The Great Streaming Illusion: How We Ended Up Back at Square One

I have looked at basically every live TV streaming service that I think exists. To get a plan with any of them that actually includes the channels you want, you're looking at dropping anywhere from $60 to $160 a month.

Remember back when streaming TV first started? It was the ultimate cable killer. It was cost-effective, everybody loved it, and absolutely nobody wanted to pay 100 bucks or more a month for TV ever again. So, we all switched.

Fast forward to today. Look at us now. We are paying the exact same prices, with just as many commercials, as we were back when we all had a satellite dish or a clunky cable box in the living room. We’ve come full circle.

The Current Cost of "Cutting the Cord"

Just to prove the point, here is a quick look at the base price ranges for the big players right now:

• Sling TV: The "budget" option starts at $46/month for either their Orange or Blue plan. If you want a decent channel lineup (Orange & Blue combined), it’s $61/mo—and that’s before the add-ons nickel and dime you.

• FuboTV: Geared heavily towards sports, their base Pro plan starts at about $74/month, but they often tack on mandatory regional sports fees that push it even higher.

• YouTube TV: Currently sitting at around $83/month for their standard package.

• Hulu + Live TV: You're looking at about $90/month right out of the gate just to get your live channels alongside their streaming library.

• DirecTV Stream: Starts at $90 and easily pushes into the $160+ range depending on the tier.

Personally, I use an over-the-air antenna. It's fantastic... when it comes in. Most of the local channels look great, but it definitely has its gaps.

What started this whole venture today was the World Cup. I was really looking forward to watching the games, but a lot of them are locked behind FS1. I realized that for "just" 20 bucks a month on a stripped-down service, I could get that one channel. Then, I started looking at the broader live TV streaming options above, and my brain almost short-circuited.

Cut to: I can't possibly spend that kind of money for live TV. I just can't justify it. Heck, I can't even justify paying $20 just to get FS1 for a few weeks of soccer. Call me crazy, but if a major global event is broadcast, I feel like it should be free to watch anywhere over the air. We shouldn't have to navigate a maze of expensive subscriptions just to cheer on a game.

But then again, I also dream of a nice, happy, utopian society where things just make sense.

I'd love to hear what you guys are doing for TV these days. Are you paying these crazy streaming prices, sticking to an antenna, or doing something else? Feel free to comment and let me know your thoughts.

Thanks for taking the time to visit, and keep pondering the universe.

~The Wandering Frogg