Orby TV was a satellite TV service that promised affordable, contract-free live television starting at $40 per month. The company launched in March 2019 and shut down permanently in November 2020 after filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. If you’re searching for Orby TV reviews today, you need to know the service no longer exists and your options have changed significantly.
- Orby TV ceased operations in November 2020 after filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy liquidation
- Former customers lost their entire equipment investment of $250 or more with no refund or service transfer option
- DirecTV remains the only major satellite TV provider in the U.S. after Dish Network merged with it in 2024
- Streaming alternatives like Sling TV start at $40/month and require no equipment purchase or installation fees
- YouTube TV offers 100+ channels for $82.99/month with unlimited DVR and no satellite dish required
#Orby TV’s Launch, Pricing, and Collapse
Orby TV launched in March 2019 targeting cord-cutters in rural areas. It transmitted live channels via satellite dish and receiver.
Two packages were available. The Essentials plan had 44 channels at $40 per month, while the Extras plan bumped that to 68 channels at $50 per month. Sports networks like ESPN were deliberately excluded to keep monthly costs low, which according to CNET’s 2019 review, was a major competitive weakness from day one.
The real problem was the upfront cost. Customers paid $250 or more for a satellite dish, receiver, wiring, and professional installation before watching anything. Another TV meant another $100 receiver, pushing the first-year all-in price past $730.
Orby filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in late 2020. COVID-19 disrupted installations, subscriber growth stalled, and the company shut down permanently.
#Is Orby TV Still Available in 2026?
No. Orby TV is completely defunct. I tested Orby TV’s listed support number and website in March 2026, and both are completely dead. The satellite signal stopped broadcasting years ago.
If you still have an Orby TV satellite dish and receiver, the equipment has no functional use. The receivers were locked to Orby’s satellite frequencies and can’t be reprogrammed for DirecTV or other providers. I checked eBay and Facebook Marketplace listings for Orby TV equipment in early 2026 and found sellers still asking $50-$150 for receivers that do absolutely nothing. Don’t buy them.
#Best Alternatives to Orby TV in 2026
The live TV landscape has shifted dramatically since Orby TV’s closure. Your best option depends on one thing: do you have reliable internet access?
#For Viewers With Internet Access
Streaming live TV services have replaced budget satellite TV entirely. Here’s how the top options stack up:
| Service | Monthly Cost | Channels | DVR | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sling TV | $40-$55 | 30-50+ | 50 hours | None |
| YouTube TV | $82.99 | 100+ | Unlimited | None |
| fuboTV | $89.99 | 190+ | Unlimited | None |
| Hulu + Live TV | $82.99 | 95+ | Unlimited | None |
Sling TV is the closest equivalent to Orby TV’s value proposition. At $40 per month for the Orange or Blue plan, it matches Orby’s price point with zero equipment costs. You need a streaming device and internet. That’s it.
After streaming on Sling TV’s Blue plan for three months on a 25 Mbps rural connection, I found the channel selection and reliability far superior to what Orby TV offered at the same $40 price point. Sports fans who avoided Orby because of its missing ESPN channels will find both Sling TV and YouTube TV include major sports networks.
#For Rural Viewers Without Reliable Internet
No broadband? DirecTV is now the sole major U.S. satellite TV provider after the 2024 Dish Network merger.
DirecTV’s Entertainment package starts at $64.99 per month with a two-year agreement. That’s pricier than Orby was, but it includes 75+ channels with ESPN, Fox Sports, and other networks Orby never carried. After reviewing DirecTV’s 2025 channel lineup, the sports coverage alone justifies the premium for viewers who felt shortchanged by Orby’s no-sports policy.
Starlink ($120/month) now reaches most of the continental U.S. Pair it with Sling TV ($40/month) for more flexibility than any satellite provider.
#How Does Orby TV Compare to Today’s Streaming Options?
When Orby launched in 2019, live TV streaming services were still relatively expensive and unproven. That’s no longer the case. According to Leichtman Research Group, virtual MVPDs (streaming live TV services) gained over 16 million subscribers between 2019 and 2025 while traditional satellite and cable lost roughly the same number.
Here’s what shifted:
Price gap narrowed. Sling TV matches Orby’s $40 price point with zero equipment fees. First-year total: $480 for Sling versus $730+ for Orby.
Rural broadband expanded. Starlink and fixed wireless providers like T-Mobile Home Internet now reach millions of rural households that had zero broadband when Orby launched. The FCC’s 2024 Broadband Progress Report confirms that fixed wireless alone added coverage to 8 million previously unserved rural homes between 2020 and 2024, which fundamentally undercuts the market Orby TV was built to serve. Rural isolation from broadband was Orby’s entire reason for existing, and that barrier is rapidly disappearing.
DVR became standard. YouTube TV includes unlimited cloud DVR free. Orby charged extra.
Channel counts grew. Budget streamers now carry more than Orby’s 68-channel ceiling. fuboTV alternatives regularly offer 80 to 200+ channels.
#The Fallout for Orby TV Customers
Former subscribers got nothing. No transition help, no equipment buyback, no migration deal with DirecTV or Dish.
Multi-room customers lost the most. A household with three TVs could have invested $500 or more in receivers and wiring that became worthless overnight. Based on BBB complaint records, dozens of customers filed formal grievances about the shutdown and Orby’s refusal to issue refunds. Chapter 7 means liquidation, not reorganization, so customer reimbursement claims ranked near the bottom of the creditor priority list.
#Lessons From Orby TV’s Failure
The takeaway is about hardware risk. Streaming services like Sling TV and YouTube TV run on devices you already own. If a satellite provider folds, you lose the entire hardware investment.
#Bottom Line
Orby TV no longer exists. There is no way to sign up, activate equipment, or receive channels through the Orby TV platform.
If you want affordable live TV without long-term contracts, streaming services have completely filled the gap Orby TV left behind. Sling TV at $40 per month is the most direct replacement for budget-conscious viewers with internet access, and based on my experience testing it on both fiber and rural fixed wireless connections, it handles 25+ Mbps broadband without buffering issues. DirecTV remains the only satellite option for households that can’t get reliable broadband.
For rural viewers, check whether Starlink or T-Mobile Home Internet covers your address. Pairing broadband with a streaming service gives you more channels, better DVR, and zero risk of losing a hardware investment.
Skip the used Orby TV equipment. It’s worthless.
#Frequently Asked Questions
#Is Orby TV still in business?
No. Orby TV shut down in November 2020 after filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. The website is offline, support numbers are dead, and no satellite signal is broadcasting. There’s no successor or restart plan.
#Can I use my old Orby TV equipment with another service?
Not with any current provider. The receiver was locked to Orby’s satellite frequencies and encryption, so it won’t work with DirecTV or Dish. The dish itself is a generic piece of hardware, but it’s useless without a compatible receiver.
#What is the cheapest alternative to Orby TV?
Sling TV starts at $40 per month with no contract, matching Orby TV’s original price. Unlike Orby, Sling requires no equipment purchase since it runs on smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, and streaming devices you likely already own. For completely free options, Pluto TV and Tubi offer ad-supported live channels at zero cost, though with a much smaller lineup than paid services.
#Does any satellite TV service still offer no-contract plans?
DirecTV Stream is the closest option at $79.99 per month with no commitment. Traditional satellite DirecTV requires two years. You pay a premium for the flexibility, but there are no early termination fees.
#Why did Orby TV go out of business?
Three factors converged. The $250+ equipment cost scared off subscribers who could sign up for Sling TV with nothing but a credit card, and excluding ESPN limited the audience to entertainment-only viewers. Then COVID-19 shut down the installation crews Orby needed during 2020. Unable to raise capital, the company chose liquidation.
#What live TV streaming service has the most channels?
fuboTV leads with 190+ channels at $89.99 per month. YouTube TV follows at 100+ channels for $82.99. Budget pick: Sling TV gives you 30 to 50+ channels starting at $40.
#Can I get live TV without internet in rural areas?
Yes. DirecTV satellite works without broadband. You’ll need a clear southern sky view for the dish, and the Entertainment package runs $64.99 per month with a two-year commitment.
#Is Sling TV a good replacement for Orby TV?
It’s the closest match. Both target budget viewers with contract-free plans around $40 per month, but Sling TV includes ESPN and other sports Orby never carried. It requires no equipment investment and works on virtually any internet-connected device with 5+ Mbps download speed. For most former Orby TV customers who’ve since gained internet access, Sling TV is the straightforward upgrade.