Entertainment
2025-03-25 10:30:28Television in 2025: How far will $100 stretch in streaming and cable services?
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Similar to many other streaming platforms, Netflix has recently increased its subscription fees. Source: Netflix
What does $100 buy in streaming?
A couple of years ago, the answer was "anything your little heart desires." But in early 2025, not quite — not even remotely. As streaming nears universal penetration in American TV homes, costs have climbed accordingly. Both of the major live TV streamers, or Virtual Multichannel Video Programming Distributors (vMVPD) — Youtube TV and Hulu + Live TV — recently raised their monthly rates by $10, with each now averaging about $83. And to paraphrase the song, there's no stopping them now. Price hikes are expected to be a part of this world going forward, much as they have been for cable all these years.
In a 2024 survey conducted by CNET across six cities, the average monthly expense for basic cable combined with internet was reported to be $144, while the cost for streaming live TV services (vMVPDs) along with internet stood at $135. This results in a mere $10 difference between the two options. However, the survey highlighted that additional fees associated with cable services often add an extra $30 to $50 to the overall monthly bill.
So the advantage goes to streaming. Nevertheless, the bottom line has shifted. Streaming may still be cheaper than cable because of all those add-ons and fees that crop up on your monthly bill, but that $100 still doesn't buy what it used to.
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Streaming may still be cheaper than cable because of add-ons and fees that crop up on your monthly bill, but $100 still doesn't buy what it used to. Credit: Getty Images/Justin Sullivan
What then, does it buy? Before we get to this, ask yourself the most basic of questions: What do you want? Live TV, or the local stations and live feeds of all the other networks out there? Do you want sports or news? Lots of movies? News 12? I've created some $100 packages that meet each of these criteria.
Based on these packages, I've drawn a few conclusions. Clearly, a broadband connection is necessary, typically ranging from $40 and above, but it tends to be around $100 on Long Island. (The price estimates mentioned below pertain solely to streaming expenses.)
Additionally, I’ve taken it for granted that you’re interested in including the "live TV" feature in your streaming plan, as it resembles Optimum's Extra TV package (priced around $80 monthly) that many of us recognize.
Finally, check the fine print. There are countless packages promising "great" savings," "free" bundles, and "low" sign-up fees. A good rule of thumb is to believe none of them. Remember, you are in the driver's seat. You are making the decisions. If you don't like the ones you've made, hit the cancel button.
News 12 + Local TV
Let's begin with News 12 and Long Island's major broadband provider, Optimum, which launched its own streaming service — Optimum Stream — a few years ago. You can't get Optimum Stream without first having an Optimum internet broadband connection, and the cheapest one is $40 per month for 300 BPS (bits per second). For that reason, this is the only package where I'll factor in the broadband cost, too. There are two other costs to consider here, however. The first is the $12 per-month rental fee for an Optimum streaming device. Second, you pay $30 per month for the so-called "Entertainment" package comprising some 200 channels. (And do note — this is the first year price; after that, it will likely go up.)
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The vast majority of those you'll never watch, but a few — the local stations and News 12 — are what you're looking for anyway. And this is the only streaming service that does indeed offer News 12 Long Island. Optimum Stream is priced to be competitive with Optimum's mid-tier "Extra TV" cable package but the advantage is that you can easily add Netflix, Max or any other streaming service you like via Google Play. Let's go with Netflix's standard package, that's $15.49.
A diverse selection of items (excluding sports) at the most affordable prices.
Sling TV pioneered the so-called "skinny package," which means what it says. There are three skinny packages — Orange, Blue and Orange/Blue — which are priced according to what is offered. For our purposes, the cheapest way to go is Sling Blue — 46 channels, including channels 4, 5 and 7 — for $45.99. (If you want to add ESPN, you need to do Orange/Blue: $65.99). You'll also notice some key omissions with Blue, including movies and the strangest one of all — WCBS/2.
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If you're looking to make adjustments, consider this option: The Sling Orange/Blue package, which comes with Max, is available for $73. To access Channel 2 and also enjoy a solid selection of movies, you'll need to include Paramount+ with Showtime for an additional $12.99. Lastly, if you want to add another movie streaming service, you can opt for Disney+ at $9.99 (with ads).
An abundance of options, featuring the widest variety of channels.
Clearly your best bet here is YouTube TV — $83 per month — ,but it's hardly the perfect bet. Foremost, it's sports-deficient (other than the NBA) and while it offers a million movies — I exaggerate, but only slightly — so does everyone else, including the freebies, Tubi and Pluto. What matters most here are current releases, and YouTube is simply not as strong as other services, notably archrival Hulu + Live TV and Prime Video which have far and away the most movies (many if not most of them for a la carte purchase). What YouTube does have is typically priced a little higher than its rival — an anecdotal observation, to be sure, but accurate.
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Next up is sports: A few years back, YouTube TV removed SNY from its lineup, and to access a more comprehensive sports package that features "NFL Redzone," you'll have to shell out an additional $11.
Otherwise, YouTube TV's many attributes stack up — ease of use, interface and tons of channels. Indeed, per a recent CNET survey, YouTube TV has 78 of the top 100 most-viewed cable channels compared to 75 for Hulu. No other streamer is even close.
However, what should be included? Max, ad-free, for just $16.99.
An abundance of choices, featuring top-tier premium packages.
Hulu TV+ Live TV takes the crown thanks to its integration with Disney+ and ESPN+. Furthermore, Hulu's extensive production collaborations, particularly with FX on Hulu, have produced a wealth of must-see shows, including hits like "The Bear" and "Shogun."
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However, Hulu, similar to YouTube TV, comes with a hefty price tag of $83, leaving little flexibility for additional features. For Mets enthusiasts, there's the option to include SNY for an extra $9.99 on Hulu. If you're also in search of a reliable movie streaming service that boasts a large collection of "Saturday Night Live" reruns, Peacock is available for $8, though it includes advertisements.
A variety of athletic activities (and exclusively athletics)
Fubo and DirecTV Stream have made this choice easy because these streamers are pretty much synonymous with sports: Fubo in particular which has the NFL, NBA, MLB, golf, tennis, college, NASCAR, MMA and so on, while DTV Stream has lots of regional sports channels, too. Fubo also has a fair number of regional sports networks (including YES), but what's glaringly missing is the Mets' home, SNY, which was dropped last spring following a standoff over carriage fees. So the choice here would appear to be DirecTV's Stream's "Choice" package, which has both YES and SNY. But there's a catch (isn't there always?). It's $94.99 a month for the first three months, then $114.99 thereafter. If you don't need SNY, Fubo's Pro plan ($79) seems more than adequate.
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In the meantime, what about MSG Networks? This is a significant issue due to the current impasse with Altice. Both DirecTV's Choice package and Fubo's Pro plan include MSG.
For anyone interested in catching up on movies and TV shows, let's not forget about Netflix ($15.49), which is expanding its sports content as well, featuring events like the NFL and WWE.
By the way, DirecTV Stream recently unveiled its "skinny" sports package called MySports, which debuted on January 14. This bundle includes around 40 sports and local broadcast channels; however, MSG is notably absent from the lineup. The price will be $69.99 following an introductory promotion.
No live television, but a wide variety of channels available.
Among the various vMVPDs, Philo stands out primarily for its affordability. At just $28 per month, subscribers gain access to 70 channels. While this may seem appealing, it's important to note that it lacks local channels, news, sports coverage, and movies. However, it does offer AMC+ and access to the AMC library, which provides some value. Still, at this low price point, it allows for flexibility, enabling users to incorporate additional streaming services without exceeding a $100 budget. For movie options, consider Max at $9.99, and for live television, Sling Blue at $45.99 and Paramount+ with Showtime at $12.99 are solid choices.
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Additionally, there is always a complimentary option available for movies and television series. Tubi could be considered the largest, boasting around 40,000 films and approximately 200,000 TV episodes. Price: absolutely free.
Complimentary, complimentary, complimentary
Are you considering going free? It's certainly a reasonable option, but remember, you often receive what you pay for, and this situation is no different. The two leading free ad-supported television (FAST) platforms are Pluto and Tubi, and they are fiercely competing for audience attention and market share. Their rivalry centers around content, boasting an astonishing number of episodes and films — in the hundreds of thousands. Tubi asserts it offers 275,000 movies and TV episodes, while Pluto, seemingly unsure of its total, proudly states it has "100,000+."
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Tubi offers free ad-supported TV and movie streaming services. Credit: Tubi
It's important to note that although a lot of this content isn't worthless, it certainly feels outdated (the term "classic" is their preferred choice). Pluto, owned by Paramount, boasts a wide array of classic CBS programming, whereas Tubi, under Fox's ownership, appears to have a more diverse selection. Tubi offers a more user-friendly interface, which is crucial given the extensive amount of content available, while Pluto focuses on niche offerings—sometimes creating entire channels dedicated to a single show. For instance, Pluto features an extensive collection of "Star Trek" episodes, and it also has a dedicated channel for "Stargate."
Looking for live TV? You're in luck! WNYW/5 is available for streaming live on Tubi, and you can catch WCBS/2's local news on Pluto. Additionally, Pluto offers news content from various CBS stations, including Ch. 5, along with "News 12/New York" (though not for Long Island).
In the meantime, numerous other free alternatives are available, such as the Roku Channel, Crackle, and Plex Free Watch. Additionally, platforms like Amazon's Freevee are heavily invested in producing original content.
What can you expect from a $100 cable subscription?
What can you expect for $100 when it comes to cable services, particularly with Optimum and Verizon Fios, the leading providers in Long Island? As longtime subscribers are aware, the situation is quite complex — or to phrase it more candidly, it's akin to trying to pin down Jell-O. One factor contributing to this is that prices fluctuate depending on the specific bundle of services (like phone, TV, and internet) you choose. Additionally, there are a multitude of fees involved. Furthermore, expenses are seldom consistent, as the promotional rates or "introductory offers" typically expire after about a year, leading to an increase in the amount you originally committed to paying. Optimum also requires most plans to hitch broadband to their package ($40 is the lowest). The basic entertainment TV package — roughly 40 channels, but not the local stations — is $30. Next up, those fees — $9.99 for broadcast stations (if you want those), and $10.47, for regional sports networks. The so-called network enhancement fee (which just went up in January) runs about $6. The first cable box is free. (We haven't even added the regulatory recovery fee; the universal service fund fee; state and local communications services tax, or state and local taxes — all of which vary by community or customer.)
On the other hand, Fios offers its most affordable TV package, Your Fios TV, at $85, which includes approximately 125 channels. For those seeking more options, "More Fios TV" is available for $109 per month and provides around 325 channels, including local broadcasts. However, it's important to note additional costs, such as an $18 monthly router fee if you aren't subscribed to Fios internet, along with $100 in setup charges and various taxes. Additionally, there are several other fees associated with the service, including regulatory and administrative charges.
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