The last few years have seen a revolution in TV. It is no longer necessary to be tied to a cable provider with a long contract. There are many live TV streaming services that are as good, or better, than what the cable companies provide. All this for a lot less money.
In a hurry? There’s lots of information below, but if you just want to start enjoying TV more while spending less money, you can’t go wrong with these services:
- Fubo (formerly FuboTV): Known for its outstanding sports coverage, Fubo’s 150+ live TV channels provide a broad selection that appeals to most people. Fubo allows you to try out its service with a free trial.
- Sling TV: Offers 40+ channels, including a couple of local network affiliates, for just $40.00/mo. Save 50% on Sling TV now!
- DIRECTV STREAM: The king of RSNs, this is the streaming service for MLB, NBA, and NHL fans. Check out its Choice Plan if you want to watch every game! A 5-day free trial is now available for DIRECTV STREAM.
- Hulu + Live TV: This industry leader in on-demand streaming offers 85+ live channels, covering a broad range of sports, entertainment, and family content. Try one month for $76.99.
Table Of Contents
2024 NBA Playoffs
The NBA playoffs are on:
| Date | Time (ET) | Teams | TV |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wed May 1 | 7:30 pm | Heat vs Celtics | TNT |
| Wed May 1 | 10:00 pm | Mavericks vs Clippers | TNT |
Stanley Cup Playoffs
The NHL playoffs have started. Don’t miss out!
| Date | Time (ET) | Teams | TV |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wed May 1 | 7:30 pm | Golden Knights vs Stars | ESPN |
| Wed May 1 | 10:00 pm | Kings vs Oilers | ESPN |
What’s Streaming Now?
We provide simple but detailed information for cord-cutters to get the best possible experience without cable. You will learn where and how to stream different channels, what individual streaming services offer, and how to be cost-effective with your chosen streaming device.
Whether you’re a sports fan, movie buff, parent with curious kids, or just a general TV consumer, we provide you with everything you need to leave your cable contract behind.
Here’s the stuff we think deserves attention. It’s by no means complete, however! All times are Eastern.
Sporting Events This Week
It’s been a while since we checked in with the auto racing world. This week’s biggest event is the Würth 400 from the Dover Motor Speedway in Delaware. And as serious racing fans know, you can’t just tune in for the race. Here’s the complete schedule (EDT):
- Sat Apr 27 : Practice and Qualifying
- Sun Apr 28 : Würth 400
It all airs live on FS1, which you can get with a free trial of Fubo!
Other Sports Streaming
- MotoGP: Watch the most exciting motorcycle racing in the world all weekend with the Spanish Grand Prix is Sunday at on Max.
- IndyCar: The Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix is Sunday at on Peacock.
- Formula E: Watch the fastest electric cars compete in the Monaco E-Prix on Saturday at on CBS Sports Network.
- ARCA: Enjoy the most interesting stock car racing at the General Tire 150 this Friday at on FS1.
Other Sporting Events This Week
- Mar 15 – Nov 3: NWSL Regular Season ( NWSL Guide)
- Mar 30 – Jun 2: UFL Regular Season (UFL Guide)
- Apr 23 – May 4: Mutua Madrid Open, Madrid -WTA (Tennis Guide)
- Apr 24 – May 5: Madrid Masters, Madrid -ATP (Tennis Guide)
- Apr 29 – May 5: Vuelta España Femenina by Carrefour.es (Spain) – UCI Women’s World Tour (Cycling Guide)
- Apr 29 – May 5: AT&T Byron Nelson (Golf Guide)
- Apr 30 – May 1: Semifinals first leg (UEFA Champions League Guide)
- May 1: Eschborn-Frankfurt (Germany) – UCI Men’s World Tour (Cycling Guide)
- May 2: Premier League Darts: Night 14 – Aberdeen (Darts Guide)
- May 2: Erik Bazinyan vs Shakeel Phinn (Boxing Guide)
- May 2 – May 6: Matchday 36 (Premier League Guide)
- May 3: Edward Vazquez vs Maliek Montgomery (Boxing Guide)
- May 4: Saul Alvarez vs Jaime Munguia (Boxing Guide)
- May 4: UFC 301: Pantoja vs Erceg (UFC Guide)
- May 4: Granite State Derby (NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Guide)
- May 4: Heart of America 200 (NASCAR Truck Series Guide)
- May 4: Tide 150 (NASCAR ARCA Series Guide)
- May 4: CHIHUAHUA (NASCAR Mexico Series Guide)
- May 5: AdventHealth 400 (NASCAR Cup Series Guide)
- May 6: Naoya Inoue vs Luis Nery (Boxing Guide)
Movies and TV Shows This Week
Elisabeth Moss (The Handmaid’s Tale) stars in another Hulu series, this one limited to just six episodes. In the complex tale of secrets, international intrigue, and a potential ISIS plot, Moss stars as an MI6 agent Imogen Salter.
She’s joined by Josh Charles (Sports Night, The Good Wife) as CIA agent Max Peterson and Yumna Marwan as Adilah El Idrissi, her traveling companion from Istanbul to Paris.
The miniseries is produced by FX for Hulu, and is written by Steven Knight, who also worked on Peaky Blinders. The first two episodes are already streaming today exclusively on Hulu.
Also streaming this week:
- Prisoner in Russia: Brittney Griner, WNBA player for the Phoenix Mercury, sits down with Good Morning America co-anchor Robin Roberts to discuss her time as a prisoner in Russia. The exclusive interview, Prisoner in Russia: The Brittney Griner Interview, will air Wednesday at 10 pm on ABC as a special edition of 20/20. You can stream it on Hulu starting Thursday.
- Tattooist of Auschwitz: This limited series is also based on a novel (this one by Heather Morris), which in turn was based on the true story of Lale Sokolov (played by Harvey Keitel). It concerns his struggle to survive the horrors of the Nazi concentration camp while protecting his true love, fellow prisoner Gita. The Tattooist of Auschwitz premieres on Peacock on Thursday.
- MaryLand: Two estranged sisters (Suranne Jones, Eve Best) try to solve the mystery of their mother’s death and discover she led a double life on the Isle of Man. Stockard Channing plays their late mother’s best friend, Maureen. MaryLand airs on PBS’s Masterpiece on Sunday at 9 pm.
- The Idea of You: Anne Hathaway plays Solène, a middle-aged single mom who unexpectedly meets and begins dating the frontman of a mega-popular boy band. Based on the novel by Robinne Lee, watch The Idea of You on Amazon Prime Video, streaming on Thursday.
Why Get Rid of Cable TV?
Some reasons for getting rid of cable are obvious. But there are some that may not have occurred to you.
- Time: Too much television is a waste of time. If you cancel cable and only watch your favorite TV shows, you can spend more time with your friends and family.
- Money: A cable or satellite subscription costs many times more than it does to grab a simple on-demand plan with Hulu and Netflix. Cable is also more expensive than online cable replacement services with live TV channels, like Fubo and Hulu + Live TV.
- Technology: Video streaming is the future of TV. Soon, all video entertainment will be via an online connection. You might as well get on board now, learn the tricks, and save money in the process.
- Information: Be more informed. Rather than be at the mercy of local news anchors, you will revert to more reputable news feeds like PBS, Bloomberg, CBS News, and LinkTV. For example, Fubo provides 13 news and information channels, along with all the local affiliates in its base plan.
- Freedom: Cable and satellite providers normally tie you into a long contract, only to give you prices that are still higher than comparable streaming services. Getting rid of cable means getting rid of the contract. Go month-to-month and be flexible.
- Dignity: Stop getting ripped off! Calling up the cable company and canceling your cable will simply make you feel good.
Looking for missing conservative news channels? Check out Sling TV!
Best Streaming Services
Choosing the right streaming service is probably the most important decision that a cord-cutter will make. There is no absolute “best” streaming service. It all depends on what you want with your live TV streaming plan.
Some streaming services are free, like Peacock TV (although they have a premium plan). Sling TV offers value plans that are low-cost but offer a lot. And the full-featured plans of Fubo, Hulu Live TV, and DIRECTV STREAM) provide what you would expect from a standard cable plan, but with different bonus features designed to appeal to all sorts of viewers’ needs.
Get access to all our detailed and up-to-date reviews of the major streaming services. You will also get links to free trials so you can make sure a service suits you before you buy.
Internet Without Cable?
Most cable TV subscribers also get their internet access from the same place. In many cases, there are other options for the internet. In some cases, cable is literally the only game in town.
We’ve put together everything that cord-cutters need to know about getting internet service. Even if your cable provider is tied in with your internet, you can probably get a reasonably-priced internet-only plan via a downgrade.
Cord-Cutting Wisdom
There are a lot of aspects of cord-cutting that newbies may be faced with. These range from what’s worth watching, to getting access to particular channels, to buying and installing specialized streaming and recording devices.
We discuss it all. Here are some of our most popular articles:
- How to Watch Local News Without Cable
- Setting Up your Streaming Service Parental Controls
- The Best DVR Without Subscription Fees
- The Best Ways to Get Internet Without Cable for Cord Cutters
- Watching Television in Spanish Without Cable.
Stream Major Events
Major TV events are still a big part of our social lives — just look at Facebook and Twitter during the Super Bowl or Academy Awards. Cord cutters have full access to these events.
For those just starting out, we have primers on how to stream the biggest happenings:
Stream Sports
Most major streaming services offer good access to live sports. The standout is Fubo. But a good low-cost newcomer to the industry is Vidgo. We have articles about everything related to live streaming sports like:
Stream TV Shows
With live TV streaming, you never have to miss your favorite shows, mini-series, and films when they are broadcast live. Here are some of our articles about streaming some recent must-see TV titles:
Get Started Now
We understand that dumping cable is intimidating. So we’ve written a detailed step-by-step guide to the process on How to Watch TV Without Cable.
It also gives you an overview of all the top streaming services, desirable features to look for, and answers to the most frequently asked questions from to-be cord-cutters.
What are you waiting for? Get started now!
Ditch “Big Cable” Now – 3 Simple Steps to Cut the Cord
- Pick the right streaming service
- Get the content you deserve with the best VPN.
- Supercharge your internet provider
That’s it — you’ll save money, take back control, and enjoy TV more!
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