![\"YouTube](\"https:\/\/advisorator.com\/members\/uploads\/cc-images\/youtubetvhome.jpg\")
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As an Advisorator member, you have access to ad-free, uncluttered versions of every cord cutting column I’ve written, dating back to 2014. View the full archives here<\/a>, and see all your membership benefits here<\/a>. Thanks, and enjoy!<\/em><\/p>\n If YouTube TV\u2019s latest price hike feels like a breaking point to you, you\u2019re not alone.<\/p>\n Over the last week, I\u2019ve heard from a bunch of folks who say the rate hike\u2014from $73 per month to $83 per month, starting January 13, 2025\u2014is the last straw. They\u2019re now seeking alternatives to YouTube TV that will provide comparable channel coverage for less.<\/p>\n Unfortunately, that sort of easy escape hatch doesn\u2019t exist. Like every other live TV service (including satellite and cable<\/a>), YouTube TV keeps raising prices because TV programmers keep demanding more money for their channels. Unless the entire industry embraces cheaper, more flexible bundles<\/a>, the bill for all of these services will keep going up.<\/p>\n The only alternative is to ditch your big pay TV package entirely. While this approach does involve sacrifice, the savings can be significant. Here are your options.<\/p>\n This story is part of TechHive\u2019s in-depth coverage of the best live TV streaming services<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n With an inexpensive over-the-air antenna and good-enough reception, you can watch the big four broadcast channels\u2014ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC\u2014for free, along with PBS and a smattering of rerun-centric subchannels. An antenna won\u2019t entirely replace a bigger bundle, but it\u2019ll give you a big head start. You can even set up an over-the-air DVR<\/a> to record shows for later.<\/p>\n Antennas won\u2019t work for everyone. Roughly speaking, you\u2019ll want to be within at most 30 miles of local broadcast stations to use an indoor antenna, and within 60 miles for an outdoor model. Even then, obstructions and topography can impact the signal. Use the Antennaweb site<\/a> to look up nearby stations for a sense of what you need, and be prepared for some trial and error. If you\u2019re ready to experiment, we have a list of the best indoor and outdoor antennas<\/a> available.<\/p>\n If an antenna isn\u2019t feasible, you can stream some local stations instead, but it\u2019ll cost you:<\/p>\n You can also use the free NBC<\/a> and ABC<\/a> apps to watch some network TV shows without a subscription, while the Paramount+ app offers some CBS programs for free as well.<\/p>\n Unfortunately, live feeds of ABC and Fox are unavailable without a large pay TV package, but you can watch primetime shows from both networks on Hulu<\/a>, which starts at $10 per month.<\/p>\n The major cable news networks\u2014CNN, Fox News, and MSNBC\u2014are not available without a big pay TV package, but you can access some of their content in alternative ways:<\/p>\n In lieu of cable news channels, consider the many free options available for streaming the news instead:<\/p>\n Outside of news and sports, it\u2019s rare for cable channels to carry exclusive new shows that aren\u2019t available on standalone streaming services. If there\u2019s a show you like on YouTube TV (or cable), sites like Reelgood<\/a> or MyBundle<\/a> can tell you where else to find them.<\/p>\n And if by chance a show is only on cable\u2014like Yellowstone<\/em>, whose final season was exclusive to Paramount Network\u2014you can always buy that show individually through stores like Amazon Video<\/a>, Fandango<\/a>, or Apple TV<\/a>.<\/p>\n Sports are where replacing a service like YouTube TV gets tricky.<\/p>\n Currently, there\u2019s no way to watch ABC or Fox without a big TV package or an antenna. ESPN isn\u2019t available on a standalone basis either\u2014although that will change in 2025<\/a>\u2014nor are FS1, FS2, or college conference channels such as SEC Network and Big Ten Network.<\/p>\n So what can you get without a service like YouTube TV? Some options:<\/p>\n I\u2019ve also compiled some additional tools to help sort through the sports streaming options<\/a>, particularly if you\u2019re trying to follow a specific team or league.<\/p>\n For now, the most complete live TV streaming service that\u2019s markedly cheaper than YouTube TV is Sling TV<\/a>. It offers a smaller bundle of pay TV channels, but still carries major sports channels, with three available base packages:<\/p>\n Unfortunately, Sling\u2019s local channel coverage is lacking, with ABC, Fox, and NBC available only in select markets<\/a>, and no CBS anywhere. For that reason, it pairs best with an over-the-air antenna.<\/p>\n Hulu + Live TV<\/a> is also worth a look. While it\u2019s no cheaper than what YouTube TV will soon cost at $83 month, it includes the full Disney bundle (Disney+, ESPN+, and Hulu\u2019s on-demand catalog) at no extra charge. If you subscribe to any of those services on their own, you\u2019ll save money by switching from YouTube TV to Hulu + Live TV instead.<\/p>\n Lastly, you might take a look at some TV packages that don\u2019t include sports or local channels. Because they omit the most expensive content on cable, their prices are significantly lower:<\/p>\n If you\u2019re thinking that the cost of a la carte streaming adds up to more than YouTube TV or even cable, you\u2019d be right. This has been the case for years<\/a>, is not an original thought<\/a>, and entirely misses the point<\/a>.<\/p>\n Unbundling your TV options does not automatically save you money, but it does let you decide what\u2019s truly worth paying for. For that reason, standalone services are also highly incentivized to offer seasonal sales, comeback deals, and other discounts<\/a>. These can considerably defray the cost of having a bunch of services at the same time.<\/p>\n When you drop a live TV streaming service such as YouTube TV, you\u2019re adopting a different mindset, in which you make peace with not having everything. The sooner you realize you weren\u2019t going to watch it all anyway, the easier unbundling becomes.<\/p>\n Sign up for Jared\u2019s Cord Cutter Weekly newsletter<\/a> for more streaming TV advice.<\/em><\/p>\n Maybe it’s time you unbundled. Published: Jan 15, 2025 12:54 pm PST As an Advisorator member, you have access to ad-free, uncluttered versions of every cord cutting column I’ve written, dating back to 2014. View the full archives here, and …<\/p>\nConsider an antenna<\/h2>\n
Stream (some) local stations<\/h2>\n
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Look for live news<\/h2>\n
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Find favorite shows elsewhere<\/h2>\n
Sort through sports streaming options<\/h2>\n
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Not ready to unbundle? Some other options:<\/h2>\n
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Just let go<\/h2>\n
Read more cord cutting columns<\/a><\/h4>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"