Alternatives to Cable TV

If you're tired of paying cable prices, there are plenty of alternatives to cable TV that offer the same content for less. Some of these options are better for local news, sports games, and recording reality shows, while others offer all of these things at lower prices. While the cost of many of these options is rising, they're still significantly cheaper than cable. Here are a few options to check out:

Hulu + Live TV

There are two main subscription options with Hulu + Live TV as alternatives to traditional cable TV. The primary subscription is a bit more expensive than the regular version, but includes a much wider range of live channels. These include CNN, HGTV, AMC, and sports. Plus, you can watch on-demand content. But what makes Hulu so good? Read on to find out whether you should switch over to this streaming service.

Hulu has a large library of licensed content. While it doesn't have as many movies as Netflix, its library still boasts familiar television shows from popular networks. Hulu also features high-grossing Hollywood blockbusters, as well as its own original content. You won't find these shows anywhere else. If you're worried about commercials, you can pay for the “No Ads” package. Hulu is also available for download.

Both Hulu + Live TV offer premium channels. Hulu's plans include premium networks like Disney+. You can stream on two or three screens. Hulu's free service was limited to a single screen, but with its recent upgrade to unlimited screens, you can watch it on up to three screens. And you'll get ad-free, local channels as well. You can even watch movies on your computer or mobile device.

Another streaming service is Philo. It offers a huge channel lineup for less than half the price of Hulu. If you're not interested in local or sports channels, Philo is a good choice. This service is free for seven days and offers over 60 channels for under $60. The only drawback is that Philo is missing a few channels like local news or sports, but there are still plenty of other alternatives.

Sling

When looking for alternatives to cable TV, Sling TV is often mentioned. With more than 50 channels and the ability to stream live TV, Sling TV can be a great option. It is cheaper than premium services and offers a large selection of popular channels, sports, and entertainment content. For only $30 per month, Sling Orange provides access to ABC, ESPN, Comedy Central, and the Food Network. The Sling Blue package is slightly more expensive, but offers more channels, such as Bravo, Disney, TLC, and more.

The price is reasonable with Sling TV, though some users have complained of poor picture quality. Streaming video quality is occasionally erratic. Sling TV offers a DVR, so you can watch TV shows and movies at any time. Although Sling offers an inexpensive streaming service, it is limited when it comes to customization. Other services offer more channels and a better DVR. They also have a wide selection of on-demand content.

If you want to watch sports, you'll be pleased to know that Sling has many popular cable channels, including ESPN and ESPNU. Sports Extra also offers a wide variety of sports, including Pac 12 Network, Longhorn Network, SEC Network, and MLB Network. The service also includes ESPNU, NBA TV, NHL Network, Tennis Channel, and MLB Strike Zone. For $20 per month, you can watch 64 popular cable channels, including local and regional news.

Philo, a relatively newcomer to the video streaming market, launched a nationwide streaming service in 2017. It offers a variety of channels for a low subscription rate. For $25 per month, you can access over 60 channels and an unlimited DVR. In addition, you can watch recorded shows up to 30 days after they've been broadcast. If you're a sports fan, you'll want to stick with a specific streaming service for the best coverage of your favorite sporting events.

Fubo TV

While there are some downsides to FuboTV, there are some things you should know before signing up. First, the company automatically upgraded all of its Standard plan subscribers to the Family plan over the summer. In doing so, they increased all prices by $5 per month. Secondly, Fubo made it difficult for subscribers to opt out of the change. And last but not least, they sent mixed signals about downgrading.

Second, fubo lacks some channels that many cable subscribers might enjoy. While it does not have the Turner channels and the A&E networks, it includes many of the regional sports networks. And it supports 4K videos with high dynamic range. For the sports fan, this means that fubo will not cover every game of every season. In contrast, cable packages often include local and regional sports networks, as well as subscription services for individual leagues. However, fubo allows users to integrate these subscriptions into their service.

Another benefit of fuboTV is its sports package, which includes hundreds of channels. While it is more expensive than other cable TV services, it has many benefits and a fat DVR. You will need to have a reliable internet provider, but you can check out the different internet providers and their speeds before signing up for fuboTV. In addition to sports, fuboTV also has a wide variety of lifestyle and entertainment networks.

FuboTV is available on many devices, including smart TVs and streaming devices. It also offers a vast library of on-demand content. While you can't skip commercials with traditional cable TV, fuboTV offers more choices than most cable TV providers. And it's easy to find the content you want to watch. You can record programs and movies to cloud storage to watch later. And with its cloud DVR, you can easily record them to watch them later. Moreover, fuboTV comes with unlimited cloud storage.

Xumo

Xumo is a free online video service with over 190 channels of streaming content. You can browse the channel lineup by genre or popularity. If you like television shows, you can watch classic series, or check out on-demand films. While most programs run ads before and during content, Xumo offers much less than broadcast TV. In addition to the free streaming service, Xumo also offers news and sports channels.

Xumo is similar to Pluto TV, but you can choose from over 150 free and on-demand channels. With no username or password needed, you can access the channels and movies you love with ease. You can watch live TV from major networks and niche channels, like Hallmark Movies and NBC News. It doesn't have a DVR, but it has a huge library of movies and TV shows to choose from.

While you're streaming, you'll find that the selection of movies and TV shows changes monthly. Xumo has original movies produced by Magnolia Picturs. Its monthly movie lineup includes dramas, comedies, and sci-fi. Whether you prefer independent films or dramas, Xumo is a great choice for watching movies without a cable subscription. There's even an app for your Smart TV!

Another popular alternative to cable TV is an over-the-air antenna. These inexpensive devices pick up national network affiliates and broadcast in high definition. While these services are great for watching news, they aren't as good for binge-worthy shows or movies. You can also subscribe to any streaming service. However, you may find it difficult to subscribe to all the services. And while many people are happy with over-the-air antennas, Xumo offers a free option for those who need to watch a lot of content.

Apple TV+

For those of you who are tired of the cable bill, Apple is launching a new streaming service, Apple TV+, that offers ad-free video content. It's expected to compete with streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon. Besides streaming, Apple's new service will feature original content produced by celebrities such as Steven Spielberg, Oprah Winfrey, Jason Momoa, Jon M. Chu, and others.

Apple TV+ will be available on a variety of devices, including iOS and Android devices. It will also support Roku and Smart TVs. Unfortunately, Android devices and Windows PCs may not support Apple TV+ right away, but it's coming soon to those platforms. Apple's newest streaming service also works with Roku and Microsoft's Xbox One, and many other popular streaming devices. But if you're worried about compatibility issues, it's best to check out its features before you decide on a subscription plan.

As an added bonus, Apple TV+ comes with 30 subscriber channels, including Starz, HBO, and Epix. You can register for these channels with your provider or through Apple ID. Apple TV+ can also automatically login to apps that support streaming, so it's possible to get the best of both worlds. If you're looking for a cheaper alternative to cable TV, Apple has many plans. Just make sure to find one that fits your budget and needs.

Lastly, Apple TV+ features great original content. Among the titles available on Apple TV+ are the sci-fi epic Foundation, based on Isaac Asimov's classic novels. You can also watch the comedy The Morning Show starring Reese Witherspoon and Steve Carell, and the action-drama See starring Jason Momoa and Alfre Woodard. M. Night Shyamalan's acclaimed thriller, Servant, is another great title to watch on Apple TV+.