How to Watch CNBC Without Cable - 19 Options Compared

Fubo may be a sports-centered streaming service, but it has its fair share of news. Along with CNBC, it has Fox Business News, ABC News Live, and local channels. Unfortunately, because of a carriage dispute, you won’t find CNN and other Turner channels like TNT and TBS here, but RSNs and specialty sports channels (mostly) save it.

DirecTV Stream is the most expensive streaming service in this list, but that price tag comes with plenty of features, including unlimited DVR, great picture quality, and regional sports networks (RSNs). For the price, it could have a smoother interface, but we digress. If you’re looking for an all-around, comprehensive cable alternative, DirecTV Stream is the way to go. But if you’re on a budget, there are plenty of other affordable options.

If you want a little bit of everything, then Hulu with Live TV is a worthy contender. It has live sports (though not a lot of RSNs), hefty entertainment catalogs from Disney+ and Hulu, and local channels. It also has Fox Business and Bloomberg if you want to check CNBC alternatives. Oh, and Hulu carries all seasons of Shark Tank on-demand, in case you were wondering.

If you’re looking for a lean plan focusing on news and local coverage, then DirecTV Stream’s MyNews pack just might be for you. It brings together your local ABC, NBC, and FOX (though availability varies per market) with channels like CNN, CNBC, and i24 to round up your news fix. You can choose to add premium channels a la carte, or you can pair it with DirecTV Stream’s “MyCinema” add-on for $10/month. Like all DirecTV Stream plans, you can try MyNews free for 5 days if you want to test it out first.

The “MySports” package from DirecTV is the cheapest way to combine ESPN, ESPN+, Fox Sports, ABC, TNT, and NBC. It’s the sports bundle that we could have only dreamed of in the past, especially considering that DirecTV is widely considered to have the best picture quality out of every cord-cutting service.

With DirecTV Stream’s MyEntertainment plan, subscribers can access popular entertainment channels and services for just $35/month. Live channels like FX, Bravo, CNN, History, and HGTV cover the basics like news and lifestyle, while ad-supported services like Hulu, Disney+, and Max, which are included at no additional cost, cover nearly all your film and TV needs. Like all DirecTV Stream plans, you can try this plan free for 5 days, then cancel anytime.

At just $6/month, Sling’s News Extra is an affordable way to boost your news lineup. But it comes with a caveat: CNBC, MSNBC, and Fox Business are only available with a Sling Blue plan, while HLN is only available with a Sling Orange plan. Either way, you get a variety of channels since the add-on also carries weather channels and international channels like France24 and BBC World News, among others.

Over 140 channels, unlimited DVR and RSNs included – DirecTV Stream Ultimate is one of the most complete cord-cutting streaming bundles out there. Think of every sports network for example, ESPN, Fox Sports, CBS Sports, NHL Network, etc, you name it, you got it. You also get over 55,000 (15,000 more than the base Entertainment package, mainly from Starz Encore) of on-demand movies and shows included. Of course, there is a price tag that comes with all of this that will rival the most expensive cable packages: over $100 a month.

With this package DirecTV is saying: if you want cheap, go to Sling. This is not cheap, but it has everything a family could need from a TV package.

FuboTV is the only sports-focused streaming service out there, and with three tiers of packaging, users can decide how dedicated they want to be to the sports world. For the die-hards, FuboTV’s Elite package is the most all-encompassing version they offer.

CNBC+ is a business-centered streaming service that serves as an extension of the Comcast cable channel. Despite the “plus” on its name, it doesn’t offer exclusive programs or new content. Instead, it gives users access to additional live feeds from its news stations in Asia and Europe, making it more global than ever. You can also download it on almost all devices, so you can stream programs like Mad Money and Sqwak Box on the go. A subscription is currently priced at a hefty $14.99/month, while a premium tier that claims to offer advanced market insight and investment tips is priced at $34.99/month.

There’s a reason why DirecTV Stream Choice is the provider’s most popular package to date: it carries over 105 channels, many of which are specialty sports channels like Big Ten Network, MLB Network, and NBA TV; it has local channels and RSNs where available; it offers premium add-ons like Starz and HBO; and maybe most important of all, it’s still under a hundred bucks, which is not something you can say about most live TV packages these days.

In other words, Stream Choice is for those looking for extra sports coverage while wanting to enjoy the usual benefits of DirecTV, like unlimited screens and DVR, and keeping it all under a reasonable budget.

The most cable-like live TV package to date, DirecTV Stream Premier carries every possible channel you can think of. The sports department has ESPN and Fox Sports, to name a few, plus all the NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB specialty channels. Meanwhile, the entertainment department has premium networks like HBO, Starz, Cinemax, and Showtime. It even has RSNs and local channels, all of which total more than 150 channels, so if you want your subscription to cover multiple bases, this is as comprehensive as it gets. All this comes to a hefty $160/month, which seems like a lot for a cord-cutting service, but with features like unlimited screens and DVR, it’s worth considering if you have the budget to spare.

If you’re a Spectrum customer, you know the provider has been pushing a lot of TV-internet deals. Still, TV Choice remains the most interesting because it allows you to select your preferred channels and change them every month. Among your options are other business and news channels like FOX Business, CNN, and HLN.

Squid TV is a content aggregator that broadcasts from around the world. It has a simple and straightforward design that categorizes both free and premium TV channels and leads you to their respective sites with ease. Carrying a hundred local channels in the US alone and more than 1,000 from around the world, Squid TV’s coverage is extensive. Couple this breadth with its free access, and you have an indispensable streaming service that doubles as a guide.

Xfinity Choice is a live TV service that’s exclusive for Xfinity broadband users. You need to already have the Xfinity Flex device to be able to get to Xfinity Choice. If you’re an Xfinity member but don’t have the Flex device, you can order one for free on the Xfinity website.

At $20/month, it allows you to get local channels and some national ones, and you can add a “sports & news” package for $36.50, “entertainment” for $15, and “kids & family” for $10 ($79.5 total). There are other add-ons, such as EPIX, Showtime, Cinemax, and HBO at different prices. Exact pricing depends on where you are based, but you’ll have to make room for broadcast fees, taxes, and rental fees, so your total will run to at least $50/month. (You can read more about Xfinity in depth in our explainer here).

If your viewing options are limited, it’s a good option for the basic package that allows you to cut the cord, or a cord, since you’ll probably still have a broadband contract with Xfinity.

There was a time YouTubeTV’s price was half of what it currently costs, but with that price increase came a lot of features and channels, including cable news and local channels. Paired with unlimited DVR and a near-seamless interface, it’s no wonder YouTube TV is a favorite among cord-cutters. It doesn’t have as many on-demand titles as other services, though, especially when compared to Hulu with Live TV.

While one of the skinnier bundles now offered by YouTube TV, this plan is rather unexpected. After all, isn’t the point of making smaller, more affordable streaming plans? The combination of all three surely would cost a lot. Sports + News + Entertainment = Expensive? Surprisingly not. Despite combining all the three, somehow the cost is five whole dollars short of the original YouTube TV monthly base plan. It’s almost like getting a discount. If your plan will only be used by adults– there’s not much child-friendly channels in the line-up– swapping to this plan saves you a little for a rainy day.

Not interested in entertainment? Check out YouTube TV Sports + News Plan.

You could look at this plan as a combination of three skinny bundles, but really, the YouTube TV News + Entertainment + Family Plan is simply the YouTube TV base plan, just without all the sports channels. Obviously, that means this plan isn’t meant for sports fans– any stray ones who wandered to this page might suit the YouTube TV Sports Plan better. But for families without any sports fan living at home, switching to this package makes sense for the whole family. Removing the sports channels means removing the pesky RSN fees, while still keeping all the features and all the channels you already love from YouTube TV. Still not convinced? It’s 15% off the cost of the original YouTube TV base plan.

What if you can enjoy YouTube TV, but only pay for the channels you actually watch? YouTube TV’s Sports + News Plan is one of the many cheaper skinny bundles the streamer released this year, and as you can probably tell from the name, the line-up includes channels from ESPN and Fox Sports, as well as major news networks like CNN, ABC, and NBC. That makes this plan a great choice for sports fans who still want to stay up-to-date with what’s going on around the world.

With YouTube TV’s multiview feature, subscribers could even keep up with matches and breaking news at the same time. Only interested in sports? You can check out our notes on the YouTube TV Sports Plan here.