I’ve been a loyal DirecTV Now subscriber for about two years. Before that, Sling TV. Before that, PlayStation Vue. I got around.
I was a free trial snob, making my way around each streaming service trying to not only avoid a payment for a few months, but also see ultimately what streaming service was best. And it was honestly a pain in the ass. Most of us aren’t going from service to service, researching what streaming service works best for you and your home. We may be trying to avoid payments like myself, but ultimately settle on the cheapest. And I’m experiencing deja vu: we took advantage of cable bundles and special pricing before streaming existed years ago, and now we are again.
The major players are DirecTV Now, YouTube TV, Hulu Live, YouTube TV, and PlayStation Vue. With the first launch of these to a few years in, I’m sure you are experiencing price hikes, plan changes, and so on and so forth. I got my $10/month increase from DirecTV NOW this past week, grandfathering me in to my current plan (85+ channels) from $65 to $75. That plan now for new customers? $110/month. Woof.
With this new price increase, I started to look at other streaming services to see what my other options were, and if it would be worth it to leave. I need my local sports, national sports, and Bravo. Those are my lifelines. Everything else? To each their own. I broke down the latest for each streaming service below.
DirecTV Now
Current promo: First month free
Plus package: 40+ channels at $50 a month, 20 hours of DVR storage
Included: HBO
Not Included: BTN, CBS Sports Network, ESPNU, ESPNEWS, Fox Sports 2, Golf Channel, SEC Network
Max Package: 50+ channels at $70 a month
Included: All above sports channels and premium channels such as HBO and Cinemax
Pros: HBO is included in the lowest package. And, if you’re an AT&T Unlimited wireless customer, make sure to take advantage of the free HBO offer without even having to get a DirecTV NOW package. Along with being a AT&T customer, you automatically get $15 off a month every month if you become a DirecTV Now subscriber.
Cons: No NFL RedZone, and not the best option for sports if you’re on a budget. I got lucky being able to keep the original package I had since I have been a customer for a while. The basic package leaves out quite a few sports channel staples. For NFL Network and MLB Network, you need to jump up two levels to the Choice package ($110/month). If you want NHL Network, you’ll need the Xtra Package ($124 a month).
Hulu Live
Current promo: One week free
Basic package: $44.99/month. 60+ channels, two screens, 50 hours of DVR storage
Included: The full ESPN suite, BTN, CBS Sports Network, RSNs, Golf Channel, SEC Network
Pros: You get all the main sports channels, along with two screens and 50 hours of DVR storage versus DirecTV Now’s basic package, which only gets you 20 hours. A good add on? 200 DVR hours for $9.99 a month, or unlimited screens (password sharing at its finest) for $9.99 as well. Want both? $14.98. Still cheaper than DirecTV Now’s Max Package.
Cons: No NFL Network, NHL Network, or MLB Network offered
YouTube TV:
Basic Package: $40/month
Included: The full ESPN suite, RSNs, SEC Network, FS1, FS2, NBA TV, Golf Channel, BTN, CBS Sports Network, MLB Network
Pros: Six (6)! accounts per household. Impressive. There’s also no DVR storage limit.
Cons: No NFL Network, NHL Network
PlayStation Vue
Basic Package: $44.99/month
Not included: BTN, RSNs, NBA TV, NFL Network
Included: ESPN, ESPN 2, FS1, FS2, NBS Sports Network
Core Package: $49.99/month
Included: ESPN suite, RSNs, BTN, MLB Network, NBA TV, NFL Network, SEC Network
Ultra Package: $79.99/month (highest package)
Included: All the above including HBO, Showtime, Smithsonian Channel (don’t knock it till you try it)
Pros: For $5 a month more, you get all the sports channels. $10 more gets you NFL RedZone.
Cons: No NHL Network (is this really a con at this point?) You also need at least the Elite or Ultra plan to get any DVR storage or numerous streams.
Sling TV
Current Promo: 40% off. I’m not even giving an option of just Sling Orange or Sling Blue. Don’t be that cheap. (But if you are that cheap, the Blue package gets you 15 more channels). Otherwise, it’s $25 for both for the first three months. After the promo ends, it goes up to $40 a month.
Included: ESPN suite (minus ESPNU/News), NFL Network, RSNs, FS1, FS2,
Sports add-ons (orange) for $10 a month: MLB Network, MLB Strike Zone, NBA TV, SEC Network, ESPNU , ESPNEWS, Stadium
Sports add-ons (blue) for $10 a month: MLB Network, MLB Strike Zone, NFL Network, NBA TV, NHL Network, Golf Channel, Stadium
Pros: If you get the Orange and Blue packages, you get all of the sports add-ons for $10 a month total
Cons: If you just got the orange package, you get one stream. Blue package? Three streams. Want both? You get four streams. Ahh, math. Also, depending on where you live, some local channels are not included on Sling TV. Make sure to plug in your location to find out first. Also, no DVR storage included. It’s an add-on ($5 a month for 50 hours).
Depending on what you are looking for, each streaming service has its positives and negatives. The issue still is that some networks are not available on some of the platforms. For instance, if you’re a big hockey fan, your options are limited. And other services, like Sling, don’t have all local broadcast networks in each city. Sports-wise, YouTube TV is the best bang for your buck for the basic sports channels, and the unlimited DVR storage, for $40 a month.
The honorable mentions are Sling TV or PlayStation Vue. Even after the promo ends with Sling, and adding of the sports package, four streams, and the DVR, you’re looking at about $55 a month. PlayStation Vue, you’re about $5 more. But there’s always something to be rewarded about being loyal: look at the DirecTV Now package that I was grandfathered in! And as football season approaches, make sure to pay attention to what the NFL does about the Sunday Ticket package and what other platforms it’ll be offered on, as Commissioner Goodell recently expressed his desire to have it offered on multiple platforms.
That can be said for all the services above. Pay attention to your bill, watch for extra charges, and read those annoying email notices. It pays off – literally.
