At this point in the 21st century, if you haven’t already dropped cable, there’s probably a specific reason why you’ve held on to it.
Here, we’ll examine the main motivations people cite for retaining cable service. Live sports and other real-time broadcasts top the list for many who aren’t ready to cut the cord. We’ll outline live TV streaming alternatives and help you decide whether ditching cable makes sense in these situations.
You Can Stream Live TV
The primary reason many customers remain with their cable providers is access to live television. Nowadays, several streaming platforms include live programming from a broad selection of cable channels, along with numerous local news and broadcast stations.
Most of these live streaming packages start around $64.99 per month, including Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV and FuboTV.
If you don’t need local channels, Sling TV is an alternative that provides two different national-channel bundles similar to what cable companies offer. Those packages are priced at $35 per month.
Streaming platforms also carry a variety of Spanish-language programming, which we’ll cover later in this piece.
Many Streaming Services Now Offer DVR
Services that stream live TV almost universally include DVR functionality. So ditching cable doesn’t mean losing the ability to record shows.
DVR storage varies by service:
- Hulu + Live TV: 50 hours
- YouTube TV: Unlimited DVR
- FuboTV: 250 hours
- Sling TV: 50 hours
You can buy upgraded tiers to increase DVR storage on most platforms.
Losing Bundle Perks While Escaping Hidden Fees
It’s true that some people could pay more after switching to streaming, especially if they want comprehensive live TV. Those live packages typically run $64.99 per month or higher.
Remember that cable is often bundled with internet. When you cancel cable, your internet cost may rise. For example, if you were paying $70 for cable and received a $10 discount on internet by bundling, canceling cable might only reduce your bill by $60 because the bundle discount disappears.
At first glance, this could make cable appear $5 cheaper. But most streaming services don’t tack on surprise taxes and fees — the monthly rate is generally what you pay.
If the savings gap is narrow, odds are the streaming option will be cheaper over time and more transparent.
Streaming Options for Sports Programming
Another major reason people keep cable is live sports. There are ways to avoid pricey cable packages, but sometimes the alternatives can be similarly costly.
NFL Games
You can watch many NFL games for free using the Yahoo! Sports app. The only other service that streams games every day throughout the season is AT&T TV, priced at $84.99 per month.
If you want every out-of-market NFL game live for the whole season, you’ll need NFL Sunday Ticket, which runs roughly $300–$400 per season when purchased separately.
NBA Games
To stream out-of-market NBA games affordably, the NBA League Pass is a common choice at $28.99 per month. There are caveats: you can only watch out-of-market contests live, and locally blacked-out games become available only three days after they air.
As with the NFL, local NBA coverage in many areas is most comprehensive on AT&T TV if you choose the $84.99/month tier.
FuboTV also carries extensive NBA content and is less expensive than AT&T TV, though local availability depends on the carrier agreements FuboTV has in your regional market.
MLB Games
The most budget-friendly way to watch out-of-market MLB games is ESPN+, which costs $5.99 per month or $59.99 per year. It also streams out-of-market NHL games.
Local baseball coverage might again require AT&T TV in many areas.
FuboTV provides local and several out-of-market MLB games for $64.99 per month, but availability of regional sports networks varies by where you live.
NHL Games
NHL broadcasts are subject to local blackouts too. If AT&T TV is part of your setup, you’ll usually get your local team’s telecasts on NBC, Bally or Fox regional sports networks in many markets.
FuboTV offers comparable access and is cheaper at $64.99 per month, though there are more regions where local channels might be unavailable. Starting in the 2021–2022 season, ESPN+ streams out-of-market NHL games for $5.99/month or $59.99/year, alongside other sports content.
Is Cutting the Cord Worth It For Sports Programming?
When it comes to sports, deciding whether to cut the cord often feels like flipping a coin. AT&T TV’s $84.99/month package is pricey and may be on par with what you currently pay for the cable portion of your bill. Unlike most streaming options, AT&T TV can also add taxes to the monthly rate.
Be cautious about signing contracts: AT&T TV promotional pricing can be lower in the first year and jump later. It’s generally wiser to choose a slightly higher month-to-month price so you can cancel anytime.
AT&T TV is costly but gives broad local and out-of-market access. Fans who primarily care about basketball, baseball or hockey might save roughly $20 per month by selecting FuboTV, provided local sports stations are available in their area.
If FuboTV covers your local markets well, it could end up less expensive than your cable package — and FuboTV doesn’t layer on hidden surcharges above the subscription price.
With either service, you’ll likely get sufficient game coverage without needing many additional subscriptions — and ESPN+ remains a strong value.
Spanish-Language Programming
Many mainstream streaming apps don’t carry the full slate of Spanish-language programming available on cable. While these services often include a Spanish section, they may not host the specific shows you rely on.
Some platforms do a better job than others, and depending on your viewing priorities, you may still be able to cut the cord.
Spanish-Language Content on Hulu
Among the major services, Hulu offers a relatively deep Spanish-language catalog. If you subscribe to Live TV (currently $64.99–$70.99/month), you can add an Español package for $4.99 more per month to get channels like:
- CNN en Español
- Discovery en Español
- Discovery Familia
- History Channel en Español
- NBC Universo
- ESPN Deportes
- FOX Deportes
Univision NOW
If Univision is your primary concern, Univision operates its own streaming offering, Univision NOW. It’s priced at $10.99 per month or $118.99 per year and streams live content around the clock. You also get three days of on-demand programming and a large archive of past shows. Local Univision feeds are available in these cities:
- New York
- Chicago
- Miami
- Atlanta
- Dallas
- Houston
- San Francisco
- Los Angeles
FuboTV Latino Quarterly
If you want Univision plus a broad mix of other Spanish channels, FuboTV Latino Quarterly is an option. It costs $99 per quarter — effectively $33 per month if paid upfront — and includes live access to Telemundo, Galavision, Unimás, beIN SPORTS, ESPNHD Deportes, Fox Deportes, Discovery en Español, Nat Geo Mundo and more. This package can serve families well, particularly those who don’t want to miss sporting coverage.
Sling TV Spanish-language Options
Sling TV is among the most affordable live TV streaming choices. Individual packages run $10 per month, and adding a second package trims $5 off the combined price.
Note that Sling’s Spanish-language bundles are very targeted and differ in channel count. That specificity is useful for viewers who want news or programming from particular regions.
For instance, Sling offers distinct bundles for Sudamérica, Centroamérica, México, Caribe and España with news, sports and general entertainment in those regions — channels you might not find on other streaming platforms.
However, package size varies. The Centroamérica bundle has just three channels, Sudamérica offers 15, and the “Best of Spanish TV” package includes 20 channels. Still, major networks like Telemundo and Univision may be absent.
Is Cutting the Cord Worth It for Spanish-Language Programming?
Whether you should cut the cord for Spanish-language content depends on the shows you can’t live without. If your viewing is driven by football season, FuboTV may cover your needs for less than a typical cable package.
Hulu’s fees for live Spanish content could make cord-cutting only marginally cheaper, or possibly a bit pricier than cable, based on the size of your current bill.
Overall, streaming tends to save most people money, but you should run the numbers for your personal situation. The decision hinges on which live programs you require and which streaming subscriptions you already have — individual circumstances will vary.
Pittsburgh-based writer Ava Morales is the founder of the Femme Frugality blog and the author of “The Feminist Financial Handbook.” She occasionally contributes to Savinly.
