Consumer Report: Streaming live TV

Soon YouTube TV will launch in major cities, offering 40 streaming cables channels. Those would include: Disney, ESPN, FOX News, and even some regional sports networks for 35 dollars a month.

“That’s a great price,” says Jim Wilcox of Consumer Reports. “but remember there are channel tradeoffs with these slimmer streaming services. So if you can’t live without a certain channel, make sure it’s offered before you sign up.”

For example, right now YouTube TV doesn’t offer Comedy Central, CNN, HBO, HGTV and a few other channels, though you can pay extra to get Showtime.

Sling TV starts at $20 a month, but its 40-dollar rate offers “All Channels” package including 50 channels, add-ons for local broadcast, sports, movies and premium channels range from five to 15-dollars a month.

Direct TV now has a promotional price of 35-dollars a month for sixty channels, or 60-dollars a month for over a hundred channels.

One thing to remember: all these streaming services require a smart TV or streaming media player, and a decent broadband connection. If your internet service isn’t fast enough, they might not be a good choice.