Cable keeps getting more expensive. The average US TV bill is now well over $100 a month, and most of it is channels nobody actually watches. If you want to cut the cord but keep live sports and local news, here are the three setups worth considering.
1. Free over-the-air antenna (for local channels)
A one-time ~$30 antenna gets you ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX and PBS in HD — free, forever, as long as you're in range. It's the cheapest way to keep your locals, and it pairs well with any of the options below.
2. A mainstream live-TV streaming app
Services like YouTube TV or Hulu + Live TV give you a cable-style channel bundle for roughly $75–85 a month. Cheaper and more flexible than cable, but still not exactly cheap.
3. An IPTV service (the budget route)
This is where you get the widest channel selection — live sports, international channels, and on-demand — for a fraction of the cost of the options above. If you go this route, it's worth understanding how IPTV actually works, what to look for in a provider, and how to set it up on a Firestick or Android box.
We put together straightforward, no-nonsense guides on exactly that at IPTVZ.
My take
For most people, an antenna for locals plus one streaming option covers everything. If price is the deciding factor and you want the biggest channel list, IPTV is the one to research — just pick your provider carefully.
Written by the IPTVZ team.