Scoring sheet
How we scored the best live TV streaming services
Every score in The best live TV streaming services comes from this sheet: the tools we considered, the scale for each criterion, and the evidence and date behind each score.
This page shows the working behind The best live TV streaming services. It lists the field, the criteria, the weights, what each score means and, for every service and criterion, the score and the source behind it.
Everything here was checked on October 28, 2026, from a cloud computer with a US internet connection. We read each service's US pricing pages, channel lists and help centers, and dated news reports where a company's own page didn't give a number. We also ran each service's own local channel lookup for 40 ZIP codes (details below). We did not subscribe to any of the services or use their apps, so every pick is desk-researched: picture quality, app speed and how well each service streams a big game are not scored.
The question and the reader
The question, in the reader's words: "What is the best live TV streaming service?" Search autocomplete in October 2026 completes "best live tv streaming service" with "with local channels", "for sports", "for football", "for college football" and "reddit", and suggests "youtube tv vs hulu live", "youtube tv vs fubo", "youtube tv vs directv stream", "hulu live vs sling" and "sling vs philo". We asked four AI models (GPT, Claude, Gemini and Perplexity, through their APIs with web search on) five versions of the question on October 28, 2026, which gave 20 answers.
The reader is in the US and is replacing cable or satellite TV. They want their local ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC stations, the channels that carry their teams' games, and the cable channels the household watches, for less than a cable bill. They want to know what each service really costs after fees, whether it carries their local stations, and what they give up.
The field and the must-haves
A service is scored if it streams a full lineup of live channels over the internet to anyone in the US, with no cable or internet contract. Must-haves:
- Local broadcast stations in at least some large markets. A service that carries no local ABC, CBS, FOX or NBC stations anywhere can't replace cable for this reader. Sling TV passes only because it has them in some big cities, and it scores low on local channels; we kept it because readers compare it with Hulu + Live TV and Philo.
- ESPN or FS1 in the base plan. The reader wants live sports.
- Sold to anyone in the US, not only to customers of one internet provider.
Every service named in the 20 AI answers as a live TV service was considered: YouTube TV (named in all 20), Fubo (14), DIRECTV (13), Hulu + Live TV (12), Sling TV (11) and Philo (5). Five are scored. Philo and the others below are listed on the page as skipped, with the reason.
| Considered | Why it isn't scored |
|---|---|
| Philo | No local stations and no sports channels at all; it is an entertainment-only service at $25 a month (Philo Essential) or $33 (Bundle+), from Philo's sign-up page |
| Frndly TV | No local stations and no sports networks; a family and classic-TV service |
| ESPN Unlimited on its own ($31.99 a month since September 17, 2026, per Variety), and ESPN's bundle with Fox One ($39.99 a month, from ESPN) | ESPN's and FOX's sports channels only, with no ABC, CBS or NBC stations or other networks |
| NFL+ and Prime Video | Single-sport or single-game apps. Prime Video carries Thursday Night Football, which no scored service shows |
| DIRECTV MyNews | A news-focused DIRECTV Genre Pack with few sports or entertainment channels; DIRECTV's full plans are scored |
| Fox One, Peacock and Paramount+ | Single-company apps. Paramount+ Premium streams your local CBS station and Peacock streams NBC in many markets, but none carries the other networks |
| An antenna | Free local stations and no monthly bill, but no cable channels. The page covers it as the cheapest route |
| Xfinity, Spectrum and other internet providers' TV apps | Sold only to that company's internet customers |
| DIRECTV by satellite | Needs a dish and, in most cases, a contract; this page is about streaming |
Which plan we scored
Each service sells several plans, so the score has to be for one of them. The rule: each service's cheapest plan that includes its regional sports networks, if it sells them; otherwise its fullest base plan. Add-ons aren't counted. This reader wants their teams' games, and regional sports networks are the one thing that only some plans carry.
Applied to the five:
- YouTube TV: the main plan, $82.99 a month. YouTube TV carries only the NBC Sports regional networks, in the main plan, so this is its fullest base plan. Its cheaper plans launched in February 2026 drop either the entertainment channels or the sports channels; they're described on the page.
- Hulu + Live TV: the standard plan with ads, $99.99 a month. It is Hulu's only live plan apart from an ad-free Premium version.
- Fubo: Pro, $88.99 a month, plus its regional sports fee: Fubo's cheapest plan with regional sports networks.
- DIRECTV: Choice, $94.99 a month, plus its regional sports fee: DIRECTV's cheapest plan with regional sports networks.
- Sling TV: Sling Orange & Blue, its fullest base plan, since we could confirm no regional sports networks on Sling. Sling Orange and Sling Blue alone each lack channels the other has, and Orange carries no local stations at all. Sling sells the Big Ten, SEC and ACC networks in its Sports Extra add-on, which isn't counted, as no add-on is.
A change we made after a first pass. Our first pass scored DIRECTV's cheapest plan, Entertainment at $89.99, which put DIRECTV third with 6.6. We then wrote the rule above and switched to Choice, because Entertainment lacks the NFL Network, the Big Ten, SEC and ACC networks and every regional sports network, so it isn't the plan a reader who wants their teams' games would buy. The switch moves DIRECTV from third to second, ahead of Hulu + Live TV. It is a judgment made after seeing the order, and the totals for both plans are below so you can use the one that fits you.
Criteria and weights
These were set before any service was scored.
| Criterion | Weight | What it measures |
|---|---|---|
| Price | 30 | The regular monthly price of the scored plan, plus any fee every subscriber in a typical market pays |
| Sports channels | 25 | How many of 19 national sports networks the plan carries, plus regional sports networks and ESPN Unlimited |
| Local channels | 20 | ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC in our 40-ZIP lookup, plus PBS |
| Everyday channels | 15 | How many of 15 widely watched cable channels the plan carries |
| Recording and screens | 10 | DVR storage and how many screens can watch at home at once |
Why these weights: price counts most because the reader's reason for leaving cable is the bill, and the five plans run from $69.99 to $109.99 a month, $480 a year apart. Sports come next because live sports are the main reason people pay for live TV rather than on-demand apps, and the reader named their teams' games. Local channels count for 20 rather than more because four of the five services score near full marks; the criterion separates the one that doesn't. Everyday channels matter to the rest of the household. Recording and screens count least because four of the five include unlimited recording, so it separates them only a little.
Not scored: picture quality and 4K, app quality on each device, how reliably each service streams during big games, and Spanish-language plans. We found no independent test with a published method that compares the five on those, and we didn't run one.
What each score means
Price
10 at $55 a month or less, 0 at $115 or more, and in a straight line between: the score is (115 minus the monthly price) divided by 6, to one decimal. So $70 scores 7.5, $85 scores 5 and $100 scores 2.5.
Fees count when a typical subscriber can't avoid them. Fubo and DIRECTV charge a regional sports fee that depends on your ZIP code (below), so we added $15 a month, a typical amount for both in October 2026. Sling's surcharge for local channels is included at the amount charged where Sling carries all three of ABC, FOX and NBC ($9), because this reader wants local stations and the Local channels score credits Sling for the stations it has. Where Sling carries none, Orange & Blue costs $60.99; see how close the call is, below. Taxes aren't included. Introductory prices aren't scored, because they end within one to five months.
Sports channels: up to 10
- Up to 8 for national sports networks: 8 times the number carried, out of these 19, divided by 19. ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, FS1, FS2, TNT, TBS, truTV, NFL Network, Big Ten Network, SEC Network, ACC Network, CBS Sports Network, USA Network, Golf Channel, NBCSN, NBA TV, MLB Network and NHL Network.
- 1 if the plan includes regional sports networks, the channels that show local MLB, NBA and NHL teams, in most markets that have them.
- 1 if ESPN Unlimited (ESPN's own streaming service, $31.99 a month on its own) is included at no extra cost.
Local channels: up to 10
- Up to 8 for the Big Four: 8 times the share of 160 checks (ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC in each of 40 ZIP codes) in which the service's own lookup listed that network's local station.
- Up to 2 for PBS: 2 times the share of the 40 ZIP codes in which the lookup listed a PBS station.
Everyday channels: up to 10
10 times the number carried, out of these 15, divided by 15: CNN, Fox News, MS NOW, CNBC, HGTV, Food Network, Discovery, TLC, Disney Channel, Nickelodeon, Hallmark Channel, AMC, Bravo, FX and Comedy Central. The list covers news, home and food, factual, kids, movies and drama, and comedy, and avoids channels that come from only one company.
Recording and screens: two parts, up to 10
- DVR (up to 5): 5 for unlimited storage included; 2 for a capped amount with a paid upgrade.
- Screens at home at once, on the plan's own terms (up to 5): 5 for unlimited or 10 or more; 4 for four; 3 for three; 2 for two; 1 for one.
The local channels check
On October 28, 2026 we typed 40 ZIP codes into each service's own channel lookup, the one its website runs when you enter a ZIP code, and recorded whether it listed a local ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC and PBS station. The ZIP codes are the downtown of 25 of the largest TV markets and 15 smaller ones chosen to spread across the country.
Large markets: New York (10001), Los Angeles (90012), Chicago (60601), Philadelphia (19103), Dallas (75201), Atlanta (30303), Houston (77002), Washington (20001), Boston (02108), San Francisco (94104), Phoenix (85004), Seattle (98101), Tampa (33602), Detroit (48226), Minneapolis (55401), Orlando (32801), Denver (80202), Miami (33131), Cleveland (44113), Sacramento (95814), Charlotte (28202), Portland, Oregon (97204), Raleigh (27601), St. Louis (63101) and Indianapolis (46204).
Smaller markets: Birmingham (35203), Des Moines (50309), Boise (83702), Albuquerque (87102), Little Rock (72201), Spokane (99201), Lexington, Kentucky (40507), Green Bay (54301), Fargo (58102), Bangor (04401), Missoula (59802), Lubbock (79401), Wichita (67202), Chattanooga (37402) and Tupelo (38804).
For Fubo, which has no lookup we could query, we used the station table in Fubo's help article What local channels does Fubo carry?, updated October 9, 2026. For DIRECTV, the lookup is the one on its streaming packages page.
| Service | ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC (of 160) | PBS (of 40) | Gaps |
|---|---|---|---|
| YouTube TV | 160 | 40 | None |
| Hulu + Live TV | 160 | 40 | None |
| DIRECTV | 158 | 40 | No FOX listed for Little Rock, no ABC for Lubbock |
| Fubo | 160 | 0 | Fubo carries no PBS stations |
| Sling TV | 31 | 0 | Sling carries no CBS stations anywhere. It listed at least one local station in 18 of the 25 large markets and in none of the 15 smaller ones |
Sling's 31 were ABC in 7 ZIP codes, FOX in 15 and NBC in 9: all three in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia and San Francisco; two in Dallas, Houston and Washington; one in Atlanta, Boston, Phoenix, Seattle, Tampa, Detroit, Minneapolis, Orlando, Miami and Raleigh; none in Denver, Cleveland, Sacramento, Charlotte, Portland, St. Louis or Indianapolis.
A lookup listing a station is what the service promises, not proof that every home in that ZIP code gets it, and 40 ZIP codes are a sample, not the whole country. The two DIRECTV gaps may be a lookup error rather than a missing station; we report what the lookup said.
The regional sports check
The same lookups list regional sports networks for each ZIP code. DIRECTV listed at least one on Choice in 39 of the 40 ZIP codes, all but Philadelphia (19103). YouTube TV listed one in five: NBC Sports Boston (Boston and Bangor), NBC Sports Philadelphia, and NBC Sports Bay Area and NBC Sports California (San Francisco and Sacramento). Sling's lookup returned a regional package in six ZIP codes under old NBC Sports identifiers, including NBC Sports Chicago and NBC Sports Washington, which have since been renamed; we couldn't confirm what Sling carries, so it gets no point. Fubo's regional lookup sits behind a page our script couldn't read, so Fubo's point rests on its own help center: Pro includes regional sports networks "depending on location" (Fubo's plans article). Hulu's local lookup doesn't list them, and Hulu gets no point.
Scores
YouTube TV: total 7.9
| Criterion | Score | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Price | 5.3 | $82.99 a month for the main plan, with no added fees (YouTube TV). New users pay $59.99 a month for the first two months on an offer that ends November 16, 2026. The price has been $82.99 since December 2024. (115 − 82.99) ÷ 6 = 5.3 |
| Sports channels | 8.2 | 17 of 19: every network on our list except MLB Network and NHL Network, from the channel list on YouTube TV's welcome page and our lookup (7.16). ESPN Unlimited is included in the main plan's channel list (+1). No regional sports networks in most markets: YouTube TV's lookup listed NBC Sports regional networks in five of our 40 ZIP codes and none in the other 35 (+0). 7.16 + 1 = 8.2 |
| Local channels | 10 | 160 of 160 Big Four checks and 40 of 40 PBS in our lookup. 8 + 2 |
| Everyday channels | 10 | All 15, from the channel list on YouTube TV's welcome page |
| Recording and screens | 8 | Unlimited DVR included (5). Three screens at once, with up to six household accounts; the 4K Plus add-on unlocks unlimited screens at home for an extra charge (3). From YouTube TV's welcome page. 5 + 3 |
Other YouTube TV plans, from YouTube's February 2026 announcement and the welcome page: Sports + News $71.99 (new users $49.99 a month for five months, ending November 16, 2026), Sports $64.99, News + Entertainment + Family $69.99, Entertainment $54.99. These aren't scored.
DIRECTV: total 6.8
| Criterion | Score | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Price | 0.8 | Choice $94.99 a month on the package card of DIRECTV's streaming packages page (the same page's fine print still says $84.99; we used the card, which matches the other plan prices), plus a regional sports fee on Choice and above (DIRECTV's fee page). DIRECTV raised that fee at the end of June 2026 from $3.99 to as much as $23.99, about $15 on average, as reported by Cord Cutters News on August 13, 2026. $94.99 + $15 = $109.99. (115 − 109.99) ÷ 6 = 0.8 |
| Sports channels | 8.3 | 15 of 19 on Choice: ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, FS1, TNT, TBS, truTV, NFL Network, Big Ten, SEC, ACC, USA, Golf, NBA TV and MLB Network. Missing: FS2, CBS Sports Network and NHL Network (Ultimate) and NBCSN (no plan). From DIRECTV's internet TV channel lineup, effective November 1, 2026 (6.3). Regional sports networks are included with Choice and above, and the lookup listed one on Choice in 39 of our 40 ZIP codes (+1). ESPN Unlimited is included with DIRECTV's streaming packages (packages page) (+1). 6.32 + 2 = 8.3 |
| Local channels | 9.9 | 158 of 160 Big Four checks and 40 of 40 PBS in our lookup. 7.9 + 2 |
| Everyday channels | 10 | All 15, from the lineup PDF |
| Recording and screens | 10 | Unlimited cloud DVR (5) and unlimited streams at home, with three at a time away from home (5), from the packages page |
DIRECTV Entertainment, $89.99 a month with no regional sports fee and ESPN Unlimited included, carries only six of the 19 sports networks (ESPN, ESPN2, FS1, TNT, TBS and USA) and no regional networks. Scored the same way it gets Price 4.2, Sports 3.5, Local 9.9, Everyday 10 and Recording 10, a total of 6.6, between Hulu + Live TV and Fubo. DIRECTV MySports, a sports-only plan with locals, is $64.99 a month (MySports page); it isn't scored.
Hulu + Live TV: total 6.7
| Criterion | Score | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Price | 2.5 | $99.99 a month with ads, after a three-day free trial (Hulu + Live TV); $109.99 without ads on Hulu's on-demand shows. Disney raised both by $10 on September 23, 2026 for new subscribers, and on the next bill for existing ones (Variety). No regional sports or broadcast fees. (115 − 99.99) ÷ 6 = 2.5 |
| Sports channels | 7.3 | 15 of 19: ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, FS1, FS2, TNT, TBS, truTV, NFL Network, Big Ten, SEC, ACC, CBS Sports Network, USA and Golf, from the channel list Hulu's site returns for New York, with add-on channels left out. Missing: NBCSN, NBA TV, MLB Network and NHL Network (6.3). ESPN Unlimited is included in the ESPN app, along with Disney+ with ads (Hulu + Live TV) (+1). No regional sports networks in most markets (+0). 6.32 + 1 = 7.3 |
| Local channels | 10 | 160 of 160 Big Four checks and 40 of 40 PBS in our lookup. 8 + 2 |
| Everyday channels | 9.3 | 14 of 15; no AMC. Same channel list |
| Recording and screens | 7 | Unlimited DVR, with live recordings kept up to nine months (5). Two screens at once; the Unlimited Screens add-on gives unlimited screens at home and three away (2). From Hulu + Live TV. Cord Cutters News puts the add-on at $9.99 a month (September 2026 comparison). 5 + 2 |
Fubo: total 5.4
| Criterion | Score | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Price | 1.8 | Pro $88.99 a month since NBCUniversal's channels returned in June 2026 (Fubo's price change article), up from $73.99. Fubo charges a regional sports fee "up to $16.99/month" by area, $16 if you sign up on Roku, and $15.99 in the four NBC Sports regional markets (Fubo's fee article); PCWorld reported fees of $13 to $17 in July 2026. $88.99 + $15 = $103.99. (115 − 103.99) ÷ 6 = 1.8 |
| Sports channels | 6.2 | 10 of 19 on Pro: ESPN, ESPN2, FS1, FS2, NFL Network, Big Ten, SEC, ACC, CBS Sports Network and NBCSN. ESPNU, NBA TV, MLB Network and NHL Network are on Elite ($98.99) and above; Fubo carries no TNT, TBS, truTV, USA or Golf Channel. From Fubo's plan comparison (4.2). Regional sports networks are included with Pro, depending on location (Fubo's plans article) (+1). ESPN Unlimited is included with base plans that carry ESPN (Fubo's ESPN Unlimited article) (+1). 4.21 + 2 = 6.2 |
| Local channels | 8 | 160 of 160 Big Four checks, from Fubo's station table; NBC returned to every Fubo market by September 4, 2026 (Cord Cutters News). No PBS (0 of 40). 8 + 0 |
| Everyday channels | 4.7 | 7 of 15: Fox News, Disney Channel, Nickelodeon, Hallmark, Bravo, FX and Comedy Central. No CNN, HGTV, Food Network, Discovery or TLC (Warner Bros. Discovery), no MS NOW or CNBC (Versant), and no AMC. From the plan comparison |
| Recording and screens | 10 | Unlimited DVR and unlimited screens on Pro (Fubo's plans article). 5 + 5 |
Sling TV: total 5.2
| Criterion | Score | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Price | 7.5 | Sling Orange & Blue from $60.99 a month (Sling's plan comparison). Since January 2026 Sling adds $4 a month to Blue where it carries one or two of ABC, FOX and NBC, and $9 where it carries all three, as reported by Cord Cutters News and Tom's Guide in January 2026. $60.99 + $9 = $69.99. (115 − 69.99) ÷ 6 = 7.5 |
| Sports channels | 3.4 | 8 of 19 in Orange & Blue: ESPN, ESPN2, FS1, TNT, TBS, truTV, NFL Network and USA (Sling Orange & Blue). The Sports Extra add-on adds more college and league networks. No regional sports networks and no ESPN Unlimited. 3.37 |
| Local channels | 1.6 | 31 of 160 Big Four checks, and no PBS. Sling says locals come with Blue "in select markets" (Sling's local channels help). 1.55 + 0, shown as 1.6 |
| Everyday channels | 8 | 12 of 15; no CNBC, Nickelodeon or Hallmark (Sling's channel list) |
| Recording and screens | 6 | 50 hours of DVR free, unlimited for $5 a month (2). Orange & Blue allows up to four screens at once: one on Orange channels and three on Blue (4). From Sling's plan comparison. 2 + 4 |
How close the call is
YouTube TV wins by 1.1 points. It scores highest or joint highest on local channels and everyday channels, is second on price (Sling is first) and second on sports by 0.1 (DIRECTV is first), and trails DIRECTV and Fubo on recording and screens, 8 to 10. No single move of up to 15 points of weight changes first place; DIRECTV would need 18 points moved from Price to Recording and screens. No move of weight from one criterion to another, of any size, puts Hulu + Live TV, Fubo or Sling TV first.
Second place is close. DIRECTV leads Hulu + Live TV by 0.13 (6.80 to 6.67), and Hulu would lead if 3 points moved from Recording and screens to Price, or 5 from Sports channels to Price. With DIRECTV's cheaper Entertainment plan instead of Choice, Hulu + Live TV leads DIRECTV by 0.06 (6.67 to 6.61). So for a reader who doesn't follow a team on a regional sports network, Hulu and DIRECTV are a coin toss, decided by whether you want Disney+ and Hulu's on-demand library (Hulu) or unlimited screens at home (DIRECTV).
The regional sports fee moves Fubo and DIRECTV. At Fubo's top fee of $16.99, Fubo's price score is 1.5 and its total 5.3; DIRECTV drops below Hulu + Live TV once its fee reaches about $18 a month; at its top fee of $23.99, DIRECTV's price score is 0 and its total 6.56. The fee for your ZIP code shows at sign-up.
Fourth and fifth are close too, and depend on Sling's local surcharge. Fubo leads Sling TV by 0.18 (5.40 to 5.22), and 2 points moved from Recording and screens to Price would swap them. Priced at $64.99 (one or two local networks) Sling scores 5.46, and at $60.99 (none) 5.67, both ahead of Fubo.
What changed between plans in 2026
- YouTube TV launched five cheaper plans the week of February 9, 2026, and kept the main plan at $82.99.
- Fubo cut Pro to $73.99 on December 5, 2025, after NBCUniversal's channels left on November 21, 2025, then raised it to $88.99 when they returned under a deal announced June 10, 2026, with NBC back in every market by September 4 (Cord Cutters News; The Desk).
- DIRECTV raised its regional sports fee at the end of June 2026 and its Genre Pack prices from June 25, 2026 (The Streamable).
- Hulu + Live TV rose from $89.99 to $99.99 on September 23, 2026.
- Sling added its local channel surcharge in January 2026.