watch tv online

TV Channels You Can Watch Without Cable: Every Channel You Can Stream Cheaper

It wasn’t that long ago that cutting the cord meant the risk of missing must-see TV — especially full coverage of major sporting events like The Olympics and the Fifa World Cup 2022. But that isn’t true anymore. Read on to learn your options.

In a hurry? This is a long article with lots of details about all aspects of the channels you love and how to watch them. But if you just want to get started with a streaming service that will replace your cable subscription with a broad range of channels, these are our favorites:

  • Fubo: With 150+ channels, it offers something for everyone. Fubo allows you to try out its service with a free trial!
  • Philo: Super inexpensive live TV streaming service with 7-day free trial.
  • Sling TV: Probably the best streaming service in terms of customization with a 50% discount your first month.

If you can’t watch your favorite sports, TV and movies because of your location, try ExpressVPN to get access to the content you deserve. Signup now.

Why You Need a VPN Today

However, first you need a VPN to unblock US streaming services from . Our favourite is ExpressVPN. It’s definitely not the cheapest option at $6.67/month, but it just works – and across all your devices.

They have servers in 25+ US cities/states and 105 countries, which unblock access to premium streaming platforms available only in the US, as well as free “on demand” TV services worldwide.

You’ll have access to local platforms as if you were in the country, meaning you can watch BBC iPlayer as if you were in the UK, CBC Gem as if you were in Canada, plus hundreds more worldwide.

Sign Up for ExpressVPN

Hotdog users get three months free at ExpressVPN, so it’s a “no-brainer” for us. Decide for yourself with their 30 day money-back guarantee.

ExpressVPN

IMPORTANT: Once you’ve installed your VPN and connected to a US server, you’ll still need to subscribe separately to access premium streaming services.

Thanks to the advent of live TV streaming services in the last few years, you can now watch virtually everything that was once limited to cable-free in some cases! As such, networks have essentially become online TV channels, available to stream on your smart devices — everything from the smallest phone to the largest big-screen TV.

When you search for live TV channels online and streaming services that offer them, you need to know the difference between on-demand and live TV streaming. Some on-demand content libraries like Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, and even the Hulu classic plan, do not offer live TV channels. They do, however, offer some of the same content.

Hulu also has a live TV plan that competes with other streaming services like Fubo and Sling TV.

Sign Up for a Free Fubo Trial

Read on to see which channels you can access through the most popular streaming services.

Live TV Channels To Watch Online

Looking for how to watch a particular TV network online? We’ve created a comparison table of TV channels available on four of the most popular live streaming services.

The following services offer a decent range and number of channels. Note that these streaming services have further add-ons that allow you to buy online access to TV channels not listed in this table.

The symbols in the table mean the following:

  • ✔️ = the channel is available with the basic plan
  • 💲 = the channel is available with an add-on or advanced plan
  • ❌ = the channel is not available
FuboHulu LiveDIRECTVSling TV
Total Channels150+95+90+30+
A&E✔️✔️✔️
ABC✔️✔️✔️
ABC News✔️✔️
ACCN💲✔️💲💲
AccuWeather✔️✔️
Adult Swim✔️✔️ ✔️
AMC✔️✔️✔️
American Heroes💲💲💲💲
Animal Planet✔️✔️✔️
AXS TV✔️✔️
BabyFirst✔️
BBC America✔️✔️✔️
BBC World News💲💲 💲
beIN Sports (6)✔️ 💲
beIN Sports Ñ✔️💲
beIN Sports Xtra✔️
BET✔️✔️✔️✔️
BET Her💲💲💲
BET Jams💲
BET Soul💲
Big Ten Network (4)✔️✔️💲💲
Bloomberg✔️✔️✔️
Boomerang✔️✔️ 💲
Bravo✔️✔️✔️Blue
C-SPAN✔️
Cartoon Network✔️✔️✔️
CBS✔️✔️✔️
CBSN✔️✔️
CBSSN ✔️ ✔️ 💲
Cheddar News✔️✔️💲✔️
CMT✔️✔️✔️ 💲
CNBC✔️✔️✔️ 💲
CNBC World💲💲💲
CNN✔️✔️✔️
CNN International✔️✔️
Comedy Central✔️✔️✔️✔️
Comet TV✔️✔️
Cooking Channel💲💲💲 💲
Cozi TV✔️✔️
Dabl✔️
Destination America💲💲💲 💲
Discovery✔️✔️✔️Blue
Discovery Family💲💲💲
Discovery Life💲💲💲
Disney Channel✔️✔️✔️Orange
Disney Junior✔️✔️✔️ 💲
Disney XD✔️✔️✔️ 💲
E!✔️✔️✔️Blue
ESPN✔️✔️✔️Orange
ESPN2✔️✔️✔️Orange
ESPN3[1]Orange
ESPNews💲✔️💲 💲
ESPNU💲✔️💲 💲
Estrella TV✔️💲💲
Food Network✔️✔️✔️✔️
Fox✔️✔️✔️Blue
Fox Business✔️✔️✔️ 💲
Fox News✔️✔️✔️Blue
Fox Soccer Plus 💲
Freeform✔️✔️✔️Orange
FS1✔️✔️✔️Blue
FS2✔️✔️💲💲
Fuse TV💲💲✔️
FX✔️✔️✔️Blue
FXM💲✔️💲 💲
FXX✔️✔️✔️ 💲
FYI Network✔️💲 💲
Galavision✔️✔️
Game Show Network💲💲💲
get TV✔️
Golf Channel✔️✔️💲 💲
GolTV 💲 💲
GAC💲💲💲💲
Hallmark Channel✔️✔️💲
Hallmark Drama✔️💲💲
Hallmark Mysteries✔️✔️💲
HGTV✔️✔️✔️✔️
History✔️✔️✔️
HLN✔️✔️Blue
IFC✔️✔️✔️
INSP💲 💲
ID✔️✔️✔️✔️
ION✔️✔️
Law & Crime💲💲
Lifetime✔️✔️✔️
Lifetime Movies✔️💲
Local Now✔️✔️
Logo TV💲💲💲
Magnolia💲💲💲💲
MAVTV💲💲
MLB Network💲💲 💲
MotorTrend✔️✔️✔️Orange
MSNBC✔️✔️✔️Blue
MTV✔️✔️✔️ 💲
MTV Classic💲💲💲
MTV2💲💲✔️ 💲
MTVU💲
NASA✔️
Nat Geo Wild💲✔️💲 💲
Nat Geo✔️✔️✔️Blue
NBA TV💲💲 💲
NBC✔️✔️✔️Blue
NBC News Now✔️✔️
NewsNation✔️✔️💲💲
Newsmax✔️✔️ 💲
NFL Network✔️✔️Blue
NFL RedZone 💲 💲 💲
NHL Network💲💲 💲
Nick Jr✔️✔️💲✔️
Nick Music💲
Nickelodeon✔️✔️✔️
Nicktoons💲💲💲💲
OWN✔️✔️💲
Oxygen✔️✔️💲 💲
Pac-12 Network💲 💲
Paramount✔️✔️✔️ 💲
PBS[2]✔️
PBS Kids✔️
People TV💲
Pop TV✔️✔️💲
QVC✔️✔️
Revolt💲✔️ 💲
Science💲💲💲 💲
SEC Network💲✔️💲 💲
Smithsonian✔️✔️💲
Sony Entertainment💲💲
Stadium💲✔️
Start TV✔️ 💲
Sundance TV✔️✔️ 💲
Syfy✔️✔️✔️Blue
Tastemade✔️💲💲
TBS✔️✔️✔️
TCM✔️✔️ 💲
TeenNick💲💲✔️ 💲
Tennis Channel💲💲 💲
TLC✔️✔️✔️Blue
TNT✔️✔️✔️
Travel Channel✔️✔️💲✔️
truTV✔️✔️Blue
TUDN (12)✔️
TV Land✔️ ✔️ ✔️ 💲
TVG✔️💲💲
TyC Sports 💲 💲 💲
Universal Kids✔️✔️💲
Universo✔️✔️
USA✔️✔️✔️Blue
VH1✔️✔️✔️ 💲
Vice✔️✔️✔️
Weather Channel ✔️ 💲
WE tv✔️✔️💲
Zona Futbol💲
[1] ESPN 3 is available with Fubo, YouTube TV, and Hulu + Live TV via the ESPN app with TV Everywhere. [2] PBS can be viewed via the PBS app.

Note that we did not include Spanish-language plans in the above table. And in general, we did not include channels that are available with Spanish-language add-ons (this is particularly important for Fubo). The table does include Spanish-language channels that are particularly popular with English-language viewers.

Sign Up for a Free Fubo Trial

Streaming Services To Watch TV Online Live

Base PlanChannelsDVRPrice/mo
Fubo150+unlimited$79.99/month
Hulu Live95+unlimited$76.99/month
YouTube TV100+unlimited$72.99/month
Sling TV30+50 hrs$40.00/month
Philo70+unlimited$28/month
DIRECTV STREAM90+unlimited$79.99/month
unlimited Unlimited DVR recordings are deleted after 30 (Philo) and 180 (Youtube TV) days.

There are streaming services that let you watch all types of live TV channels online. It is common for popular services to offer the likes of Fox News, Newsmax, and NewsNation, for instance.

If you are a sucker for sports networks, Sling TV has a relatively cheap plan for $40.00/month with a sports add-on for $11 per month extra. This allows you to watch 15+ sports channels for far less than Hulu live TV and Fubo.

If you’re one for movies, you might want to compare Hulu + Live TV with Sling TV, as both come with a decent range of basic movie channels. Premium movie networks like HBO Max, Cinemax, Showtime, and Starz are commonly available as streaming service extras.

Kids’ networks like Disney Channel, Disney XD, and Disney Junior are also common and included in base plans with streaming services like Fubo, DIRECTV STREAM, and Hulu + Live TV.

Fubo for Sports and More

FuboTVFeatures
Channels110+
Price per month$79.99/month
Free Trial✔ (7 days)
Contract
CancellationFree & Anytime
Phone Support
Live Chat
Multi-Screen3
Free DVR1000 hours

This streaming service offers over 110+ live TV channels for $79.99/month in its base package. Some channels include TV Land, MSNBC, and Hallmark.

You can also stream local channels on Fubo in almost all markets.

Fubo is also a great way to watch NFL online with CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, FS1, FS2 as well as Fox, NBC, and CBS. But more than that, it’s probably the best streaming service for sports with 35+ sports-focused channels in its Starter plan and 14 more with its Elite plan.

As for Fubo devices, you can watch Fubo on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Android and iOS mobile devices, web browsers, smart TVs by Samsung, LG, Vizio, Hisense, and those that support Android TV, as well as the Xbox One.

There’s also cloud DVR included with 1000 hours of storage, allowing you to record live programming to watch at a later time.

Fubo’s Latino TV package is a great choice for Spanish speakers with 33 channels. These include 21 sports channels and general channels like Nat Geo Mundo and Discovery in Spanish. And it only costs $32.99/month.

You can learn more about the service in our Fubo review.

Sign Up for a Free Fubo Trial

FuboTV Home Page
Fubo gives you easy access to the most popular live TV.

Philo Offers a Basic Channel Selection for a Rock Bottom Price

philo logoFeatures
Channels60+
Price per month$28/month
Free Trial✔ (7 days)
Contract
CancellationFree & Anytime
Phone Support
Live Chat
Multi-Screen3
Free DVRUnlimited*
* DVR recordings expire after 30-days.

Philo is the cheapest option of any of the mainstream streaming services. You get over 60 channels for just $28/month. Prices are so cheap because sports and local channels are not available.

Of course, if you’re just looking for channels like AMC, A&E, Food Network, Hallmark, Discovery, and so on, this is the best option if you’re considering your budget. And it’s a good addition if you are using an OTA antenna. This package even comes with an unlimited cloud-based DVR.

You can check out our Philo review here.

Try Philo Free for 7 Days

Sling TV for Solid Plans and Great Customization

sling tv logoFeatures
Channels30+/40+
Price per month$40.00/month
Free Trial
Contract
CancellationFree & Anytime
Phone Support
Live Chat
Multi-Screen1/3
Free DVR50 hours
Sling TV Android
Sling TV runs on most TVs and devices like this Android smartphone.

If you’re looking for a service that has been around since the beginning of live TV streaming, Sling TV might be the service for you. It offers two packages — each only $40.00/month. The plans are similar. But Sling Orange offers ESPN while Sling Blue provides NBC and Fox channels.

Sling’s Orange plan includes 30+ channels while the Blue plan gives access to 40+. You can also get both plans (50 channels) for $55.00/month.

Note that Sling Blue channels allow you to stream on up to 3 devices at once. Sling Orange channels are limited to a single screen.

Alongside the base channels, you can choose from more than seven customizable add-on plans to add lots of channels to your lineup.

You can easily get 100+ channels with Sling TV for under $60 per month. Sling TV also allows you to stream live TV through most of the same devices as Fubo and Hulu.

You can learn more in our Sling TV review.

Save 50% on Sling TV Now

DIRECTV STREAM Offers a Huge Range of Online Channels

DIRECTV STREAMFeatures
Channels75+
Price per month$79.99/month
Free Trial✔ (5 days)
Contract
CancellationFree & Anytime
Phone Support
Live Chat
Multi-ScreenUnlimited
Free DVRUnlimited*
* DVR recordings are held up to 90 days.

When you hear the name DirecTV, you might think of expensive plans. DIRECTV STREAM (formerly AT&T TV) does have plans that cost well above the $100 per month mark, but their base plan is in competition with the likes of Hulu + Live TV and Fubo.

Aside from the decent range of channels, what stands out about DIRECTV STREAM is the ability to stream from unlimited separate devices on a single account. It offers unlimited cloud DVR storage if you sign-up online.

DIRECTV STREAM’s base plan gives you access to sports channels like ESPN, ESPN 2, Fox Sports 1, as well as a range of news, music, kids, and movie channels.

DIRECTV STREAM really shines when it comes to regional sports networks (RSNs). It offers pretty much everyone that coverages a major team. To get access you need to upgrade to the Choice plan for $108.99/month. But if you live in Georgia and want to watch every Braves game next year, DIRECTV STREAM is your only option.

Read our DIRECTV STREAM review to learn more.

Get DIRECTV STREAM Free for 5 Days

Hulu + Live TV Offers the Best On-Demand TV Shows

hulu logoFeatures
Channels85+
Price per month$76.99/month
Free Trial
Contract
CancellationFree & Anytime
Phone Support
Live Chat
Multi-Screen2
Free DVRUnlimited*
* 9 month storage

You’ve probably heard of Hulu, the Netflix competitor, but you may not have heard of Hulu + Live TV. It is a full cable TV replacement service. Similar to Fubo, it allows you to live stream TV online on your favorite devices.

Hulu really shines with its on-demand library of recently aired TV shows as well as FX and Hulu Originals. Hulu Live adds 85+ live TV channels, ESPN+, and Disney+ to that for a total of $76.99/month including all the local network affiliates and plenty of sports, entertainment, news, and more.

It also runs on pretty much the same devices as Fubo in addition to a couple of gaming systems like PlayStation.

Find out more about how to watch online TV channels with Hulu in our full review here.

Try Hulu + Live TV for 3 Days Free!

YouTube TV With Unlimited DVR and 100+ Channels

youtube tv logoFeatures
Channels85+
Price per month$72.99/month
Free Trial✔ (7 days)
Contract
CancellationFree & Anytime
Phone Support
Live Chat
Multi-Screen3
Free DVRUnlimited
*DVR recordings expire after 9 months.

Another option to stream all of your favorite channels is YouTube TV. Over 85 channels are included for $72.99/month. Like Fubo and Hulu Live, YouTube TV gives you access to local channels in most parts of the country.

Its plan includes an unlimited cloud DVR and an on-demand library. YouTube TV also has a Sports Plus plan with additional sports channels.

You can learn more about all YouTube TV has to offer in our YouTube TV review.

Can I Watch Local TV Channels Online?

You can watch local channels with online streaming services. But the exact channels available depend on whether the streaming provider has negotiated the rights.

Three streaming services provide limited (or nonexistent) access to local channels:

  • Philo: no local channels
  • Sling TV: NBC and Fox in limited locations.

Here’s a comparison of the best local channel providers out of our reviewed streaming services:

HuluFuboYouTubeDirecTV
ABC✔️✔️✔️✔️
CBS✔️✔️✔️✔️
Fox✔️✔️✔️✔️
NBC✔️✔️✔️✔️
PBS✔️✔️
The CW✔️✔️✔️✔️
Telemundo✔️✔️✔️✔️
UniMás✔️✔️
Univision✔️✔️✔️

For more information, check out our guide on How to Watch Local Channels Without Cable.

Sign Up for a Free Fubo Trial

Sports TV Channels and Services Online

There are dozens of sports TV channels with online streaming services. Here’s a brief rundown of the most popular ones with a summary of what they show and which services offer it:

ChannelSummary
ACCNSports like football, basketball, and Olympic sports. Available with Hulu, Fubo, and YouTube TV.
beIN SportsA sports network with dozens of channels broadcast in English, Spanish, and other languages. It covers soccer, cricket, tennis, and much more. Fubo’s Starter plan offers 9 beIN channels but you can also get two with the Sling TV World Sports add-on.
CBSSNOccasional coverage of NFL football, MLB baseball, NBA basketball, NHL hockey, and college basketball and football. Available with Hulu and Fubo.
Golf ChannelA must for professional golf fans. Access it with the base plans of Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, or YouTube TV. It is also available with DIRECTV STREAM’s Ultimate plan and Sling with Sports Extra.
ESPNAll streaming services except Philo offer at least one ESPN channel on this page. ESPN and ESPN 2 are most common. Sling offers these with its Orange plan.
MLB NetworkAn essential channel for baseball fans. It is available with the YouTube TV base plan. Or get it with the Fubo Elite plan (or Extra add-on), Sling TV with the Sports Extra add-on, and DIRECTV STREAM Choice plan.
NBA TVA channel for basketball fans. It is available the same way as MLB Network is.
NFL NetworkA football fan essential, available with Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, Sling Blue, and YouTube TV.
NFL RedZone7-hours of live football every Sunday afternoon. It is available as an add-on with Fubto TV, Sling TV, Hulu + Live TV, and YouTube TV.
NHL NetworkHockey fanatics can get this channel with the Fubo Elite plan (or Extra add-on), Sling TV Sports Extra add-on, and DIRECTV STREAM ultimate plan.
Zona FutbolKey soccer highlights in real-time on Fubo’s Elite plan.

Sports-Exclusive Subscriptions Online

It’s also possible to get many sports channels including ESPN, FS1, and regional sports channels through the services we’ve already discussed. While those services are great, if you want a full sports lineup, you might want to supplement them with a niche service that is dedicated to sports.

Here are some of the most popular subscriptions to watch sports online without cable.

  • ESPN+: ESPN+ is one of the best deals in sports streaming. You get a wide variety of sports including college sports, MLS, NHL, MLB, NFL, and much more. Events are available live and on-demand. Note, however, that it does not allow you to stream ESPN live. The on-demand library also includes select ESPN offerings, including the complete 30 for 30 documentary series. ESPN+ is available for $10.99/month or $109.99/year. You can learn more in our ESPN+ review.
  • DAZN: DAZN is a great choice if you’re into combat sports. They offer the best events from MMA, boxing, and other combat sports. DAZN even offers exclusive fighter libraries on-demand. This gives you a chance to watch GGG, Canelo, and many others, whenever you want. You can choose between a monthly plan at $19.99 or just $99.99 for the full year ($8.33/mo). You can learn more in our DAZN review.
  • NFL+: A great way to watch all of your favorite teams during the NFL season. You get access to live local and primetime games on mobile devices. And if you get NFL+ Premium, you can watch every game on-demand. The catch is that you have to wait until after the game is finished airing live. It is $6.99/month for the base plan and $14.99/month for the premium. It comes with a free 7-day trial. See our NFL+ review.
  • WWE Network: If you’re a wrestling fan, WWE Network was one of the best deals in town. The service offered hundreds of hours of on-demand content including interview shows, events, and more. The thing that really sets this service apart though was that you got every single WWE PPV at no additional cost. WWE Network is now part of Peacock and comes with a Premium subscription for $7.99/month.
  • Fite: This is great place for combat sports including boxing, MMA, and wrestling. You can enjoy Top Rank Boxing, Unified MMA, Brave FC, Star Boxing, and WOSW. Unlimited PPVs are available from over 25 organizations a month after they air live. You also get a $2 monthly credit for any live PPVs available on FITE TV. They also offer soccer and other sports. Packages are available for either $4.99 per month or $49.99 per year, after a 7-day free trial.
  • Fanatiz (+ Free trial)If you’re a soccer fan or a fan of other international sports, then check out Fanatiz. This streaming service is excellent for people in the US that have difficulty finding international events, such as soccer tournaments. It has some notable free content but if you want to watch live games, it costs $7.99/mo or $79.00/year after a free trial. Learn more in our Fanatiz review.

Sign Up for a Free Fubo Trial

Where Can I Watch News Channels Online?

The main cable news channels including Fox News, CNN, and MSNBC are readily available on many streaming services. The services that offer one network often offer the others. So if you see a service offering CNN, there’s a good chance they have the other cable news networks in their lineup.

Hulu Live, Sling TV, and YouTube TV all offer options for all three main cable news networks. Fubo offers Fox News and MSNBC (it doesn’t have any Turner channels).

Remember that local news channel availability depends on where you are located. Your best options for both local and cable news will be Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, and YouTube TV. That said, you can check your lineup for any of these services on their websites before you sign up!

For more information, read our article, How to Watch Live News Online Without Cable.

Can I Watch Spanish TV Channels Online?

If you want access to only Spanish-language channels, you can find many standalone or add-on packages.

Fubo’s basic Starter plan offers Telemundo, Univision, and beIN Sports. This is a small selection of channels that are included with your main package. Fubo also offers a Spanish-language sports-focused Latino plan with 33 channels for $32.99/month.

Sling TV offers the Sling Latino plans for as little as $10/mo for up to 20 channels.

Check out our guide on how to watch TV in Spanish online without cable.

Free Options for Watching Online TV Channels

If you’re on a tight budget and want to try streaming without spending any money, there are free streaming services that are available. Despite the limitations, there is plenty of content available, though you won’t generally find the live channels.

If you want to enjoy some TV without getting charged, any of these services might work for you:

  • Pluto TV: Pluto TV offers a wide variety of current and former TV. The website is set up similarly to a TV guide. You pick a channel and can watch what you want. They offer movies, news, and entertainment. This is a great option for movies that you might not be able to find elsewhere. Some fun channels include Cult Films and 80s Rewind. They also offer older TV content from the likes of MTV, BET, and Spike.
  • The Roku Channel: If you own a Roku, your best option for free TV and movies is The Roku Channel. This section on your Roku includes both movies and TV from recent years to classics. They offer content in sections including Reality, Adventure, Sitcoms, and Family Night. With plenty in the library and no cost, this is a great free option to watch TV channels online.
  • Tubi: Tubi offers thousands of movies and TV shows. You can watch through the computer or using a streaming device. There’s no catch. It’s all free. You will be able to watch a revolving slate of TV and movies with titles coming and leaving each month. While the lineup does change from time to time, you’ll find titles from MGM, Lionsgate, Starz, and Paramount. All you do is pick the selection you want and start watching!
  • Crackle: Crackle is similar to the other services listed here because they offer free TV and movies. You can choose to make an account in order to save your progress or make a watch list, or you can watch without an account. The difference is that Crackle also offers some original content that you can’t find anywhere else. They offer a wide selection including movies and TV in all genres.
  • Peacock TV: Despite the option to subscribe to Peacock’s paid plans, there’s also a free option. You don’t even need to create an account to access thousands of hours of on-demand movies, series, and more. To use the Peacock app, you do need a (free) account).
  • Sling TV: Although a pay service, select live TV channels are available to watch for free at watch.sling.com.

Also, you may have heard of a service called Blip TV. While it was once a very popular aggregator, it was shut down in 2015. You can, however, try out FreeCast, which is a service that helps you find free content online.

What about Online TV Channel Scams?

If a streaming service offer seems too good to be true, it probably is. Scams are less prevalent now, but there are still scams with online TV streaming services.

All of the services we’ve listed here are legit, but if you come across any service offering you today’s cable channels for free, you can assume it’s not real or it’s illegal and could conceivably get you in trouble.

You can find more about scams for both online services, streaming devices, and more in our Online TV Scams list. Of course, the best way to avoid scams is to choose a trusted service and a device that you’re familiar with.

Sign Up for a Free Fubo Trial

FAQs

What TV channels are free online?

Depending on your location, you can watch dozens of free TV channels online. Some channels you can watch include:

  • BBC (as long as you tune in from the UK)
  • Sky News
  • Bloomberg TV
  • ABC (for American citizens abroad)
  • Fox Sports (via Pluto TV)
  • CNN (if you tune in from the US).

Where can I watch live TV?

You can watch live TV channels with any of the online streaming services we listed in this guide. Alternatively, you can check out one of the free alternatives to watch live TV online. Another option is to subscribe to one of the premium networks listed here.

How can I get local TV channels for free?

You can get local TV channels for free in several ways. Locast used to be an option but it was shut down in mid-2021. So the main way to catch free local channels is to buy an HD antenna and stream over the air. See our primer to learn how.

How can I watch live TV on my smart TV without cable?

If you want to watch live TV on your smart TV without cable, you need an over-the-air antenna or a smart device that supports one of the listed streaming services. An over-the-air antenna will typically get you access to select local channels, while live streaming services allow you to watch dozens of channels on your smart TV.

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182 Comments

  • Um. If you have to sign in to “your cable provider”, who requires you already subscribe to a package including , in this case, MSNBC, then how does that “Kill the cable bill”?

    • It does not. I aim to keep any gated online tv channels off of this page. When I click on the NSNBC button I am able to watch the news-bites without logging into a cable account. Are you experiencing something different?

    • I used to be able to stream entire episodes of Keith O and Rachel, (years back) et al. . now I just get the bites . . . Oh well, you get what you pay for, and I’m only paying for the net. Your site has led me to some good sources for movies and documentaries, for which I thank you.

    • Thanks for the encouraging words. It’s always good to hear from people that this site has helped.

    • Why would anyone want to watch MSNBC??

  • Wonderful info!! Any chance of getting the FOOD network?

    • Unfortunately you have to have a cable subscription for TCM

    • Please see Facebook – where I responded to this question.

    • Hi CJ – what is boomerang? Do you have an url you can share with us? And TCM requires a cable subscription. Unless you know of a way to get around that?

  • Great call George. Of course right (?). Just added it. Thanks for pointing this one out. If you have any more i should add please let me know.

  • Melvin Ah Ching Excellent. I have added all these pages. Thanks so much for you continued support. you have been a big help

  • Tex Prepper Thanks for the notes. When I first checked Fox News it seemed to work. This is, as you point out, no longer the case. I have since, removed this button. Finally – sorry I dont know of any other way to receive news from this service. Please try one of the other options in our News Section.

  • Hi Dave, at this time Fox News is not affiliated with Dish TV which is the only provider we can get. I have tried connecting to Fox News at the link above and they do require a provider! Dish is not on their list of providers. If you know of any other way to get Fox live please let me know.

  • Melvin Ah Ching For sure. I use to have SnagFilms on here but i guess it fell off some how. Thanks for pointing this out! I have since added it back to our page. Really appreciate all the help Melvin!

  • You might want to add Snag Films – [link removed] – documentaries, indie movies, classic movies, more. About 5000 titles in library.

  • You might want to add Snag Films – [link removed] – documentaries, indie movies, classic movies, more. About 5000 titles in library.

  • You might want to add Snag Films – [link removed] – documentaries, indie movies, classic movies, more. About 5000 titles in library.

  • Melvin Ah Ching Hey Melvin! Awesome! Thank so much. I have looked at Livestream before but did not see that they offered this service. Thanks for sharing! You also inspired me to revamp the layout of this page. Now we have all the news stations in one section. Also, Hawaii is amazing. I am actually hoping to move the family there in the next few years. Hope you had a great thanksgiving!

  • Dave Kennedy – Here's another free stream – LiveStream News – https://new.livestream.com/news – They stream a number of local TV news channels from around the U.S., even one of my own in Hawaii – KHON TV. Some streams are live and some are taped. Depends when you watch. Just click on the U.S. map with circles on it and it hits a TV stream from that location / state.

  • NBC Sports app recently added the dreaded “you must sign in with your cable provider” or you can’t watch it free like we used to. Same with Fox sports. I really don’t want to pay for cable as I travel a lot and just want to watch live tv on my iPad. Is there no way to do this w/o a cable subscription? I may have to bite the bullet and get an online only cable subscription. I’ve heard Comcast has it but it’s still fairly expensive. I want to be able to watch Scandal on a Thursday night or NFL games live. Any suggestions? and no, my sister won’t lend me her login. People have suggested “borrowing” a login. I’d feel really cheap and rude to even ask anyone that. lol

  • Thanks! Just added History back to the list. think i had it in there but then removed it because they required a cable subscription login. Just checked and it seems that requirement is no longer there… so Ya!! great channel. As for the others, it seems that they still require a cable subscription. Do you have a way to get around this?

  • Thanks. I really try not to present my opinion one way or the other. Just trying to provide the best page I can for or "online tv".

    • Not yet. But I plan on writing up an entire article on the subject. Do you have any suggestions as I prep the research?

  • I would also like to thank you for having a clear MSNBC stream. Most of the places online that do have online channels seem to never have working msnbc channels working due to their views about this being a liberal station. thank you

  • you should add history channel 2, syfy, and amc. Most of the best shows come on History channel 2.

  • Melvin Ah Ching Ha ha.. cant go wrong with that. Plus I am sure you can get great deals if you shop for used DVDs.. since so many people have turned to online only content…

  • HotDog.com – And an old favorite option – DVDs and BluRay.

  • Hey Melvin – Thank you so much for the great feedback. I have added a number of your suggested sites to our page. Awesome. Thanks! If you have any other online TV channels we should add please reach out!

  • I've been cable TV free since Dec. 2011 and am never going back to that large monthly bill. That said I watch most shows free with my TV antenna set up + stream many more with the links you have here. Some that also stream but not mentioned are CSPAN 1, 2 & 3, NASA TV, Smithsonian Channel (some content), BYU TV, TBN, C-Net, Popcorn Flix, Olelo (Honolulu cable access), and Internet Archive Moving Images to name a few. Great website. Some probably don't stream with devices, but all stream on a computer when there is a stream.

  • Hey Michael – Really glad you reached out. Pretty exciting stuff right? More money in your pocket is always a good thing. Good luck in the transition and let us know how we can help!

  • I just realized that I am paying for channels I don't watch. So, I am giving DirectTV the pink slip. Bought a Mohu indoor antenna and was very surprised how good of a quality picture I received. I live 30 miles southwest of Fort Worth. I also have Apple TV, so will use that as well. Another surprise is the amount of friends I have who have killed the cable. Sure…this will get some getting used to, but with a little planning, I think things will work out great.

  • Glad you Like it! 😉 Please share with friends!

  • Joshua Peck Thanks Joshua – as always you are a wealth of information. And we really really appreciate all your support.

  • Joshua Peck Tunnel Bear is a VPN that costs $4.99 a month for unlimited data. I use Rabbit TV all the time, there is no spam at all, it is really links to online tv that uses youtube to stream videos one after the other, like tv but it is video, they have a movie section where you can watch movies with commercials, it saved me a lotof time looking for online content. I think it is great, I got one from Amazon for about $7.00 it is good for a year and i get to watch everything i want.

  • Not that I am aware of. Your best option for live sports and news in an Antenna (OTA).

  • Ok let me explain this in laymen terms, CBS may have local stations, but it doesn't want us to see any shows we miss. They make you wait 8 days to see a missed episode on the site and at least 3-5 days on their sister site tv.com. You can get CBS if you have an antenna and a lot of other channels too like ABC, NBC, PBS, Mynetwork, and any local college broadcasting. If you want a DVR or if you want clear digital quality antenna and cable channels (broadcasted from PA) you want USTVNOW which you can get on Roku, Apple TV and other streaming devices. There are other options like NimbleTV or you can watch the shows online. Those TV sites can sometimes be nasty bad with pop-ups and spyware though. You need a good pop-up blocker and firewall. Basically, in a nut shell even the main channels that you can get for free don't want you to go rogue. The cable company thinks they have us in a vice and it's our job to prove them otherwise.

  • Karen L. Grube What model Roku do you have? The best Roku to have is one that plays in HD and that's the ROKU 2 and ROKU 3. I am not sure if the streaming stick, the 1 model, 2 model, and LE can get certain apps. The lower models can get playon. I know because I had an LE which is like a ROKU 1 and it got playon.

  • Obadiah Robert Robinson forgive me if I sound a little dense but I'm not too familiar with TunnelBear. It looks kind of like Dropbox or megaupload or Zippyshare. is it a file transfer place that you can stream from or something more than that? Rabbit TV is a scam in my opinion. it's no more than a pen drive with spam. I love the package I have set up. I don't have to worry about the cable company at all.

  • Joshua Peck I have MIRO for Mac, and I just add different links to internet TV stations and networks in the sources page. So far I have about 36 different live streaming TV networks like iLive and USTVNOW and Superusvoxtv, plus different movie sources and one called veetle that has live streaming independent TV stations, I just go to the entertainment section and can watch all kinds of different things like syfy stations and horror or anything else I want. I also use a Mac app I got for about $4.00 at the app store called watch tv, i have added about 100 or more live streaming world wide internet tv channels. Who needs cable when there is so much free stuff on the internet?

  • Is there an internet tv choice for live sports like football of local channels for news?

  • The only suggestions i have are either a subscription to USTVNOW for $29 a month or a yearly playon if you have a streaming device like Roku. Or maybe even both. I have Netflix, Hulu, Playon, USTVNOW, WWE Network, and I use other free services too. All the popular channel links are very limited…believe me I tried. I have tirelessly tried. Spike, History, AMC, and A&E are my vices. Seriously, if you're really are serious about going rogue and not going back to cable, your only option is to find different subscription services and build a package based around your tv watching habits. You could also watch online, but you need to have a pop-up blocker and firewall on to avoid nasty spyware and adware.

  • Obadiah Robert Robinson Playon is a yearly membership app ran by your computer that you stream on the Roku, AppleTv, Ps3, and other streaming devices. basically you leave the app running with the computer on and you're all set. it was $19.99 a year. Not sure if it's $24.99 now. it's still worth it though. They have a lifetime license for $50 or something like that too. You can add various channel scripts like 1channel, projectfeetv, i-live, filmon, tubeplus, superusvoxtv, and many others. it also has on demand channels that you can watch programming on. Some of the channels have clips or the episodes aren't entirely full…it's more of a highlight episode. Hope that helped.

  • Joshua Peck Thanks, do you have to have something extra to use playon, or can I add it as an app to my computer like the FilmOn app?

  • Obadiah Robert Robinson I believe you have to contact via email or something like that and they send something to place an order. i accidentally ordered the wrong thing and the almost didn't get refunded. ya they have an email department and they are really a good add-on to playon. for a $5 lifetime license can't go wrong.

  • Joshua Peck thanks for the link to https://www.superusvoxtv.com/ It is really good except that I have to put up with pop ups and ads on my computer, I use Firefox as a browser and it has pop up blockers and ad blockers but I still get pop unders. I didn't find a way to subscribe to the service for a computer even though the channels work fine on my IMac. would I be able to use playon on my computer, or do you need a special thing like XBMC to use it? I have tried to use XBMC and got a bunch of live TV channels but I don't like to use it, it is too confusing for me right now. I like to use MIRO, because I can add live streaming internet TV channels, I have added about 36 TV networks to it, that gives me access to over 2 or 300 different live streaming internet TV channels. I just copy the URL for the website, go to sources in MIRO and paste the URL in the box and the channel is added. Then I go to the link that was added and click it and if it works, I keep it. I added iLive to it, the BBC iPlayer, TVCatchup from the UK, and lots of others. I added FilmOn to it and when I open my VPN and choose UK for my IP # then I can watch all the free UK channels that they broadcast over the internet for citizens of that country. I use Tunnel Bear for my VPN because it is made for Macs and only costs $4.99 a month for unlimited data. I am so glad that there is a real free way to circumvent the United States licensing restrictions legally. If this keeps up the US cable networks are either going to have to make a deal with internet TV providers or go out of business.

  • Joshua Peck Yes it does, you know all those ads and pop ups that happen? they all go away when you subscribe to the premium package. The only thingIhave to warn you about is that sometimes I have to keep logging in 5 or 6 times before it takes, its a pain in the ass but I get all the pay cable channels so I deal with it. I also found another one called iGuide: https://www.iguide.to/view/1/watch-live-HBO-channel-for-free I get one channel of HBO, I don't know which one it is, but I think it is one of the premium channels on iLive.

  • Obadiah Robert Robinson Never was a big fan of filmon. i'll have to try the updated version. for $5 superusvoxtv on playon is a nice playon script too. didnt know i-live had a premium version.

  • Joshua Peck I also subscribed to iLive for about $15.00 a month and get a lot of cable channels from there too HBO, ShowTime, Bravo, I also have the FilmOn on my IMac and get hundreds of live streaming TV channels for free. you can find that on FilmOn.com if you look at the lower lef hand side there is what looks lika a cell phone,just click that an it will take you to a page with several different download links depending on what you are using, mac, windows, android, etc. it is all free and the streaming is nearly perfect. almost all the stations are in english.

  • Thanks guys! I'll look into using my Roku device to get this service.

  • Joshua Peck actually you dont need anything but your computer to get USTVNOW, i know because I get it streaming live on my IMac, all I did was set my VPN IP # to a UK IP and subscribed to it and I now get 28 American cable TV channels for $19.00 and change for three months then after that I'll pay $29.00 a month. I think it is a great deal for what I get. Plus with my VPN (Tunnel Bear) I can watch all the free UK channels on the BBC IPlayer and TV CatchUP.

  • Good luck finding hockey games or other sports games unless you have cable or some sort of subscription app on your streaming box. Watching online on somewhere like I-live sometimes will work. not guaranteed though.

  • If you want FX you got 3 choices. You can subscribe to USTVNOW for $29 a month or watch your fav shows online through streaming sites. The other option is through an app on the Roku or Apple TV called Playon. (not sure what other streaming devices it's on it does work on PS3 and Xbox 360 though)

  • Because TLC are a bunch of douchebags. I think they are owned by universal studios which is ran by Time Warner. So unless you watch it via I-live or watch your shows on demand through Playon scripts like 1channel and project free tv you're kinda up $h!t creek.

  • No sports channels except through I-live. That's where the cable company has you by the balls. They control the sports channels and premium news channels. The only way to watch sports if you don't have cable is via your local antenna or online.

  • Obadiah Robert Robinson Ya USTVNOW's large 200 channel package isn't even a deal. The 28 channel pack for $29 a month isn't much of a deal because the channels are streamed via slingbox. it's like having cable though. I only pay about $128 a month now with my internet and my subscriptions to netflix, hulu, wwe network, playon, and ustvnow. i'm happy with what i got. Compared to the $170 or more a month I would be paying. I don't have movie channels, i don't have premium channels like Trutv, MTV, Food Network, BIO, Disney, ID, TLC, LMN, H2 or some of those others i like. But, I have channels USA, Comedy Central, Syfy, History, AMC, A&E, nickelodeon, cartoon network, National Geographic, and Lifetime..etc. I am also able to watch new movies and live channels through script add-ons on playon. I guess what i'm saying is you're not limited to what you're Roku can do. I guess I could write a blog like this too. No offense blog admins you have a good blog. Going rogue from the cable company is great.

  • Joshua Peck I looked at their service and it is $199.00 A MONTH for 200 channels, a total rip off, only for rich expats. I have a VPN so I would have no problem signing up and using the service but it is just too much money.

  • Joshua Peck I just subscribed to USTVNOW and I can vouch that it is REAL LIVE American Cable TV streaming on the internet. I got the 28 channel package and it is great, no bad channels at all. No QVC or anything like that. I got a VPN called Tunnel Bear for my Mac and just switch the IP # to the UK and I can watch Live UK channels the BBC iPlayer, TV Catchup, etc. I found out that the only way you can watch ITV Player is if you provide a local UK postcode. I did a lot of searching on the internet and have found literally hundreds if not thousands of live streaming internet television channels from around the world.I use two programs to collect the different stations one is called Miro I don't know if you can use it on a windows computer, but I use it on my Mac and it works perfectly. So far I have added about 30 English language internet TV and movie networks that have about 20 or 30 channels each. Then there is FilmOn TV. That one has literally hundreds of different internet channels, most in English. FilmOn has an app you can download to your computer or smart phone for free and you are good to go. The other thing I use to add live internet TV channels is called Watch TV it is an app you can buy for a Mac computer for about $4.00 and I can add as many TV channels that I want. I have gotten so much free LIVE STREAMING internet TV that I cancelled my subscriptions to Hulu Plus, Netflix and Amazon Prime. Another one you can check out is Veetle, if you go to the entertainment section you will find tons of live streaming independent TV stations that have lots of movies. I also use Rabbit TV, for $10.00 you can't beat it. Forget about this nonsence that is advertized on this page. Do what I have done.

  • Hi Lisa – I have not done a ton of research on Hockey yet, but plan to shortly. Please check back on our site in about a few weeks for a full article on how to watch Hockey without a cable subscription.

  • Hi Robin – concerning TLC, please see my response above to Cynthia Ijeoma

  • Hi Adrian – sorry but this is just not true. Please let me know which link asked for a cable subscription and I will remove it.

  • this is BS…Damn near all of these sites you have listed are not free! They require a TV provider in order to watch shows on them and that's not what I consider free! They're all controlled by the big corp."providers" and I don't subscribe to cable or satellite which is the frickin point! It's the beginning of the end!

  • How can we stream hockey games not shown in our market? Looking for Boston Bruins and live in MN.

  • Do you have a suggestion on the best outdoor antenna to buy and what retail stores to go to. I am only finding indoor antennas and they don't work well in my townhome.

  • HotDog.com Here's the notice I got. I haven't called them yet to ask if this was "sans" cable sign up. Recently they upped our internet to 50mbps rather than the 25mbps without charging us. So not sure if I signed up for this one if it would drop back to the 25 as listed on the notice. Hmm…. not sure how to post this in a reply, it's a photo.

  • Dave Kennedy This website streams MSNBC – [link removed]

  • Heather UssKni I would be interested to learn more about this xfinity only package they are offering. Please share with me anything you can find out. I have always thought they should really offer a web only option.. and it sounds like they may now be coming around. As for Amazon, i too am not interested in their original content, but they have added a bunch of great HBO show to prime recently, making it a great service for people who also want to use the shipping advantages. Netflix definitely creates better original content, but the good news is that competitors are popping out of the wood work. And with competition, us consumers always win!

  • Good question. That would be so great if FX could offer their content online. Maybe someday.

  • HotDog.com Yah, we have Amazon Prime, although I find we use Netflix far more often. I'm very interested in the new style of programming by Netflix, the "put it out all at once" type shows with their original programming. Unfortunately, we feel Amazon Prime's original programming is, well, utter crap. Netflix seems to generally have really consistently good shows (well written and acted, good technical qualities). But we still have Amazon Prime (for shipping mostly but we do use the streaming occasionally). I've just received a notice from Comcast about an Internet Plus deal where it seems you can access their Xfinity On Demand stuff and HBO programming through the internet, without having to get cable (we dumped our cable near the beginning of the year but still have internet with Comcast) for the same price we pay now for our internet. I might look into it, since we enjoy a lot of shows on HBO and see if it's a viable alternative.

  • Hi Lisa – thanks for the great insights. CBS worked fine for me. Maybe try using a different browser. As for USA – you are right! They must have changed that recently. I removed them from this page. Congrats on cutting the cord. I suspect it will take some time to get use to using all the different tools out there. Ill need to look into christian programming as I dont know of any off the top of my head.
    As for classic movies – you got me thinking… and i did a search and found a great site: https://classicmovieslist.org/ and here is another one for classic shows: https://www.reruncentury.com/

  • As far as networks, CBS videos won't play, (don't know what's up with that), USA requires a subscriber profile and Comedy Central only has The Daily Show. Please make a notation if a network requires a provider subscription. Thanks. Just dumped DirecTV after rate increases, billing errors that took months to correct, sales rep that used a swear word right before he hung up on my husband, and hold times of almost an hour. The topper? They were supposed to send whatever we needed to return their equipment. What'd we get? Another receiver!!! So far, I'm not too happy with the selections from Netflix, Hulu and online. Yeah, there's tons of stuff, almost too much to search through and none of the programs and networks we really like. Also, where can you find family/Christian programming like the Inspiration Channel, Hallmark and Hallmark movie channel that doesn't require a provider login? I'm already missing my classic movies on TCM. Thanks for listening! 🙂

  • Hey Jacklyn – Ya TLC does not offer too many full episodes. To see what they do offer go to https://www.tlc.com/videos and scroll down half way. Beyond that I suggest making a list of shows you want to watch and then plug them into [link removed] to find out how else you can watch those shows.

  • Hi Cynthia Ijeoma – Unfortunately there is no such legal options. In the US we are able to use Antennas to pick up free over the air broadcasts – which means live football on Sundays. But as for streaming online, only illegal, and poor quality options exist.

  • pls do you know of any free live football streaming site?

  • Ed Haspadura Best advice i have is to find out if an Antenna will work for you. As long as your ok with missing Monday and Thursday night football, an Antenna can give you Sunday Football in HD for free and it is 100% legal.

  • Dave Kennedy I also got rid of my cable cause I never had the same bill from month to month. But what ive found is that NFL will never be on a 3rd party stream. I have found some places that have tried it but all where removed for copyright reasons. If anyone knows how to get around this Im all ears. Thanks

  • Are you sure this wasn't the service you're referring to. it's USTVNow's sister company. USTVNOW only has 28 channels and is available online and through streaming devices. This company is only available online and for people who live in different countries it's 200 channels but it's $99 a mo. https://www.nationphone.com/USATVAbroad.html

  • Joshua Peck Could you please explain that a bit further? That sounds terrific. Is one of the ROKU app store apps set up to allow you to subscribe to USTVNOW while in the U.S.?

  • HotDog.com Well there's a lot of script sites out there. For cable channels in real time I suggest I-live and Superusvoxtv (this one is $5 lifetime license). For movies and ondemand/next day tv shows I suggest Project free tv, 1channel.ch, solarmovie, tube plus and vee hd. There are countless places to find the addon scripts here's one site i found a long while ago I used to pimp out my playon channel [link removed] . If you're hitting yourself in the head right now it really is this easy.

  • HotDog.com I have a Roku 3 and I use the private app from one of the channel stores. i just pay the $29 subscription fee to ustvnow a month. works like a charm. Nope not military, just a freelance work at home guy who got sick of the cable companies prices.

  • Joshua Peck Do you use a VPN to access USTVNOW or are you in the Military? Or is there a workaround I am not aware of?

  • Joshua Peck Thank you! well said. Whet else can you tell us about how to add scripts/addons to PlayOn? Which ones should we use? How do we add them?

  • Joshua Peck Yeah, but I really am looking for low-cost real-time live streaming of stations like FoxNews and a few others without having to use a computer to connect to my TV. That would be three devices: an antenna, ROKU, and my computer. And I can't even get some of these stations on the computer with live streaming. For right now, my only choice is to stick with cable until something changes.

  • USTVNOW is for people in and outside of the U.S. even though a large percentage of their customers are outside of the U.S. You can get 28 channels for $29. Don't fall for there promo of 200 channels for $100 because that's not even a deal and it's through a sister company. That companies services are only for people outside the US. I'm just fine with USTVNOW, Netflix, Hulu, Playon, WWE network, and the free channels I have added to my Roku. I had amazon prime until they upped their price to $99 a year. I'm very happy with what I have and wouldn't change it for the world.

  • I'll say it multiple times if I gotta…DON'T buy your episodes unless you have to. Companies like Amazon, I-Tunes, Vudu, Target, and others are making money hand and fist off people buying episodes. Just get a yearly subscription to Playon for $20 and add scripts/addons to it for free. Also, for those who want the "cable experience" still they have an app for that too. The app is called USTVNOW. It's $19 a month for the first 3 months and then $29 every month after. You get 28 channels, a guide, and for $10 more you can add DVR. It's mainly for Roku and Apple TV, but you can also use it on your computer and tablet too. Hope this helps someone. I cut the cord a year ago and only receive internet from the cable company. after all the subscriptions I have I'm still paying $60 or more less than my bundle package of cable and internet and much happier.

  • Justified and The Americans are both free on Amazon Prime, up to Season 4 of Justified and Season 1 of the Americans are now streaming. New episodes, unfortunately, you would have to pay for if you want to be able to watch current shows, but you can buy an entire season for $20 or $30 if you can't wait, which would still be cheaper than cable. They also have a bunch of HBO shows. Amazon Prime is $99 for the year, and it has a lot of the same movies and shows as Netflix and a lot of stuff Netflix doesn't have as well.

  • HotDog.com Thank you so much! I just realized my slightly older TV (2011) has a USB port for viewing jpg images from a flash drive, and I have learned that port should be able to power a digital antenna that is capable of being amplified through a USB connection. That may be helpful. I'll have to check out which antenna's have that alternative for being amplified.

    I'm hoping that if I just keep my cable Internet service, that will allow me to set up access to USA and a few other networks that allow their on-demand content through ROKU as long as you have a cable provider. I'm not sure if canceling cable television will still qualify me, but I'm going to ask.

    Again, thanks for your help!

  • Hi Karen, all great questions and I hear ya loud and clear. You have definitely done your research and have a good understanding of the options available to you. Unfortunately what you are looking for is exactly what Aereo was trying to develop. The fight is not over, but for now there is not a device that provides all of these features. The closest you can get is using something like Tivo Romio which takes an Antenna signal and can record it via a DVR. But even with that you dont get all the smaller network channels like AMC. For those you would need to pick the shows that are most important to you and use services like Amazon Video On Demand.

    As for the Antenna, you can still buy Rabbit ears that sit on top of your TV, but they dont work as well as something like a Mohu Leaf. And the reason you need to plug it into a USB is because that connection can power an amplifier – which in turn delivers a stronger, cleaner picture to your television. If you live an area that gets a good signal, an Antenna like this will give you live access to major network channels in HD.

    So at the end of the day, if you want to cut the cord, you will need to make some sacrifices. But times are changing, and i for one envision a future that is right around the corner, where you simply stream the content you want, to your TV via an a la cart service, live or previously aired – at an affordable rate. Please check back at some point and let us know what you ended up doing.

  • Hi Kam – thanks for reaching out and I hope I can help. First of all, yes you can hook up an Antenna to your TV and receive local channels in HD. It does not have to be a Mohu Antenna, but I do recommend that brand. To begin that process you need to do some research on what channels are available in your area. Start by clicking on the "Enter your Zip Code" box on the top left side of this page. Then you can look into a Roku, or a number of other Streaming devices to stream online content like Netflix, Hulu and more. (Roku does make it very easy and is a great product – but there are other options so you know.) Read more by visiting our "Video Streaming Devices" Page. Finally – you are correct – you need to take a step back and determine which shows you really dont need to watch the same month they come out. For the ones you do need to watch, like Walking Dead, take a look at services like Amazon VOD to price out what it would cost to buy each episode individually (this can add up quickly however). I hope this helps, and please reach back out with additional questions.

  • Forgive me, but I am COMPLETELY confused. I have a ROKU device, and I found the same information for ustvnow that you provided; it is only available if you are out of the country. But isn't there an alternative to ustvnow? It looked as though it has most of the live stations I want. I read that Aereo has suspended it service for now. Then, I linked over to the USA network link you have above, and it looks as though you have to have some cable service provider in order to take advantage of their Live service on the ROKU. The same seems to be true of FoxNews and others. The whole point here is to CUT THE CABLE and still be able to watch what I want, pretty much as though it was live TV. What I mean is, I don't necessarily have to watch the shows as they are being broadcast. Well, that's not true of FOX NEWS and CNN, for example. When I watch them, I want their live broadcast feed. But when it comes to program episodes, I'm fine with watching them a few minutes or hours later, on demand rather than live.

    I also want to have the option of watching local stations live. I know I can do that with a digital HD antenna, but I cant seem to find one that will just plug into the TV and NOT have to be stuck up on the wall or to a computer (USB) port to get power.

    Really, I guess what I'm asking for is ROKU on steroids, with live broadcast programming like what USTVNOW provides. Is there such an animal available yet? I don't mind paying for it.

  • I am very confused. I want to get rid of cable, but don't want to lose certain channels like AMC. I have a Vizio HDTV. Looking at the back of the TV I see there is a button for an antenna. Do I need to get MOHU for the antenna to receive local channels, then Roku for additional channels and Netflix to get additional programing/movies? I'm trying to cut the cost of cable each month, but don't want to lose ABC, AMC, Disney and Nick. I've researched Netflix and know I can get some of the shows that we like, but their older episodes. Trying to convince myself that I don't need to watch current episodes of The Walking Dead is hard. Just trying to figure out what devices I need to buy in order for all this to work properly.

  • Hey wideout6 – thanks for the suggestion. Do you use NFL Network for news updates or do you subscribe to NFL rewind?

  • None of the ESPN channels are we able to get with out a TV subscription? Do you why or when this changed. And do you have an updated list of what you can and can't get? Thank you very much…

  • Dave Kennedy – PlayOn for the Roku and Apple tv is probably the best way to watch shows. it's next day air for a lot of popular shows but you need to download 3rd party channel scripts/addons to playon for it to work better and get the most out of it. Add-ons like channel1, project free tv, ice films, and tube plus work good.

  • Dave Kennedy – PlayOn for the Roku and Apple tv is probably the best way to watch shows. it's next day air for a lot of popular shows but you need to download 3rd party channel scripts/addons to playon for it to work better and get the most out of it. Add-ons like channel1, project free tv, ice films, and tube plus work good.

  • Good afternoon…. Could you add NFL Network? Thanks.

  • Hi Eileen – Thanks for reaching out. Your right I should add MSNBC to this list. Do you currently watch MSNBC online? Seems like this is the best link: https://www.msnbc.com/watch What do you think?

  • Hi Eileen – Thanks for reaching out. Your right I should add MSNBC to this list. Do you currently watch MSNBC online? Seems like this is the best link: https://www.msnbc.com/watch What do you think?

  • Hi Heather – Thanks for reaching out. Unfortunately the only option right now (besides buying episodes) is to put off watching new episodes. If you are willing to wait, most if not all these shows become available via Netflix or Hulu. But in the immediate, there are no good ways of watching new episodes from these networks that I am aware of – except for one (in progress) solution.

    Its called GroupFlix. Its in beta right now, but you can sign up and get access to a few shows already. "Pay for Only the Shows You Want When You Want Them" Read this post to learn more: https://hotdog.com/watch-new-episodes-online-with-groupflix/

    Anyone else have any thoughts on this topic?

  • Curious about FX. We haven't found a way to watch any FX shows (Justified, Americans, Archer) and thusly haven't quit cable yet. We're thinking about it but those are some major shows we watch that do not seem to have a non-cable alternative. Also, any way around HBO/SHOWTIME shows as well? I'd gladly pay a singular subscription for HBO, like streaming with Hulu. But there never seems to be that option. Any ideas for these die-hards? I hate the thought of buying episodes I may never watch again. We really want to quit Comcast. Thanks!!

  • Hey Bill – First check out the History Channel link we provide above, in the TV channels section. There are a lot of full episodes available for free. Next you need to make a list of the shows you like and then search for them in Hulu and Netflix. Some will be there, and others wont. Good Luck, and please check back in and let us know how things work out.

  • Is the history channel available on any streming service like Hulu or Netflix. I have cut the cable/satelite and have gotten away from Direct TV. As a result, I have eliminated dozens of unwanted channels but would like to access the History Channel and A&E. Any suggestions????? Thanks.

  • Hey Thanks Taz! Can you tell me more about Fox Sports Go? What is the URL, and how does it work?

  • Thanks for consolidating these links! I can add Fox Sports Go to the list. Cable TV is a dead end, all future viewing will be internet based. I think others are right, that it will eventually cost a fee, per network or per episode. However, most streaming shows have commercials like broadcast TV, so they are already getting funded the old fashioned way. Hopefully that will continue, and the only "pay" channels will be the non-commercial ones like HBO.

  • I’m new to this brilliant idea, and a little confused by the terms like “online TV channels” and “free full episodes”. Does that mean they are available to order for free, or can we actually watch them live at the same broadcast time as cable viewers?
    I do not want to be stuck watching things after their PST air time, and have enjoyed watching Eastern time airings earlier one some cable channels. If I at leat had the option of watching live TV broadcasts or viewing them on demand later, it would be great.

    Also, is there a list of all available channels for a specific area, or a way to send in my must-have or most-watched cable chanels to check if I could still receive them if I cut the evil cable? This will definitely include live Dodger games.

    Thanks much.

    • Hi ArmtheAnimals (love then name btw). Yes these shows are free and are ready to watch on demand at any time. No downloading necessary. But as expected they are not live. You will need to wait a few days after the air date before watching. As for Live broadcasts your best bet is to take a look at Mohu’s indoor and outdoor antennas. Many analysts agree that Mohu makes the best antenna on the market. You can even get 10% off by using one of my Mohu links. As for finding a list of channels for your area, Mohu offers this as well. Your other option is to go to AntennaWeb. On both sites you simply add your address info, and the provided tools spit out a list of channels and broadcast towers in your area. Hope this helps. If you have any other questions please dont hesitate to reach out.

  • Yes, I have a Smart TV now, I just haven’t had time to play around with it much at all yet.

  • I’ve been with Netflix for about 5 years now, and have to say that I’ve never been happier. I haven’t tried any of the other sites on here, since I’m not much of an computer movie watcher. Once you can stream them directly to the TV, I’ll be looking into them a whole lot more.

    • Hi Susan – Thanks for the comment. Have you looked into Smart TV’s or a Video Streaming Device that turns your TV into a Smart TV? I use a PS3 connected to a standard HD TV, and I can watch Hulu, Netflix, Vudu and more. I definitely suggest looking into buying a Roku, WD player or something that will allow you to stream all the different online tv apps directly to your TV.

  • Hi Adam, Thanks for the suggestion. I tested out the service but found that it is only available for us citizens who are abroad. Here is the exact response I received from USTVNow:

    “USTVNow’s service is available only to American citizens (by birth or naturalization) and who hold a United States passport or Green Card for permanent residence WHILE THEY ARE IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES.” “You can sign up while in the US, but full access is granted once you are overseas.”

    • I suppose you could use a VPN to get around that, but it may not be necessary once Aereo gets rolled out nationwide–that is unless the networks sue them out of existence.

  • If and when watching content online becomes more popular than cable, the price to watch it will increase to be the same as cable is now. 🙂

    • Possibly. But competition breeds better solutions / services at a lower price point. So If cable companies dont own all distribution channels, the competitive nature of the industry should be beneficial to all of us.

  • Hi Troy

    I shared your site with my social circles.
    I dont think were ready to add to our main Online TV Page, but please keep in touch.

    Best Regards

    Dave
    HotDog.com

  • Pub-D-Hub which is on Roku and I think Boxee now is pretty cool. Has alot of public domain classics – many that are so cheesy they are actually fun to watch! They are also going to offer online streaming soon too.

    • Thanks Ralph! If you hear of Pub-D-Hud being available outside of Boxee please let us know. Also how do you like the Boxee? And what other devices do you use to stream video content?

  • How do I get Spanish Channels ie: AZTECA AMERICA, FOX DEPORTES, UNIVISION, GALAVISION,TELEMUNDO, TELEFUTURA through a streaming device. I have noticed in best buys and wal-mart they (different brands) are only offering english channels. If I had the money to invest in this I would be a billionaire. We are dumping Direct TV. Thank You in Advance. 🙂

    • Hi Sharon, Thanks for reaching out! One of our other commenters mentioned [link removed] and it does seem to be a great resource for spanish TV programs. Additionally I would seriously concider an indoor antenna. I know i my area, we have access to a ton of spanish channels.. all for free and in HD: https://hotdog.com/get-amped-with-the-mohu-leaf-ultimate/

  • would like to see if Cartoon network is easily accessible

  • we have roku plus and netflix streaming both on the tv, I find it frustating unless we pay 1.99 per episode we can no longer watch the SFYC, TLC, Nick at night or E channels, is there any way to stream these channels without paying 1.99 everytime through amazon ? We recently got rid of our cable ;I only watch about 5 channels;plus we really cant afford cable anymore;and there selection is unsatisfactory? ?Are there any solutions to getting these channels with cable or dish

    • Hi Bonnie – Thanks for reaching out.

      TLC SFYC and Nick at Night all offer snip-its of their shows for free – but who wants snip-its!

      I think your best bet is to subscribe to Hulu if you have not already. They have ton of tv shows for a low flat rate. way way cheaper than cable.
      https://hotdog.com/go/hulu

      I would also highly recommend Clicker.com. Its a great way to find out the best way to view your favorite shows.

      Please check back and let us know how this works for you.

    • Hey Teressa, Thanks for reaching out. Looks like TLC only offers a few Full Episodes so i can add that one to my list, but looks like HGTV offers a ton of shows with Full Episodes. Thanks for the Tip! I am adding that to my list now.

  • Can I get The History Channel, Syfy, HO2, Channels 2-11, 32, and please tell me Morgan Freeman and “Through the Worm Hole” too, with any of these, or do I have to have several different “Hulu’s or the others? And which ones? $100.00 bucks a month for Com-Cast, “no can do” anymore! And, I could care less if there in HD or not, if that ain’t a rip-off! so, “Be afrarid, Cable companies – be very afraid”! You had the chance to become “American Heroes” and provide everyone with reasonably priced service, (especially folks on fixed incomes), but instead you blew it because of “GREED”! But “Greed is good”, right!

    • Tim, your awesome! and I could not agree more! Hope you like our new TV Channel (button) format. (SyFy, History and more are now available)

  • Don’t we have an “APP” for this yet? Seriously? A user friendly, step by step and device(s) you’ll need and cost to get what cable rips us off for now?

    • Agreed Tim. If I only had the investment capital needed to build it. Maybe later this year…

    • Tim, You can get cords to hook up you laptop/desktop to your TV. I have an HDTV so all I needed was an HDMI cord and now I’m able to watch my shows on my TV.

  • This is spectacular information, and it is very organized and easy to understand (all in one article with great links). I’m so impressed with your communication skills! You are a good communicator. It is very appreciated!!!

    • Thanks Beth. Please check back in and let us know if you like the new page format

  • Crackle is another free streaming movie and show site. It works with Roku as well.
    I have a Mac mini as a home theater setup running Plex (Plexapp.com) which can easily be configured as a media server for the roku. Plex has built in plugins for nearly all the major network channels which just Puts the same content from ABC.com and such all in one place. It has Netflix and Hulu plugins as well. Combining that with built in DVD support and personal media, it really is a complete package. It dies take some patience and reading forums for help and figuring it all out but to save the monthly cable bill, it was worth it for me. Instead of the $135 I was paying for service, I now pay $29 for Internet (which I would regardless), $7.99 for Netflix and $7.99 for Hulu+.
    Plex also works on my iPad and iPhones as well as my daughter’s iPod when I’m on my local wireless.

    • Hey Ian,

      Thanks for the great comment. Crackle is amazing for sure. You will see a link to it at the top of this page, and recently wrote an entire article on the tool: https://hotdog.com/what-is-crackle-tv/

      As for Plexapp – first time i have heard of it. Are you still using this app, or have you moved on to a more user friendly aggregator? Additionally, do you have any suggestions for us PC users?

    • Am I missing something? I don’t get crackle at all. Old tv shows and not all that much content. Either I’m doing something wrong or I just don’t get it.

  • I have several dvd discs that will not play on my fairly new dvd player, something to do with codecs, etc. I can do several things, but wanted to know IF I could use Roku to use my PC to play the disc (it will) and “send” it to my hd big screen? This would probably help others who cannot view some persaonlly recorded discs on Some dvd players. Thank you.

  • Sorry the frequency is 88.7 Mgz and not 87.7!

  • I listen to music online from a radio station brodcasting at 87.7 Mgz. As my AM/FM tuner is not capable of receiving 87.7 Mgz, is there a way to stream this music to my TV using my Roku?

    • Only if they have web broadcast and you could make a custom roku channel.

  • Great site lots of good information. I have done every thing you’ve mentioned even before I ever visited your site. I’ve even dumped my phone service and I now use Nettalk for $30.00 a year and I now get a lot more service and it works ten times better than Magicjack and you can use the phone you already have and you don’t have to keep your computer turned on. Check it out and perhaps you could + kill your phone bill.

    • Great idea James. Do you have any more info on exactly how Nettalk works?

  • I’m a Denver Broncos fan living in Ohio. Is there any way to watch games other than paying $300 to direct tv?

    • Tough one for sure. Cable companies do their best to lock down sporting events – especially NFL. First I would check to see if it is being broadcast-ed on a local channel like FOX or NBC. To do so you can use https://www.tvguide.com/listings/setup/localizeus.aspx?RedirectUrl=/Listings/
      where you can customize your location and even select “Antenna” as a service type. If it is being broadcast-ed in your area I would then go out and get an indoor antenna. Read more about this option at: https://hotdog.com/hd-without-cable/ . Chances are you wont get the Denver game but you will get Sunday Football in HD, without paying the high cost of expensive cable. Good luck.

  • what product will give me FNC news and Fox business

  • which indian tv channels would i be able to watch using any of the content provider?

    • I did some research and found a great site called iDesiTV: [link removed]
      This site claims to be the home of South Asian entertainment. iDesiTV.com is a live streaming portal which indexes live streaming “Desi” content which are freely available on the internet. We strive to provide the best and the most updated content to our viewers. Check it out and let me know what you think.

    • Sorry no religious affiliation here

    • Wow, now THAT is discrimination. That’s really sad.

    • I wonder what affiliation will be necessary in the end? Hmmmh? Cause that one won’t work.

    • What do you mean no “religious affiliation” here? Are you kidding me? Seriously, what makes it acceptable for you to discriminate like that? There are a few truly popular and significant channels like INSP that should be included. I find your response truly offensive.

    • only mean that we are not

    • i love the fact that there are some really good movies that stream from channels like TBN and they have always been free. Daystar, The Inspiration Channel, The Word Network are also free.

  • Great site. At our company we direct people to take advantages of these exact services. Would you mind if we featured your site in our next blog?

    Thanks and keep up the good work!
    Scott

    PS Hulu plus is only 7.99 /mo, not 9 as is listed above

    • Hey Scott – Thanks, and Yes feel free to link to / feature our blogs on your site. Good catch on the Hulu price. Just fixed it. Thanks!

  • Suggest to add to your list http://www.maximum.tv, a site dedicated to bringing (legally!) television content from Latin America, to spanish speaking US Hispanics across the United States. Enjoy! It’s currently a free service.

    • Thanks JL! Just added this to the button list

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