How Does TV Streaming Work?

Streaming TV means watching TV with the help of an internet connection and not through the conventional cable, antenna, or satellite connections. TV streaming is the best option for those who know what content they need to watch and how much they can pay for the service. 

Are you interested in getting a TV streaming service for your family?

Then ensure that your internet provider offers you a download speed of at least 25 Mbps to allow your family to stream on multiple devices simultaneously.

No streaming service provides the channel lineup equivalent to satellite or cable TVs. Still, TV streaming services can be customized according to your watchlist and are much cheaper than the traditional options available. 

TV Streaming: Pros and Cons

Although low monthly costs and no contracts are the biggest advantages of getting TV streaming, you have to make some compromises while cutting the cord.

You need a fast internet connection for a 4K and full HD TV streaming. However, if your internet connection offers a download speed package lower than 25 Mbps, it will result in buffering, leading to frustration for the family.

Moreover, another downside of live TV streaming is the limited availability of local and sports channels. If you are used to satellite or cable TV, then switching to live TV streaming will not be enough in providing you most filler such as music or shopping channels.

Streaming services often place caps on simultaneous streaming through a single account. So lookout for the extra charges if you want to add more.

TV Streaming Services

Did you know?

There are more than 100 streaming TV services available that range from the 3 famous on-demand streaming (Prime Video, Netflix, & Hulu) to live TV streaming platforms (Sling TV, Hulu + Live TV, and YouTube TV) and the network owned streaming apps (Peacock, ESPN+, and Peacock).

Since there are several TV streaming options, we can compare the major ones to help you select the best one for you.

Comparison between On-Demand Streaming Services

Service	Price	Multiple Streams	Best for	Details
Netflix (Best overall)	$9.99–$19.99/mo.	1–4	Original shows and movies	View plans
Amazon Prime Video (Best value)	$8.99–$14.99/mo.	3	Movies, original shows	View plans
ESPN+ (Best for sports)	$6.99/mo.	5	Sports and documentaries	View plans
Peacock (Cheapest)	Free–$9.99/mo.	3	Original and classic shows, movies	View plans
Disney+ (Best for families)	$7.99/mo. or $79.99/yr.	4	Families and kids	View plans
HBO Max (HBO originals and exclusives)	$9.99–14.99/mo.	3	Premium shows, movies	View plans
Hulu (Good value)	$6.99–$12.99/mo.	2	Original shows, post-broadcast network shows	View plans
Apple TV+ (Excellent original content)	$4.99/mo.	6	Exclusive originals	View plans
Paramount+ (Deep TV and movies library)	$4.99–$9.99/mo.	3	CBS shows, Paramount movies	View plans
Shudder (Excellent for horror)	$4.75–$5.99/mo.	1-3	Horror originals and exclusives	View plans
Discovery+ (Good for reality TV)	$4.99–$6.99/mo.	4	55,000+ hrs. of content	View plans
VRV (Excellent for anime)	$9.99/mo.	Unlimited	Multiple anime channels	View plans

People often wonder which TV streaming service to get for their families. However, we suggest you consider the channels, cost, and the no. of simultaneous streams offered by different services.

Some people might think Netflix is best for them, while others might find Prime Video a better option. 

The major advantage of streaming on-demand is that it is cheap. Even if you have binge-watched several TV shows and movies, you can always find something new to watch.

Comparison between Live TV Streaming Services

Service	Price range	Channels	Best for	Details
YouTube TV Best overall	$64.99/mo.	85+	Unlimited DVR	View plans
Philo Cheapest	$25.00/mo.	60+	Lifestyle channels	View plans
fuboTV Best for sports	$69.99–$79.99/mo.	120–160+	Soccer, international sports	View plans
Vidgo 100+ channels	$59.95–$79.95/mo.	100–140	Sports, entertainment channels	View plans
Sling TV Best for families	$35.00–$50.00/mo.	30–50+	Kids packages	View plans
Hulu + Live TV Best value	$69.99–$75.99/mo.	75+	Hulu experience with live channels	View plans
DIRECTV STREAM Large channel lineups	$69.99–$149.99/mo.	65–140+	Sports, entertainment channels	View plans

One of the biggest reasons people get live TV streaming is sports and live news. Moreover, TV fans also like to watch series premieres live and big events like the Super Bowl. 

However, check the type and number of channels provided by the chosen TV streaming service before you sign up for its services.

Streaming Devices

Although most TV streaming apps are available on Blu-ray players and smart TVs, the best way to stream is to get a separate streaming device connected via Wi-Fi or Ethernet Cable. It is much more feasible to upgrade a streaming device than a smart TV. 

You may find an HDMI dongle or a small box as a streaming device. It takes very little space and can be used to record live shows on a large-capacity cloud DVR. However, the total number of recording hours vary service to service. 

TV streaming depends on Internet Connection

If you have gamers and web surfers in your home, streaming TV will add a considerable load to your internet. 

TV streaming services like Netflix require at least 5 Mbps of download speed to view your favorite movies and seasons in HD. Therefore, aim to get at least 25 Mbps internet to enjoy HD streaming and keep everybody else happy at home. 

Although some DSL connections can be used to stream TV, fiber-optics and cable internet connections can handle the data strain better.  

Thus, before signing up for the streaming service, test your internet connection speed. If it does not meet the said numbers, you must switch to a different internet provider.

Conclusion: Ready to Go Cordless?

TV streaming allows you to watch some of the latest and greatest TV shows and movies. You might think of cutting the cord as you will be streaming TV cordless.

However, you will have to make a few compromises while switching from cable TV to streaming. You won’t be getting all of the channels you were used to while having the cable TV connection. 

However, you won’t need to enter any contracts while getting a streaming service. Therefore, you can switch to another streaming service without any problem.

Hopefully, this blog must have helped you find your favorite cord-cutter and brought you the ease of streaming TV with the highest internet speed.

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