16 Best Streaming Services for News

Updated on August 9, 2025 • Staff

Depending on your budget, the best streaming services for watching news could be comprehensive live TV packages like DirecTV Stream, which carry a wide array of local and national news channels; hybrid streaming services like Peacock, which offer both on-demand and live news; or free streaming services like Local Now and Pluto TV, which stream various local affiliates of major networks.

You can read more about the best streaming services for news in our detailed list below.

$86.99/month | 136 channels | 5 days free trial

DirecTV Stream

DirecTV Stream is a comprehensive live TV package that carries not just local and national news, but also live sports, entertainment, and lifestyle channels. It comes with highly capable DVR and streaming features, plus it resembles traditional TV a lot, which could be helpful if you're a beginner cord-cutter. If its signature plans are out of your budget, DirecTV also offers what it calls "genre packs" - skinny bundles that carry only the channels you need. One of them is the MyNews pack, which offers 15 of the most essential news channels for just $40/month. Pros

All plans have CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, and local channels
Also offers a skinny bundle that carries only news channels

Cons

Expensive

Go to DirecTV Stream

DirecTV Stream channel lineup: ABC, ACC Digital Network, AccuWeather, Alien Nation, AMC, Anger Management, Animal Planet, Are We There Yet?, Ax Men, AXS TV, BABY FIRST, BBC America, BET, Big 12, Bloomberg TV, Bob Ross, Boomerang, Bravo, BUZZR, C-SPAN, C-SPAN2, Cartoon Network, CBS, CBS local channels, Cheddar News, Cleo TV, CMT, CNBC, CNN, CNN en Espanol, CNN International, Comedy Central, Comedy Dynamics, Court TV, Crime 360, Curiosity Now, CW, Daystar HD, Declassified, Discovery Channel, Duck Dynasty, E! Entertainment, EarthxTV, Ebony TV, El Rey Rebel, ESPN, ESPN Deportes, ESPN2, ESPNews, ESPNU, FMC, Food Network, FOX, Fox Business Network, Fox News Channel, FOX SOUL, Fox Sports 1 (FS1), Fox Weather, Freeform, FUEL TV, Fuse Music, FX, FXX, Galavision, Hallmark Channel, Hallmark Mystery, HerSphere, HGTV, HLN, Home Shopping Network, HSN, IFC, Investigation Discovery (ID), ION, ION Television, Jewelry Television, Lifetime, MeatEater TV, MotorTrend, MovieSphere, MSNBC, MTV, MTV2, NBA TV, NBC, NBC local channels, News Nation, Newsmax, Nick Jr., Nickelodeon, One America News, Ovation, Oxygen True Crime, Paramount Network, PBS, PBS Kids, PBS local channels, Poker GO, Pursuit Channel, QVC, QVC2, QVC3, Racing America, REELZ, REVOLT, RFD-TV, RSNs, Scientology Network, Scripps News, Shop LC, Somos Novelas, SportsGrid, Start TV, SundanceTV, SYFY, Tastemade Home, Tastemade Travel, TBS, TCM, TeenNick, Telemundo local channels, The First, theGrio, TLC, TNA, TNT, truTV, TV Land, TV One, Univision, Up TV, USA Network, VH1, Waypoint TV, WE tv, Women’s Sports Network, Yahoo! Finance

$45.99/month | 46 channels

Sling TV Blue

Sling TV has two live TV plans: Sling Orange and Sling Blue. The latter has all the major news channels, plus local affiliates in select markets. Apart from that, it also has BBC America, Bloomberg, and HLN. Sling TV is cheaper than most live TV plans, but with that affordability comes fewer features, including limited DVR and no free trial option. Pros

Has CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, and local channels
Good value for money

Cons

Limited DVR
No free trial

Go to Sling TV Blue

$84.99/month | 86 channels | 7 days free trial

Fubo

The live TV streaming service Fubo carries plenty of channels, including national and local news channels. Its strength, however, lies in live sports, so it's a good option if you want to catch local, national, and even international games. Unfortunately, a carriage dispute resulted in Fubo losing key channels from Warner Bros. That means no CNN, and for sports fans, TNT, TBS, and TruTV. Pros

Has Fox News, MSNBC, and local channels
Has regional sports networks

Cons

Missing Turner channels, including CNN, TNT, and TBS

Go to Fubo

$82.99/month | 105 channels | 3 days free trial

Hulu with Live TV

Hulu with Live TV carries major news and local channels, but it has the distinction of being bundled with Disney+, ESPN+, and Hulu on-demand, making it ideal for those who want a little bit of everything. Among its on-demand collection are documentaries and news programs from ABC News, which, like Hulu, is owned by Walt Disney. Pros

Has CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, and local channels

Cons

Only allows two simultaneous streams

Go to Hulu with Live TV

$52/month | 15 channels

Sling TV + News Extra Bundle

The News Extra add-on, which costs $6/month, adds more than 10 news channels to your existing plan. If your base plan is Sling Blue, you get CNBC, Fox Business, and international and right-wing channels on top of major news channels. If you're on Sling Orange, you get the same lineup except for the aforementioned business channels. Sling Orange users also get HLN with this add-on. Pros

Additional channels include Newsnation and NDTV to both Sling plans

Cons

Different Sling plans get different channels

Go to Sling TV + News Extra Bundle

$7.99/month | 3 channels | 7 days free trial

Paramount+

Paramount+ is primarily an on-demand streaming service. Those on the basic plan ($7.99/month) get access to CBS shows like 60 Minutes, 48 Hours, and CBS Reports. However, updating to the Premium plan ($12.99/month) gets you live access to your local CBS. It also includes full access to Showtime and live sports matches. Pros

Has on-demand episodes of 60 Minutes, 48 Hours, and CBS Reports
The ad-free plan carries your local CBS station

Cons

Limited streaming library

Go to Paramount+

$10.99/month | 75 channels

Peacock

Like Paramount+, Peacock offers both on-demand and live content, but the latter is only available to premium subscribers. Those on the basic plan can still watch on-demand episodes of NBC shows like Meet the Press, Morning Joe, and Dateline. But those on the Premium Plus Plan ($16.99/month) unlock access to their local NBC channel and all the news programs that come with it. Pros

Has on-demand episodes of Dateline and Meet the Press
The ad-free plan carries your local NBC station

Cons

Premium plan still shows ads for some users

Go to Peacock

$9.99/month

HBO Max

Max is a streaming service that's home to a lot of brands, including CNN. Those on the basic plan can watch CNN originals and documentaries, but if you want live and breaking news, then you'll have to upgrade to Max's ad-free plans, Standard ($16.99/month) or Premium ($20.99/month). Both give you access to CNN Max, which is a bit like the linear CNN channel but with a different and more personalized schedule. Both plans also come with HBO channels and live sports events. Pros

The ad-free plans carry CNN Max
The basic plan lets you watch CNN Originals

Cons

Limited news content on the basic plan

Go to HBO Max

$82.99/month | 143 channels | 10 days free trial

YouTube TV

You'll find all the major broadcast networks and local channels on YouTube TV. The live TV service has an extensive channel lineup and a highly capable cloud DVR to boot. It's also preferred by many because of its smooth interface, which should be familiar to anyone who's used the YouTube app. Compared to similarly priced services, however, like Hulu Live and Fubo, its on-demand catalog may seem quite slim. Pros

Has CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, and local channels

Cons

Limited on-demand catalog

Go to YouTube TV

free

The Roku Channel

The ad-supported Roku Channel is more known as an entertainment streaming service, but it also has a fair amount of news channels. It streams the free live newsfeeds of major networks like NBC News Now, Fox Live Now, ABC News Live, and CBS News 24/7. It's also partnered with these networks to stream about 60 local news channels, most (if not all) of which cover bigger markets like Los Angeles, New York, and Chicago. Pros

Includes news channels like NBC News Now and Live Now Fox
Streams local affiliates of major networks like ABC, NBC, and FOX

Cons

Only covers big markets in the country

Go to The Roku Channel

free

Pluto TV

Paramount's Pluto TV only has half as many local channels as Roku, and even then, they're limited to CBS (which shares the same parent company as Pluto) and FOX affiliates. So if you're loyal to other networks, you won't find them here. That said, it still carries free newstreams and news channels like NBC News Now and BBC News, which does the job if you're only looking to cover the basics. Generally, however, Pluto is a better service for films, especially dramas and classics, than news. Pros

Includes news channels like NBC News Now, Live Now Fox, and BBC News
Great on-demand catalog

Cons

Only covers big markets in the country
Local channels are limited to CBS and FOX

Go to Pluto TV

free

NewsOn

NewsOn is a free streaming service that supports more than 300 local channels across the country. It detects your location and shows you affiliates from ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, and even independent news stations. It's conveniently available in most streaming devices, including your desktop, and doesn't require you to sign in to start watching. NewsOn is dedicated to local news, so you won't find any on-demand or non-news-related content on the platform. Pros

Streams newscasts from the nearest local stations
Covers more than 150 markets
No log-in required

Cons

Limited content

Go to NewsOn

free

Local Now

Local Now is a free app that streams local channels near you. Depending on where you live, you'll find affiliates of major networks like NBC and FOX on the platform. It's also likely you'll see a Local Now channel based in your area, since it has stations in more than 200 markets across the country. Unlike NewsOn, which only covers news, LocalNow also features FAST channels and on-demand movies and TV shows. Pros

Streams newscasts from the nearest local stations
Has other news channels like NBC News Now and CNN Headlines
Also has an on-demand ad-supported library of movies and shows

Cons

On-demand titles are outdated
Can be buggy

Go to Local Now

free | 30 days free trial

Haystack News

Like LocalNow and NewsOn, Haystack News makes the local channels in your area available to you even without cable or an antenna. Upon opening the app, which is available on major streaming devices, you're asked a series of questions that help Haystack personalize your feed for you. It has affiliates of both major and independent news studios. Pros

Streams newscasts from the nearest local stations
Customizable channels

Cons

Not a lot of channels outside of news (despite claiming otherwise)

Go to Haystack News

$14.99/month | 1 channels

CNBC+

A subscription to CNBC+ makes it possible to watch CNBC live without cable. Apart from giving users access to the business news channel, it also streams market data in real time and live feeds from Europe and Asia. You can also watch full episodes of CNBC programs like Mad Money and Squawk Box on demand. As of this writing, the CNBC+ app is only available on mobile devices, AppleTV, and Roku TV. Pros

Has CNBC livestreams from US, Europe, and Asia
Also has a market data livestream and on-demand episodes of CNBC shows

Cons

Currently only available to mobile devices, AppleTV, and Roku TV
Pricey

Go to CNBC+