MSNBC Without Cable: Top Packages to Watch Cable News Cheaper Online

I’m watching the final debate and town hall before the 2024 Republican Primary begins. I’ll find complete information in the Viewer’s Guides to the Debates and learn how to follow the Election Returns.

MSNBC is NBC’s “cable news” channel — a direct competitor of FOX News and CNN. The channel features fan-favorite programs include The Rachel Maddow Show, The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell, and Morning Joe.

Today, you don’t need cable to enjoy its programs. All the major streaming services provide live streams of MSNBC.

In a hurry? If you just want to start streaming MSNBC right now, here’s a quick rundown:

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.

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.

How to Get MSNBC Without Cable

At one time, cutting cable meant losing channels like MSNBC. But today, staying informed without cable has never been simpler.

A number of streaming services and packages allow you to enjoy your favorite MSNBC programs for a far lower price than with a cable or satellite subscription.

FuboTV: News, Sports, and Everything Else

Fubo (formerly FuboTV) was founded in an effort to fill the gap in international sports coverage on cable, and its focus on sports is still evident. Of the over 150 channels in the basic plan, 38 are sports-related. But over the years, Fubo broadened its offerings. Today, it’s one of the best overall streaming services.

Sign Up for a Free Fubo Trial

MSNBC comes with Fubo’s base plan for $79.99/month. This also includes FOX News. CNN, however, is not available. In order to keep costs down, Fubo dropped all its Turner channels in 2000, so if CNN is critical to you, look to another service.

But Fubo has you covered in terms of news. The base plan includes 11 other national news and information channels. What’s more, you get the four network affiliates in your area: ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC.

To find out more, check out these resources:

• Fubo Local Channels
• Fubo Packages
• Fubo Review
• Fubo Devices.

Sling TV: Low Cost News

Sling TV’s Blue plan is designed for news and entertainment with 40+ channels for only $40.00/month. These include MSNBC, CNN, and FOX. You also get the local affiliates of FOX and NBC in most areas. Save $25 on Sling TV now!

Save $25 on Sling TV Now

Forty channels may not sound like a lot, but Sling provides a good selection including favorites like AMC, Cartoon Network, E, Lifetime, and SyFy. And you even get the sports channels FS1 and the NFL Network.

If you want more news, you can add on the News Extra for $6/mo, which includes BBC World News, Weather Nation, the Science Channel, and Newsmax. For $15 more per month, you can add the Orange plan, which gives you channels like ESPN and Disney.

If this sounds interesting, here’s more information with all the details:

• Sling TV Review
• Sling TV Local Channels
• Sling TV Packages
• Sling TV Devices.

DIRECTV STREAM: Easy Transition From Cable With the Channels You Love

DIRECTV STREAM (formerly AT&T TV) offers 75+ channels for $79.99/month. These include all the cable news channels: MSNBC, CNN, and FOX News. And they also provide excellent support for local network affiliates NBC, CBS, ABC, and FOX.

Get DIRECTV STREAM Free Trial

Although DIRECTV STREAM is a bit more expensive than the other streaming services, they all you to stream on uunlimited TVs and devices simultaneously. That makes them a great choice if you have a large household with varying interests.

For more information, see our DIRECTV STREAM review. (Black Friday details)

Hulu + Live TV: Broad Package With Great On-Demand Content

Hulu is known for its industry-leading on-demand selection of recently aired TV shows. The addition of its Live TV package adds over 85 live channels, including MSNBC, CNN, FOX News, and more.

Try Hulu + Live TV for Free

Hulu + Live TV also offers exceptional coverage of local affiliate channels for ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox. And, of course, they provide a broad selection of other channels.

For more information, check out the following:

• Hulu + Live TV Review
• Hulu + Live TV Local Channels
• Hulu + Live TV Packages.

Other Ways to Stream MSNBC

There are other ways you can stream MSNBC:

• YouTube TV: A good overall streaming service with 100+ channels including MSNBC, CNN, FOX News, and local affiliates in most areas.
• MSNBC app: You need a subscription to a cable for streaming provider but this allows you to watch live on iOS devices.

TVs and Mobile Devices for Watching MSNBC

We’re all familiar with the good old box TV, but today’s streaming services need something a little more advanced. But not much.

Luckily, it’s easy to stream MSNBC with a number of devices and smart TVs. In fact, you will have no problem watching MSNBC on pretty much any piece of hardware you have around.

All the streaming services support the major smart TVs from Samsung and others that support Android TV. And they all support the Android and iOS (iPhone, iPad) devices. And the TV devices like Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, and Roku.

You can also watch MSNBC via a web browser. If you do so from laptop, you can connect it to your TV via an HDMI cable and view it from there.

Most of the streaming services also allow you to stream on the Xbox One. Only DIRECTV STREAM doesn’t allow that, but they make up for that by supporting their own device that replaces the traditional set top box.

The main thing to remember is that streaming services today support almost everything that is currently in use. If you have something unusual, you may have problems. But it’s not likely. Even the Oculus is supported by Sling TV.

Today’s MSNBC Schedule

See our MSNBC Schedule page for all the details of what’s playing today.

Wrapping Up

Staying informed is essential, and MSNBC is there for you. Now you have the tools to access it in the post-cable world. There’s no reason to cling to the way we’ve always done things when there are better (and cheaper) options for the future.

To find more of your favorite channels without cable, hop on over to our guide.

FAQs

Is MSNBC free?

Apart from, say, signing up for a free trial with Hulu or Fubo, there is no way to get MSNBC for free. It is a traditional “cable channel” and so you need to get it through a streaming service if you want to avoid the cable and satellite companies. But you can get it and a whole lot more from Sling TV for just $40.00/month.

How can I watch MSNBC with an antenna?

MSNBC is not broadcast over the air, so you can’t set up an antenna and watch it. But it’s still a great idea to get an antenna. In most areas, they allow you to stream a ton of HD channels — including the local affiliates that provide local and national news.

Can I find local news without cable?

Yes, you can get all of the local news channels without cable. For a long time, local channels were the Achilles’ heel of the streaming industry. But the past couple of years has seen their almost universal inclusion in streaming plans. You can also get them via antenna. See our local channel guide for all the details.

How can I watch other news channels?

Here are our guides for watching other news channels:

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Frank Moraes

I am a Senior Content Editor at Hotdog.com, specializing in sports streaming and regional programming issues. With a PhD in Atmospheric Physics from the Oregon Graduate Institute of Science and extensive experience in remote sensing technology, including early video streaming, I bring a unique technical perspective to the streaming industry.

My expertise in sports coverage, particularly for out-of-market games and regional sports networks, stems from years of hands-on experience as an early adopter of streaming services and my work addressing fans' viewing challenges. As a longtime cord-cutter and subscriber to multiple streaming platforms, I combine my technical knowledge with practical user experience, making me a leading expert in the field of sports streaming and entertainment technology.

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