TV service guides and resources
Rebecca Palmer6/21/24
Netflix is our #1 choice for streaming services for kids and families because of its extensive library of family-friendly content and trusted parental controls. You can set up a profile just for kids with its own rules, including filtering content by age range or removing individual titles. In Netflix's streaming library, you can choose from hundreds of curated family-friendly TV shows and movies. Netflix was one of the first streaming services available, and it’s still the most popular by subscriber count. (1)
Brittany McGhee3/30/23
Cable and satellite TV providers change up their promotions constantly, but there are always good deals to be found. We share the different types of TV package promotions to look for, how to know if you’re getting a good deal, and which providers offer the most exciting savings and bonuses.
Kathryn Casna3/2/23
While more and more people get live TV mainly from a streaming service these days, traditional types of TV service like cable and satellite are still great options for a lot of people—especially those who don’t have a great internet connection.
Bri Field6/21/24
With so many streaming services on the market, it’s impossible (or at least financially irresponsible) to subscribe to them all at the same time. To catch all your favorite shows, you might have to switch between streaming services. But which streaming services should you get to watch all your favorite content? Whether you’re a sports fanatic, really into your Hallmark holiday movies, or you just want to watch the hottest streaming originals, our guide covers everything you need to know.
Cara Haynes4/25/23
Satellite TV is a service that broadcasts television programming directly to viewers' homes through communications satellites orbiting the Earth. The satellites relay signals from a broadcast center to a satellite dish antenna mounted on or near the viewer's house.
Dave Schafer7/22/24
To choose the best TV antennas, we considered a mix of range, size, number of channels picked up, and of course, price. We also looked at extra features like signal amplification, signal-strength meters, and smartphone apps, all of which make nice bonuses. To learn more, see our full methodology.
Dave Schafer2/9/23
It probably goes without saying that we’re big fans of TV here. Unfortunately, we’re not always in front of our actual televisions when our favorite shows are on. We need a solution—and that solution is called TV Everywhere.
Cara Haynes2/10/23
Everyone is cutting the cord these days (AKA choosing video streaming services and ditching their cable or satelite TV provider). For the first time in history, streaming will drive more viewing time for people than
Dave Schafer2/8/23
With the cooler temperatures comes the coolest sport of all—hockey. The NHL season ends in June, so if you don’t have a way to watch it, you're missing out.
Cara Haynes2/9/23
Password sharing with streaming services is almost as pervasive as the streaming services themselves. A recent survey by Leichtman Research reported that 33% of Netflix users share passwords outside of their household (and that’s just those who admitted it). (1) Streaming providers suspect the problem is even more widespread than they realize. (2) But it’s a problem that streaming services—and their customers—have mixed feelings about.
Dave Schafer12/20/22
Xfinity is our pick for the best cable TV provider. It offers a great channel selection, solid prices, a powerful DVR, and excellent internet bundles. Others came close, but there can be only one.
Dave Schafer2/9/23
When times are tough, a little entertainment can go a long way. TV can be expensive, but there are options when you need screen time on a budget. Whether you’re looking to recession-proof your finances or just save a few bucks each month, if you’re wondering how to get low-cost TV, you’re in the right place.
Dave Schafer2/8/23
In the immortal words of Dani Rojas, “Football is life.” No, we’re not talking about American football—we’re talking about the original, the world’s most popular sport, otherwise known as soccer. Major League Soccer (MLS) is the professional soccer league for the United States (and a few Canadian teams). If you’re hungry for MLS action, you’re in the right place.
Dave Schafer2/9/23
One of the latest additions to the DVR world is the cloud DVR. As the name implies, these DVRs store your recordings in the cloud and stream them back to you. How do they compare to traditional, local DVRs? How can you get one? We’ve got everything you need to know, right here.
Brittany McGhee3/30/23
Bundling is a great way to save money on internet and TV service. We cover the different types of bundles you can get from your internet and TV providers, how to choose a bundle and make sure you’re getting a good deal, and which providers tend to offer the best perks and discounts with their bundles.
Dave Schafer2/10/23
DVRs are one of the best things to happen to TV. After all, who has time to catch every single program right when it airs? When choosing a DVR, one of the main challenges is figuring out how much storage you need. In this article, we’ll walk through all the details to help you determine how much storage space you need to store all your favorite movies, sports games, and shows.
Dave Schafer6/21/24
Blackouts are one of the most frustrating experiences in the world of television. If you’ve ever gone to tune in to your home team’s game and found it’s not available, you know what we mean.
Rebecca Palmer2/9/23
The best streaming service for news junkies is DIRECTV STREAM because it offers all your local channels, all the top cable news channels, and an optional 10-digit remote. Each of our top options offer all the local and national news you expect, plus a few nice extras and freedom from contracts and installation headaches.
Cara Haynes5/16/23
According to the FCC (Federal Communications Commission), cable TV is “a video delivery service provided by a cable operator to subscribers via a coaxial cable or fiber optics.” (1) That means if you get your TV service via a satellite dish from a provider like
Dave Schafer3/27/23
Whether you’re trying to catch the big game or call into an important video conference at work,
Dave Schafer2/9/23
Baseball is America’s Pastime, and America has never had more ways to watch than today. There are cable and satellite providers, streaming services, broadcast channels, on-demand—it’s a baseball fan’s dream come true.
However, all this variety can also be confusing. That’s why we’re here—we’ll walk through all the different ways to watch MLB and offer recommendations on the best ways to get all the games you need.
Ilija Miljkovac8/13/24
Military personnel, retired Veterans, and military families have a variety of discounts available to them. There are many TV and streaming services looking to honor the work of military personnel, and they most often do this by giving you a deal on their subscription, installation, or equipment.
Dave Schafer6/21/24
One of the best things about TV service is the ability to watch local channels. These channels are often local subsidiaries of broadcast networks like NBC and CBS and carry content that’s highly relevant, like local news and public access TV. These networks are also one of the only ways to catch games from your local team.
Cara Haynes1/27/23
When it comes to TV and entertainment streaming, there are two main ways to watch: on-demand and live. The difference between on-demand and live TV streaming is that on-demand content is available whenever you want it, while live TV streaming follows a program (similar to traditional TV programming). You have to be available to watch a program when it airs or use a DVR to record it if you want to watch later.
Dave Schafer2/9/23
If you don’t have a way to watch the NBA season, make sure you sort it out before the season starts. In this article, we’ll cover all the different ways you can watch NBA games—cable and satellite, streaming, in-market, and out-of-market. If it’s NBA-related, it’s here. Let’s dive in!
To determine the best cheap cable TV providers, we considered a few factors. Cost of service was important, but we also looked at the number of channels you get for that cost, availability, fees, quality of bundling options, and overall quality of service offered.
Brittany McGhee2/7/23
Switching to a new TV service doesn’t have to be a pain. This guide will show you how to find a new TV provider, save money, and coordinate canceling your old service with installing your new service.
Dave Schafer3/2/23
It’s no secret that TV bills can be confusing. The list of fees and charges can stretch a mile long, even when you’ve subscribed to a single service. It can be frustrating to see a bunch of charges and not know exactly what you’re paying for.
Rebecca Palmer, Dave Schafer6/21/24
In 2024, the regular 18-week NFL season kicks off September 5. But things kick off with the draft at the end of April, and the pre-season starts August 1.
Making the jump from cable to streaming TV is a choice a lot of people are making these days: every major cable TV provider reported more customers cutting the cord than ever before. (1)
Dave Schafer2/3/23
These days, you’d be hard-pressed to find a TV that isn’t a smart TV. Even the most affordable options usually have some sort of streaming platform and a few built-in apps. However, the experience of using these TVs can leave something to be desired.
Kathryn Casna4/6/23
In a world of hidden costs, price hikes, and more add-ons than you can shake a remote at, watching TV can get expensive. To make matters worse, providers rarely offer you the option to build a custom plan with only the channels or shows you want. Chances are, you’re paying for more TV than you really need.