17 Best Streaming Services for News

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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)

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

Fox One brings together all things Fox into one accessible platform for $19.99/month. The live and on-demand streaming service carries every Fox channel, from your local affiliate and Fox News to FS1 and FS2. It also allows you to watch ongoing Fox sitcoms and dramas on demand, but older shows might be missing from the catalog. Though pricey, Fox One is free for viewers who already pay for TV subscriptions that come with Fox, like DirecTV, Fubo, or Hulu with Live TV. It’s also available in select bundles and as an add-on to platforms like Prime Video.