What is live streaming TV?

The number of television options has exploded over the last few years.

There are a lot of choices out there in streaming platforms, devices and setups. You might need help selecting what works well for your household.

We’ve put together a comprehensive guide on streaming TV, an explanation of the differences between cable TV and live streaming, and some tips on how you can get the best streaming experience for your home.

Streaming TV is content, live or recorded, delivered via the internet and played back in real time.

Globally, streaming is forecast to grow 21% annually from 2021 to 2028.

• Gives you access to live TV content, including sports and events.
• Create your own viewing experience, combining streaming services and cable packages in one user interface.
• The ability to pick an option that includes the local channels you know and love.

There are two types of streaming TV: live and on demand.

We explore the differences between them and introduce the most popular providers of each so you can determine what will work best for your household.

Live streaming TV allows you to watch the latest show or games in real-time, including local TV, and is subscription-based.

Some of the most popular live streaming TV providers include:

• Sling TV – Sling TV has 3 different packages, which each offer a different line-up of channels and vary in how many streaming devices are allowed at a time. Local ABC and CBS affiliates are not available on Sling, so viewers may want to use a digital antenna for those channels.
• Fubu TV – Fubu has over 100 channels, 1000 hours of cloud DVR space and allows streaming on Unlimited Screens, but does charge extra for sports channels. Local channels are included.
• Hulu + Live TV – Hulu’s Live TV plan gives you access to over 75 channels, unlimited Cloud DVR storage, and streaming on two devices simultaneously.
• YouTube TV – YouTube TV gives subscribers over 100 channels, unlimited cloud DVR storage, and streaming on up to three devices at the same time. It also includes more sports channels and offers PBS as well as local affiliate networks from CBS, Fox, ABC, and NBC.

On demand streaming services do not have live TV streaming, only shows and movies that can be watched when you’re ready. The streaming services often offer original content and are subscription-based.

In 2021, the number of streaming on demand video subscriptions increased 14% over 2020 to 353.2 million. The most popular streaming apps are Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney Plus and Max.

• Prime Video – Prime Video has a mix of movies and shows included with your membership, including Amazon Originals like “The Boys” and “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.” It also gives you the option to rent or buy almost any film available on home video for your personal collection and watch them using the app whenever you’d like; a feature most subscription streaming apps don’t offer.
• Max – Max offers viewers a chance to watch new Warner Brothers movies 45 days after they are released in theaters, as well as collections from Adult Swim, TCM, Sesame Street and more. They also have HBO Original shows like “Succession”.
• Netflix – Netflix has an extensive library of originals, video quality that leads the industry, great app support and a special interface for kids that allows them to have their own accounts without running into any adult programming.
• Hulu – Hulu has an on-demand library as well as an available live TV service, and the option to subscribe to channels like MAX, Disney Plus and more. They also have original shows such as “The Handmaid’s Tale”, “Dopesick” and “Nine Perfect Strangers”.
• Disney Plus – Disney Plus is the go-to for family entertainment, with access to the entertainment giant’s vault of classic movies and shows, as well as Marvel and “Star Wars” titles. They also create original content in those universes, including “The Mandalorian” and “Loki”.

While the apps above all have a cost associated with them, there are free streaming apps that can bring you the entertainment you crave without making a dent in your wallet.

• Crackle–  Supported by ads, Crackle’s focus is on nostalgia programming like “Charlie’s Angels”, “Bewitched” and Zorro, as well as a limited collection of British shows including “Peep Show” and “Fresh Meat”.
• Pluto TV–  Pluto TV is a subsidiary of Paramount and has a large library of on demand content and hundreds of live channels in both English and Spanish.
• Plex–  Plex has over 200 live channels for you to choose from and a huge selection of live music channels. You can also enjoy individual series on demand.
• Crunchyroll–  Crunchyroll is the streaming choice for anime fans around the world, with more than a thousand anime series and movies in its library. It even has a social component: fans can interact in each episode’s comment section.

There are significant differences in the way live streaming and cable TV provide entertainment:

• • Cable providers use their dedicated networks to broadcast video and have contracts with the content providers. Cable television is usually more reliable and provides more content, but tends to cost more.
  • Streaming providers deliver their video over any internet connection, also known as IPTV, but they don’t have any control over the quality of the internet connection.

The plans they offer usually cost less, but contain fewer channels.

Over the last few years, cable TV has been seeing a loss of customers, while streaming subscriptions continue to grow.

In 2021, only 56% of Americans watched satellite or cable TV while Disney Plus gained 54.5 million customers less than 6 months after launching.