Is YouTube TV the Best Live TV Streaming Service?

telcodad

YouTube TV has been voted the best live TV streaming service in a recent survey conducted by Cord Cutters News. What do you think?

I always thought I would move from Comcast’s Xfinity TV to DirecTV via Internet, as that is the most “cable-like” of the live TV streaming services.

YouTube TV vs Fubo vs Sling TV vs DIRECTV STREAM vs Frndly TV, vs Philo vs Hulu + Live TV – What is The Best Free Streaming Service According to Our Readers
By Luke Bouma, Cord Cutters News - April 12, 2025
https://cordcuttersnews.com/youtube-tv-vs-fubo-vs-sling-tv-vs-directv-stream-vs-frndly-tv-vs-philo-vs-hulu-live-tv-what-is-the-best-free-streaming-service-according-to-our-readers/

In a definitive verdict from streaming enthusiasts, YouTube TV has been crowned the best live TV streaming service in a recent survey conducted by Cord Cutters News. The survey asked subscribers to choose what they thought was the best live TV streaming service: YouTube TV, Sling TV, DIRECTV STREAM, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, Frndly TV, and Philo. With a commanding 54% of the vote, YouTube TV solidified its dominance, praised for its robust channel lineup, unlimited cloud DVR, and user-friendly interface, underscoring its appeal to cord-cutters navigating a crowded market.

The results, released today, reflect the evolving preferences of viewers who have increasingly abandoned traditional cable—59.6 million U.S. households are now cord-free, per recent industry estimates. YouTube TV’s landslide victory highlights its ability to balance comprehensive offerings with affordability, starting at $82.99 per month for 100+ channels, including ABC, ESPN, and NFL Network, alongside features like multi-view for sports fans. Readers lauded its reliability and seamless integration with Google’s ecosystem, making it a go-to for families and solo streamers alike.

Sling TV secured second place with 17%, valued for its budget-friendly plans starting at $45 per month and customizable channel packages, ideal for viewers seeking flexibility over bloated bundles. DIRECTV STREAM followed with 11%, appealing to those wanting a cable-like experience with 65+ channels and regional sports networks, though its higher price point—starting at $84.99—drew mixed feedback. …

px_eliezer_

telcodad

As you know these surveys are never truly scientific.

Most people have only tried a couple of services, how can they comment on ones they never used?

And some are less comprehensive by design (Sling, Philo, and especially Frndly) but are also cheaper… (chpr in the case of Frndly).

Sling would be perfect for me—I don’t need 95 percent of the channels on YTTV—but although Sling has NBC/ABC/FOX they don’t have CBS.

px_eliezer_

The HEADLINE on CORD CUTTERS NEWS is GLITCHED:

What is The Best Free Streaming Service According to Our Readers

They mean LIVE, surely not FREE. 🙁

Careless mistake on their part…

telcodad

px_eliezer_ The HEADLINE on CORD CUTTERS NEWS is GLITCHED:

What is The Best Free Streaming Service According to Our Readers

Nice catch!

It was too early in the morning for me to have noticed that. 🙂

Andyross

When I cancelled Comcast TV, I went with Philo for the few live TV networks I wanted to watch. Part of the reason was Science Channel, but at about the same time, WBD degraded it to what seems like only repeats, now. So far, I’d say 90% of what I currently record is History channel. Some Discovery Channel (mainly Expedition Unknown/Expedition Files, and Mysteries of the Abandoned), Smithsonian, and Nickelodeon.

telcodad

Andyross was Science Channel, but at about the same time, WBD degraded it to what seems like only repeats, now. So far, I’d say 90% of what I currently record is History channel. Some Discovery Channel (mainly Expedition Unknown/Expedition Files, and Mysteries of the Abandoned), Smithsonian,

Science, History, Discovery (Expedition series), Smithsonian, H&I (Star Trek and Black Sheep Squadron), FS1 (NASCAR) and AHC, are the “cable” channels that I regularly watch. Broadcast channels that I mainly watch are CBS, Fox (NASCAR), and PBS.

px_eliezer_

telcodad Broadcast channels that I mainly watch are CBS

I pay for “Paramount+” so in theory should be able to get the CBS station that way, but I was never able to.

And I just realized right now:

With the Paramount+ with SHOWTIME plan, you can stream your local CBS station live, along with our other 24/7 live streaming channels like CBS News, CBS Sports HQ, Mixible, and over 20+ curated channels.

With Paramount+ Essential, you can watch NFL on CBS and UEFA Champions League on separate live feeds, along with CBS News, CBS Sports HQ, Mixible, and over 20+ curated channels. This plan does NOT include your local live CBS station.

https://help.paramountplus.com/s/article/PD-Are-live-TV-channels-like-my-local-CBS-station-included-with-Paramount

So I’m stuck with YouTubeTV or some other full-channel service.

I tried “Hulu with Live TV” a couple of years ago, but their program guide was simply AWFUL compared to YouTubeTV or the former Sony product PlayStationTV. That was a popular opinion at the time, not just mine. Have not been back.

Donut417

px_eliezer_ I tried “Hulu with Live TV” a couple of years ago, but their program guide was simply AWFUL compared to YouTubeTV or the former Sony product PlayStationTV. That was a popular opinion at the time, not just mine. Have not been back.

We first had PSVue. Which worked fairly well, the only issues were the price kept going up and our data cap. Then we switched to Hulu Live and again with the same issues, mainly the price kept going up. I ended up investing in a HDHomerun 4 tuner, and antenna and Plex Pass. Made myself a plex server from an old gaming PC, and primarily use that to distribute, watch and record live OTA TV around the house. Works quite well. I figured out quick that Live TV from streaming is going to end up like Cable TV, never ending price hikes.

lesmikesell

px_eliezer_ Sling would be perfect for me—I don’t need 95 percent of the channels on YTTV—but although Sling has NBC/ABC/FOX they don’t have CBS

Which locals are included in Sling Blue depend on your location. But you can add an antenna and an AirTV DVR device and whatever channels you receive are merged into the sling guide.

px_eliezer_

lesmikesell

Good option for many, but for my house (being in a very populated area but halfway between NYC and Philadelphia), antennas don’t cut it.

The digital broadcast transition a few years ago meant much better signal for people NEAR the cities, but it killed the signal for people NOT near the cities.

Look up “digital cliff”. 🙂

urbanriot

telcodad

DIRECTV STREAM

I’ve used YouTube, Fubo, Sling, DirecTV, DAZN, Hulu w/Live TV, Google TV, Plex, Pluto, CBC, CTV, Global, Amazon, and a number of other streaming platforms and so far the best experience I’ve had was with DirecTV because you get a great guide you can use to record, it has all my stations, and the experience is great.

My second favorite is Amazon for NFL football.

px_eliezer_

urbanriot so far the best experience I’ve had was with DirecTV because you get a great guide you can use to record, it has all my stations, and the experience is great.

By satellite (dish) or streaming (online) ?

Thanks for the perspective!

telcodad

px_eliezer_ By satellite (dish) or streaming (online) ?

Actually, there are 3 versions of DirecTV:

Satellite delivery
DirecTV via Internet
DirecTV Stream

Andyross

telcodad Actually, there are 3 versions of DirecTV:

Satellite delivery

DirecTV via Internet

DirecTV Stream

They are getting rid of the DirecTV Stream branding.

Today, DIRECTV announced the end of DIRECTV STREAM as a standalone brand. DIRECTV announced that it will fully transition its streaming services to DIRECTV.com, starting today. The update, designed to streamline consumer choice under a single DIRECTV banner, promises greater flexibility, control, and tailored entertainment options without annual contracts or hidden fees. The shift marks a significant pivot for the company, retiring the DIRECTV STREAM name and consolidating its satellite-free streaming offerings to better compete in a crowded market dominated by platforms like Netflix, Hulu, and free ad-supported services.

https://cordcuttersnews.com/the-end-of-directv-stream-as-directv-consolidates-its-tv-offerings/

telcodad

Andyross They are getting rid of the DirecTV Stream branding.

https://cordcuttersnews.com/the-end-of-directv-stream-as-directv-consolidates-its-tv-offerings/

Yeah, I just saw that!

telcodad

I picked up a refurbished DirecTV C71KW-400 “Osprey” box about a year ago, looking to maybe try it out when DirecTV offers a free trial period for their “Via Internet” version. Did not want to use their STREAM version.

Never did “pull the trigger” on that yet, though.

GoRaptors

Best streaming service in the Fucking States/USA – Fixed.

Not available in Canada or I would possibly consider getting it.

(without jumping through hoops).

telcodad

GoRaptors Not available in Canada or I would possibly consider getting it.

(without jumping through hoops).

The “hoops” being using a VPN and a non-Canadian-domain email address (i.e., use a gmail one vs. a Rogers one)?

Donut417

telcodad Many streaming services actively block VPN’s. While you can probably find a VPN that works, there are no guarantees it will work forever.

GoRaptors

Why doesn’t Youtube make it available in Canada?

Would it really lose them that much money?