What is Yellowstone?
Yellowstone is a TV drama that premiered on Paramount Network in June 2018 and quickly became cable’s second-most-watched series, just behind The Walking Dead. It’s a modern-day Western with familial melodrama and power struggles—think Sons of Anarchy, but with trucks instead of motorcycles.
The story follows John Dutton (Kevin Costner), the sixth-generation owner of the massive Yellowstone/Dutton Ranch, and his constant struggle to fend off land usurpers and keep his dysfunctional family together. They include daughter Beth (Kelly Reilly), and sons Kayce (Luke Grimes) and Jamie (Wes Bentley), all of whom have their own issues, daddy and otherwise.
Yellowstone co-creator and writer Taylor Sheridan (who, coincidentally, played a minor role in Sons of Anarchy) strikes a tight balance between macho, Libertarian posturing and quieter, tender moments—hence, Montana-sized popularity with viewers.
It’s not quite the “Shakespeare on the Ranch” epic it thinks it is, but Yellowstone is a pulpy, popcorn action-drama set against gorgeous scenery (it also earns its TVMA rating—Yellowstone isn’t for the kiddies). Yellowstone is also predicted to blow up its own ratings record with its highly anticipated fourth season, premiering Sunday, Nov. 7. Prepare to be trampled by Y-branded cattle, The Walking Dead.
How to watch Yellowstone
If you’re new to Yellowstone, you have three seasons, or 30 episodes, to catch up on. You can probably see some previous-season episodes through the on-demand library of your TV provider (if it carries Paramount Network), but the only way to get all of them is through Peacock.
Yellowstone seasons 1–3 (2018–2020)
Peacock—not Paramount+, oddly enough—currently has all three previous seasons of Yellowstone available to stream on-demand.
The first season can be streamed for no charge on the Peacock Free tier, but seasons 2 and 3 are available only through the paid Peacock Premium tiers (with ads or no ads). If you get hooked beyond season 1—which you probably will—it’ll cost you.
Peacock plans and pricing
Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
Yellowstone season 4 (2021)
To watch the upcoming fourth season of Yellowstone, you’ll need a live TV provider that carries Paramount Network—which isn’t difficult, fortunately. Paramount Network can be found on most cable, satellite, and live TV streaming providers (if you’ve ever scrolled past a weekend-long Bar Rescue marathon, you already have Paramount Network). Season 4 of Yellowstone premieres on Sunday, Nov. 7.
Pro tip: If Xfinity is available in your neighborhood, you can get Peacock and Paramount Network included with your TV package.
Best cable providers for Paramount Network and Yellowstone
| Provider | Price |
Channels (including Paramount Network) |
Details |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Peacock included Xfinity |
$49.99–$89.99/mo. | 140–220+ | View Plans for Xfinity |
| Spectrum | $49.99–$99.99/mo. | 125–200+ | View Plans for Spectrum |
| Cox | $25.00–$69.99/mo. | 75–140+ | |
| Optimum | $30.00–$115.00/mo. | 50–420+ | View Optimum plans |
| Sparklight | $15.00–$84.00/mo. | 27–100+ | View Plans for Sparklight |
Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
Best satellite providers for Paramount Network and Yellowstone
| Provider | Price |
Channels (including Paramount Network) |
Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIRECTV | $74.99–$149.99/mo. | 160–330+ | View Plans for DIRECTV |
|
Our pick DISH |
$84.99–$114.99/mo. | 190–290+ | View Plans for DISH |
Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
Best live TV streaming providers for Paramount Network and Yellowstone
| Provider | Price |
Channels (including Paramount Network) |
Details |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Our pick YouTube TV |
$72.99/mo. | 100+ | View Plans for YouTube TV |
| Hulu + Live TV | $76.99–$89.99/mo. | 95+ | View Plans for Hulu |
| Sling TV | $40.00–$55.00/mo. | 30–45+ | View Plans for Sling TV |
| fuboTV | $32.99–$99.99/mo. | 65–260+ | View Plans for FuboTV |
| DIRECTV STREAM | $69.99–$159.99/mo. | 75–150+ |
Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
Of course, the best way to narrow down your TV options is to see which TV providers are available in your area. Enter your zip code below to see TV providers are in your ‘hood.
Final take: Yellowstone delivers the cowboy goods
If you like heady family drama, lush big-sky scenery, pretty people, and prettier horses, Yellowstone just might be for you. The Dutton clan stirs up the Western glitz of old-school Dallas with the modern grit of Breaking Bad and Sons of Anarchy over a raging campfire, only hinting at a line between the good guys and the bad guys.
Others might find Yellowstone’s near-HBO-level violence and coarse language a bit much, however. Yellowstone pushes the limits of the TVMA parental advisory hard, casually dropping F-bombs like no other basic cable series before it—a “family-friendly” cowboy show, this ain’t.
Either way, you can kill two birds with one stone by watching all four seasons of Yellowstone with an Xfinity plan (if it’s available in your town).
How to watch Yellowstone FAQ
Can I watch Yellowstone for free?
You can watch the first season of Yellowstone for no charge on the free tier of the Peacock app. To watch seasons 2 and 3, you’d have to pay for one of the two Peacock Premium tiers. To see season 4, you’d need access to a cable, satellite, or live TV streaming provider that carries Paramount Network.
You can also watch random episodes of Yellowstone on the Paramount+ Picks channel of the free Pluto TV app, but they stream on a loop and aren’t necessarily shown in order.
Where can I watch all seasons of Yellowstone?
You can stream the full first three seasons of Yellowstone on-demand through the Peacock app. The 2021 fourth season, premiering Sunday, Nov. 7, will only be available week-by-week on Paramount Network, and then it will be available on-demand from Peacock in 2022.
Despite sharing the name with Paramount Network, Yellowstone is not available on Paramount+.
Is Yellowstone free on Amazon Prime Video?
The first three seasons of Yellowstone are available to purchase, either by full season or individual episode, through Amazon Prime Video—they’re not included free with Prime Video. Episodes go for $1.99 each or $14.99 for complete 10-episode seasons.
