Live sports, local news, and thousands of on-demand titles. Compare cable, satellite, and streaming options side by side so you know exactly what you're paying for before you sign.
Prices shown reflect representative offers from major cable providers. Exact channel availability varies by market.
Channel lineups and prices are representative of leading cable providers as of Spring 2026. Local availability varies. Promotional rates apply to new customers only and increase after 12 to 24 months.
Live sports remain the strongest argument for keeping a traditional TV package. Here is what to look for.
RSNs broadcast your local NBA, MLB, and NHL teams. They are typically included in Preferred and Ultimate cable tiers. Check which RSN covers your team (for example: Bally Sports, NESN, SportsNet) and confirm it is in your package before signing. RSNs are largely unavailable on streaming services following a series of licensing disputes.
Want to watch games beyond your local market? NFL Sunday Ticket is available via YouTube TV ($349 per season as an add-on). NBA League Pass offers every game for $99 to $249 per season. MLB.TV covers all out-of-market games for $149.99 per season. These are sold separately from your cable or streaming package and black out locally broadcast games.
True 4K sports broadcasts are still limited. DirecTV and Comcast Xfinity offer select NFL and NBA games in 4K HDR. YouTube TV includes 4K for an extra $9.99 per month. Most streaming services deliver 1080p HD for sports. If 4K sports is a priority, confirm which events are actually broadcast in 4K (not just upscaled) before paying the premium.
Modern cable subscriptions include technology features that streaming services are only beginning to match.
Record 6 to 15 shows simultaneously and store up to 1 TB of content. Smart DVRs skip commercials automatically, suggest recordings based on your history, and sync watched progress across every TV in your home. Cloud DVR extends storage beyond the physical drive.
Say a show name, actor, or genre and the remote finds it across live TV, DVR recordings, and connected streaming apps simultaneously. Voice remotes also control smart home devices. Most major cable providers include these at no extra charge with current equipment packages.
Watch live TV on your phone or tablet anywhere on your home network, and most providers allow streaming outside the home too. Access your DVR recordings remotely, set recordings from anywhere, and use the app as a second remote. Content availability outside the home is limited by channel licensing agreements.
Enter what you pay now on the left. Toggle on the streaming services you actually want on the right. The math updates live.
Service prices as of Spring 2026 and subject to change. Internet-only estimate is your best available standalone internet rate, not a bundled rate. Savings shown are estimates only.
Yes. An HD antenna (typically $25 to $50) picks up local ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, and PBS in most urban and suburban areas with no monthly fee. Reception depends on distance from broadcast towers and your building materials. Streaming services like YouTube TV and Hulu Live also carry local channels in most markets.
You need local channels (most games), ESPN (Monday Night Football), and ideally NFL Network. For out-of-market games, NFL Sunday Ticket is available on YouTube TV as an add-on ($349 per season in 2025). Cable packages at the Preferred tier or above typically include ESPN and NFL Network. Satellite providers often include more sports channels at a lower base price than cable.
Satellite TV is most vulnerable to rain fade during heavy storms. Cable TV is unaffected by weather at the household level, though underground line damage from flooding can cause outages. Antenna reception also degrades in severe weather. Streaming via internet is unaffected directly, but your internet service may go down during area outages.
Most cable subscriptions include one primary box and charge $5 to $10 per additional TV per month. Some providers allow streaming via their app on additional devices at no extra charge. If you have 4 or more TVs, the per-TV fees add up quickly — which is one reason households switch to streaming services that allow multiple simultaneous streams for a single flat fee.
Yes, with a DVR. Modern cable DVRs support recording 6 to 15 shows simultaneously while you watch live TV. Cloud DVR on streaming services allows unlimited recordings stored for 9 to 12 months. Check the DVR storage limit and simultaneous-recording count before choosing a plan — some providers charge extra for expanded storage.
It depends on what you watch. A cable bundle at $120 per month covers 200+ channels and internet. Building the equivalent with streaming — YouTube TV ($82.99) plus individual premium apps plus internet — can reach $150 to $180. Households that watch a lot of live sports and local news often find cable cheaper than the streaming equivalent. Use the calculator above to run your specific numbers.
Our advisors compare every TV package available at your address and walk you through the hidden fees. No hard sell. No obligation.