Technologies
Live TV Streaming Apps: We Compare the Top 100 Channels
Here’s how live services such as YouTube TV, Hulu Live TV and Sling stack up.

In some cases, there’s a really thin line between the price of cable and streaming TV. However, for many of us, dropping cable for a live TV streaming service may still be less expensive each month. Such streaming platforms offer a much wider selection of channels than an antenna, and you can stream on your phone or computer, too.
DirecTV Stream, YouTube TV, Hulu Plus Live TV, Sling TV, FuboTV and Philo are the six primary services available today. Our live-TV streaming guide has all the details about prices and features of the various services, but really, it’s all about the channels. That’s why we combed through these services to bring you this list.
Read more: Best Sports Streaming Service for 2023
The Big Chart: Top 100 channels compared, updated March 2023
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 six services, but note that not each service has a worthy 100. There are actually seven 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.
Plenty of live TV streaming choices are available to anyone who wants to cut the cable cord. Sling TV’s basic packages are $40 in most cities. DirecTV Stream expanded its PBS channel availability, and YouTube TV and Hulu added the Hallmark network. But costs have increased everywhere. YouTube TV is now $73 per month. Hulu Plus Live TV offers three price plans for service: $70 per month with ads, $83 without ads and $69 a month for live TV only (no on-demand videos). FuboTV upped the price of its base bundle to $75, and DirecTV Stream increased its plan subscriptions as well. Those changes are reflected in the chart below where applicable.
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 — local channels devoted to showing regular-season games of particular pro baseball, basketball and hockey teams — are not listed. DirecTV Stream’s $100 tier has the most RSNs by far, but a few are available on other services. See our NBA and NHL streaming guides for details.
- Local ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, MyNetworkTV and The CW networks are not available in every city. Since availability of these channels varies, you’ll want to check the service’s website to make sure it carries your local network.
- Local PBS stations are only currently available on YouTube TV and DirecTV Stream. Again you’ll want to check local availability.
- Sling Blue subscribers in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City, Philadelphia and San Francisco must now pay $45 per month, but have access to local ABC, Fox and NBC channels. Customers in Fresno, Houston and Raleigh now have both ABC and Fox on their Blue or Orange-and-Blue subscriptions at no extra charge. This is not reflected in the chart.
- Fubo subscribers may find that the ACC Network and SEC Network are included with their package at no extra cost. Check availability for your state.
- 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-understand Google Spreadsheet is here.
Philo vs. Sling TV vs. Fubo vs. YouTube TV vs. Hulu vs. DirecTV Stream: Top 100 channels compared
Channel | Philo ($25) | Sling Orange ($40) | Sling Blue ($40) | Hulu with Live TV ($70) | YouTube TV ($73) | FuboTV ($75) | DirecTV Stream ($75) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total channels: | 43 | 24 | 35 | 73 | 77 | 56 | 62 |
ABC | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
CBS | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Fox | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
NBC | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
PBS | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | Yes |
CW | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
MyNetworkTV | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
Channel | Philo ($25) | Sling Orange ($40) | Sling Blue ($40) | Hulu with Live TV ($70) | YouTube TV ($73) | FuboTV ($75) | DirecTV Stream ($75) |
A&E | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes |
ACC Network | No | $ | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | $ |
Accuweather | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
AMC | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes |
Animal Planet | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
BBC America | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes |
BBC World News | Yes | $ | $ | No | Yes | No | $ |
BET | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Big Ten Network | No | No | $ | Yes | Yes | Yes | $ |
Bloomberg TV | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
Boomerang | No | $ | $ | Yes | No | No | Yes |
Bravo | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Channel | Philo ($25) | Sling Orange ($40) | Sling Blue ($40) | Hulu with Live TV ($70) | YouTube TV ($73) | FuboTV ($75) | DirecTV Stream ($75) |
Cartoon Network | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
CBS Sports Network | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | $ |
Cheddar | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | $ |
Cinemax | No | No | No | $ | $ | No | $ |
CMT | Yes | $ | $ | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
CNBC | No | No | $ | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
CNN | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
Comedy Central | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Cooking Channel | Yes | $ | $ | $ | No | $ | $ |
Destination America | Yes | $ | $ | $ | No | $ | $ |
Discovery Channel | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Disney Channel | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Disney Junior | No | $ | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Disney XD | No | $ | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
E! | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
EPIX | $ | $ | $ | No | $ | No | $ |
ESPN | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
ESPN 2 | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
ESPNEWS | No | $ | No | Yes | Yes | $ | $ |
ESPNU | No | $ | No | Yes | Yes | $ | $ |
Channel | Philo ($25) | Sling Orange ($40) | Sling Blue ($40) | Hulu with Live TV ($70) | YouTube TV ($73) | FuboTV ($75) | DirecTV Stream ($75) |
Food Network | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Fox Business | No | No | $ | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Fox News | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
FS1 | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
FS2 | No | No | $ | Yes | Yes | Yes | $ |
Freeform | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
FX | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
FX Movies | No | No | $ | Yes | Yes | $ | $ |
FXX | No | No | $ | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
FYI | Yes | $ | $ | Yes | No | No | $ |
Golf Channel | No | No | $ | Yes | Yes | Yes | $ |
Hallmark | Yes | $ | $ | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
HBO/HBO Max | No | No | No | $ | $ | No | $ |
HGTV | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
History | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes |
HLN | No | $ | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
IFC | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes |
Investigation Discovery | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Lifetime | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes |
Lifetime Movie Network | Yes | $ | $ | Yes | No | No | $ |
Channel | Philo ($25) | Sling Orange ($40) | Sling Blue ($40) | Hulu with Live TV ($70) | YouTube TV ($73) | FuboTV ($75) | DirecTV Stream ($75) |
Magnolia Network | Yes | $ | $ | $ | No | Yes | $ |
MLB Network | No | $ | $ | No | No | $ | $ |
Motor Trend | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
MSNBC | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
MTV | Yes | $ | $ | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
MTV2 | Yes | $ | $ | $ | Yes | $ | Yes |
National Geographic | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Nat Geo Wild | No | No | $ | Yes | Yes | $ | $ |
NBA TV | No | $ | $ | No | Yes | $ | $ |
NFL Network | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
NFL Red Zone | No | No | $ | $ | $ | $ | No |
NHL Network | No | $ | $ | No | No | $ | $ |
Nickelodeon | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Nick Jr. | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | $ |
Nicktoons | Yes | $ | $ | $ | Yes | $ | $ |
OWN | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | $ |
Oxygen | No | No | $ | Yes | Yes | Yes | $ |
Paramount Network | Yes | $ | $ | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Science | Yes | $ | $ | $ | No | $ | $ |
Channel | Philo ($25) | Sling Orange ($40) | Sling Blue ($40) | Hulu with Live TV ($70) | YouTube TV ($73) | FuboTV ($75) | DirecTV Stream ($75) |
SEC Network | No | $ | No | Yes | Yes | $ | $ |
Showtime | No | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ |
Smithsonian | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | $ |
Starz | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ |
Sundance TV | Yes | $ | $ | No | Yes | No | Yes |
Syfy | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Tastemade | Yes | $ | $ | No | Yes | Yes | $ |
TBS | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
TCM | No | $ | $ | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
TeenNick | Yes | $ | $ | $ | Yes | $ | Yes |
Telemundo | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | $ |
Tennis Channel | No | $ | $ | No | No | $ | $ |
TLC | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
TNT | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
Travel Channel | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | $ |
TruTV | No | $ | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
TV Land | Yes | $ | $ | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
USA Network | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
VH1 | Yes | $ | $ | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Vice | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes |
WE tv | Yes | $ | $ | No | Yes | No | Yes |
Channel | Philo ($25) | Sling Orange ($40) | Sling Blue ($40) | Hulu with Live TV ($70) | YouTube TV ($73) | FuboTV ($75) | DirecTV Stream ($75) |
Sarah Tew/CNET
A series of price hikes has brought a number of additional channels, including access to Disney Plus and ESPN Plus in the $70 price. Its channel selection isn’t as robust as YouTube TV and Fubo, yet it’s Hulu’s significant catalog of on-demand content which sets it apart. Exclusive titles such as The Handmaid’s Tale, The Orville and Only Murders in the Building give it a content advantage no other service can match.
Live TV subscribers also receive unlimited DVR that includes fast-forwarding and on-demand playback — at no additional cost. It’s a move that has aligned Hulu with its competitors in terms of features, but the channel lineup may still be a deciding factor. Hulu Live TV is a better value as it’s $3 less than YouTube TV. Read our Hulu Plus Live TV review.
Sarah Tew/CNET
With an excellent channel selection, easy-to-use interface and best-in-class cloud DVR, the $73 per month YouTube TV is one of the best cable TV replacements. It offers a $20 4K upgrade, but the downside is there isn’t much to watch at present unless you watch select channels. If you don’t mind paying a bit more than the Sling TVs of the world, or want to watch live NBA games, YouTube TV offers a high standard of live TV streaming. Read our YouTube TV review.
Sarah Tew/CNET
If you want to save a little money, and don’t mind missing out on local channels, Sling TV is the best of the budget services. Its Orange and Blue packages go for $40 per month, and you can combine them for a monthly rate of $55. The Orange option nets you one stream, while Blue gives you three. Rather than run a free trial, Sling offers a 50% discount for your first month. It’s not as comprehensive or as easy to navigate as YouTube but with a bit of work, including adding an antenna or an AirTV 2 DVR, it’s an unbeatable value. Read our Sling TV review.
Sarah Tew/CNET
DirecTV Stream is tied for the most expensive at $75, beating Hulu Plus Live TV and YouTube TV. The service does have its pluses, though — for example, it includes the flipper-friendly ability to swipe left and right to change channels. Additionally, it includes some channels the other services can’t, including nearly 250 PBS stations nationwide. The $75 Entertainment package may suit your needs with its 75-plus channels. But for cord-cutters who want to follow their local NBA or MLB team, DirecTV Stream’s $100 Choice package is our live TV streaming pick because it has access to more regional sports networks than the competition. Nonetheless, you’ll want to make sure your channel is included here, and not available on one of our preferred picks, before you pony up. Read our DirecTV Stream review.
Ty Pendlebury/CNET
There’s a lot to like about FuboTV — it offers a wide selection of channels and its sports focus makes it especially attractive to soccer fans or NBA, NHL and MLB fans who live in an area served by one of FuboTV’s RSNs. It’s also a great choice for NFL fans since it’s one of three services, alongside YouTube TV and Hulu, with NFL Network and optional RedZone. In 2023, Fubo will offer 19 Bally Sports RSNs with a new package that includes the lineup. The biggest hole in Fubo’s lineup is the lack of Turner networks, including CNN, TNT and TBS — especially since the latter two carry a lot of sports content, in particular NBA, NHL and MLB. Those missing channels, and the same $75 price tag, makes it less attractive than YouTube TV for most viewers. Read our FuboTV review.
Sarah Tew/CNET
At $25 Philo is still a cheap live TV streaming service with a variety of channels, but it lacks sports channels, local stations and big-name news networks — although Cheddar and BBC news are available. Philo offers bread-and-butter cable staples like AMC, Comedy Channel, Nickelodeon and Magnolia Network, and specializes in lifestyle and reality programming. It’s also one of the cheapest live services that streams Paramount, home of Yellowstone, and it includes a cloud DVR and optional add-ons from Epix and Starz. We think most people are better off paying another $15 for Sling TV’s superior service, but if Philo has every channel you want, it’s a decent deal. Read our Philo review.
Technologies
RFK Jr. Announces All Americans Need Health Tracking Devices: Here Are the Pros and Cons
The US Health Secretary plans a huge campaign to encourage health wearables: CNET knows exactly the kind of devices he’s talking about, and why accuracy may be a problem.

Many Americans already track health statistics like heart rate and sleep cycles on app-connected accessories. Now the federal government wants to jump in. On June 24, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced «one of the largest HHS campaigns in history» to encourage the use of wearables to track health conditions, a trend CNET has recently covered.
Kennedy is referring to the many different bands, watches and even clothes that use technology to track human vital signs. CNET’s reviewers have spent years testing devices like these, seeing how rings monitor health signs, straps track your heart health and the right devices lead to better sleep.
The latest version of the Apple Watch, for example, has sensors designed to detect heart rate, heart rhythm issues, falls, sleep health, sleep apnea, temperature, breathing rate and more. The newest Oura Ring can track sleep patterns, menstrual cycles, temperature, heart rate and other health details.
«We think that wearables are a key to the MAHA agenda, Making America Healthy Again ,» Kennedy told the Subcommittee on Health during its budget meeting. «My vision is that every American is wearing a wearable within four years … they can see what food is doing to their glucose levels, their heart rates and a number of other metrics as they eat it.»
Kennedy also tweeted that «wearables put the power of health back in the hands of the American people.»
«Wearables,» however, is a broad term encompassing everything from fitness devices that count steps to sleep trackers you wear at night. And consumer devices can’t easily replace monitoring solutions offered by medical professionals.
For example, CNET has covered research indicating that even the best-in-class Apple Watch struggles with accuracy from metrics like steps to heart rate. Another study from California State Polytechnic University has shown that fitness-related Fitbit trackers show high inaccuracies as well. In fact, that research was used in a related Fitbit lawsuit.
Speaking of glucose monitors, Kennedy isn’t the only White House official with an interest in such health sensors. The administration’s nominee for surgeon general, Dr. Casey Means, co-founded glucose-monitoring company Levels and sells a monitoring app as well as other wellness products.
Finally, CNET wellness experts remind everyone that wearables aren’t always a good fit. Those suffering from eating disorders or body image issues should always talk to an expert before using wearables, as they can exacerbate certain issues or lead to a unhelpful outlook.
The US Department of Health and Human Services did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Technologies
What’s Included in Xbox Game Pass? Here’s Everything You Need to Know
Check out the pros and cons of each Game Pass tier, and how much each costs.

Editors’ Note: Xbox Game Pass Ultimate offers a slew of benefits, including a massive game library, diverse device support and both PC and console games. Nifty features like the ability to play on smart TVs, phones, tablets and PCs — not just consoles — make this a convenient gaming subscription service for a wide range of people. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate costs less than the price of a new game each month, yet gives access to hundreds of titles, which is why it earned a CNET Editors’ Choice Award. The original article follows.
New AAA video games used to cost $50 apiece, but it’s not unusual to see a similar game cost $70 now. That price might make you pause before you buy the game, but with an Xbox Game Pass subscription, you could play a brand-new game, and others, for a fraction of the price.
Microsoft launched Game Pass in 2017, and since then, the gaming service has grown to be one of the best values for gamers. All Game Pass plans offer member discounts for non-Game Pass titles and other perks, but figuring out which plan is right for you can be difficult.
That choice can be especially tough after Microsoft removed its Game Pass Console plan and replaced it with Game Pass Standard. The company also increased the price of Game Pass Ultimate from $17 to $20 a month.
I’ve covered the service in the past, including future releases and whether Game Pass Ultimate will save you money compared with buying single games. And with all the new titles Microsoft announced would be joining the service as Day 1 releases, like the upcoming Doom: The Dark Ages, you might be wondering what the difference is between different Game Pass plans.
Here’s what you need to know about the Game Pass plans so you can decide which one is right for your needs.
Xbox Game Pass tiers
Game Pass Core | Game Pass PC | Game Pass Standard | Game Pass Ultimate | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Day 1 releases | No | Yes | No | Yes |
PC games | No | Yes | No | Yes |
Online multiplayer | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
EA Play | No | Yes | No | Yes |
Cloud Gaming | No | Yes (select games via GeForce Now Ultimate) | No | Yes (via Xbox Cloud Gaming and select games via GeForce Now Ultimate) |
Monthly price | $10 | $12 | $15 | $20 |
For more on Xbox, here’s what was announced at Gamescom, some titles available on Game Pass Ultimate right now and everything to know about that gaming service.
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