When you cut cable, your first thought might be, "How am I going to watch all my favorite channels?" Then you begin the very tedious game of "who has which channels." So we compared the top 100 most-watched channels in 2020 (according to Variety)

with the five best alternatives to cable TV. One point is given if a channel is offered as an entry package, and half a point if it is offered as a specific package or add-on.

In the case of Sling TV, most of the half points are due to Blue or Orange channels only, or channels available as add-ons; see here for a comparison of Sling Orange and Blue.

This list is current as of October 4, 2021; the battle between YouTube TV and NBCUniversal has ended and these channels are still on that service.

The big news in the top 25 is that you get what you pay for; DirecTV Stream (23/25) is the most expensive at $70/month. And the two missing channels - Ion and Me TV - are networks that are not on any platform.

Hulu with Live TV (21/25) and YouTube TV (20/25) have a similar selection, but Hulu has a History Channel, which YouTube TV and fuboTV do not (Sling and DirecTV Stream do).

The biggest problem with Fubo (with a score of 18.5) is the lack of Turner networks, especially CNN, although (possibly, since MSNBC and FOX News Channel are ranked just above it) maybe you watch your news elsewhere. The absence of TBS and TNT is infuriating.

Sling's inexpensive, adjustable package lacks seven channels in all, since it gets half of its 10 points from channels that are only on either the Blue or Orange plan and the Hallmark channels included in the $6/month Lifestyle Extras, We are giving it the lowest score this time around of 13/25.

But here's an interesting note: Sling TV and fuboTV offer or can add channels that their rivals do not offer. They include an INSP channel dedicated to westerns, a We TV network for lifestyle content (not on Hulu), and a game show network, GSN (not on YouTube or Hulu).

Other odd exceptions include AMC not on Hulu (a potential deal breaker for Prestige TV fans) while everywhere else, Cartoon Network/Adult Swim on fuboTV (another Turner channel missing) and the fact that Sling does not offer Nickelodeon or Animal Planet.

The same pattern can be seen here, with Fubo (18.5) trailing the others, but YouTube TV (17.5) has a 0.5 point advantage over DirecTV Stream (17) and Hulu (17), with Sling TV (12.5) trailing Sling TV (12.5) is behind.

Notable missing channels include YouTube TV's lack of Oxygen and Sling and Hulu's lack of OWN and IFC networks; YouTube TV also does not offer DIY (other channels do) and HLN's news network is fuboTV everywhere else. [BBC America is everywhere but Hulu, DirecTV Stream has no NFL Network, Pop TV no longer airs new episodes of Schitt's Creek, and Sling TV customers are not hurt by its absence (the channel virtually everywhere else). [DirecTV Stream (14/25) and Fubo (13.5/25) led the others, with YouTube (11/25) and Hulu (11/25) tied in the middle and Sling (7.5) last.

Most notable in this set is The Weather Channel, which is only available on fuboTV's entry-level package and the $84.99/month DirecTV Stream option.

Sling lacks much of what is available elsewhere, including Cozi TV, Galavision, and Smithstonian Channel. And as always, you may be unhappy that fuboTV lacks truTV (another Turner network).

More frustrating, however, is that DirecTV Stream is pushing people into a $94.99/month package for FYI (available on Hulu) and FX Movies Channel (available on Hulu and YouTube TV). This $94.99 price point is essentially cable-level TV.

And, you guessed it, DirecTV Stream won. This is funny considering it is our least favorite live TV streaming service.

Also, Sling's score was lower than the others, which makes sense since its $35/month Blue and Orange packages are $30-$35 cheaper than these competitors.

The final tally is not so surprising. The $70/month DirecTV Stream was the winner because it tries to recreate the old cable TV world of "ALL THE CHANNELS," but with a slightly modern twist.

The $65/month services, fuboTV, YouTube TV, and Hulu, are all relatively close. However, fuboTV took second place, interestingly enough given the absence of Turner's network, but with channels such as Hallmark Channel and AMC (which for some reason is not on Hulu) and the $8/month optional add-on fubo Extra, half points back.

Sling's customization options helped it become our top pick for the best cable TV alternative service, despite its lowest ranking. two of Tom's Guide's streaming coverage team (including myself) just recently cut a deal with Sling and contract, which proves that the final tally is not always the whole story. Sometimes you just need the channels that matter to you.