On-demand Streaming Services
On-demand streaming services allow you to watch content when you want to. While it’s becoming more common for these streaming services to offer additional content like linear channels, live sports, and local TV channels, the main feature is still a service’s library of on-demand content.
Live TV Streaming Services
Live TV streaming services focus on delivering linear, live television. Some have local affiliates for major broadcast television networks like ABC, CBS, and NBC, while others do not. The selection of channels can vary greatly not only between services, but within the same streaming service depending on the region.
Most live TV streaming services also provide a library of on-demand content, but it is not their main selling point. And they typically don’t produce original content for it.
Free Streaming Services
Free streaming services are precisely that. Free. They’re also known as FASTs, or Free Ad-Supported TV. They make their money through advertising rather than subscriptions, so expect to watch commercials. Some have a lot of ads, some don’t.
Most free streaming services have linear TV channels with scheduled programming. Some have actual live channels while other have a mix of live, linear, and on-demand content. Read What Are Free Streaming Services? (And Are They Worth Your Time?) for more information.
