TBS: Get the Iconic, All-Around TV Channel Online Cheaper Without Cable

I’ve watched TBS grow into an iconic TV channel over the years. Every time I tune in, there’s something different to enjoy, whether it’s a comedy show or a live sporting event. And you know what makes it even better?

You don’t need an expensive long-term contract with a cable or satellite provider to enjoy TBS. You have lots of other options.

In a hurry? There are lots of things to consider when choosing a streaming service. But these three are our favorites. They give you TBS and lots more:

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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.

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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.

TBS earned its popularity through a combination of movies, syndicated network shows, and notable live sports events, such as the NCAA basketball tournament and March Madness.

Today, it remains a place where you can reliably catch reruns of popular series from the eighties and nineties, such as Seinfeld, Friends, Family Guy, and The Big Bang Theory, as well as movies, sports, and original comedy series.

So, if you want to cut the cord but don’t think your Wednesdays would be the same without Samantha Bee at the end of the day, you can still enjoy all her sarcastic charm without cable on TBS.

Save 50% on Sling TV Now

How to Watch TBS Live Without Cable

TBS began as an independent Atlanta broadcast station before becoming the nation’s first “superstation” via satellite distribution, pioneering the use of satellite to transmit cable channels.

Through the magic of corporate mergers and acquisitions, Turner Broadcasting (TBS, TNT, truTV, Turner Classic Movies, CNN/HLN, Cartoon Network/Adult Swim, and Boomerang) is now a division of WarnerMedia (HBO, Cinemax, and The CW). Warner recently merged with Discovery to form Warner Bros.-Discovery.

TBS, TNT, and truTV are still marketed together, with TBS branded as the home of comedy, TNT specializing in drama, and truTV featuring reality and lifestyle shows with a comedic bent.

TBS may have started out as a broadcast station, but it was officially converted into a conventional basic cable network back in 2007. So, even if you happen to live in the Atlanta area, you still can’t pick it up on an antenna. You would need a paid subscription service, which used to come in the form of cable or a home satellite dish.

But now, several services stream the same channels live over the internet at a fraction of the price. These over-the-top services are cheaper, more flexible alternatives to traditional cable, with no contracts, commitments, or extra mystery fees.

Below, you’ll find more details on these services that carry TBS.

Streaming Services with TBS

Channels tend to be licensed in bundles, so if one is missing, chances are you aren’t going to find its sister channels, either. For example, Fubo doesn’t carry any of the Turner-WarnerMedia channels like TBS. The same goes for bargain provider Philo.

Don’t worry, though. You still have many options to watch TBS, TNT, truTV, and all their other sister channels.

Sling TV

Sling TV is the oldest OTT service and one of the best values. The Sling Blue plan has a little of everything, from shows to movies, sports to family, and NBC and Fox (depending on your market). All for $40.00/month.

Save 50% on Sling TV Now

The plan includes CNN, TBS, TNT, truTV, and Cartoon Network/Adult Swim. To get Turner Classic Movies (TCM), you must get the Hollywood Extra add-on for $6/mo. The CW is not available on Sling TV.

Sling Blue has over 40 channels, 50 hours of cloud DVR storage, and 3 simultaneous streams.

Find out more about Sling TV here:

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

You can also check out our guide to March Madness coverage and schedule, or how to watch AEW every week.

DIRECTV STREAM

DIRECTV STREAM (formerly AT&T TV) has all the Turner/WarnerMedia channels in its 75+ channel Entertainment package. It also includes The CW and other local channels. HBO and Cinemax come optionally as premium channels for extra.

Get DIRECTV STREAM Free Trial

The base package is $86.99/month with a 5-day free trial.

If you subscribe to the Choice ($114.99/month) or higher package, regional sports channels based on your area are included, and you get 3 months of HBO Max for free.

See our DIRECTV STREAM review for all the details.

Hulu + Live TV

Hulu is known for its hyper-current library of on-demand TV series (typically offering episodes the day after they air rather than waiting a year for the most recent season to get to Netflix).

Get Hulu + Live TV Free

This library includes a few TBS original programs and many of the shows TBS syndicates. But the important part is that TBS is included in Hulu’s Live TV service.

For $82.99/month, you get 100+ channels to stream on up to two devices simultaneously and unlimited cloud DVR (9-month storage). All the Turner and WarnerMedia channels are present and accounted for, except for HBO and Cinemax, which are available as premium channels for an additional fee.

Local stations, including The CW, are available based on location. Learn more:

• Hulu + Live TV Review
• Hulu On-Demand Review
• Hulu + Live TV Packages
• Hulu + Live TV Local Channels.

Other Ways to Stream TBS

Those aren’t the only ways to watch Miracle Workers and other TBS shows. Check out these other ways to stream TBS:

• TBS, TNT, and truTV are all included on YouTube TV, whose base plan currently retails at $72.99/month.
• Much of TBS’s original programming is available on various services, such as Amazon Prime, Netflix, iTunes, and Vudu. These vary; you can watch by either buying the show by episode or season and/or subscribing to the service.
• The TBS live stream is available on most devices with the TBS app. However, you still need a subscription via cable, satellite, or streaming service.

Watch TBS on Your TVs and Streaming Devices

All the streaming services we’ve discussed support the major devices in use today:

• Samsung Smart TVs: select models from 2017 onwards
• TV Devices: Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Roku
• Android: smartphones and tablets
• iOS: iPhones, iPads, iPod Touch units
• Chromecast: units and built-in systems
• Web browsers: Chrome, Edge, Safari.

Sling TV and Hulu support TVs with the Android TV operating system. They also support LG smart TVs, Amazon Fire tablets, and gaming consoles like Xbox.

Sling TV supports the Oculus VR device. And Hulu supports the PlayStation and Nintendo Switch.

Wrapping Up

So, if you love tuning in equally to a random 90s sitcom like Seinfeld and an offbeat game show like The Misery Index, don’t give up on TBS just because you’re ready to throw in the towel with your cable company.

Sign up for one of the streaming services listed here, and never miss new episodes of American Dad! again.

FAQ

What is the cheapest way to get TBS?

Sling TV is your cheapest option to get TBS for $40.00/month. You can also get extras like Kids, News, Lifestyle, and Comedy add-ons, all for just an extra $13/mo. If you cannot live without TCM, add the Hollywood Extra for $6/mo. That’s still only $54/mo for 90+ channels.

The drawback with Sling is its lack of local channels like The CW. However, Hulu + Live TV helps for $82.99/month, offering The CW in most areas.

Can I get TBS by itself?

You cannot get TBS by itself. If you are an existing customer with a service that supports TV Everywhere, you can sign into TBS’s website or app to watch live or on-demand content. But no service offers TBS alone, or even just a package of the three Turner-branded channels TBS, TNT, and truTV. At least not yet.

Is TBS on any streaming service?

Yes. It’s actually on several. Your cheapest option is Sling TV at $40.00/month. Your most cable-like option is DIRECTV STREAM starting at $86.99/month. Be careful since several streaming services do not carry any of the Turner channels (such as Fubo). You can check out our section “Streaming Services with TBS” for more information.

How can I stream TBS for free?

You can’t, not really. DIRECTV STREAM offers a 5-day free trial to new subscribers, which you could take advantage of, and YouTube TV gives you a free week. Some content (very little) is available on the TBS website or app for free (most of it requires a TV provider login).

Sling TV is the cheapest streaming option at $40.00/month.

Note that TBS may have originated as an over-the-air (OTA) channel in Atlanta, but its current form is a regular cable channel, no longer connected to the original Atlanta-based station.

How much does TBS streaming cost?

Since you can’t get TBS just by itself (see above), it costs as much as the service that carries it. The cheapest service that carries TBS is Sling TV, which starts at $40.00/month. For a more flexible channel lineup, you can opt for DIRECTV STREAM Entertainment package for $86.99/month or the Hulu + Live TV plan for $82.99/month.

Is TBS free on Roku?

TBS costs the same on Roku as it does on any other device. YouTube TV and DIRECTV STREAM have free trials for their streaming services (seven and five days, respectively), but there is no truly free option for TBS. The cheapest streaming platform that carries TBS is Sling TV, which starts at $40.00/month

Is TBS on Amazon Prime?

No, but it’s easy to get confused. The TBS app is available in the Amazon App Store (similar to the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store), and this is basically the same app you’d get for Android or iOS, but for Amazon Fire tablets (or phones), it requires a TV provider login.

If TBS were available to watch through Amazon Prime Video, it would be on Amazon Prime Video Channels, which it is not. In short, you cannot get the live TBS channel through Amazon Prime Video.

What are the TBS streaming options?

Streaming services that carry TBS: Sling TV, DIRECTV STREAM, Hulu + Live TV, and YouTube TV. Sling TV is best for people who want to be able to fine-tune a small number of channels. DIRECTV STREAM has a cable-esque large package of channels and has the biggest selection of regional sports networks.

Hulu + Live TV includes Hulu (on-demand), Disney+, and ESPN+. YouTube TV is similar to Hulu Live but with slightly more channels and no Disney+/ESPN+ love.

What are the best TV shows on TBS?

TBS has a wide variety of TV shows, though it specializes in comedy. It has some popular original comedies (Chad) and a satisfying selection of oddball unscripted programs, like AEW Dynamite and Celebrity Show-Off. Still, some of its most popular shows are its syndicated favorites, like The Big Bang Theory. Here’s a rundown of some of their biggest draws:

• Chad
• Miracle Workers
• The Big Bang Theory
• Celebrity Show-Off
• AEW Dynamite
• American Dad!
• 2 Broke Girls
• Harry Potter: Hogwarts Tournament of Houses
• Full Frontal with Samantha Bee
• The Cube
• Friday Night Vibes
• Conan

What sports are on TBS?

Through its history as a Turner network, TBS has the rights to several important sporting events. As mentioned, it airs many March Madness games. It’s also joint-home to the Stanley Cup playoffs and Final and the NBA playoffs and Finals. Check out our Stanley Cup Playoff Schedule guide for more info on NHL championship channels.

Does TBS air MLB games?

In addition to playoff games, TBS will air 13 regular-season MLB games:

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Alanna Baker

Alanna Baker was the Streaming Content Editor at Hotdog.com, specializing in comprehensive streaming coverage across various genres, with a particular focus on sports and Sling TV offerings. With a background in literature and education, coupled with extensive experience in media and law, Alanna brings a unique perspective to the streaming industry.

Her expertise stems from being an early adopter of various entertainment technologies, from mail-order Netflix to modern streaming platforms. Alanna's in-depth knowledge of Sling TV's modular service and her ability to cover diverse streaming content make her a key expert in navigating the complex landscape of modern streaming options, especially in sports and entertainment.

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