Comcast and Spectrum are trying new tactics to win back cord-cutters and keep their existing TV customers from jumping ship. Last week, Comcast retooled its TV plans and made them easier to understand. Instead of needing to provide a service address and scrutinize the fine print for hidden fees, you can now just go to an Xfinity web page to compare the actual prices up front. Spectrum, meanwhile, has focused on bundling streaming services with its main cable TV packages. (It also stopped doing sneaky fees last year.) The upshot is that it’s now a lot easier to decide whether cable TV is still worth it, or to determine whether your current cable TV plan is overpriced. Let’s walk through Comcast’s and Spectrum’s offerings to help you figure it out. Spectrum’s $100 cable TV deal vs. streaming Spectrum is currently offering a promo for its “TV Select Signature” plan, bringing the price to $100 per month for 12 months instead of the usual $120 per month. Spectrum’s “TV Select Plus” plan, which includes regional sports, costs an additional $10 per month. Both plans include cloud DVR for up to 50 shows, and you can use Spectrum’s streaming TV apps instead of a cable box. Jared Newman / Foundry On the surface, neither plan compares favorably to the likes of YouTube TV ($83 per month) or Hulu + Live TV ($90 per month). Spectrum’s big pitch, though, is that you get a bunch of streaming services at no extra cost, including Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max, ESPN Unlimited, Paramount+, Peacock, AMC+, and Vix. (Tennis Channel is also included in Spectrum’s TV Select Plus and TV Platinum plans.) Spectrum says these the value of these services equals more than $100 per month, but that claim relies on some double-dipping. ESPN Unlimited and Fox One consist mainly of the same content that’s already on their respective cable channels, and Spectrum’s adding up the individual costs of Disney+ and Hulu instead of their bundled price with ESPN. When we look at the real value of these streaming freebies, it adds up to $63 or $73 per month: Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN Select (all with ads): a $20-per-month value HBO Max (with ads): an $11-per-month value Paramount+ (with ads): an $8-per-month value Peacock (with ads): an $11-per-month value AMC+ (with ads): a $7-per-month value Vix (with ads): a $6-per-month value Tennis Channel (TV Select Plus and TV Platinum only): a $10-per-month value So, is Spectrum’s TV plan a good deal? It depends on which services and channels you’d normally pay for year round. YouTube TV combined with just the first four streaming services listed above, for instance, would cost you a total $133 per month, versus $120 per month with Spectrum ($100 per month in year one). Hulu with Live TV combined with Peacock, Paramount+, and AMC+ would cost you $120 per month, same as Spectrum’s non-promotional rate. (Hulu’s service includes Disney+, Hulu on demand, and ESPN Select at no extra charge.) In those scenarios, Spectrum comes out ahead. But if you don’t need a full-sized pay TV package, or your streaming needs are more narrow, Spectrum’s TV plans could be a waste of money. As I’ve previously documented, cheaper bundles with fewer channels are starting to become available, some of which include free streaming services themselves. I encourage you to look at all those options before committing to a TV bill of $100 per month or more, because even when you factor in Spectrum’s freebies, the cost might not be worth it. (While Spectrum also offers a $40-per-month option called TV Stream, with dozens of entertainment channels along with CNN and Fox News, you won’t get local channels, live sports, or any streaming freebies.) Comcast’s updated packages vs. streaming Unlike Spectrum, Comcast isn’t bundling any free streaming services with its standard cable TV packages. That makes the comparison a lot simpler. Comcast’s main TV package is now called “Xfinity TV Plus,” and it costs $95 per month if you also have Xfinity home internet service. “Xfinity TV Premium” costs $125 per month for internet customers, and it includes regional sports networks and sports league channels. (Each is $10-per-month pricier without an Xfinity home internet service.) Comcast includes an X1 cable box and 300 hours of DVR with all plans, and you can use the Xfinity Stream app on connected smart TVs, PCs, and mobile devices as well. Jared Newman / Foundry Compared to YouTube TV at $83 per month or Hulu + Live TV at $90 per month, Comcast’s full-sized TV packages are still more expensive, though not by lot. You’d be paying a premium for the creature comforts of a cable box (and tying yourself to Comcast’s internet service if you want the $10-per-month discount). But Comcast is also wading into the skinny bundle business. Its Sports & News TV package includes local channels, major national sports networks, cable news channels, and Peacock for $80 per month. An $85-per-month World Soccer Ticket plan adds Spanish-language channels such as TUDN, Fox Deportes, and ESPN Deportes. (While these plans include Peacock, Comcast’s larger packages strangely do not.) Other sports bundles are still cheaper, including DirecTV MySports ($70 per month) and Fubo Sports ($56 per month), but as with Comcast’s full-sized packages, DirecTV’s sports offerings might be worthwhile if you want the cable-box experience. More to come Last week, YouTube announced that it will launch more than 10 of its own genre-specific packages early next year. It hasn’t revealed pricing or many details, except that one of the packages will focus on sports. All of which means that the cable companies will soon need to adapt once more. It’s great that they’ve finally embraced price transparency and are finding ways to deliver value, but without more flexible options for cord cutters, they’ll again find themselves behind the times. Sign up for Jared’s Cord Cutter Weekly newsletter for more streaming TV advice. Read...

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At a glance Top Picks in streaming and sports entertainment Apple TV: It’s a great service, and this deal will save you $42 over six months. Disney+ and Hulu: Both the with-ads and ad-free deals offer substantial savings over a full year ($96 and $60 respectively). NFL Sunday Ticket: Football fans who snap up this deal will save $48 for the rest of the regular season. Starz: The one-year-for-$11.99 option is the one to take with this service. Walmart+: If you shop at Walmart, this half-off membership deal includes a full year of either Peacock or Paramount+ Essential One thing became clear as we assembled these Cyber Monday streaming deals: Companies see higher value in customers who subscribe to their plans that include ads, over what are otherwise the same services without ads. The savings you’ll get without ads is almost always less (as a percentage) than what you’ll get if you’re willing to put up with the annoyance commercial breaks. Of course, with some channels—especially those carrying live TV and sports–you’ll get ads with some content even if you are paying the higher no-ads price. Updated December 1, 2025: Deals refreshed, pricing verified. Cyber Monday deals on streaming entertainment Crave (Canada only, with ads): $89.99 for a full year (25% off) Crave Premium (Canada only, no ads): $129.99 for a full year (41% off) Disney+ and Hulu (with ads): $4.99/mo for 12 months (62% off) Disney+ and Hulu (no ads): $14.99/mo for 12 months (25% off) Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max (with ads): $19.99/mo for 12 months (43% off) Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max (no ads): $32.99/mo for 12 months (42% off) Frndly TV: $.99/mo for 3 months: (86% off) HBO Max (with ads, no live sports): $2.99/mo for 12 months (73% off) Starz (no ads): $2.99/mo for 3 months (73% off) Starz (no ads): $11.99 for a full year (83% off) Cyber Monday deals on sports streaming plus entertainment Apple TV (pro baseball and soccer, Formula 1 in 2026; no ads): $5.99/mo for 6 mos (54% off) ESPN Unlimited, Disney+, and Hulu (with ads): $29.99/mo for 12 months (44% off) Paramount+ Essential (with ads): $2.99/mo for 2 months (63% off) * Paramount+ Premium (no ads): $2.99/mo for 2 months (77% off) * Cyber Monday deals on football coverage NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube: $12/mo for 4 months (68% off) * You can get one year of either Paramount+ Essential (with ads) or Peacock (with ads)—and switch between the two every three months) for free—with a one-year subscription to Walmart+, available as a Cyber Monday deal for $49 (50% off). Read...

They are the ultra-attacking and oft-mocked philosophies that were supposed to revolutionise Test cricket and soccer respectively. Is Bazball just Angeball with bails? Read...

At a glance Top Picks in streaming and sports entertainment Apple TV: It’s a great service, and this deal will save you $42 over six months. Disney+ and Hulu: Both the with-ads and ad-free deals offer substantial savings over a full year ($96 and $60 respectively). NFL Sunday Ticket: Football fans who snap up this deal will save $48 for the rest of the regular season. Starz: The one-year-for-$11.99 option is the one to take with this service. Walmart+: If you shop at Walmart, this half-off membership deal includes a full year of either Peacock or Paramount+ Essential One thing became clear as we assembled these deals: The streaming companies see higher value in customers who subscribe to their plans that include ads, over what are otherwise the same services without ads. The savings you’ll get without ads is almost always less (as a percentage) than what you’ll get if you’re willing to put up with commercial breaks. Of course, with some channels—especially those carrying live TV and sports–you’ll get ads with some content even if you’re paying the higher no-ads price. Updated November 28, 2025: Deals refreshed, pricing verified. Black Friday deals on streaming entertainment Crave (Canada only, with ads): $89.99 for a full year (25% off) Crave Premium (Canada only, no ads): $129.99 for a full year (41% off) Disney+ and Hulu (with ads): $4.99/mo for 12 months (62% off) Disney+ and Hulu (no ads): $14.99/mo for 12 months (25% off) Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max (with ads): $19.99/mo for 12 months (43% off) Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max (no ads): $32.99/mo for 12 months (42% off) Frndly TV: $.99/mo for 3 months: (86% off) HBO Max (with ads, no live sports): $2.99/mo for 12 months (73% off) Starz (no ads): $2.99/mo for 3 months (73% off) Starz (no ads): $11.99 for a full year (83% off) Black Friday deals on sports streaming plus entertainment Apple TV (pro baseball and soccer, Formula 1 in 2026; no ads): $5.99/mo for 6 mos (54% off) ESPN Select, Disney+, and Hulu (with ads): $19.99/mo (46% off) ESPN Select, Disney+, and Hulu (no ads): $29.99/mo (41% off) ESPN Unlimited, Disney+, and Hulu (with ads): $29.99/mo for 12 months (44% off) ESPN Unlimited, Disney+, and Hulu (no ads): $38.99/mo for 12 months (43% off) Paramount+ Essential (with ads): $2.99/mo for 2 months (63% off) * Paramount+ Premium (no ads): $2.99/mo for 2 months (77% off) * Black Friday deals on football coverage NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube: $12/mo for 4 months (68% off) * You can get one year of either Paramount+ Essential (with ads) or Peacock (with ads)—and switch between the two every three months) for free—with a one-year subscription to Walmart+, available as a Black Friday deal for $49 (50% off). Read...

The British sports streaming giant has recently pulled the plug on domestic soccer deals in France and Belgium. Read...

Good news, soccer fans: You’ll be paying a lot less for your Major League Soccer habit next year.  Apple has announced that starting next year, it will do away with the add-on paywall for Apple TV’s Major League Soccer coverage, meaning all Apple TV subscribers will get to stream MLS regular season and playoff action for no extra charge.  For this past regular season of MLS Season Pass, Apple charged $14.99 a month or $99 for the full season, while Apple TV subscribers had to shell out a discounted rate of $12.99 a month or $79 for the season. Apple had already dropped its MLS paywall for Apple TV subscribers at the end of the regular season, so all 2025 MLS playoff games are included in its $12.99-per-month subscription (following a recent price hike). “Our partnership with Apple has always been about innovating for our fans,” said Don Garber, the commissioner of Major League Soccer, in a press release. “Bringing every MLS match to Apple TV takes that vision to the next level by making it easier than ever for fans everywhere to watch, connect, and be part of the game.”  Also chiming in was Apple SVP Eddie Cue, who called the news a “win for fans everywhere.”  Aside from regular season marches, Apple TV’s 2026 MLS coverage will include the annual Leagues Cup tournament, the MLS All-Star Game, the Campeones Cup, the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs.  The standalone MLS Season Pass on Apple TV will wrap up with the 2025 season, which is still in progress.  Apple signed a 10-year, $2.5 billion deal with Major League Soccer back in 2022, and it kicked off its standalone MLS Season Pass the following year.  For the 2025 MLS season, Apple debuted Sunday Night Soccer, a weekly marquee matchup that boasts an “enhanced” production and “dedicated” studio programming, along with pre- and post-game shows. Sign up for Apple TV Read...

To mark the 20-year anniversary of the night that ended the Socceroos’ 32-year World Cup drought, we look at five famous Australian penalty shootout wins - and ponder the alternate reality that awaited had they gone the other way. Read...

It was minus 8 degrees. The goalkeepers had shovels to clear the lines, and when extra time was needed, snowploughs cleared the pitch. There was a lot going on in the Canadian Premier League soccer finals. Read...