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How to Watch News Channels Without Cable – Go Online!
Last updated May 9, 2021
You can get a lot of information about what's going on in the world straight from the Internet, but news stations still have their charm thanks to the experts they invite to discuss the topics, and they're still faster to break the news than any website out there. So, if you're looking for ways to watch the news without cable, we have you covered.
There are various streaming sites that you can sign up to and they feature dozens of channels you can enjoy whenever you want, as long as you have an Internet connection.
We're going to go through them all and tell you what news and sports news channels each feature and you're going to have to decide which ones you like more.
1. fuboTV
First up on the list is fuboTV, which is particularly great for those who love sports as there are dozens of dedicated channels available here. There are four starter bundles you can pick from - fubo ($39.99 for the first month, $44.99 per month after that), fubo Extra ($44.99 for the first month, $49.99 per month thereafter), fubo Latino ($17.99/mo), and fubo Portugues ($19.99/mo). There are also loads of extra channel packs, but we're not going to get into those because of none feature news channels.
- fubo: CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, CBSN, Cheddar, Fox Business, HLN, Local Now, CNBC, CNBC World, Weather Channel, NBCSN, FS1, CBS Sports Network, Big Ten Network
- fubo Extra: All of the above + BBC World News, CNN International
- fubo Latino: CNN en Espanol
Check out our fuboTV review to find out all about the perks the platform brings to the table and what other channels you can find here.
2. Sling TV
Next up we have Sling TV, which is a great platform that puts a lot of focus on allowing users to customize their channel packs to the maximum. There are three main bundles you can pick from - Orange ($25/mo), Blue ($25/mo), and Orange + Blue ($40/mo).
There are also loads of interest-based channel packs and we're going to go through them all to tell you what news channels you can find here.
- Orange: CNN, Big News Cheddar, Newsy, Cheddar, Bloomberg TV
- Blue: FS1, NBCSN, CNN, Big News Cheddar, Newsy, Cheddar, Bloomberg TV, Local Now
- Orange + Blue: all of the above
- News Extra ($5/mo): BBC World News, The Blaze, HLN, WeatherNation, Fusion, EuroNews, News 18, RT, CGTN, MSNBNC (Blue), CNBC (Blue), France 24 (Blue), NDTV 24x7 (Blue).
- Sports Extra ($5/mo for Orange, $10/mo for Blue): ESPNU, ESPNews
Give our Sling TV review a read before making a decision, and find out if this service is the right one for you or not.
3. Philo
Next on the list we have Philo, which is a pretty simplistic platform in the sense that there are only two bundles to pick from and no available customizations. So, the two bundles are called 40 Channels and 49 Channels, indicating the number of networks each feature. The first one costs $16 per month, while the latter is $20 per month. Let's see what news channels we can find here.
- 40 Channels: BBC World News, Cheddar, Big News Cheddar
- 49 Channels: Same as above
Come give our Philo review a read to figure out what other channels are in there and whether or not the platform is worth a try.
4. Hulu
Hulu also makes the list, a platform that's most commonly associated with the video-on-demand service it offers. For $39.99 per month, subscribers can get access not only to the VOD library but also to dozens of live TV channels. Since there's really only one bundle you can pick here, we're going to list all news channels: Cheddar, CNBC, CNN, CNN International, Fox Business, Fox News, HLN, MSNBC, Big Ten Network, CBS Sports Network, ESPNews, FS1, NBCSN.
There are, of course, news segments on other channels too, and you can read the full list of available channels in our Hulu review.
5. YouTube TV
Another platform with a single bundle of channels is YouTube TV, which features a very "take it or leave it" attitude. There are only a few premium channels you can add to put your own touch on the service, but that's not too much.
Since there's only one bundle at $40 per month, we're going to list the news networks on the platform: BBC World News, Cheddar, Big News Cheddar, Big Ten Network, CNBC, CNN, ESPNews, Fox Business, Fox News, FS1, HLN, MSNBC, NBCSN, Newsy, TYT.
Give our YouTube TV review a read before making a decision, and find out what other channels you can find here.
6. DirecTV Now
Next, we have DirecTV Now, which features five starter bundles; the most we've seen thus far. They start off at $40 per month with Live a Little, continue to Just Right which is $55 per month, Go Big, which is $65 per month, and Gotta Have It which is $75 per month. There's also the bundle that features loads of Spanish-language channels - Todo y Mas - which costs $45 per month. Let's see what channels each of them feature.
- Live a Little: Bloomberg TV, C-SPAN, C-SPAN 2, CNN, FOX Business, Fox News, FS1, HLN, MSNBC, NBCSN, RFD TV
- Just Right: All of the above + Big Ten Network, ESPNews, Fusion, CNBC World, The Weather Channel
- Go Big: All of the above
- Gotta Have It: All of the above
- Todo y Mas: C-SPAN, C-SPAN2, CNN, CNN en Espanol, FS1, Fusion, HLN, MSNBC, NBCSN, NTN24, The Weather Channel.
Check out our DirecTV Now review before making a decision, in order to learn more about what the platform is all about.
7. PlayStation Vue
Following now is PlayStation Vue, which is an absolutely great platform with loads of features and great bundles. There are four bundles you can pick from - Access ($44.99/mo), Core ($49.99/mo), Elite ($59.99/mo), and Ultra ($79.99/mo). Each one of them adds more cool channels to the mix, with the latter including access to premium channels like HBO and Showtime. Let's see what news networks we can find here.
- Access: CNBC, CNN, Fox Business, Fox News, FS1, MSNBC, HLN, NBCSN
- Core: All of the above + Big Ten Network, ESPNews
- Elite: All of the above + BBC World News, CNBC World, Fusion
- Ultra: All of the above.
You can also spot CNN en Espanol in the Espanol Pack for $4.99 per month ($3.99 per month for PlayStation Plus members). Make sure to read our PlayStation Vue review before making a call on this issue.
8. Pluto TV
Next up we have Pluto TV, which is the first free streaming service on our list, featuring loads of channels, including cable ones. So, we're going to list all the news channels present on the platform and hope some of your favorites are in there: CBSN, NBC News, MSNBC, CNBC, Cheddar, TYT Network, NewsMax TV, Newsy, Sky News, Bloomberg TV, News 24/7, Today's Top Story.
Read more about Pluto TV in our review of the platform and find out all the reasons why you should give it a go.
9. XUMO
Finally, we have XUMO, which is another free over-the-top service. Here, too, there are various news channels, both cable networks, and online channels. Let's see what the list includes.
Well, the list may differ slightly depending on the device you're using, but the base is - MSNBC, Newsy, NBC News, Time, TYT Network, Bloomberg TV, USA Today, CBSN, NewsMaxTV, Mic, The Edge, Ruptly, ATTN:, Today, Great Big Story, Veuer, and Wochit.
Make sure to read our XUMO review for more info on this service.
Final Thoughts
No matter where you get your news from, make sure to check multiple sources. With so many streaming services, you have loads of options to pick from.
Let us know what your favorite news channels are and what platform you like best in the comments section below. Please share the article online so others can find it too. Follow TechNadu on Facebook and Twitter so we can chat some more.