube TV is coming in hot with more top channels than its competitors but you aren’t getting that additional premium tv streaming service. If you want Hulu you’re going to need to add it on separately.
It now offers 78 of the top 100 networks, the most of any streaming service, a count that includes numerous cable staples plus all four local networks -- ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC -- and local PBS stations nationwide.
Let’s look at the highlights:
Tons of channels
Excellent on-screen interface
Handy search bar
Cloud DVR that features unlimited storage and nine months to watch recordings
Price: The basic plan is $73
As we discussed on the pod Deanna’s friend Angela bops around YouTube TV to watch shows like “The Surreal Life” (she too is a newly minted Chet-Head.) We reached out to Angela to get her thoughts on the YouTube TV experience —
I love that it has all the shows I love to watch and that it has unlimited recording space. It’s also super easy to use on my laptop if I wanna watch something when I’m cooking. And I agree that the search is great. ~ Angela Quintana
Sling TV Blue - BEST TV STREAMING ON A BUDGET
As Emily said, “sounds vaginal!” Sling TV’s best feature is the price! Sling TV offers two different packages — the orange and the blue.
Let’s look at the highlights —
Price!
Choices and add-ons
PRICE: The Orange $40/month gives you ESPN, DISNEY AND FREEFORM and the blue $45/month included ABC FOX and NBC. If you want an orange/blue combo you are looking at $60/month.
What The “F” Are We Actually Subscribed To?
During the writing of this piece Deanna reached out to her husband to see if they should switch from Spectrum to Hulu Plus Live TV. During that text exchange they discovered that they are paying for Disney+ with Spectrum and with Hulu as an add on! Ultimately, it looks like the Spectrum bundle may still be more cost effective so they are not changing at this time. BUT Deanna did march over to her Hulu account and remove the Disney + add-on. As of this evening her bill went from $9.99 to $7.99.
Emily cut the chord a couple years ago and is not sure she’s actually paying less with subscriptions to Netflix, Hulu (*at a whopping $27.98/ month - D, why is yours so low????) Disney+, Paramount+, Peacock, and Prime. Oh, and Max. Maybe some months Apple TV. And of course, internet to make them all work.
Over 50% of households subscribe to 4 or more streaming services. Which leads us to wonder — WHY IS THIS ALL SO CRAZY?
It sort of feels like ALL of us would just prefer a single charge, where we get access to a lot of channels for one monthly charge — we don’t know, like CABLE?
Even with this fantastic breakdown of live TV streaming options it’s hard to understand the shakedown of how to best get at linear TV and streaming. And how Roku, apple TV and firesticks get into the mix. Trying to break it down has us feeling like this guy:
*Emily looked at her Hulu account page after Deanna asked her to join in the process of writing this — and learned she had ad-free Hulu with STARZ, which is why it was so much more money. But — Emily cannot tell you ONE thing that is on STARZ. Nary one! As of this evening she has officially cancelled her Hulu (and STARZ) subscription. RIP.
Where do you land with your subscription services and what works for your viewing needs? (Seems like there has to be a better answer out there.)
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