The Online TV Space: A Competitive and Cost-Effective Alternative to Cable

In recent years, the online TV space has become increasingly competitive, with numerous services vying for consumers' attention. As a result, prices and offerings have improved significantly, making it easier than ever to access live TV channels without the need for traditional cable. In this article, we'll explore some of the most popular options available, highlighting their features, pricing, and streaming capabilities.

Streaming Devices and Services: A World of Options

When it comes to streaming TV, there are a plethora of devices and services to choose from. Some of the most popular options include Roku, Apple TV, Fire Stick, Chromecast, and smart TVs. While each device has its unique features and benefits, some stand out for their ease of use and affordability. For instance, Amazon's Fire Stick is a great option for families, offering a simple UI and access to a wide range of apps, including popular streaming services like Netflix and Hulu. Moreover, the Fire Stick is available for just $35, making it an attractive option for those looking to cut costs.

Chromecast: A Simple yet Powerful Option

Google's Chromecast is another excellent choice for streaming TV. While it may not be as user-friendly as the Fire Stick, it offers a range of benefits, including the ability to cast computer or phone screens to the TV and access to a variety of apps through the Google Home app. However, one drawback of the Chromecast is its lack of a remote control, which can make it less accessible for older family members. Additionally, at the moment of writing, the Chromecast comes free with the YouTube Live TV service, making it an attractive option for those looking to try out this service.

Smart TVs: A Convenient and Cost-Effective Option

For those who already own a smart TV, streaming services can be accessed through the TV's built-in apps. This offers a convenient and cost-effective way to access live TV channels without the need for additional devices. Moreover, many smart TVs come with voice control capabilities, making it easy to navigate and find content using voice commands.

Additional Services and Features

In addition to these popular streaming services, there are several other options available, including Rokus and Apple TV. These devices offer a range of features and benefits, including access to a wide range of apps and the ability to stream content to multiple devices. Some services also offer additional features, such as voice control and parental controls.

The Cost of Streaming Services: A Comparison

When it comes to streaming services, costs can vary significantly. Some options, like YouTube Live TV, come with a monthly fee, while others, like Amazon's Fire Stick, are free or low-cost. Here's a comparison of the prices mentioned earlier:

* YouTube Live TV: $10-$50 per month

* Amazon's Fire Stick: Free (with service) or $35 (standalone)

* Chromecast: Free (with service) or $35 (standalone)

Ultimately, the cost of streaming services will depend on individual preferences and needs. However, with so many options available, consumers can easily find a solution that fits their budget.

The Future of Streaming Services

As the online TV space continues to evolve, it's likely that prices will continue to decrease, making these services even more accessible to consumers. Moreover, new features and technologies are being introduced regularly, including 4K streaming and HDR support. With so many options available, it's an exciting time for those looking to cut costs or try out a new streaming service.

Giveaway: Win a Chromecast Ultra

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One lucky winner will be selected at random once this video hits 1,000 likes. Good luck!

Conclusion

The online TV space is a competitive and cost-effective alternative to traditional cable television. With so many options available, consumers can easily find a solution that fits their budget and meets their needs. Whether you're looking for ease of use, affordability, or advanced features, there's a streaming service out there for you.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: en- I did a video onwatching TV without cablea while back, but since then,a lot of new options havecome out and, frankly,much better ones.Competition has begunin the online TV space,and as with one of the goodthings about competition,prices and offerings are justgetting better and better.Because of all of theselowering of prices andall this healthy competition,I had a question.It was simple.What is the most liveTV channels I can getfor the least amount of money?(upbeat music)Now Hulu just launched Beta,a feature that they probablyshould have had ever sincethey started claimingthat they were online TV,and that is live TV,and frankly, this new planis one of the better optionswhen getting your bang foryour buck out right nowalong with the other two thatI'll mention in a minute.With it, though, you getover 50 channels for just $40a month.In addition to live TV, it also includesthe standard Hulu on-demandlibrary that normally costs $8a month and has over 3500shows and movies at this point.Hulu also gives you 50hours of DVR storage,which is a decent amount, at least for me,and you can upgrade to 200 hourswith unlimited simultaneous recording andthe ability to fast-forwardthrough commercialsfor an extra fee.Besides Hulu, YouTube is nowin the live TV game, as well,and it's not a bad deal, actually.For $35 a month, youget about 46 channels,including the popular ABC,CBS, Fox, NBC, and ESPN.It also gets you accessto YouTube Red originals,not that anyone watchesthose, but you have them.Also, it does not give youthe YouTube Red features,like ad free, background playing, etc.YouTube TV also has aunique feature on this listthat the other ones don't, andthat's unlimited DVR storage,so if there are lives shows you likeon the channels available, youcan easily set up recordingon all of them and never have to worryabout them getting deletedbefore you get a chanceto check them out.YouTube TV also has one other featurethat I think is kind of cool,which is the ability tohave six differing userson the system, all withtheir own DVR libraries.Helpful not just for familiesbut also for roommates, etc.It means you can all sharethat $35 a month cost,and all six of you, up to six of you,can each watch shows andget recommendations on showsthat you should watchwithout being affectedby your weird roommates' choices.Now the last service on thislist might be the best service,when talking about the mostchannels for the least money.DirecTV, who also owns Sling TV,the service I spoke aboutin my old video has come outwith their own packageservice called DirecTV now,and while Sling TV isgood for a la cart TV,where you get to pick andchoose the things that you wantwith albeit questionable streaming qualityto most people I know,DirecTV is more about getting packagesfor really cheap pricing.These bundles come ina few different levelswith the lowest one,possibly the lowest two beingthe only ones that I wouldthink are really a good valueoverpaying for actual cable.It's $35 a month for the lowestplan for over 60 channelsand $50 a month for over 80 channels,making it probably the bestprice per channel out right now,again, if we're just talkingsheer volume of channels.The biggest downside to it is thatthey don't have DVR at all.It is a feature that theysaid is coming soon though,but at the moment, you don'thave a way to record any shows,and since DirecTV is owned by AT&T,there's a really interestingdeal that's happening right nowfor anybody that has AT&T wireless.You get $25 a month crediton your bill if you havea specific unlimited data plus planon your smart phone for AT&T.Now that means that DirecTVat the $35 mark is only $10a month for 60 channels.Now the data plan in questionis not the cheapest plan,but if you're someone likeme, and you use a crap tonof data anyway, or youalready have this plan,then DirecTV is kind of theno-brainer for you to useif you can bundle itand get that discount.As for HBO fans, DirecTValso has a $5 a month add-onfor HBO compared to the HBONow price of $15 a month,so that saves you alittle bit of money, too,if you have to get HBO.Okay, so now once you've decidedon which service you want to use,you just need a way to stream it.Now there are a lot ofoptions to choose fromwhen trying to stream TV.I mean, you have Rokusand Apple TV, Fire Sticks,Chromecast, smart TVs.There's a lot of them,but the cheapest optionis always going to bethe one you already have.Now all of these serviceshave apps for Android and iOSso you can watch on your phone or tablet.They all have browser options,so you can watch themon a computer, as well,as they also have apps for smart TVs,so if you have any ofthose at your disposal,it's probably gonna be yourcheapest option because,well, you paid for it already,and the other two options I havefor you are both verysimilar and similarly priced,and they also are very convenientin that they work justlike any of the appson your phones or tablets.The first one is theFire Stick from Amazon.It has a very simple UI,and everything is available on the TV,so it's just really easy for most membersof your family to usewithout too much hassle.You simply navigate towhatever app you need, log in,and then you're good to go.The Fire Stick is also only$35, and the DirecTV service,and sometimes the otherones do this, as well,but it comes for free whenyou sign up for the service,so it's a free option, which is great.Besides the Fire Stick,there's also Google's option,which is the Chromecast,which by the way, at themoment of doing this at least,comes for free with theYouTube live TV service.Otherwise, the Chromecastis available for $35and will not only let you watch anyof these services using theirapps in the Google home appon the phone but alsohas the added benefitOf casting your computer orphone screen to the TV, as well,meaning any online web showsyou can just cast to the TV.The big downside to the Chromecast isthat it's not the most intuitive thingfor, say, your older family members,mainly because everything has to be doneon a phone or a tablet using an app.It can't be all be done on the TV.There is no remote,and so it's just something tothink about depending on whoin your household might be using the TV.There you go, and dependingon which one you chose,you could be watching liveTV on a crap ton of channelsfor between 10 and $50 a month.On top of that, you alsocan watch them anywhere,on multiple devices.There's extra contentincluded on a lot of those,so it's just a no-brainercompared to cable,and honestly, it's probablyonly going to get cheaperas we go, so if youhave other combinationsof streaming devices and servicesthat you guys think are good,please let me know in the comments below.I'd love to hear from you guys,and I'm sure other people wouldlike to see them, as well.Also, quick giveaway note,I'm gonna be giving awaya few Chromecast Ultras,so if you guys want a chance to win that,there's a few differentways you could do that.You can like this video,subscribe to the channel,turn on notifications, andthen I'll be giving one awayat random once this videohits, let's say, 1000 likesto somebody from the YouTube community.I'm also gonna do the same kind of a thingon Twitter and Instagram, as well,so head over to my Twitteraccount and my Instagram.They're both linked below, andyou can get more entries andpotentially win one of those, as well.I'm gonna give away oneon each social network,but click those linksbelow to find out moreabout those parts ofthe giveaway, as well,and feel free to do them all.Can't hurt.Trying to give back to youguys and not do gleam giveawaysand things that require peopleto just like click linksand follow stuff.I'd rather you guys berewarded for, you know,being the people that watch me regularly,so thank you for that,but if you did like this video anyway,please thumbs up it or share it.It's greatly appreciated,and if you want more videoson tech, check out my channel.If you like what you seethere, please subscribe,and as always, thanks for watching.(upbeat music)\n"