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Investigation Discovery Online: Is Hulu + Live TV Best for Watching ID Without Cable?

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Do you love true crime and investigation television? Then Investigation Discovery (ID) is perfect for you. You can watch some of the most shocking TV with stories pulled right from the headlines. And cord-cutters don’t need to worry because ID is widely available from streaming services.

In a hurry? If you just want to start watching ID and not go through all the pros and cons of your options, here are our three favorite options:

  • 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.

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In a hurry? Unfortunately, we don’t know a streaming service in that offers this TV channel/sport. But if you’ve already paid for the right service, and just can’t watch because of your location, there is an easy way to get the sports, movies, and TV you deserve. You need a VPN, like one of the following.

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Investigation Discovery, or ID, as it goes by these days, is Discovery’s foray into the true crime genre. It’s not hard to understand why true crime stories are so popular: they’re real-life mystery stories that beg for resolution.

True crime’s roots go back to Jack the Ripper and beyond, but the current surge in popularity is widely credited to the runaway success of the 2014 podcast Serial, the 2015 HBO documentary miniseries The Jinx, and the 2015 Netflix series Making a Murderer. Since 2016, ID’s ratings have soared and it’s become one of the most popular cable channels.

Read on to find out how you can catch the next episode of Detective Diaries and not get (financially) murdered by your cable bill.

Sign Up for a Free Fubo Trial

How to Watch Investigation Discovery Live Without Cable

ID, as its name implies, is owned by Discovery Inc, which also owns Animal Planet, Discovery, Food Network, HGTV, Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN), TLC, Travel Channel, Cooking Channel, Destination America, Discovery Life, Discovery Family, and DIY Network.

ID fans may also be interested in several other channels dedicated to crime, true or fictional: A&E’s Crime + Investigation, Law & Crime, Oxygen, and Start TV.

Although the term “cable channels” has stuck, you don’t need a cable company anymore to watch these channels. Several services stream the same channels over the internet, which you can watch just like a cable service.

Unlike a cable service, however, streaming services require no contracts, no installation visits, and no long-term commitments. And they generally cost less. Which services carry ID? Take a look below.

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Streaming Services with Investigation Discovery

All the major streaming services carry ID, so you’ve got options. Discovery either makes its channels irresistibly low-cost to license, or makes a lot of deals, because every service also carries the core Discovery brands — Discovery, Food Network, HGTV, and TLC — in its base package.

Read on to see what other channels might interest you.

Fubo

fubotv logo

Fubo (formerly FuboTV) is a great service for the hard-core sports fan, but it’s got a lot more than just sports. Fubo’s Pro plan provides well over 130 channels for $79.99/mo. This includes ID and Discovery, all your local networks, Animal Planet, OWN, Oxygen, and Travel Channel.

Go for the Elite plan for $89.99/mo and you’ll get 170+ total channels including Discovery Life, Discovery Family, Cooking Channel, Destination America, DIY Network, and Dan Abrams’s Law & Crime Trial Network.

All plans come with 1000 hours of cloud DVR storage and simultaneous streaming on up to 10 devices.

Read our Fubo review for more information.

Sign Up for a Free Fubo Trial

Philo

philo logo

Philo is only $25/mo, but it saves money by passing on expensive affiliate markets (your local broadcast networks), WarnerMedia channels (HBO, former Turner channels), and NBCUniversal networks (E!, Bravo, Oxygen). It’s light on news channels and has no sports networks at all. But if it has what you’re looking for, it’s a great deal.

Philo’s 60+ channels include ID and the core Discovery channels, Animal Planet, Cooking Channel, Crime + Investigation, Destination America, DIY Network, Law & Crime, OWN, and Travel Channel. It features unlimited cloud DVR storage and streaming on up to 3 screens at a time.

For more information see our Philo review.

Try Philo Free for 7 Days

Sling TV

Sling TV Logo (2021 100x50)

The Sling Blue package is $40.00/mo for 40+ channels, streamable on up to 3 screens at one time with 50 hours of cloud DVR. It includes ID, Discovery, and Travel Channel. You can find Destination America in the Heartland Extra, Law & Crime and Newsmax in the News Extra, and Start TV in the Hollywood Extra — each for $6/mo or less if you get a bundle.

Sling TV has, by far, the fewest Discovery channels of any of the streaming services; it doesn’t carry Animal Planet, Discovery Life, Discovery Family, or OWN at all. But it does offer a great channel selection for a very low price.

Our Sling TV review lays out all your options.

Save 50% on Sling TV Now

Sling TV Discovery Channel
Sling TV with Investigation Discovery and others.

DIRECTV STREAM

DIRECTV STREAM

DIRECTV STREAM (formerly AT&T TV) is a good “gateway” service for people who want the benefits of streaming but with as little major change to their setup as possible. It’s the only service that offers its own proprietary device, similar to a cable box, complete with voice-activated remote control.

Its base Entertainment plan is $79.99/mo for roughly 80 channels, including ID and Discovery plus Animal Planet and your local broadcast channels and comes with unlimited DVR as long as you sign-up online. The next tier, Choice, is $108.99/mo and you get all the Entertainment channels and Cooking Channel, Oprah Winfrey Network, Travel Channel, and regional sports networks.

Destination America, Discovery Life, Discovery Family, DIY Network, and Oxygen are all on the Ultimate tier ($119.99/mo). Crime + Investigation is available as an add-on.

To see all your options, read our DIRECTV STREAM review.

Get DIRECTV STREAM Free for 5 Days

Hulu + Live TV

hulu logo

Hulu’s on-demand library is arguably the best because of its next-day availability of many of your favorite shows. Hulu + Live TV adds over 85 live channels to that for $76.99/mo. This includes ID and Discovery, all your local broadcast network affiliates, Animal Planet, ESPN+, Disney+, Oxygen, Start TV, and Travel Channel.

Sign up for Hulu Live’s Entertainment Add-on for $7.99/mo and you’ll also enjoy Cooking Channel, Crime + Investigation, Destination America, Discovery Life, Discovery Family, and DIY Network.

Hulu offers unlimited cloud DVR (9 months of storage) and streaming on up to 2 devices at the same time. See our Hulu + Live TV review for details.

Try Hulu + Live TV Today!

Vidgo

vidgo logo

Vidgo is a two-tiered service aimed at families and college sports fans. Their base plan, Vidgo Plus, is $69.99/mo for over 100 channels, including ID, Discovery, Animal Planet, DIY Network, Law & Crime, OWN, and Travel Channel. Vidgo Premium is $84.99/mo and adds Discovery Family, Discovery Life, Cooking Channel, and Destination America, among others.

You can stream on up to 3 screens at a time, but there is no DVR functionality or on-demand content. Broadcast networks are limited to Fox and ABC.

Check out our Vidgo review for more information.

Try Vidgo Today!

Hulu ID
Hulu on-demand Investigation Discovery shows.

Other Ways to Stream Investigation Discovery

There are other ways to get the ID live stream or just the on-demand content:

  • Hulu: The base on-demand plan for $7.99/mo has back seasons of a half-dozen ID shows, most notably Homicide Hunter and Deadly Women. (Black Friday details)
  • YouTube TV: Similar to Hulu + Live TV, features 85+ channels for $72.99/mo, including ID and Discovery.
  • ID Website: Some shows/episodes require a TV provider login (eg, streaming service), like the most recent episodes of On the Case with Paula Zahn. But there’s a lot to watch for free, like the entire seven-season run of American Monster.
  • Discovery+: Discovery’s on-demand streaming subscription service, with exclusive series as well as classic shows and specials from across all the Discovery brands. Plans start at $4.99/mo with a 7-day free trial.

Superpower Your Live TV Streaming With a VPN

You can’t beat a VPN for privacy, security, and access. We have used them for years as an important part of our streaming toolkit and we recommend ExpressVPN. Other brands worth checking out include Hotspot Shield and CyberGhost.

i See our VPN Buyer’s Guide for complete information on how to choose the best VPN for your needs.

TVs and Devices to Live Stream ID

FuboTV Discovery Channel
Android fun running FuboTV with Investigation Discovery.

You’ll need a streaming device to watch ID. Fortunately, the streaming services we’ve discussed support most that are currently in use. For example, they all support the “stick” devices: Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, and Roku.

Android and iOS mobile devices are similarly supported. And you can use them (and some web browsers) to cast ID to your TV via Chromecast.

Other than DIRECTV STREAM, all services support smart TVs that are based on Android TV.

Other than Philo and Vidgo, the services support Samsung smart TVs. Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, and Sling TV support LG and Vizio smart TVs. Fubo also supports Hisense TVs. Fubo, Hulu, and Sling support the Xbox One. Hulu also supports the PlayStation.

These are just the most popular devices. Our streaming reviews have complete lists.

Today’s Investigation Discovery Schedule

Here is today’s schedule in Eastern Time:

Mean Girl MurdersGoth Girl Gone

After sweet, insecure Kelly Bullwinkle is found dead in a remote area, investigators uncover a web of jealousy and deceit among friends; but no one is prepared for the ultimate betrayal behind her murder.

Quiet on Set:The Dark Side of Kids TVHidden in Plain Sight

A look at accusations concerning showrunner Dan Schneider, including a toxic workplace for female writers and two crew members' arrests for child abuse.

20/20 on IDSole Survivor- Part One

For 15 years, Heather Robinson thought she knew her life story; but the arrest of a serial killer 500 miles from home would reveal a dark family secret and turn her life upside down.

20/20 on IDSole Survivor- Part Two

For 15 years, Heather Robinson thought she knew her life story; but the arrest of a serial killer 500 miles from home reveals a dark family secret and turns her life upside down.

The Night That Didn't EndIn the Dead of Night

In Rison, Ark., a young woman is abducted from her home in the middle of the night; when investigators dig up her body in the woods, they uncover an appalling murder plot that led to the victim's gruesome demise.

The Night That Didn't EndMurder on the Reservation

On the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation, a young mother goes missing after the Fourth of July; when her body is discovered in the woods, the victim's family dig through the memories of their loved one to provide investigators with critical clues.

The Night That Didn't EndStolen Memories

Sharon Ord and her family leave Scranton, Pa., to start a new life in Florida; then one of them disappears, turning their dream of a new life into a nightmare.

Welcome to MurdertownBuried Deep

Sherry Leighty disappears from Altoona, Pa., leaving her three small children behind; after a 13-year search, her sister discovers the rumor Leighty skipped town with a new boyfriend is a lie and people close to her have been harboring a dark secret.

Welcome to MurdertownMurder in Macks Creek

In Mack's Creek, Mo., 42-year-old Trudy Darby is murdered, then two more local women go missing; silence reigns in town until a call out of the blue reveals that the killers are uncomfortably close to home.

Welcome to MurdertownSilver Peak's Secret

After Charlie Kinkel goes missing in a Nevada mining town, his wife, Trayce, tries to investigate, but is shunned by locals and after a body is discovered, detectives discover Kinkel's murder was a tragic case of misplaced suspicion.

Hostage 911Get Her Out Alive

A man takes his wife hostage after she demands a divorce; negotiators plead with the suspect to let her go but have no idea there is another plan going on inside the house that could have fatal consequences.

Hostage 911Who Rescues the Rescuers?

An elderly man faking chest pains takes five EMT firefighters hostage at gunpoint; with a house full of firearms and an unwillingness to negotiate, officers believe he has a deadly plan in mind.

Hostage 911Crisis at the Campsite

Negotiators try to de-escalate the situation when officers locate an armed suspect in a dark forest at night who has taken his three children hostage and claims he will hurt his family.

Hostage 911My Husbands Coming to Kill Us

A dance teacher receives a message from her ex-husband, who is holding a gun to his head: he claims he's en route to the dance studio and threatens to murder the family; officers race to beat him to the scene, pleading with him to stand down.

See No EvilThe Man in the Black Hat

On April 14, 2009, 25-year old student Julissa Brisman is found shot to death in a Boston hotel room; with no witnesses, investigators turn to surveillance cameras to find a serial attacker.

See No EvilLock Up

When Marcel Reardon is discovered bludgeoned to death outside an apartment building, his friends deny all knowledge of his murder; detectives are convinced at least one of them is lying.

See No EvilSavage by Name

On March 27, 2015, Tierra Hall hugs her mother goodbye for the last time; 24 hours later, the teenager's dead body is discovered outside an abandoned house.

See No EvilThe Hand-Off

In 2018, a killer shoots 33-year-old restaurant worker Joshua Webb outside an apartment block in Beckley, W.V.; to solve the murder and identify the culprit, police must unravel a web of lies by following a trail of security footage.

Body CamFailure to Comply

In Florida, a father kidnaps his own child; a wanted fugitive in Georgia fires six shots at a police officer, igniting panic in the neighborhood; in Ohio, a suspect attempts to evade police by escaping into a kids' day care center.

Body CamDigging for Trouble

In Vermont, a dad wielding an excavator attacks officers to stop them from arresting his son. In Wisconsin, a police pastor on a ride-along gets caught up in a high-speed chase. In an Indiana motel, a wanted man opens fire on police.

Bail JumpersKids, Baby Mamas and Valeria

In North Carolina, John and Kay apprehend Richard, who has nine kids and angry baby mamas; in Minnesota, Reggie and Garrett fail to make an arrest; in Memphis, Tony and Harvey bring in Valeria, a podcaster who loves giving unsolicited advice.

Bail JumpersHurricanes, Hustle and a Robbery

In North Carolina, John and Kay pick up Brian, who used to work on tugboats; in Memphis, Tony and Harvey arrest Jaquis, whose dad once robbed a casino; in Minnesota, Reggie and Garret bring in Dominick, an aspiring e-commerce entrepreneur.

Real Time CrimeBeyond Recognition

Police and communities have a new weapon in the fight against crime. Across America, Real Time Crime Centers use surveillance cameras, tracking systems and gunshot detectors to solve crimes and bring criminals to justice. These are their stories.

Body CamDigging for Trouble

In Vermont, a dad wielding an excavator attacks officers to stop them from arresting his son. In Wisconsin, a police pastor on a ride-along gets caught up in a high-speed chase. In an Indiana motel, a wanted man opens fire on police.

Bail JumpersKids, Baby Mamas and Valeria

In North Carolina, John and Kay apprehend Richard, who has nine kids and angry baby mamas; in Minnesota, Reggie and Garrett fail to make an arrest; in Memphis, Tony and Harvey bring in Valeria, a podcaster who loves giving unsolicited advice.

Bail JumpersHurricanes, Hustle and a Robbery

In North Carolina, John and Kay pick up Brian, who used to work on tugboats; in Memphis, Tony and Harvey arrest Jaquis, whose dad once robbed a casino; in Minnesota, Reggie and Garret bring in Dominick, an aspiring e-commerce entrepreneur.

Real Time CrimeBeyond Recognition

Police and communities have a new weapon in the fight against crime. Across America, Real Time Crime Centers use surveillance cameras, tracking systems and gunshot detectors to solve crimes and bring criminals to justice. These are their stories.

Wrapping Up

As you can see by this list, there is no need to live in terror from your cable bill. And you don’t need Paula Zahn to close this case!

Just sign up for one of the streaming services discussed in this article and you can enjoy ID while making sure your predatory cable bill never targets you again!

Sign Up for a Free Fubo Trial

FAQ

Where did Investigation Discovery come from?

ID launched back in 1996 with the ridiculously cumbersome name “Discovery Civilization Network: The World History and Geography Channel.” It was part of a four-channel bundle together with what would become Destination America, Science, and Discovery Family. From 2002 to 2006, The New York Times and Discovery ran the channel together, first as Discovery Civilization Channel and then as Discovery Times. They experimented with focusing on current events and modern history, then on US culture.

The Times left the venture in 2006, but the name didn’t change until the 2008 relaunch as Investigation Discovery with a newly appointed focus on true crime stories. The now-popular network rebranded as simply ID in 2020, with a brand new logo.

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Alanna Baker

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