Looking to leave Spectrum or DirecTV? Here are streaming options for cable-cutters
The recent dispute between Charter Spectrum and The Walt Disney Company prompted many to investigate streaming options that cut the cord with cable and satellite companies.
If you’re looking for a cable or satellite alternative that includes live TV, the best two options are Hulu + Live TV and YouTube TV.
But note that no one — not even Hulu or YouTube — is immune to outages from carriage disputes.
Here’s what to know about YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV
▪ YouTube TV: This is a great option for those wanting to cut the “cable” cord. You get pretty much all the channels you might want, including the Disney channels and live local TV. Want DVR? You got it. Includes a cloud DVR with tons of space. The cost is $72 per month. Info: tv.youtube.com/welcome
▪ Hulu + Live TV: Similar to YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV (not to be confused with regular Hulu) gets you a ton of channels — including ABC, Disney and ESPN channels — and live access to local stations. Massive cloud DVR. This costs $75 per month. Info: hulu.com/start/affiliate-liveTV
Other streaming options
▪ DirecTV Stream: You’ll get Disney and ESPN networks on this, and a bunch of other channels. It’s worth noting, though, that this AT&T-owned streamer currently has a dispute with Nexstar, which owns affiliates across the country, including the CBS affiliate in Raleigh. It costs $70 per month. Info: streamtv.directv.com/
▪ Fubo Elite: Fubo has long been known as a great sports streamer, but its newer Elite upgrade includes more than 170 broadcast channels plus tons of sporting events. And yes, all the Disney stuff. It costs $85 per month. Info: fubo.tv
▪ Sling has a few different option: a Blue tier and an Orange tier. Orange is its simplest option and it will get you Disney and the ESPN networks. The Orange+Blue tier combo gets a bunch more channels, plus some additional Disney channels like National Geographic. Orange costs $40 per month and Orange+Blue costs $55. Info: sling.com
Want broadcast network and local channels without paying anyone?
A simple way to get ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox (regular, not News) is with a digital antenna.
We should all have a digital antenna on standby for those times like this, and for other times when the cable is out.
Those do cost a few bucks up front — they start around $20 and are available at stores like Walmart, Target and Best Buy, and online from Amazon. And depending on your location and the number of trees around your house, you may have to spend a little more and get one that you can mount in your attic. (One of the top producers of digital antennas is Mohu, based in the Triangle.)
They are usually very simple to set up, and once you have that, you can watch over-the-air (free) channels without being beholden to Spectrum or anyone else.
This story was originally published September 1, 2023 at 10:55 AM with the headline "Looking to leave Spectrum or DirecTV? Here are streaming options for cable-cutters."
