Ultimate Guide to Streaming TV News – All Free, Paid, and Legal Options

In 2026, the news landscape is changing more rapidly than ever. Thankfully, there are many ways to watch TV news on any device. I’ve used all of these services and they all have value, depending on what you need.

Local & Cable News Multichannel Streaming Options

If you’re looking for a provider with multiple live TV channels, a paid live TV option is the way to go. You’ll usually get a free trial.

Single Channel News Streaming Options

If you just have one particular channel you like for news, there are a few providers that can help you save money.

Paramount+ (CBS)

If CBS is your news channel of choice, you can get your live, local CBS channel included in the Paramount+ Premium plan.

Peacock (NBC)

Your live, local NBC channel is included in Peacock Premium Plus.

CNN All Access

While CNN All Access doesn’t have the full 24/7 CNN feed, they are the same except for a few hours each day. If you’d like CNN without the bloat of a full channel package, this is the streamer for you.

FOX One

FOX One provides unlimited live and on-demand access to Fox News Channel, Fox Business News, and your live, local FOX affiliate. It’s a ton of content, but the price is higher than we’d like. If this bundle appeals to you, something like Sling Select could provide more overall content at the same price.

CNBC+

CNBC+ isn’t cheap, but if you only have a focus on business news, it may make sense. Subscribers get the full CNBC feed.

MS NOW

MS NOW (formerly MSNBC) does not currently have a standalone streaming option, but the company is planning a direct-to-consumer app to launch this summer.

PBS

Your local PBS station offers a fact-based, even-handed account of national and international news. Depending on your local station, there may be some programming with news about your area.

I’ll also take a moment to spotlight “Frontline.” It’s a phenomenal show that digs deep into the most important news stories.

C-SPAN

If you’d like to watch C-SPAN or its sister channels, you can fire up C-SPAN NOW. The app allows you to watch any of these channels for free. You can also cast the video to your streaming device or smart TV.

Scripps News

Another good free option is Scripps News. The channel is widely available on free streaming options below. But if you only wanted this channel alone, you can download their app.

NewsNation

NewsNation is a fast-growing news outlet. Coverage sometimes slants uncomfortably rightward and the anchors have a tendency to be a bit hyper. Luckily, their app is free.

Free Multichannel News Streaming Options

Haystack News

My favorite news streamer is Haystack News. It pulls together news from 400+ sources, but it has nifty features that other news streamers don’t.

• Choose which topics you see
• Choose the sources you see
• Skip segments you don’t like
• Platform gets smarter as you rate stories (thumbs up/down)
• Popular Stories section provides really great content
• Very few ads (can pay for ad-free if you want)

Haystack’s one weakness is that it doesn’t refresh as often as it should. It takes a few hours for the stories in the feed to reset. But it can provide a great overview of local, national, and international news in a hurry. It’s Streaming Smarter’s must-have news pick.

Plex

Plex is my most-used streaming service. It’s a strong contender for news, with 340+ different news feeds. If you connect an antenna, a HDHomeRun, and you sign up for Plex Pass, you can watch local news and even save recordings to your hard drive. Plex gets better and better the more you dig into it.

Prime Video

Although Prime Video doesn’t really promote its free entertainment, it’s a very solid package. There are 24 national news outlets like ABC News Live, BBC News, CBS News 24/7, NBC News Now, CNN Headlines, Scripps News, and Sky News. And there are 240 local stations that share their newscasts. You can also use Prime Video to stream your local PBS channels. This makes it a great choice to stay informed.

Prime Video News Channels by State

See the full list of Prime Video’s free channels.

NewsON

NewsON provides a selection of local news from 285+ TV stations, giving viewers access to live and on-demand local newscasts and local news clips from 150+ markets covering over 90% of the U.S. population. NewsON features stations owned by Sinclair, TEGNA, and other important media groups.

The “trending” map is a nifty feature. In theory, this would show where news is particularly timely or important.

Zeam

Zeam offers over 400 channels and most come from local news stations. This excellent coverage makes it a great news source. National news sources include Reuters News and CBS News 24/7.

Zeam Local News Channels by State

Local Now

Local Now has 400+ channels, including local feeds from markets all around the country. The interface is a bit clunky, but Local Now’s parent company also owns The Weather Channel, making it a good choice if you’re trying to watch the skies.

Very Local

Very Local is a strong choice if you live in 26 specific markets. If you live elsewhere, Very Local is Very Limited.

Pluto TV

Pluto TV has 22 channels under its News + Opinion category, but many of them are conspiratorial right-wing outlets. The 24/7 free channels from CBS, NBC, ABC, CNN, BBC News and Sky News are worthwhile. If you live in a market with a CBS owned-and-operated affiliate, you’ll also be able to watch local news. Pluto TV isn’t great for news, but it’s not bad.

Roku Channel

If Roku Channel is your preferred free streamer, you have dozens of good options for national and local news.

Xumo Play

Fire up Xumo Play and you’ll get an excellent lineup of more than 60 local and national news chanels. The user interface is clunky, but it’s among your stronger options for free news.

Sling Freestream

With several outlets from major cities and a fantastic international news lineup stretching to France, the Middle East, and Brazil, Sling Freestream offers lots of great channels to love.

MyFree DIRECTV

MyFree DIRECTV has more than 150 channels, but few news options. Users are limited to ABC News Live, AccuWeather, BBC News, Cheddar News, Dateline 24/7, FOX Weather, NBC News Now, and Scripps News.

Philo Free

Philo’s free service is wonderful for kick-back entertainment, but it’s got a weak news lineup limits to BBC News, CBS News 24/7, Cheddar News, and USA Today.

Tubi

Tubi is one of the very best ways to watch free TV and movies, but it’s not great for news. There are only 7 local channels and a small selection of national outlets. Look elsewhere for news.

Distro TV

With just 16 news channels and most of those the right-wing kook variety, Distro TV is a streaming service you can skip when it comes to news.