What to consider when choosing a streaming service for news
The best streaming services for news offer both national favorites and a wide variety of options. That’s why our experts started with a list of top channels in the US. (4) Nine of the top 15 channels feature at least some news, comprising the following:
- CBS
- NBC
- ABC
- FOX
- Fox News Channel
- MSNBC
- Univision
- CNN
- Telemundo
Local and broadcast news
If you’re serious about news, you need to know what’s going on in your city and state. According to research by the Knight Foundation, Americans are more likely to trust broadcast news affiliates than any other news source. (5) That’s why we considered only services that offer local programming in our top four.
These same local channels also feature hourly national news broadcasts such as CBS News, NBC News, and ABC News, which is another reason we gave them extra credit. We gave even more bonus points to streaming services that offer PBS, even though it didn’t make the list of top stations. In addition to PBS NewsHour, we assumed people who like news would also like the scads of informative and educational content available from the listener-supported station.
How to get local channels for free
Local stations are broadcast over the air, and that means there’s free TV for everyone! All you need is a TV and a digital antenna, which you can get from a local electronics store or online retailer for as little as about $20. If you live in a metro area, a small one mounted on your TV will work. In rural areas, you might need a larger model mounted on the outside of your home. Where you live will determine which channels you can receive for free.
Cable news networks
The same study that showed the importance of local channels put cable news high on the list. Fox News gets the biggest audience by far, followed by MSNBC and CNN. These networks were readily available among the streaming services we tested, and it makes sense. They offer round-the-clock news and opinion that shapes the national debate day in and day out.
Monthly prices and fees
If you’re switching from cable or satellite TV, our in-house television provider research shows price is a major motivating factor. That’s why we weighted value heavily in our overall star ratings for streaming providers. We also considered price when we determined the top streaming services for news (but found all the top services cost about the same).
Each of the top providers offers free cancelation, few (if any) hidden fees, and the option to use streaming devices you already own. This is a refreshing change from cable and satellite TV, and we think it’s one of the best reasons to switch to streaming.
Broadband internet required
On the subject of cost, we have to acknowledge that streaming live TV requires a broadband internet connection. That’s defined as speeds of at least 25 Mbps, which would be a little more than enough for streaming one video in high definition. (6)
You can get internet at these speeds from DSL, cable, or fiber providers, plus some satellite connections or fixed wireless companies. The US price benchmark for these speeds is about $70 per month, but average prices nationwide range from about $60 per month for DSL to about $75 for fiber and $83 for cable. Fixed wireless is the least common and most expensive way to get broadband, at an average cost of about $92 per month. (7)
Streaming devices and smart TVs
All our top choices for watching news on streaming services let you use equipment you may already own. Some of the most popular streaming sticks cost as little as $30, up to about $150 if you want an option with all the bells and whistles. Our in-house experts use the following:
You can also use gaming devices like the Playstation or Xbox and smart TVs from Samsung, TCL, LG, and more. Some even come with Roku technology onboard.
Each of our top streaming services for news also works with a system called TV Everywhere, which lets you sign up using your credentials from your TV service to access channels from the home screens of streaming devices or smart TVs.
When you combine monthly costs for internet access with the cost for a streaming service plus a streaming device, costs can get pretty high. Lucky for you, you have a lot of other options!
Cheap ways to stream TV news
If you already have internet from your cable company, you might be able to watch a lot of live news by logging into your service provider’s online portal or navigating to the home interface of your smart TV. You won’t necessarily get all your favorite cable TV news personalities or find full-length shows, but it’s an easy way to get quick updates.
You can also try simply logging into YouTube.com on any browser, smartphone, tablet, or streaming device. The standard video service is separate from YouTube TV, but you’ll have tons of free news options. If you splurge for the YouTube Premium service for $11.99 per month, you can even skip the ads. It’s a nice way to get everything from quick updates to breaking news and clips from your favorite cable news shows, and it’s what we recommend for most people who don’t want to pay for a full-fledged cable TV replacement.
Give the following Youtube channels a try:
Streaming apps news networks
It seems like every company and service provider has an app these days, and news is no exception. If you’re interested in news from just one or two outlets, you can access most of the content via free branded apps. Most offer national and international news exclusively, meaning you’ll need a separate way to access local news. Some also require a login.
These are our top recommendations:
- CBS News offers a free app
- NBC News offers an app that my require authentication with your TV service provider login
- ABC News offers a free app
- Fox Now has an app, but you have to log in with a paid TV subscription
- Fox Nation is a subscription on-demand service
- MSNBC has an app, but you have to log in with a paid TV subscription
- CNN+ had an app, but it was discontinued in October 2022
- Univision has an app, but you have to log in with a paid TV subscription
Free news services with custom apps
The latest news providers on the scene aren’t available on cable or satellite TV at all—they stream exclusively. There are more and more options all the time, (8) but the following are the top choices we considered. Most are available as separate apps or as channels on third-party streaming services:
- Newsmax TV: This right-leaning service offers around-the-clock coverage on Washington, Hollywood, and more.
- Cheddar News: This service streams American financial news from the floor of the New York Stock Exchange and several locations in Washington, D.C.
- TYT: Short for The Young Turks, this left-leaning channel features news and commentary and is also available on several social media networks.
- Haystack News: This free service features stories from the Associated Press, plus local and global news about entertainment, science, tech, business, finance, and sports.
Affordable (or free) streaming options
There are also free and super cheap streaming services that offer news, and you can find them online on streaming devices, smart TVs, or via mobile app. We recommend them for people who want only a little news or who are willing to patchwork providers to save money.
- XUMO: This free streaming TV app comes with a lot of repetitive ads, but you can get coverage from many of the top local and cable networks, plus newcomers like Newsmax. The service also offers sports, movies, weather, and more. Best of all, no login required!
- Pluto TV: This service, owned by Paramount streaming, offers more than 250 ad-supported channels and has its own news network, plus Bloomberg News, CNN RePlay, Cheddar News, Newsmax, Blaze Live, OAN Pulse, TYT, and Yahoo! Finance. No login or password required, but you will see a truckload of targeted ads.
- Frndly TV: If you’re mostly into feel-good movies and want just a little news, this service may be worth a look. It includes Vice and Local Now as well as The Weather Channel, plus all the Hallmark channels and Lifetime. Pricing starts at just $7 per month.
Premium streaming services with a limited news selection
The options above are great if you’re a little scrappy and willing to sit through commercials. If you have a medium-sized news appetite and a medium-sized budget, though, some of the other streaming services we review may be a good fit. Check out the following:
- Sling: Both the Sling Orange and Sling Blue packages offer access to some cable news, and you can buy the News Extra add-on for $6 per month. You’ll miss out entirely on local channels, though, so we recommend pairing the service with an HD antenna.
- Vidgo: This up-and-coming service offers ABC and Fox local stations plus Fox News and Univision and a handful of right-wing stations, but it’s a bit pricey and hard to use.
- Philo: This service comes at about half the price of our top streaming services, but offers only BBC America and VICE for news.
- Peacock: This service costs just $10 per month without ads, but offers only Sky News, TODAY All Day, NBC News, and a handful of local NBC stations. But if you’d rather watch The Office than The Situation Room, the price is right!
Deciding which service is right for you
There are hundreds of ways to get news in 2023, and we love it! We think it’s great to get information from a variety of sources and to practice good media literacy habits along the way.
But being on the news junkie side ourselves, we love having access to every possible outlet. Staying up to date is important for emergencies and elections, but it’s also vital if you want to better understand your world and have an impact on your community at large.
If you’re willing to pay $50 or more each month for all the local and cable news out there, check out our top pick, DIRECTV STREAM, or our runners-up YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, and Fubo. If you’d rather skip the monthly fees, we recommend trying an HD antenna.
Endnotes and sources
(1) Main reason for watching cable news among adults in the United States as of February 2022, by age group.” Statista. Retrieved 26 Oct. 2022.
(2) “Streaming grabs 35% of TV time in August, but overall usage dips as summer winds down.” Nielsen. Retrieved 26 Oct. 2022.
(3) “Fewer Americans rely on TV news; what type they watch varies by who they are.” Pew Research Center. Retrieved 26 Oct. 2022.
(4) “Most-Watched Television Networks: Ranking 2021’s Winners and Losers.” Variety. Retrieved 27 Oct. 2022.
(5) “Local News Most Trusted in Keeping Americans Informed About Their Communities.” Knight Foundation. Retrieved 27 Oct. 2022.
(6) “Household Broadband Guide.” Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved 27 Oct. 2022.
(7) “2022 Urban Rate Survey — Fixed Broadband Service.” Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved 27 Oct. 2022.
(8) “The Biggest Change in Media Since Cable Is Happening Right Now.” Politico. Retrieved 27 Oct. 2022.
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