Looking to cut the cord on cable? Deciding between FuboTV and Spectrum’s streaming TV service? This comprehensive guide examines everything from channel lineups and pricing to platforms and free trials. Read on to discover which live TV streaming provider is the better option for you in 2024.
Intro
The streaming wars rage on, with consumers increasingly ditching traditional cable in favor of internet-based live TV services. Two popular options in this arena go head to head: FuboTV and Spectrum TV.
FuboTV offers a sports-centric package with over 100 channels starting at $79.99 per month. Spectrum TV provides cable-like channel bundles for Spectrum internet subscribers, with pricing starting around $29.99.
Below we break down how Fubo and Spectrum streaming services compare on everything from cost to channel lineups. Read on to determine the best live TV streaming choice for your household.
Quick Comparison Overview
Before we dive into details, here is a high-level overview of how FuboTV and Spectrum TV streaming services stack up:
| FuboTV | Spectrum TV | |
|---|---|---|
| Starts at | $74.99/mo | $29.99/mo |
| # of channels | 180+ | Varies |
| Top channels | ESPN, FS1, TNT | ESPN, TBS, CNN, AMC |
| Simultaneous streams | 3 | In-home only |
| Supported devices | Roku, Fire TV, iOS, Android & more | Roku, Apple TV, iOS, Android & more |
| DVR | 1000 hours | Included |
| Sports | Excellent | Good |
| News | Good | Excellent |
| Kids | Limited | Good |
FuboTV offers a sports-centric package with over 100 channels starting at $74.99 per month. Spectrum TV provides cable-like channel bundles for Spectrum internet subscribers, with pricing starting around $29.99. See how FuboTV compares to other popular services like Sling TV and Philo.
Now let’s analyze pricing, channels, features and more to determine the ideal live TV streamer for your household.
Pricing Breakdown
When weighing FuboTV versus Spectrum TV, pricing plays a pivotal role. Here is how the streaming plans and pricing stacks up:
FuboTV Pricing
FuboTV offers one main package at $74.99 with 121+ channels. You can add on premium channels like Showtime for $11.99 more per month.
In total, here’s a pricing breakdown for FuboTV:
- The Fubo Standard Plan – $79.99/month (180+ channels)
- Fubo Extra Add-on – +$8/month for 20 more channels
- Additional premium networks – +$5 to $12/month per add-on
- Family Share – Add up to two simultaneous streams for $6 more per month
- DVR Plus – 250-hour DVR storage for $10 more per month
- Fubo Quarterly – Pay quarterly for a slight discount
So while entry pricing is reasonable, costs can quickly scale if you enable add-ons. Still, even at higher tiers, Fubo represents substantial savings over traditional cable.
Spectrum TV Pricing
Spectrum internet customers can add TV streaming bundles starting around $29.99 per month. However, exact pricing varies based on your location promotions.
For example, Spectrum’s low-end TV Choice plan with 20+ channels runs $29.99 in some regions, while their mid-tier TV Select plan with 90+ channels costs $44.99 in my area.
Compared to FuboTV, Spectrum does not charge add-on fees for DVR storage or expanding streams. And if you bundle TV service with home internet, you save $10-20 per month.
One key catch: Spectrum TV is only available for those with Spectrum internet. So actual minimum costs are higher when tallying internet fees.
Price Comparison
When comparing base pricing only, Spectrum TV offers more budget-friendly live streaming starting around $29.99 per month. However, you must factor in the prerequisite of paying for Spectrum internet, which starts around $49.99 per month.
So when adding up internet and baseline TV streaming, Spectrum TV ends up costing $80+ compared to FuboTV’s $79.99.
Other considerations:
- FuboTV costs scale higher with add-ons
- Spectrum provides cheaper multi-service bundles
- Contracts and taxes affect true pricing
For those already paying Spectrum for home internet, their streaming bundles become very affordable. But Fubo pulls ahead when considering overall value for money given channel offerings and flexibility.
Channels & Content Comparison
When choosing a live TV streaming provider, channel availability is king. Here is how FuboTV and Spectrum TV’s offerings compare across popular content categories:
Sports
For sports enthusiasts, FuboTV unquestionably takes the prize with an unrivaled mix of national and regional sports networks. Highlights include:
FuboTV
- ESPN
- Fox Sports
- NFL Network
- MLB Network
- NBA TV
- BeIN Sports
- NBC Sports
- CBS Sports
- PAC 12 Networks
- NESN
- Marquee Sports Network
- And more (RSNs vary by region)
Spectrum
- ESPN
- FS1
- NFL Network
- MLB Network
- Golf Channel
- Olympic Channel
- And more (RSNs vary by region)
If you want to stream live sports without cable, FuboTV’s channel portfolio blows Spectrum out of the water. Soccer fans also get exclusive access to Fubo Sports Network. See how FuboTV compares for sports coverage against other cable alternatives.
News
For staying current on breaking news and politics, Spectrum cable bundles edge out FuboTV with CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, OAN and more.
FuboTV
- Fox News
- MSNBC
- CNBC
- CBS News Network
- Local Now
Spectrum
- CNN
- Fox News
- MSNBC
- OAN
- Newsmax
- BBC World News
- Cheddar News
- HLN
- Local news stations
So news junkies get a fuller, cable-like selection of news channels with Spectrum over FuboTV.
Entertainment
For comedy, drama, reality TV, game shows and the like, Spectrum and Fubo are evenly matched. Both feature entertainment staples like:
- A&E
- AMC
- Bravo
- Comedy Central
- Discovery Channel
- Disney Channel
- E!
- Food Network
- FX
- Hallmark Channel
- HGTV
- History Channel
- Lifetime
- MTV
- TBS
- TLC
- TNT
- VH1
Spectrum adds channels like BBC America, while Fubo offers FXX. But for the most part, entertainment buffs can flip between popular shows regardless of provider here.
Kids
Parents seeking child-friendly programming gain an edge going with Spectrum over FuboTV. Spectrum lineups add Nick Jr, Cartoon Network, Disney Junior and more alongside mainstays like Nickelodeon and Disney Channel.
So if keeping the kids entertained with live TV matters, Spectrum provides more variety.
Lifestyle
For lifestyle programs about cooking, relationships, home renovation and the like, both FuboTV and Spectrum TV deliver. You’ll find Oprah’s OWN Network, the Cooking Channel, HGTV, Food Network and more on both.
Additional Channel Offerings
Beyond the main content buckets highlighted above, here are some additional channels you’ll get with each provider:
FuboTV
- AMC
- BBC America
- BET
- Nat Geo
- Olympic Channel
- OWN
- Hallmark Movies & Mysteries
- REVOLT TV
- The Weather Channel
Spectrum
- Aspire
- Cleo TV
- Cooking Channel
- Discovery Life
- FM
- Game Show Network
- Logo
- Newsy
- Start TV
Supported Devices
FuboTV and Spectrum TV apps are available on most popular streaming devices and platforms, including:
FuboTV
- Android phones & tablets
- Android TV
- Vizio Smart TV
- Apple TV
- Chromecast
- Fire Tablets
- Fire TV
- iPhones & iPads
- Roku
- Samsung Smart TVs
- LG TV
Spectrum
- Android Phones & Tablets
- Android TV
- Apple TV
- Fire Tablets
- Fire TV
- iPhones & iPads
- Roku
- Samsung Smart TVs
- LG TV
- Xfinity X1 & XClass TV (Coming soon)
The main difference comes down to gaming consoles. FuboTV can be viewed on Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 4 consoles. Spectrum TV does not officially support game systems.
But overall, both deliver widespread device support for convenient viewing on mobile gadgets and streaming platforms alike.
DVR & Cloud DVR
The ability to record and replay content makes for a better live TV streaming experience. Here is how FuboTV and Spectrum TV’s DVR offerings stack up:
FuboTV comes standard with 250 hours of Cloud DVR storage with no limitations on simultaneous recordings. Playback functionality works well.
For Spectrum TV customers, cloud DVR gets included at no extra charge but limits maximum storage. Recordings get stored for up to 90 days and you cannot fast forward through ads on playback.
So FuboTV provides superior Cloud DVR functionality for catching up on your favorite sports teams, shows and news programs.
Streaming Quality
Both services deliver good to excellent streaming quality across channels.
FuboTV optimizes streams based on your device and internet speeds to minimize buffering. Video tops out at 4K resolution on supported devices.
Spectrum TV streaming also auto-adjusts based on bandwidth. Video quality runs consistent at 720p or higher for most channels. ESPN in particular streams at a crisp 60 fps.
The consensus: streaming quality shines on both FuboTV and Spectrum TV apps, especially given adequate internet speeds of at least 25 Mbps.
User Profiles & Simultaneous Streams
Custom user profiles allow household members to save their own watchlists, recordings and preferences.
FuboTV supports up to six user profiles per account. And you can register up to 10 devices per profile.
For streaming simultaneous shows, Fubo’s Family Plan grants three concurrent streams. You can add more for $6 per month.
Spectrum TV takes a cable-like approach by limiting streams to registered devices within your home network. So you cannot watch Spectrum TV outside the house.
The upside is that Spectrum bundles permit simultaneous viewing on as many home TVs and devices as desired, with no impact on picture quality.
For frequent travelers or those wanting extra mobile streams, FuboTV proves more flexible. But Spectrum works better for larger households sharing just in-home devices.
Free Trials
Before committing to any live TV streaming provider, you’ll want to take advantage of a free trial.
FuboTV grants full access to its service including streaming simultaneous shows for seven days.
Spectrum also offers a 7-day free preview allowing you to test channels and features risk-free. However, access to Spectrum’s promotion varies. Some areas provide trials while others require immediate subscription.
So ideal strategy: test both FuboTV and Spectrum TV for free first if eligible. This gives you a week to gauge channel lineups, quality of streams, functionality of DVR tools and other aspects before deciding.
FuboTV vs Spectrum TV: Key Differences
To recap, here are the biggest differences when comparing FuboTV vs Spectrum TV:
- FuboTV works nationwide, while Spectrum has regional availability
- FuboTV costs more but offers generous simultaneous streams and DVR
- Spectrum bundles TV with Spectrum internet for added savings
- FuboTV dominates for sports with far more sports channels
- Spectrum beats Fubo on news with CNN, MSNBC and more
- Spectrum carries more kids entertainment channels
So while both deliver solid channel variety and streaming features, ideal choice depends largely on your household’s needs and budget.
FAQ
Below we answer some common questions that arise when weighing FuboTV against Spectrum TV:
Is FuboTV cheaper than cable?
Yes, FuboTV proves substantially cheaper than traditional cable TV. Based on average cable costs, FuboTV saves households $30-60+ per month. Savings grow higher when accounting for cable TV equipment rental fees, taxes and contracts.
Does Spectrum TV offer local channels?
Yes, Spectrum TV provides live local network affiliate stations for ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox in select markets. So you can catch local news, sports and primetime shows via Spectrum. Local channel availability varies by location.
Can I use FuboTV on Roku?
Absolutely! FuboTV and Spectrum TV both offer full-featured apps for Roku streaming devices. Simply search and add their channels within your on-device Roku store.
The Verdict: FuboTV vs Spectrum TV
When weighing FuboTV against Spectrum TV, choice depends largely on your viewing priorities:
👍 If sports reign supreme, FuboTV warranted with far more national sports networks and regional sports coverage.
👍 If bundling services for savings matters most, Spectrum packages TV, home internet and mobile for least cost…but verify eligibility!
👍 If you want cable-esque channel bundles without contracts, Spectrum fits the bill nicely.
That said, cord cutters seeking maximum flexibility should opt for FuboTV given device support, streams and DVR perks. See how Fubo stacks up against YouTube TV and alternatives like Hulu Live.
Ideally leverage free trials for both services if available. This lets you experience channels, features and reliability first-hand before picking the right streaming TV winner for your household long-term.
