My Streaming Channel Lineup (2025 Update)

I ran across a post I wrote four years ago in which I outlined my streaming channel lineup. The streaming world has changed significantly in that time, with new services, constant price increases, and a whole lot of consolidation. Yet, my philosophy remains the same: find a way to watch the content you want at the most efficient cost. In a world where streaming is starting to feel like cable all over again, it's more important than ever to be smart with your money.

What follows is an updated look at my current lineup and my rationale for each service.

Paid Streaming Services

These are the services that I pay for directly because of their content. I've found a few of them offer a great deal for what I'm looking for.

The Disney Bundle

I've had Hulu since before I cut the cord and still consider it my cable company for watching current seasons of shows. For $16.99 a month, the bundle I use gives me Hulu along with Disney Plus and HBO Max. If I were to subscribe to Hulu alone, it would cost me $9.99 a month, which means for an extra $7, I get a massive amount of extra content, including movies, original shows, and a huge back catalog from three major streaming services. It's a deal that is almost impossible to beat. For me, it's worth it.

Frndly TV

Frndly TV has been a staple in my lineup for a long time. It's still a good deal, even with the price increase. I subscribe to the HD plan for $10.99 a month, which gives me more than 50 family-friendly channels to watch on multiple screens. The service fills a niche in my channel lineup that other services don't, and it's no wonder a national survey recently ranked it as one of the most popular vMVPD services.

Bonus Streaming Services

My cost-cutting philosophy extends beyond just streaming services. If a subscription I would have anyway comes with a streaming service, it's a bonus that I'm happy to take.

Amazon Prime Video

The Amazon Prime membership, which costs $139 a year, is something I subscribe to for the shipping benefits. Prime Video is simply a bonus. I don't count it as a streaming cost because I would have the membership even if there were no video content.

Paramount Plus

Similarly, I get the Paramount Plus Essential plan for free as part of my Walmart Plus membership. I would subscribe to Walmart Plus for the other benefits regardless, so I see the streaming service as a great extra that costs me nothing.

Free Services

A significant portion of my viewing comes from free, ad-supported services. Here's a look at what I'm watching for free.

Sling TV Freestream

This is the new name for the free, ad-supported service from Sling TV. It's fantastic because it integrates with my AirTV Anywhere device, allowing me to watch my local antenna channels directly within the app. It's the best of both worlds: free local TV and a ton of free streaming content all in one place.

Other Freebies

My lineup of free services has only gotten better. I still have Pluto TV, Tubi, and The Roku Channel on my devices. On my Google TV devices, I have access to Google TV Freeplay, which offers over 150 channels of free, ad-supported content without having to download a single app. And of course, I still use Kanopy to stream thousands of documentaries and indie films for free with my local library card.

Services Not Used

In the spirit of cutting costs, some services just don't make the cut for me.

Peacock

When I had Peacock for free as part of my Xfinity Internet service, it was a nice perk. But that promotion has since ended. While there is a lot of good content on Peacock, the price for the Premium or Premium Plus plans just isn't worth it to me, especially since the local NBC live channel is a bonus that I don't need since I have an antenna.

Others

Netflix, Apple TV Plus, and Discovery Plus all have great content, but they don't offer enough value for me to justify the cost. My strategy has always been to watch what I want at the most efficient cost, and I can find enough content on my other services without adding them to my bill.

Paid Live Streaming (for sports)

My approach to live streaming services has not changed. I still avoid year-round subscriptions and only sign up for them during college football season. This year, my approach to that may be changing. With the new ESPN and Fox One streaming services launching in the next few weeks, I may not need a traditional vMVPD subscription at all. These new direct-to-consumer services offer a potential alternative for a much lower cost than traditional live TV services like Hulu+Live TV.

Summary

It's clear that my approach to streaming has evolved to meet the changing landscape, but my underlying philosophy of finding the most value for my money remains the same. I've taken a lineup that was great in 2021 and updated it to be even more efficient in 2025 by bundling, leveraging other subscriptions, and taking advantage of a growing number of free services. All told, my monthly streaming cost is a fraction of what most people pay for just one or two services. My Streaming Life is simple and affordable because of the ongoing effort I put into managing my subscriptions.