Live TV streaming services were created to challenge the dominance of cable companies, and initially, they were successful in attracting customers away from traditional cable subscriptions. However, over time, the prices of these streaming services have steadily increased, almost reaching the levels of traditional cable bills.
For example, YouTube TV started at $35 a month in 2017 but has since raised its prices to $83 for the base plan, plus an additional $10 for 4K add-ons. Similarly, Fubo TV, recently acquired by Disney, has also raised its prices across all subscription tiers.
With these price hikes in mind, customers are left wondering if they are getting their money’s worth from these services. There are currently six live TV streaming options in the US, with prices ranging from $28 to $87 per month before add-ons.
Philo offers a budget-friendly option at $28 per month, but it lacks popular cable channels and local sports networks. Sling TV, priced at $46 per month, offers a mix of basic and sports channels, but its user interface has some rough edges. Fubo TV, geared towards sports fans, starts at $85 per month and includes a variety of sports-related content, but it lacks certain popular channels.
Hulu + Live TV, priced at $82 per month, offers a solid lineup of channels and includes access to the Hulu library, Disney+, and ESPN+ for a slightly higher price. While these services provide a range of options for customers, the constant price increases may leave some questioning the value of their subscriptions.