TV · Live TV services
YouTube TV, Hulu Live, Sling and Fubo on Starlink internet
Every one of them streams over Starlink. What differs is the price, how many TVs can watch at once, and how each one decides which city’s local channels you get.
All of these live-TV services work over Starlink internet: each asks for far less speed than a Residential plan is expected to deliver. The catch is local channels. The services pick your TV market from your location, and Starlink says its IP geolocation can be several states off.
Starlink doesn’t sell or bundle any of them; you subscribe with the TV company. The table has each plan and price as listed on Nov 3, 2026.
The lineup, side by side
| Service · plan | Price | Streams at once | Local channels | Cloud DVR | Speed it asks for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| YouTube TV Main plan (formerly Base Plan) | $82.99/mo | 3 at once; 4K Plus add-on ($9.99/mo) unlocks unlimited at home | Set by home ZIP; full local coverage in over 98% of US TV households, YouTube TV says | No storage limit; recordings are kept 9 months | 13 Mbps for HD with other devices on; 25 Mbps for 4K |
| Hulu + Live TV With Disney+ and ESPN Select, with ads | $99.99/mo | 2 screens at once; Unlimited Screens add-on $9.99 a month for Live TV plans | Local affiliates follow your physical location; regional sports follow your Home location | Not checked | 8 Mbps for live; 16 Mbps for 4K |
| Sling Orange | $45.99/mo + taxes | 1 at a time | ABC, FOX, NBC: select markets only | Not checked | 3 Mbps per stream; 25 Mbps for several devices |
| Sling Blue | $45.99/mo + taxes | Up to 3 at a time | Same as Orange | Not checked | Same as Orange |
| Fubo Pro (base plan) | $88.99/mo | Not checked | ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC and other locals in most major markets | Not checked | 10 Mbps for 1080p; 25 Mbps for 4K |
| DIRECTV (streaming) ENTERTAINMENT, your own device | $89.99/mo + taxes & fees | Not checked | Local channels vary by where you live; device may need to be in your billing area | Not checked | At least 25 Mbps |
| Philo Essential | $25/mo | Up to 3 devices at once | None; Philo suggests an antenna | 1-year unlimited cloud DVR | Not checked |
A few extras that change the math, all as listed on Nov 3, 2026. YouTube TV’s Sports Plan is $64.99/mo and, YouTube says, includes local NBC, CBS, FOX and ABC. Sling’s cheapest plan, Essentials, starts at $19.99/mo. Fubo adds a Regional Sports Fee of $15.99/mo in some NBC regional sports areas. DIRECTV’s streaming CHOICE package and up add a Regional Sports Fee of up to $23.99/mo. Hulu’s price is for new subscriptions.
Will each one run on Starlink?
On speed, yes. The most any of these services asks for is 25 Mbps for 4K (YouTube TV and Fubo say the same; DIRECTV asks for at least 25 Mbps). Starlink lists 80–100 Mbps download, with 15–35 Mbps upload, expected on Residential 100 Mbps.
Speed asked vs StarlinkChecked Nov 3, 2026
- Hulu · live TV
- 8 Mbps
- Fubo · 1080p
- 10 Mbps
- YouTube TV · HD, other devices on
- 13 Mbps
- Sling · several devices
- 25 Mbps
- YouTube TV · 4K
- 25 Mbps
- Our arithmetic · two 4K + one Hulu live
- 58 Mbps a busy evening in one house
- Starlink Residential 100 Mbps · expected download
- 80–100 Mbps Starlink’s expected range, not a promise
Speeds from each service’s own help page. Starlink figure from its Specifications. The sum is our arithmetic, not a measurement.
Data doesn’t limit you at home: Starlink says all Residential plans include unlimited data. Steadiness does. A live stream can’t buffer far ahead, so a short dropout shows as a spinning wheel; the dish’s view of the sky and a wired streaming box matter more than top speed.
Hulu has one extra rule worth knowing. Hulu Live TV needs a residential, non-mobile Home network; hotspots don't qualify. Hulu doesn’t mention Starlink or satellite internet. Our reading: a Residential Starlink plan at your home is a residential connection, but Hulu hasn’t said so in the pages we read.
How each service picks your home market
Local stations are licensed by TV market, so every live-TV service has to decide where you are. How it does that decides how much Starlink’s IP location matters.
| Service | How it decides your market | Our reading on Starlink |
|---|---|---|
| YouTube TV | Sets channels by home ZIP and may verify location with device location permissions | Starts from the ZIP you type in, so it leans less on your IP address. If it asks you to verify, a phone with location turned on can answer from where you really are. |
| Hulu + Live TV | Local affiliates follow your physical location; regional sports follow your Home location | Hulu doesn’t say how it finds a TV’s physical location. If that leans on the IP address, Starlink’s geolocation can point it at another market. |
| Fubo | Finds your local channels by GPS on phones and by IP address on TVs and computers | The most exposed on a living-room TV, because the TV app goes by the IP address that Starlink says can be states away. |
| DIRECTV (streaming) | Local channels vary by where you live; device may need to be in your billing area | If your device looks outside your billing area, some programs may not play. |
| Sling | Sling's local channels (ABC, FOX, NBC) are only in select markets | The Sling page we read doesn’t say how it detects your market. Check the lineup at your ZIP before relying on its locals. |
| Philo | Philo has no local channels and suggests an antenna | Nothing to go wrong with locals, because there are none. Pair it with an antenna. |
Why Starlink can show the wrong city
Apps see your home through an IP address and guess a location from it. With cable or DSL, the guess usually lands near your town. Starlink says its IP location can be several states away from your real location, and that it is working to bring that closer; and its streaming FAQ says a “not in your region” error is likely an IP geolocation mismatch.
Our reading, from combining Starlink’s note with the services’ own rules: on Starlink, a live-TV app that picks locals by IP address may show another market’s stations. A viewer in Northern New England could get a Boston or New York lineup instead of the local one. Services that start from your ZIP code or a phone’s GPS are less exposed. No service says Starlink specifically is affected, and we haven’t measured it. If it happens, the fixes are service by service (update your home area, verify with a phone, or use an antenna); our local channels guide has the steps.
Which one fits your household
Our reading of the lineup, for a household moving to Starlink:
- Want locals, lots of DVR and no fuss: YouTube TV. It sets locals from your ZIP code, keeps recordings for months and says it has full local coverage in over 98% of US TV households.
- Want Disney+ and ESPN in the same bill: Hulu + Live TV, which bundles them.
- Mostly cable news and lifestyle channels, on a budget: Sling Orange or Blue, or Philo, paired with an antenna for locals.
- Sports first: Fubo or YouTube TV’s Sports Plan; check regional sports fees. Our live sports guide covers NFL Sunday Ticket and ESPN.
- Already a DIRECTV customer: DIRECTV’s streaming service keeps the same company without the dish; see Starlink vs DIRECTV.
Moving from satellite TV? The TV bill calculator compares your current bill with Starlink plus the service you pick.
Where live TV over Starlink can let you down
- Locals by IP can be wrong. Starlink says its IP geolocation can be several states off. Our reading is that IP-based apps can show the wrong market; the fixes aren’t always quick.
- Live runs behind the broadcast. YouTube TV says live streams have a broadcast delay and lets you lower it. Expect your phone’s score alerts to beat the picture.
- Dropouts hit live TV hardest. Starlink says rain, snow or hail at the heavier end can interrupt service for a moment, and a tree or roofline that stays in the dish’s view can still cause on-and-off outages, lost packets and slower speeds.
- Evenings are busier. Residential Max outranks the 100 and 200 Mbps Residential tiers, so homes on those two are likelier to slow down on a congested network.
- Prices move. Regional sports fees vary by ZIP. Check the sign-up page before you cancel anything.
Sit this one out if…
- local news is a must and the service you want picks locals by IP address: test an antenna at your house first (see local channels)
- you follow one team on a regional sports channel: confirm the service carries it at your ZIP, and budget for the regional sports fee where one applies
- you’re not sure a live-TV app can replace your satellite TV: check each service’s lineup for your ZIP on its own site before ordering (it needs no Starlink), because Starlink’s referral terms expect customers who mean to keep it
- you already have cable or fiber internet: every service here runs on it, without the IP-location question
What gamers and cord-cutters ask
Does YouTube TV work with Starlink?
Yes. YouTube TV asks for at least 3 Mbps, 13 Mbps for HD with other devices on the network and 25 Mbps for 4K, all well under the 80–100 Mbps download Starlink lists for Residential 100 Mbps. It sets locals from your home ZIP and may ask to verify your location.
Does Starlink offer YouTube TV?
No. Starlink sells internet only and has no TV service or TV bundle. You subscribe to YouTube TV (or any live-TV service) directly with that company and stream it over Starlink.
Will Hulu + Live TV work with Starlink?
It streams fine on speed: Hulu suggests 8 Mbps for live TV. Hulu also requires a “residential, non-mobile” home network and says hotspots don’t qualify. Hulu doesn’t mention satellite internet; our reading is that a Residential Starlink plan at your home is a residential connection, but Hulu hasn’t said so.
Does Sling TV work with Starlink?
Yes. Sling needs at least 3 Mbps for one stream and recommends 25 Mbps for several devices. Its local channels (ABC, FOX, NBC) are only in select markets, so check your ZIP or plan on an antenna.
Does Fubo work on Starlink?
Yes for streaming. Local channels are the risk: Fubo says it finds your locals by GPS on phones but by IP address on TVs and computers, and Starlink says its IP geolocation can be several states from your home.
Why do I see another city’s local channels on Starlink?
Starlink says its internet geolocation may be several states from where you really are, and some live-TV apps choose locals from your IP address. Our local channels page lists the fix for each service and the antenna fallback.
Can you stream live TV on Starlink without buffering?
Usually, with a clear sky and a good in-home connection, but it’s not a promise. Weather and a blocked view cause short dropouts, and the lower Residential tiers slow before Max on busy evenings. A wired streaming box rules out Wi-Fi.
Receipts for the numbers above
- Starlink help-center search (US) (looked up Nov 3, 2026)
- YouTube TV: plans page (looked up Nov 3, 2026)
- Hulu: plans and prices (looked up Nov 3, 2026)
- Sling TV: plans (looked up Nov 3, 2026)
- Fubo Help: price changes (looked up Nov 3, 2026)
- DIRECTV: streaming packages (looked up Nov 3, 2026)
- Philo: home page and FAQ (looked up Nov 3, 2026)
- YouTube TV Help: plans (looked up Nov 3, 2026)
- YouTube TV Help: home area (looked up Nov 3, 2026)
- YouTube TV: Sports Plan (looked up Nov 3, 2026)
- Hulu Help: screens at once (looked up Nov 3, 2026)
- Hulu Help: Live TV home network (looked up Nov 3, 2026)
- Hulu Help: Live TV availability (looked up Nov 3, 2026)
- Fubo Help: local channels (looked up Nov 3, 2026)
- Fubo Help: wrong locals (looked up Nov 3, 2026)
- DIRECTV: satellite offer terms (looked up Nov 3, 2026)
- Philo Help: local channels (looked up Nov 3, 2026)
- YouTube TV Help: streaming problems (looked up Nov 3, 2026)
- Hulu Help: speed advice (looked up Nov 3, 2026)
- Sling Help: buffering (looked up Nov 3, 2026)
- Fubo Help: speed needed (looked up Nov 3, 2026)
- Starlink US Specifications (legal doc) (looked up Nov 3, 2026)
- Starlink support: Residential plan list (looked up Nov 3, 2026)
- Starlink support: wrong IP location (looked up Nov 3, 2026)
- Starlink support: streaming troubleshooting (looked up Nov 3, 2026)
- Starlink US service plan descriptions (looked up Nov 3, 2026)
- Starlink support: weather and service (looked up Nov 3, 2026)
- Starlink support: what obstructions do (looked up Nov 3, 2026)
Every figure keeps the date we last looked it up; our fact rules say how. When one turns out wrong or stale, the fix is dated on the corrections page.