Your Best Streaming Bet May Be a Skinny TV Package. But What Are They?

Fed up with value hikes and channel outages within the TV world? Properly, media corporations have taken discover of your complaints and are introducing “skinny” TV packages as extra inexpensive alternate options. Everybody from DirecTV to Fubo to Sling is getting within the recreation, nevertheless it’s doable chances are you’ll not have seen or cared to discover additional.

We at CNET like to remind you about free streaming services and your FAST options, however for a few of you, skinny packages could also be the perfect reply. That is very true for sports activities followers who really feel the necessity to chart a Westeros-like map simply to determine the place to observe a recreation. The ache is actual, however the price range pangs do not should be. For many who need to proceed shunning cable or satellite tv for pc companies in any respect prices, or for cable holdouts trying to attempt one thing else, this lays out what the thin is all about.  

What’s a thin TV bundle or bundle?

The time period “skinny” has caught on to explain slimmed-down channel bundles on reside TV streaming companies. A bundle sometimes offers you fewer than 100 channels, versus the quantity seen in full packages that always embrace native stations like ABC or NBC and a big suite of cable favorites. 

“Full” streaming service subscriptions are supplied from YouTube TV, DirecTV, Hulu Plus Live TV, Fubo and Sling TV, with platforms similar to Philo or Frndly hanging out on the borderline of being thought of skinny (you get what you get). However a few of these corporations have additionally rolled out shrunken variations of their packages that cater to genres or short-term viewing, and you may cancel everytime you need.

There’s intentionality behind the thin streaming packages, the place suppliers similar to DirecTV and YouTube carve out distinct choices that supply fewer channels at a cheaper price, separate from their important streaming plan lineups. For instance, DirecTV launched Genre Packs in early 2025, a crop of category-specific packages that vary from $20 to $70 a month with non-obligatory add-ons in case you do not thoughts paying for just a few extra channels. 

To make it extra engaging for you, most of DTV’s style packs come bundled with a subscription to an on-demand streaming service like HBO Max, ESPN Limitless or Disney Plus — at no further value. We’ll skip its satellite tv for pc TV plans, however its main streaming packages begin at $85 a month and go up from there. 

At present, there are a restricted variety of skinny packages or bundles on the menu, however we’ll attempt to make it straightforward to match which TV suppliers provide what. 

DirecTV’s Style Packs 

Beginning at $20 a month, DirecTV’s Style Packs are tailor-made to viewers who know what sort of content material they need to see. Limitless DVR — letting you pause, rewind, quick ahead and document — comes with every pack, and in some circumstances, you may give these a spin with a free trial. 

You do not have to restrict your self to only one bundle both — you may combine and match, subscribing to a number of packs at a time. There are 5 core plans to select from, and Mini Packs might be added as non-obligatory facet dishes to pick out plans. And as I discussed, there are free streaming bonuses like Disney Plus or HBO Max included in just a few of those packages.

The MySports Further mini plan offers you eight further channels, like NFL RedZone and MotorTrend, for a further $13 per 30 days. It may be added solely to the MySports bundle, nonetheless, whereas the $10-per-month MyCinema mini is accessible as an add-on for DTV’s MySports, MyEntertainment, MyNews and MyKids base plans. For baseball followers, the MyHome Group mini prices $20 per  month, and also you get native sports activities networks (in areas the place accessible) if you wish to complement MySports. 

YouTube TV has new, budget-friendly packages

YouTube TV is the least-expensive premium reside TV streaming platform at $83 per 30 days, however in February, it one-upped itself by launching a slate of scaled-down, lower-priced packages. The most affordable one has a month-to-month value of $55, however you may solely decide a single plan. Like YouTube TV’s base plan, these slimmer packages let you could have as much as six accounts on one subscription, and limitless DVR is customary. Should you’re searching for bundled streaming companies like HBO Max or Hulu with out paying further, sorry — these plans do not provide that. 

It is slightly difficult to search out the sign-up part for these subscriptions, however log in to YouTube TV through your Google account and navigate to the membership web page beneath the app’s settings. You must have the ability to browse every plan.

Fubo Sports activities

In August, Fubo rolled out Fubo Sports and tossed in entry to ESPN Limitless for good measure. The corporate remains to be embroiled in a carriage dispute with NBCUniversal, so these channels aren’t a part of any of Fubo’s plans, however in case you’re a sports activities fan who’s good with ABC, Fox, Massive 10, ESPN and some others, then this $56-per-month bundle may match. 

Different snipped-down streaming plans exist

Whereas most skinny packages are for reside TV platforms (or cable), a handful of on-demand streamers provide chopped plans, too. And the wallet-friendly, cord-free Sling TV provides day passes for Sling Orange at $5. You’ll be able to stream on a short-term foundation for twenty-four hours, three days or seven days. There’s additionally Sling Select, a small providing of simply over 10 channels for $20 a month. It is restricted to networks like FS1, FX and LMN, however some clients have entry to native stations as effectively. 

In the identical vein, Peacock Select launched in 2025 at $8 per 30 days, options new and outdated episodes from NBC and Bravo, in addition to a number of library titles. You may must improve to a Peacock Premium tier to observe originals and its full catalog, although. 

To not be not noted of the Choose naming recreation, ESPN Choose changed ESPN Plus as an choice as soon as the newly launched ESPN streaming platform hit the scene. It prices $13 for a standalone subscription, however you aren’t getting NFL or NBA entry. As a substitute, this bundle nets you NHL, skilled soccer video games, faculty basketball, some faculty soccer video games, 30 for 30 content material and ESPN originals. Need extra? ESPN Limitless contains all the pieces on ESPN Choose. 

What’s the good thing about a thin TV plan? 

On the upside, you lower your expenses by making a slim bundle the principle character in your TV life. Minimize the wire, minimize the channels you do not watch and minimize down your streaming invoice. A number of of those companies embrace native channels like ABC or NBC, so that you get primetime exhibits, information and reside sports activities occasions along with choose cable networks. 

Native channels aren’t all the time assured, which can flip you away from one in all these choices if they don’t seem to be within the lineup. But when it is all about your individual sports activities fandom, a particular TV style you like or downsizing your price range, maintain skinny packages in your radar.