DIRECTV NOW vs Sling TV vs PlayStation Vue vs YouTube TV – We Break Them Down For You


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BOB'S BURGERS

BOB'S BURGERSFinding 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 NOWSling TV, YouTube TV, and PlayStation Vue more easily.

Because things keep changing here is your updated look at the DIRECTV NOW, YouTube TV, Sling TV, and PlayStation Vue as of April 5th 2017.

First you should look at which of these services works on the devices you own?

Streaming Player Sling TV PS Vue DIRECTV NOW YouTube TV
Roku X X
Fire TV X X X
Apple TV X X X
Chromecast X X X X
iOS X X X X
Android Phones/Tables X X X X
Android TV X  X

*Note Chromecast will work on any Chromecast supported device like Android TV. We did not include YouTube TV on Android TV as there is no Android TV app for YouTube TV.

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
Email X X X
Live Chat X  X  X
Social Media X X X
Forums X X

*We are unsure of YouTube TV support. We are waiting to hear back from YouTube PR.

Next, you should check to see which service has the channels you want?

All of the services 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. (All 5 markets YouTube TV is i in offers local channels.)

Channel Sling TV PS Vue DIRECTV NOW YouTube TV
A&E X X
AMC X X X X
American Heroes Channel X X
Animal Planet X X
Audience X
Baby TV X
BBC America X X X X
BBC World News X  X X
Blaze TV X
Channel Sling TV PS Vue DIRECTV YouTube 
NOW  TV
BET X  X
Big Ten Network X X  X
Bloomberg Television X
Boomerang X X
Bravo X X  X X
Campus Insider X
Cartoon Network/Adult Swim X X X
BeIN Sports  X  X X
Chiller X X X
Channel Sling TV PS Vue DIRECTV YouTube
NOW  TV
Cinemax X  X X
Cheddar X
CBS Sports Net X
CMT X  X
Comedy TV X
CNBC X X X X
CNBC World X X
CNN X X X
 AXS TV  X  X
Comcast Sportsnet X  X  X
Comedy Central X X
Crime & Investigatin X
Cooking Channel X X X
Channel Sling TV PS Vue DIRECTV  YouTube
NOW  TV
Destination America X X
Discovery X X
Discovery Family X X
Discovery Life X X
Disney Channel X X X X
Disney Junior X X X X
Disney XD X X X X
DIY Network X X X
Duck TV X
Channel Sling TV PS Vue DIRECTV YouTube
NOW  TV
E! X X X X
EPIX X
EPIX Drive-In X
EPIX Hits X X
EPIX2 X
ESPN X X X X
ESPN 2 X 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 X
ESPN News X X X X
Channel Sling TV PS Vue DIRECTV YouTube 
NOW  TV
El Rey X X
Esquire X
Euronews X
FM X
Fla Ma X
Food Network X X X
Fox Business X X X
Fox College Sports X
Fox News Channel X X X
Fox Regional Sports Networks X X X
Channel Sling TV PS Vue DIRECTV  YouTube
NOW  TV
France 24 X
FreeForm X X X  X
FS1 X X X X
FS2 X X X X
FX X X X X
FXM X X X
FXX X X X X
FYI X X
Golf Channel X X X  X
Great America X
Hallmark Channel X X
HBO X X X
Channel Sling TV PS Vue DIRECTV  YouTube
NOW  TV
 HDNet Movies  X
HGTV X X X
History X X
Hi-Yah! X
HLN X X X
 GSN  X X
IFC X X X X
Investigation Discovery X X
Channel Sling TV PS Vue DirecTV YouTube 
NOW  TV
Lifetime X X
Lifetime Movies X X
Local Now X X
Logo X X
Machinima X
Maker X
MGM X
MSNBC X X X  X
MTV X X
MTV 2 X X
Channel Sling TV PS Vue DIRECTV YouTube 
NOW  TV
Nat Geo Wild X X X
Nat Geo X X X X
MLB TV  X X
NBC Sports Network X X X X
 NBA TV  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 YouTube 
NOW  TV
One World Sports X
Outside TV X X
OWN X X
Oxygen X 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 YouTube 
NOW  TV
Science Channel X X
SEC Network X X X X
Showtime  X X  X
Sony Movie Channel X
Spike X X
Sprout X X  X
Sundance TV X X X
SyFy X X X  X
TBS X X X
TeenNick X X
TLC X X
TNT X X X
Channel Sling TV PS Vue DIRECTV YouTube 
NOW  TV
Travel Channel X X X
Tru TV X X X
Turner Classic Movies X X  X
TV Land X X
Universal X  X
Unimas X X
Univision X X
USA X X X  X
Velocity X X
VH1 X X
 Tennis Channel  X
Vibrant X
Viceland X X
WE tv X X X
 Fox Deportes X X
Weather Channel X
WeatherNation X

*AMC owned channels are coming soon for YouTube TV
*CSN in some markets is now NBC Sports [region] all CSN channels will be changing over in the next few months.
*Found a error? Please email us and we will fix it.

Regional Sports Networks:

All 4 major streaming services offer regional sports networks. Including CSN (being renamed NBC Sports Networks) and Fox Sports Networks. Check each one of their serveries to find out what is offered in your area.

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 28 days the recording is removed.

Sling TV has a DVR and most of their channels have on-demand versions of the aired shows. Sling TV is offering 50 hours of DVR space with no time limit on how long you can keep a recording for $5 a month.

YouTube TV will keep shows for 9 months.

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 some channels will not work outside of your home network. You can use your PlayStation Vue login on different apps such as WatchESPN.

YouTube TV allows for 3 streams at once both inside and outside of your home.

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.

YouTube TV allows for access outside of your home network.

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 NOWSling TV, YouTube 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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