According to PCWorld, YouTube TV now costs $83 per month after recent price increases, making it one of the most expensive live TV streaming services available. The recent carriage dispute between YouTube TV and Disney that dragged into a second week has many subscribers reconsidering their options. For sports fans, alternatives include Fubo Sports at $56 per month, DirecTV MySports at $70 per month, and Xfinity Sports & News at $70 per month for Comcast internet customers only. Non-sports viewers can get DirecTV MyNews for $40 per month or Sling Select starting at just $20 per month. Even cheaper entertainment-only options include DirecTV MyEntertainment at $35 per month and Frndly TV starting at just $9 per month.
Sports options
Here’s the thing about sports streaming – you’re often paying for channels you never watch. Fubo Sports at $56 monthly gives you ESPN and Fox Sports but misses NBC and TNT/TBS. That’s a pretty big gap for basketball and hockey fans. DirecTV MySports at $70 covers more bases with ESPN, Fox Sports, TNT/TBS, and even includes major cable news networks. You can check out the DirecTV MySports package to see if it fits your needs. Honestly, if you’re paying for sports channels you don’t actually watch, you’re basically throwing money away.
News and local channels
If sports aren’t your thing but you still want local channels and cable news, the savings get even better. DirecTV MyNews at $40 monthly is surprisingly the cheapest way to get local channels without an antenna. The DirecTV MyNews package includes major cable news networks too. Sling Select starts at just $20, though local channel availability varies wildly by market. It’s worth checking what you actually get in your area before committing.
Entertainment-only
Now we’re getting into serious savings territory. If you can get local channels with an antenna or don’t need them at all, DirecTV MyEntertainment at $35 monthly gives you over 60 entertainment channels plus free access to Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max with ads. The DirecTV MyEntertainment package is basically cable TV without the sports premium. Philo at $33 monthly offers similar value with HBO Max, Discovery+, and AMC+ access. And Frndly TV? At $9 monthly, it’s practically impulse-buy territory for Hallmark fans.
Do you even need a bundle?
This is the real question nobody asks enough. With ESPN Unlimited, Fox One, Peacock, Paramount+, and all the other standalone services, much of what used to require a full bundle is now available à la carte. You could probably subscribe to two or three services that actually match your viewing habits for less than half of YouTube TV‘s price. And here’s the kicker – no carriage disputes to worry about. When Disney raises prices on Disney+, they have to answer directly to you, not negotiate with some middleman streaming service. The DirecTV MyKids package at $20 monthly even includes Disney+ access, which shows how bundled these services are becoming anyway.
Time to rethink your TV budget
Look, I get it – switching streaming services is annoying. But when you’re looking at potential savings of $50 or more per month? That’s $600 annually. The recent YouTube TV-Disney dispute was a wake-up call for many subscribers. These services aren’t loyal to you, so why be loyal to them? The market has matured enough that there are legit alternatives for every type of viewer. Maybe it’s time to actually look at what you watch versus what you pay for.
