TruTV has changed a lot over the years, but it now stands as one of the best overall channels for entertainment with a focus on comedy with a healthy dose of sports. Although it is one of the base “cable channels,” it is not necessary to have cable to enjoy it. Read on to learn your options.
In a hurry? Any of the following services will provide you with access to TruTV and many other channels:
- DIRECTV STREAM: Makes it easy to switch from cable to streaming with their 75+ channel Entertainment plan and options for much more. A 5-day free trial is now available for DIRECTV STREAM.
- Sling TV: The top low-cost streaming service provides a great base channel lineup in both its plans. Save 50% with Sling TV.
- Hulu + Live TV: This total entertainment streaming service provides a great on-demand selection and all the essential live TV channels.
If you can’t watch your favorite movies and shows because of your location, try ExpressVPN to get access to the content you deserve.
Table Of Contents
TruTV was launched in 2008, rising phoenix-like from the ashes of CourtTV. At the time, it was still very much a drama- and action-based reality network — so “real” that the channel’s staff felt the need to coin a new word for it: “actuality.”
Courtroom coverage was reduced to the “In Session” programming block from 9 am to 3 pm, then whittled away until it was removed altogether.
By 2014, the station’s content had completely shifted to comedic-themed reality shows, semi-scripted docuseries, sketch comedy, and reality competitions aimed at “funseekers.” Some syndicated series and films were also thrown into the mix.
The joke is on your cable company, though, if they think you need their expensive contracts to catch the latest Backyard Bar Wars. Just check out the streaming services discussed below, and you’ll be the last one laughing.
March Madness on TruTV
March Madness 2024 is on. TruTV will be showing First Four and first- and second-round coverage.
- Selection Sunday: March 17
- First Four: March 19, 20
- First/Second Rounds: March 21, 22, 23, 24
- Sweet 16/Elite 8: March 28, 29, 30, 31
- Final Four: April 6
- NCAA Championship: 9 p.m. Monday, April 8 (ET)
Here’s the full schedule:
Round | Date | City |
Selection Sunday | March 13 | N/A |
First Four | March 15 and 16 | Dayton, Ohio |
First/Second | March 17 and 19 | Buffalo, New York |
First/Second | March 17 and 19 | Cincinnati, Ohio |
First/Second | March 17 and 19 | Fort Worth, Texas |
First/Second | March 17 and 19 | Portland, Oregon |
First/Second | March 18 and 20 | Greenville, South Carolina |
First/Second | March 18 and 20 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
First/Second | March 18 and 20 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
First/Second | March 18 and 20 | San Diego, California |
Sweet 16/Elite Eight | March 24 and 26 | San Antonio, Texas |
Sweet 16/Elite Eight | March 24 and 26 | San Francisco, California |
Sweet 16/Elite Eight | March 25 and 27 | Chicago, Illinois |
Sweet 16/Elite Eight | March 25 and 27 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
Final Four | April 2 and 4 | New Orleans |
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How to Watch TruTV Live Without Cable
TruTV is currently marketed together with its closest sibling stations, TBS (more standard scripted comedy) and TNT (scripted drama), which were in turn part of the Turner Broadcasting family, which also included CNN, HLN, Cartoon Network/Adult Swim, Boomerang, and Turner Classic Movies. Turner Broadcasting is currently owned by WarnerMedia, making TruTV a step-sibling of HBO, Cinemax, and The CW.
Unfortunately, you can’t get TruTV with an antenna, because it’s not an over-the-air network (think NBC, ABC, CBS). It’s considered a “pay” or “cable” channel because you can only watch it if your local cable or satellite provider — like Xfinity or Verizon — makes it available.
At least, that’s how it used to work.
These days, more and more people turn to OTT (over-the-top) services that find alternate methods to deliver the same TV channels. No year-long commitments, no hidden fees, no waiting around all day for the cable guy to come just to plug in a few cords.
You can get all your favorite shows, live, just like you watch them on cable, through a streaming service that provides all the TV you love over the internet.
Streaming Services With TruTV
Another great advantage to streaming services is that you have choices. Usually at least two or three (and sometimes up to six or more) give you access to the channels you want.
Each service has its own pros and cons. You can choose one that works best for you. TruTV is carried by several of the biggest services: Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, and DIRECTV STREAM (formerly AT&T TV).
Let’s talk details.
Sling TV
The great strength of Sling TV is its flexibility. You can get around 40 channels or over a hundred. It’s the most customizable service out there. It’s cheap too. Sling Blue gives you TruTV plus 40+ other channels for just $40.00/mo!
This plan also comes with Cartoon Network (Adult Swim), Comedy Central, FX, TBS, and TNT. You also get your local NBC and Fox affiliates in most areas. Plus, you can watch on up to three devices at the same time if your household doesn’t always agree on what to watch. And you get 50 hours of cloud DVR.
Sling TV doesn’t have a free trial. Save 50% on Sling TV now! Read our thorough review for more information. You can also check out our guide to March Madness coverage and schedule.
DIRECTV STREAM
DIRECTV STREAM (formerly AT&T TV) carries TruTV and all the Warner sister stations (including TBS) in its base Entertainment package. You get Comedy Central, FXX, TV Land, and TLC.
DIRECTV STREAM offers four tiers of service. The lowest level is the Entertainment Plan with 75+ channels for $79.99/mo. The top-level is the Premier with 140+ channels for $164.99/mo. That plan might sound expensive but it comes with a ton of premium channels from HBO, Showtime, Starz, and MGM+.
All packages come with an upgradable unlimited cloud DVR (as long as you sign up online) and the ability to watch on unlimited different devices in the same home (and remotely). All TV packages also come with a full slate of local broadcast channels.
For details, see our DIRECTV STREAM review.
Get DIRECTV STREAM Free for 5 Days
Hulu + Live TV
Good old reliable Hulu + Live TV has got your back when it comes to Turner-WarnerMedia channels: it’s got them all. You get TruTV plus over 85 other channels, unlimited Cloud DVR with 9 month storage, and the ability to watch on up to 2 screens at a time, for $76.99/mo.
But wait, there’s more! They’ll even throw in access to their huge on-demand library, and Disney+, and ESPN+. Still not convinced? In most areas, your local network affiliates are included in the deal (including The CW). And, HBO and Cinemax are available as premium channels for a little extra.
If you’re still hunting up laughs, they also carry Comedy Central, FXX, and TV Land, plus TLC for more reality-based escapism. Read our Hulu + Live TV review for more information.
Try Hulu + Live TV for 3 Days Free!
Superpower Your Live TV Streaming With a VPN
You can’t beat a VPN for privacy, security, and access. We have used them for years as an important part of our streaming toolkit and we recommend ExpressVPN. Other brands worth checking out include Hotspot Shield and CyberGhost.
i | See our VPN Buyer’s Guide for complete information on how to choose the best VPN for your needs. |
Other Ways to Stream TruTV
Searching for more ways to keep up with Fast Foodies? Here are more ways to stream TruTV:
- YouTube TV: Similar to Hulu + Live TV, you can get TruTV, TBS, TNT, plus over 80 other channels, including local networks.
- On-demand: TruTV’s shows are available to stream on several services. The most comprehensive collection is on HBO Max (since both HBO and truTV are part of WarnerMedia’s Entertainment division). You can also find some series on Amazon Prime Video and Vudu.
- TruTV App: Offers a live-stream of the channel plus on-demand content of former and current original series. It requires you to sign in with your TV provider so if you don’t already have a cable TV subscription or compatible streaming service it won’t do you much good.
TVs and Other Devices for Watching TruTV
Most modern TVs and streaming devices will allow you to watch TruTV with the services we’ve discussed. In particular, all of the following are supported:
- Smartphones/Tablets
- Android
- iOS
- Casting
- Chromecast devices
- Chromecast-enabled TVs
- TV Stick Devices
- Amazon Fire TV
- Apple TV
- Roku
- Samsung TVs
- Web browsers
- Chrome
- Edge
- Safari.
DIRECTV STREAM offers its own device (like a cable box), which is expensive ($120), but may make the transition from cable to streaming easier.
Hulu + Live TV and Sling TV support Android TV devices and smart TVs from LG and Vizio. They also both support the Xbox One. There are a number of less popular devices that are also supported; see our streaming reviews for more details.
Today’s TruTV Schedule
Here is today’s schedule in Eastern Time:
NHL Hockey – Edmonton Oilers at Vancouver Canucks The Canucks try to regain the upper hand on the Oilers in Game 5 of their Western semifinal. Evan Bouchard countered Vancouver's late tying goal by putting Edmonton back in front with 39 seconds remaining in Game 4 for a 3-2 win to tie the series. | |
NHL Post-Game on TNT Liam McHugh, Anson Carter and Paul Bissonnette recap the night in the NHL. | |
Impractical Jokers – Down in the Dump The guys lose sight of social etiquette with strangers in the park, present disastrous timeshare opportunities to future vacationers, and get sneaky with people's pockets in the grocery store. | |
Impractical Jokers: Inside Jokes – Human Piñata Murr's plan that failed the fastest; the Joker that was the first victim of the switcheroo; behind the scenes with Sal, Murr, Q and Joe. | |
Impractical Jokers: Inside Jokes – Sweat the Small Things Behind the scenes to find out what Q considers to be one of the worst punishments of all time; the prank Joe often pulls on Sal when they're traveling. | |
Impractical Jokers – Film Fail Joe, Sal, Q and Murr must think on their feet at a podiatrist's office; burying unusual objects in the park; grocery store race. | |
Top Secret Videos – Mirror - Interns In the thrilling season finale, Top Secret Videos include a keg-standing grandma gone wild, an extreme unicyclist fail and a mid-air parachute fire! Our interns meet some unsettling outsiders and learn just how deep the NSA Internship program goes. | |
Paid Programming Paid programming. | |
Paid Programming Paid programming. | |
Fast, Foolproof Recipes! Luminex™ technology combines 360° supercharged hot air & direct radiant light to lock in juices, speed up cooking times, & create a hot, crispy finish. | |
Ninja Woodfire Outdoor Grill Meet the Shark Ninja Wood Fire Grill, with Master Grill, BBQ Smoke, and Air Fry outdoor capabilities. Powered by electricity and flavored by real burning wood pellets, Woodfire Technology allows you to easily create rich flavor you can see and taste. | |
Powerful Cleaning with Shark Stratos Meet the Shark Stratos Upright Vacuum with features like the DuoClean PowerFins HairPro, Extended Reach and detachable pod for hard to reach areas, and odor neutralizing technology, you'll be cleaning like a pro in no time! | |
Impractical Jokers: Inside Jokes – Baggage Shame A behind-the-scenes look at how Murr's old neighbor learned a little too much information about his personal life and whom Joe would want by his side in a fight. | |
World's Dumbest ... – Dumbest Motorheads 11 The wildest motorheads on the road, in the sky and on the water. | |
World's Dumbest ... – World's Dumbest Showoffs 2 An out-of-control security guard; a dancer who kills it at a funeral. | |
World's Dumbest ... – World's Dumbest Thrillseekers 11 A motorcycle crash, an out of control skydiver and an angry bison. | |
World's Dumbest ... – World's Dumbest Holidays Thanksgiving turkeys fight back; Santa consumes too much holiday cheer; a leprechaun brings the luck of the Irish to a small Alabama town. | |
World's Dumbest ... – World's Dumbest Drivers 16 An oversized man tries to outrun a police car; a forklift operator totals a warehouse full of alcohol; dumb drivers crash into the same unlucky bakery. | |
World's Dumbest ... – World's Smartest Inventions 4 A bra that doubles as a gas mask; a bib designed for eating while you drive; slippers with headlights; body-scanner-proof pasties. | |
Crimes Gone Viral – Risky Moves A defiant victim refuses to give up even when a thief runs him over; an unarmed security guard saves the day when a gunman storms in; brave homeowners tackle flames after an unprovoked car arson; a crossing guard risks her own life to save a child. | |
Crimes Gone Viral – Caught by Surprise Routine trips to the store turn terrifying when criminals watch; a young girl is brutally assaulted as she walks down the street; a wild shootout breaks out right in the middle of busy traffic; fed-up employees thwart a persistent thief. | |
Crimes Gone Viral – Explosive Break-Ins Bold thieves invade a couple's home three times in one week; the frightened couple don't know who is targeting them or if the thieves will return. | |
Crimes Gone Viral – Reckless at the Wheel Police chase a thief in a stolen RV through residential areas; police learn that a driver has a baby in her car during a high-speed chase. | |
Crimes Gone Viral – Where Is He Hiding? A mother takes extreme measures to try and keep her son hidden from the police; a doorbell camera captures a nearly naked intruder wearing a costume mask. | |
Crimes Gone Viral – We See You A woman who is fed up with the chaos caused by a neighboring couple begins videotaping them and a volatile explosion erupts; an oblivious couple is too busy making out at a bar to realize an armed robbery is underway. | |
Crimes Gone Viral – Run With It At an aquarium, thieves snatch a shark from an open tank and make a break for it; two inmates make a clever escape by hiding in garbage cans. | |
Crimes Gone Viral – Grab and Go A robber attempts to hold up four young men at gunpoint, but he's in for a surprise when his victims fight back; a man with a shotgun storms into a garage but is outmatched by an employee who won't back down. | |
TNT Sports Tonight A daily look at the top stories in sports. | |
TNT Sports: The Line – TNT Sports: The Line Extensive coverage of the odds and prop bets for the upcoming night in sports. | |
NHL on TNT Face Off Wayne Gretzky, Liam McHugh, Anson Carter, and Paul Bissonnette present pregame coverage. | |
NHL Hockey – Florida Panthers at Boston Bruins The Bruins try to force a winner-take-all match against the Panthers in Game 6 of their Eastern semifinal. Charlie McAvoy scored his first of the playoffs and added an assist as Boston staved off elimination with a 2-1 win over Florida in Game 6. | |
NHL Hockey – Dallas Stars at Colorado Avalanche Western Conference Second Round, Game 6 (if necessary). |
Wrapping Up
So whether you love the hilarious firefighter hijinks of Tacoma FD or you go in more for the mind-bending street magic of Big Trick Energy, you don’t have to put up with your cable bill any longer.
Make the switch to one of these streaming services, and keep right on laughing with Impractical Jokers and all your other TruTV favorites.
FAQ
What TV shows can I watch on TruTV?
TruTV stays pretty true to its current theme of taking a standard reality premise and giving it a comedic twist.
The network’s two oldest original shows are still running and still popular: Impractical Jokers (four friends issue and complete outrageous public dares) and The Carbonaro Effect (a magician catches people’s reactions to spontaneous tricks on a hidden camera). Other current top original series include:
- Adam Ruins Everything
- Backyard Bar Wars
- Big Trick Energy
- Double Cross with Blake Griffin
- Fast Foodies
- Hot Ones: the Game Show
- It’s Personal with Amy Hoggart
- Tacoma FD
- Tirdy Works
- Top Secret Videos.
TruTV, because of a deal between Turner Sports and CBS, also airs NCAA Division I Championship games (March Madness) “First Four” and parts of the first and second rounds. Or, as SBNation puts it, “You’re watching college hoops on a comedy channel that used to cover courtroom proceedings.”
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