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Choosing a Cable TV or Streaming Provider
There are a lot of decisions to make when you’ve just finished moving into a new home. Some of them are easy, like how you’re going to position your couch in your new den and what room the dog’s bed is going to go into. Others are not quite so easy, and that includes choosing a TV provider. With all of the options out there for your TV, comparing your various choices—and picking the one that is the optimal fit for your needs and your budget—is not always a quick process.
Choosing a TV provider can be a difficult decision whether you’re moving into your first home or your fifteenth. That’s because availability and pricing can vary widely from zip code to zip code, and even from apartment building to apartment building. So while it’s certainly possible to just carry over your previous TV provider from your last place to your new one, it’s not a given that you’ll be able to—nor is it a given that it will be your most cost-effective choice.
There’s a lot to consider, which is why we’ve put together this guide to comparing services for some of the most popular TV providers.
Cable TV Subscriptions
Choosing a TV provider ultimately comes down to what you want access to. Standard channel packages vary from provider to provider when it comes to cable TV, as well as location to location. Unlike streaming, however, you won’t have to worry about needing an internet connection to log on to your TV, and you’ll also get more access to local programming. And as a bonus, most cable TV packages today also include streaming.
Xfinity Comcast
What it is: Comcast (rebranded Xfinity Comcast after a merger with NBC) is a digital cable provider offering live, on demand, and streaming TV services.
Where it serves: 40/50 states; see nationwide availability here.
Cost: Depends on where you live and what plan you get. Introductory prices range from $20 (10+ channels) to $80 (200+ channels) a month.
DirecTV
What it is: A digital satellite television provider and a subsidiary of AT&T.
Where it serves: Areas throughout the United States, Latin America, and the Caribbean; see nationwide availability here.
Cost: DirecTV offers various packages, each with their own starting prices. Expect to spend a base price of around $78 a month to $181 a month, with introductory prices ranging from $35 a month to $110 a month.
Dish Network
What it is: Dish Network, known primarily as DISH or Dish TV, is a satellite television provider comparable to DirectTV.
Where it serves: You can get Dish Network pretty much wherever you live in the United States; see nationwide availability here.
Cost: Dish Network packages are priced depending on how many channels you get. With the cheapest package, you get 190 channels for $59.99 a month. The most expensive package includes more than 290 channels for $89.99 a month.
What About Streaming Services?
For many renters and homeowners, choosing a TV provider starts with choosing a streaming service. Streaming has come a long way, even in the past several years. Today, you can find live streaming options and a growing cache of original streaming content that heavily competes with the more traditional cable TV providers listed above (and in some cases, is even owned by them). Here are the details on some of today’s biggest streaming players.
Sling TV
What it is: Sling TV is a live TV streaming service owned and operated by the Dish Network. There are two basic plans: Sling Orange, which includes about 30 channels and Sling Blue, which includes about 50 channels (though that doesn’t necessarily include all of the 30 offered by Sling Orange). There’s also a Sling Orange + Blue plan, which combines both.
Cost: Both Sling Orange and Sling Blue cost $25 a month. The combination plan costs $40 a month.
Netflix
What it is: Netflix is one of the original—if not the original—major TV streaming platforms. While it doesn’t offer live TV, it does offer a near limitless selection of programming, including award-winning Netflix originals.
Cost: A basic Netflix subscription will cost you $8.99 a month.
Hulu
What it is: Hulu is owned by the Walt Disney Corporation, but is not to be confused with Disney+. It offers a wide range of streaming programs, as well as a Hulu Live option if you also want live TV and sports.
Cost: A basic Hulu subscription will cost you $5.99 a month ($11.99 a month for Hulu with no ads). Bundle it with the Hulu Live for a total cost of $54.99 a month.
Disney+
What it is: One of the newest streaming options, Disney+ is your one-stop shop to the entire Disney vault, including the Disney, Star Wars, Pixar, and Marvel franchises. If it’s made by Disney, you’ll find it here (and if it’s not, you’ll have to look elsewhere).
Cost: Get a Disney+ subscription for $6.99 a month, or pay $69.99 for the whole year ($5.83 a month).
YouTube TV
What it is: It’s not surprising that YouTube decided to get in on the TV streaming game. YouTube TV offers on-demand streaming content as well as live TV from more than 70 television networks.
Cost: A YouTube TV subscription will run you $49.99 a month, and can include up to six accounts.
Apple TV+
What it is: Only launched in November 2019, Apple TV+ is Apple’s answer to today’s world of streaming, featuring exclusive streaming content on an ad-free platform.
Cost: Get an Apple TV+ subscription for just $4.99 a month.
Amazon Prime Video
What it is: Amazing Prime Video, often referred to simply as Prime Video, is an on-demand streaming service owned and operated by Amazon.
Cost: Contrary to what the name suggests, you don’t need to be an Amazon Prime member to get Prime Video, though if you are, you’ll get the streaming service included in your membership. A subscription to Prime Video alone will run you $8.99 a month.
AT&T TV Now
What it is: AT&T’s answer to streaming platforms, AT&T TV Now (formerly DirecTV Now) features on-demand and live streaming television, including HBO and local TV stations where available.
Cost: Get 45+ channels with the AT&T TV Now Plus plan for $65 a month, or upgrade to the AT&T TV Now Max plan to get 60+ channels at $80 a month.
ESPN+
What it is: If live sports are the only thing keeping you from cutting the cable cord, then you may want to consider ESPN+, a streaming service dedicated to ESPN content (including live games).
Cost: Just $5 a month or $50 a year.
Choosing a TV Provider: Cable or Streaming?
When you’re choosing a TV provider, whether you opt to go with a traditional cable package or one or more streaming services depends largely on what you like to watch on TV and where you live. Because they’re cloud-based, you can access streaming services regardless of where you live, as well as during travels. Cable TV providers however are only offered in set areas, though those areas are getting increasingly larger and usually include some sort of streaming plan.
Renting? Streaming may be the way to go. Not only will you and your roommates be able to set up separate accounts through one subscription on most streaming platforms, you’ll also be able to easily take your subscriptions with you when you move. It’s a nice alternative to having to wait for a cable provider to come set up your service, and also ensures you have the same access no matter where you end up.