Your Greatest Streaming Guess Might Be a Skinny TV Package deal. However What Are They?

Fed up with worth hikes and channel outages within the TV world? Properly, media firms 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 sport, nevertheless it’s doable you could not have observed or cared to discover additional.

We at CNET like to remind you about free streaming companies and your FAST choices, 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 sport. The ache is actual, however the price range pangs do not need to be. For individuals who wish to proceed shunning cable or satellite tv for pc companies in any respect prices, or for cable holdouts trying to strive 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 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 Reside TV, Fubo and Sling TV, with platforms reminiscent of Philo or Frndly hanging out on the borderline of being thought of skinny (you get what you get). However a few of these firms 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 reminiscent of DirecTV and YouTube carve out distinct choices that supply fewer channels at a lower cost, separate from their principal streaming plan lineups. For instance, DirecTV launched Style Packs in early 2025, a crop of category-specific packages that vary from $20 to $70 a month with optionally available add-ons for those who do not thoughts paying for just a few extra channels. 

To make it extra attractive 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. 

Right now, there are a restricted variety of skinny packages or bundles on the menu, however we’ll attempt to make it straightforward to check 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 wish to see. Limitless DVR — letting you pause, rewind, quick ahead and file — comes with every pack, and in some instances, you can provide 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 will be added as optionally available facet dishes to pick 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 an extra $13 monthly. It may be added solely to the MySports bundle, nevertheless, whereas the $10-per-month MyCinema mini is offered as an add-on for DTV’s MySports, MyEntertainment, MyNews and MyKids base plans. For baseball followers, the MyHome Crew mini prices $20 per  month, and also you get native sports activities networks (in areas the place obtainable) 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 monthly, however in February, it one-upped itself by launching a slate of scaled-down, lower-priced packages. The most cost effective 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 might have as much as six accounts on one subscription, and limitless DVR is customary. If you happen to’re on the lookout for bundled streaming companies like HBO Max or Hulu with out paying further, sorry — these plans do not provide that. 

It is somewhat difficult to search out the sign-up part for these subscriptions, however log in to YouTube TV by way of your Google account and navigate to the membership web page underneath the app’s settings. It’s best to be capable of browse every plan.

Fubo Sports activities

In August, Fubo rolled out Fubo Sports activities 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 for those who’re a sports activities fan who’s good with ABC, Fox, Large 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 gives day passes for Sling Orange at $5. You possibly can stream on a short-term foundation for twenty-four hours, three days or seven days. There’s additionally Sling Choose, 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 properly. 

In the identical vein, Peacock Choose launched in 2025 at $8 monthly, options new and outdated episodes from NBC and Bravo, in addition to a number of library titles. You will have to improve to a Peacock Premium tier to observe originals and its full catalog, although. 

To not be disregarded of the Choose naming sport, ESPN Choose changed ESPN Plus as an possibility 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 a substitute, this bundle nets you NHL, skilled soccer video games, school basketball, some school soccer video games, 30 for 30 content material and ESPN originals. Need extra? ESPN Limitless contains every thing on ESPN Choose. 

What’s the advantage of 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 companies embrace native channels like ABC or NBC, so that you get primetime reveals, 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 every of 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, preserve skinny packages in your radar.