Finding the right live TV streaming service is increasingly confusing as more and more services hit the market. Even in just the month since we last updated we posted there have been several major changes to both services. So we wanted to break them down once again and help you make the decision between DIRECTV NOW, Sling TV and PlayStation Vue more easily.
Because things keep changing here is your updated look at the DIRECTV NOW, Sling TV, and PlayStation Vue as of November 16th, 2016.
First you should look at which of these services works on the devices you own?
Streaming Player | Sling TV | PS Vue | DIRECTV NOW |
Roku | X | X | |
Fire TV | X | X | X |
Apple TV | X | X | X |
Chromecast | X | X | X |
iOS | X | X | X |
Android Phones/Tables | X | X | X |
Android TV | X | X |
Tech Support Options
Have a issue here are the ways you can get help with each service.
Support | Sling TV | PS Vue | DIRECTV NOW |
Phone | X | X | |
X | X | X | |
Live Chat | X | X | |
Social Media | X | X | X |
Forums | X | X |
Next, you should check to see which service has the channels you want?For now DIRECTV NOW, PS Vue and Sling TV have a similar lineup except for Apple TV. For game systems PS Vue is on PlayStation 3 & 4 and Sling works on the Xbox One.
Both services offer local channels in different markets. You can find a full list of Sling TV local channels and markets HERE. You can find a full list of PlayStation Vue local channels and markets HERE. You can find the local channels for DIRECTV NOW here.
Channel | Sling TV | PS Vue | DIRECTV NOW |
A&E | X | X | |
AMC | X | X | X |
American Heroes Channel | X | X | |
Animal Planet | X | X | |
Audience | X | ||
Baby TV | X | ||
BBC America | X | X | X |
BBC World News | X | X | X |
Blaze TV | X | ||
Channel | Sling TV | PS Vue | DIRECTV NOW |
BET | X | X | |
Big Ten Network | X | X | |
Bloomberg Television | X | ||
Boomerang | X | X | |
Bravo | X | X | X |
Campus Insider | X | ||
Cartoon Network/Adult Swim | X | X | X |
Centric | X | ||
Chiller | X | X | |
Channel | Sling TV | PS Vue | DIRECTV NOW |
Cinemax | X | X | X |
Cheddar | X | ||
Cloo | X | X | |
CMT | X | X | |
Comedy TV | X | ||
CNBC | X | X | X |
CNBC World | X | X | |
CNN | X | X | X |
AXS TV | X | ||
Comcast Sportsnet | X | X | X |
Comedy Central | X | X | |
Crime & Investigatin | X | ||
Cooking Channel | X | X | X |
Channel | Sling TV | PS Vue | DIRECTV NOW |
Destination America | X | X | |
Discovery | X | X | |
Discovery Family | X | X | |
Discovery Life | X | X | |
Disney Channel | X | X | X |
Disney Junior | X | X | X |
Disney XD | X | X | X |
DIY Network | X | X | X |
Duck TV | X | ||
Channel | Sling TV | PS Vue | DIRECTV NOW |
E! | X | X | X |
EPIX | X | ||
EPIX Drive-In | X | ||
EPIX Hits | X | X | |
EPIX2 | X | ||
ESPN | X | X | X |
ESPN 2 | X | X | X |
ESPN Bases Loaded | X | ||
ESPN Buzzer Beater | X | ||
ESPN Deportes | X | X | |
ESPN Goal Line | X | X | |
ESPN U | X | X | X |
ESPN News | X | X | X |
Channel | Sling TV | PS Vue | DIRECTV NOW |
El Rey | X | X | |
Esquire | X | ||
Euronews | X | ||
FM | X | ||
Fla Ma | X | ||
Food Network | X | X | X |
Fox Business | X | X | |
Fox College Sports | X | ||
Fox News Channel | X | X | |
Fox Regional Sports Networks | X | X | X |
Channel | Sling TV | PS Vue | DIRECTV NOW |
France 24 | X | ||
FreeForm | X | X | X |
FS1 | X | X | X |
FS2 | X | X | X |
FX | X | X | X |
FXM | X | X | |
FXX | X | X | X |
FYI | X | X | |
Golf Channel | X | X | X |
Great America | X | ||
Hallmark Channel | X | X | |
HBO | X | X | X |
Channel | Sling TV | PS Vue | DIRECTV NOW |
HDNet Movies | X | ||
HGTV | X | X | X |
History | X | X | |
Hi-Yah! | X | ||
HLN | X | X | X |
GSN | X | X | |
IFC | X | X | X |
Investigation Discovery | X | X | |
Channel | Sling TV | PS Vue | DirecTV NOW |
Lifetime | X | X | |
Lifetime Movies | X | X | |
Local Now | X | ||
Logo | X | X | |
Machinima | X | ||
Maker | X | ||
MGM | X | ||
MSNBC | X | X | X |
MTV | X | X | |
MTV 2 | X | X | |
Channel | Sling TV | PS Vue | DIRECTV NOW |
Nat Geo Wild | X | X | X |
Nat Geo | X | X | X |
NBA TV | X | X | X |
NBC Sports Network | X | X | X |
NFL Network | X | X | |
NDTV | X | ||
NHL Network | X | X | |
News18 | X | ||
Newsy | X | X | |
Nickelodeon | X | ||
Nick Jr. | X | X | |
Nicktoons | X | X | |
Channel | Sling TV | PS Vue | DIRECTV NOW |
One World Sports | X | ||
Outside TV | X | X | |
OWN | X | X | |
Oxygen | X | X | X |
Pursuit Channel | X | ||
Pac-12 | X | ||
Poker | X | ||
Polaris+ | X | X | |
Pop | X | ||
RT Network | X | ||
Channel | Sling TV | PS Vue | DIRECTV NOW |
Science Channel | X | X | |
SEC Network | X | X | X |
Showtime | X | ||
Sony Movie Channel | X | ||
Spike | X | X | |
Sprout | X | X | |
Sundance TV | X | X | X |
SyFy | X | X | X |
TBS | X | X | X |
TeenNick | X | X | |
TLC | X | X | |
TNT | X | X | X |
Channel | Sling TV | PS Vue | DIRECTV NOW |
Travel Channel | X | X | X |
Tru TV | X | X | X |
Turner Classic Movies | X | X | X |
TV Land | X | X | |
Universal | X | ||
Unimas | X | X | |
Univision | X | X | |
USA | X | X | X |
Velocity | X | X | |
VH1 | X | X | |
Vibrant | X | ||
Viceland | X | X | |
WE tv | X | X | |
Fox Deportes | X | X | |
Weather Channel | X | ||
WeatherNation | X |
*Found a error? Please leave us a comment and we will fix it.
DVR
DIRECTV NOW has no DVR, but many channels offer limited on-demand. Yet many of them miss random episodes.
PlayStation Vue offers a 30-day DVR and after 30 days the recording is removed.
Sling TV is adding a DVR in December 2016 and most of their channels have on-demand versions of the aired shows. Sling TV will be offering 100 hours of FREE DVR space with no time limit on how long you can keep a recording. No firm date on when the beta will start but it is expected shortly.
Number of Streams
DIRECTV NOW offers two streams.
Sling TV will allow you to stream one or three streams at once depending on what package you sign up for. You can also use your Sling TV login for some apps such as WatchESPN.
PlayStation Vue will work on five devices at once but they must all be in your home network. You can use your PlayStation Vue login on different apps such as WatchESPN.
Access Outside of Your House
PlayStation Vue limits access outside of your home network. You can use the PlayStation Vue login on many networks apps, such as Fox Sports GO and WatchESPN, for access outside of your home network.
Sling TV allows subscribers to login from anywhere in the United States. Sling also works with WatchESPN and has announced that FOX apps will soon also be supported.
DIRECTV NOW offers streaming outside of your house but some local channels and sports channels are limited to your home area.
So what service should you pick?
Hopefully this guide has helped you find the right service. If you are still wondering which is the best for you and your family the best thing to do is to try the free trial for DIRECTV NOW, Sling TV, and PlayStation Vue offer. Our suggestion is to give them a try and see if you like them. Check each service’s site for current prices because they keep changing. (Note: The PlayStation Vue charges an extra $10 a month for some markets.)
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