Streaming channels, the gifts that keeps on giving
With SlingTV, for example, you won't be able to watch ESPN's "Monday Night Football" on a phone (Verizon has locked up NFL mobile streaming rights) but you can catch the action on Amazon Fire, iPads and Android tablets.
Sling TV, with a starting $20 monthly fee for live TV that includes ESPN, AMC, A&E and TNT, offers add-on packages such as for Spanish-language networks including Univision ($5).
Hulu ($7.99 monthly with commercials, $11.99 without) carries current and past episodes of ABC, Fox and NBC network shows, originals such as "The Mindy Project" and cable fare from FX, AMC, Bravo, Comedy Central and others.
The offerings include "NFL Sunday Ticket" from DirecTV ($199 at the start of the season, now $99); MLB.TV Premium ($129.99 annually) for regular season games; NHL GameCenter ($159 annually) with live out-of-market regular season games; and DishWorld Sports ($10) for European football and other global sports.
Feeln ($3.99 monthly) combines Hallmark Hall of Fame movies featuring stories of love and family with other Hollywood movies and TV series, including children's shows, and original projects.
Shudder ($4.99 monthly) from AMC lives up to its name with horror films grouped under categories including Monster Mash, ''Psychos and Madmen and, for a diversion, Alien Intruders.
Acorn TV ($4.99 monthly) bills itself as the best of British television with an array of dramas, comedies and mysteries including Brideshead Revisited, ''Agatha Christie's Poirot, ''Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries, ''Foyle's War and Jeeves & Wooster.
Gaia ($7.95 monthly) streams yoga, meditation and other "mind-expanding" programs for a more conscious life, while The Gymbox ($10 monthly) promises a variety of workouts, updated weekly, including kickboxing, Pilates, step aerobics and cycling.
Newly launched Smithsonian Earth ($3.99 monthly) streams nature and wildlife documentaries and series planned as separate from Smithsonian Ch