From Decider · · 3m
Best Live TV Streaming Services for October 2026
DIRECTV, Philo, Sling TV and Hulu + Live TV lead live TV streaming services for October 2026.
In brief
DIRECTV, Philo, Sling TV and Hulu + Live TV lead live TV streaming services for October 2026. DIRECTV offers 90+ channels with local news and sports for $59.99/month, Philo provides 70+ lifestyle channels for $25/month, Sling TV has flexible plans starting at $19.99/month, and Hulu + Live TV includes 100+ channels…
What to Watch in September on Live TV
MLB playoffs continue all month, Hallmark Channel Countdown to Christmas continues all month, The Lowdown Season 2 premieres Oct.14 on FX, 9-1-1 and Grey’s Anatomy return to ABC on Oct.15, The Golden Life premieres Oct.
“MLB playoffs continue all month”
Best Live TV Streaming Service Overall: DIRECTV
DIRECTV offers 90+ channels with local news and sports for $59.99/month, including live local ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, and regional sports networks.
“Local news and sports channels”
DIRECTV Plans
DIRECTV has three base plans: Entertainment ($59.99/month), Choice ($64.99/month), and Ultimate ($99.99/month) with unlimited dvrs and genre packs.
“Five-day free trial and deals”
Best Budget Live TV Streaming Service: Philo
Philo provides 70+ lifestyle channels for $25/month with a seven-day free trial, no local news channels, but includes Hallmark Channel, HGTV, and Discovery.
“70+ channels”
Philo Add-ons
Philo offers Bundle+ for $28/month with HBO Max and AMC+ subscriptions, and a seven-day free trial for new subscribers.
“Seven-day free trial”
Best Live TV Streaming Service for Flexible Plans: Sling TV
Sling TV has two base plans starting at $45.99/month with up to 46 channels, Essentials for $19.99/month for ESPN, and Select for $19.99/month for live local news.
“Huge selection of add-ons”
Best Bundle Live TV Streaming Service: Hulu + Live TV
Hulu + Live TV includes 100+ channels with Hulu, Disney+, ESPN Select, and unlimited dvrs for $89.99/month with ad-supported streaming.
“Over 90 channels included”
Best Live TV Streaming Service for Sports: Fubo
Fubo offers 200+ channels with live sports for $54.99/month, including regional sports networks and international channels like Bein.
“One month free trial”
Other Streaming Services With Specific Live TV Options
Paramount+ with Showtime allows watching local CBS channel live 24/7, Peacock Premium Plus gives access to local NBC affiliate, ESPN Select offers live NHL, MLB, NFL, and golf tournaments.
“Paramount+ with Showtime ($12.99/month)”
Why Trust Decider Shopping
Angela Tricarico, Commerce Streaming Reporter for Decider, tests and compares streaming services for cord-cutters with tech and pop culture expertise.
“Angela keeps readers up to date with cord-cutter-friendly deals”
Why This Matters for October 2026
October 2026 offers live TV streaming services that cater to cord-cutters wanting local news, sports, and entertainment without traditional cable.
“October 2026”
What to Watch in October 2026
The Golden Life premieres Oct. 20 on E!, CMA Presents I Will Always Love You premieres Oct. 21 on ABC, Newlyweds premieres Oct. 23 on NBC, and Ghosts Halloween Special premieres Oct. 29 on CBS.
“Newlyweds premieres Oct. 23 on NBC”
What Happens Next for Cord-Cutters
Cord-cutters can choose from DIRECTV, Philo, Sling TV, Hulu + Live TV, or Fubo for live TV streaming services in October 2026.
“Cord-cutters can choose from DIRECTV, Philo, Sling TV, Hulu + Live TV, or Fubo”
The big picture
DIRECTV offers 90+ channels with local news and sports for $59.99/month, Philo provides 70+ lifestyle channels for $25/month, Sling TV has flexible plans starting at $19.99/month, and Hulu + Live TV includes 100+ channels with ad-supported streaming for $89.99/month.
