Fed up with worth hikes and channel outages within the TV world? Nicely, media corporations have taken discover of your complaints and are introducing “skinny” TV packages as extra reasonably priced options. Everybody from DirecTV to Fubo to Sling is getting within the sport, but it surely’s potential 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 look at a sport. The ache is actual, however the funds pangs do not should be. For many who need to proceed shunning cable or satellite tv for pc providers in any respect prices, or for cable holdouts seeking 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 providers. A bundle usually provides you fewer than 100 channels, versus the quantity seen in full packages that usually 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 comparable 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 comparable to DirecTV and YouTube carve out distinct choices that supply fewer channels at a cheaper price, separate from their fundamental 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 elective add-ons if you happen to do not thoughts paying for a number of 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 price. We’ll skip its satellite tv for pc TV plans, however its major 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 simple 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 kind of content material they need to see. Limitless DVR — letting you pause, rewind, quick ahead and report — comes with every pack, and in some instances, you may give these a spin with a free trial. 

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

DirecTV Style Packs

Bundle Identify	Month-to-month worth	Channel rely	Channel examples	Streaming perk
MyEntertainment	$35	60+	AMC, Bravo, BBC, Lifetime, FX, VH1, Grownup Swim	HBO Max, Disney Plus, Hulu w. adverts
MySports	$70	20+	ABC, CBS, ESPN, FS1, TBS, USA, Fox, TNT, NFL Community	ESPN Limitless
MyKids	$20	10+	Cartoon Community, Boomerang, Disney Channel, Nickelodeon, Nick Jr.	Disney Plus Primary
MiEspanol	$35	60+	Telemundo, Univision, Estrella TV, UniMas, ESPN Deportes, TUDN	Vix Premium
MyNews	$40	10+	ABC, CBS, Fox, CNBC, CNN, MS Now, NBC, Bloomberg	—

The MySports Further mini plan provides you eight further channels, like NFL RedZone and MotorTrend, for an extra $13 per 30 days. It may be added solely to the MySports bundle, nonetheless, whereas the $10-per-month MyCinema mini is obtainable as an add-on for DTV’s MySports, MyEntertainment, MyNews and MyKids base plans. For baseball followers, the MyHome Workforce 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 worth of $55, however you’ll be able to solely choose a single plan. Like YouTube TV’s base plan, these slimmer packages let you’ve got as much as six accounts on one subscription, and limitless DVR is commonplace. In the event you’re on the lookout for bundled streaming providers like HBO Max or Hulu with out paying further, sorry — these plans do not provide that. 

It is a little bit difficult to seek 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 need to be capable to browse every plan.

YouTube TV skinny plans

Bundle Identify	Month-to-month worth	Channel rely	Channel examples
Leisure	$55	65	Bravo, FX, Hallmark Channel, BET, ABC, NBC, Fox
Sports activities	$65	57	ESPN, ABC, NBC, Fox, TNT, TBS,
Sports activities + Information	$72	77	TBS, ABC, ESPN, CNN, TNT, FS1
Sports activities + Leisure	$72	102	ABC, NBC, Bravo, USA, TNT, FX, ESPN, ACC Community, HGTV, NFL Community
Information + Leisure	$63	84	CNN, CNBC, Fox, ABC, NBC, FX, Meals Community, TLC
Sports activities + Household	$72	70	Nickelodeon, USA, TBS, ESPN, Cartoon Community, ABC, NBC
Information + Household	$63	52	NBC, C-SPAN, MS Now, CNBC, Cartoon Community, Disney Jr.

Fubo Sports activities

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

Fubo Sports activities

Bundle Identify	Month-to-month worth	Channel rely	Channel examples	Streaming perk
Fubo Sports activities	$56 (after first month)	26	CBS, ABC, Fox, FS1, FS2, ESPN, Tennis Channel	ESPN Limitless

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 gives 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 prospects have entry to native stations as nicely. 

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

To not be neglected of the Choose naming sport, 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 do not get NFL or NBA entry. As an alternative, 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 every thing 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 primary character in your TV life. Lower the wire, lower the channels you do not watch and lower down your streaming invoice. A number of of those providers 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 at all times assured, which can flip you away from considered one of these choices if they are not within the lineup. But when it is all about your individual sports activities fandom, a particular TV style you prefer or downsizing your funds, hold skinny packages in your radar.