Severe weather shifts, political skirmishes and wars, and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and vaccination rollout have dramatically increased our need for free, reliable news. Luckily, in these uncertain times, there are a ton of live TV news channels available for you to watch and stream for free.
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How can I watch live news for free?
You can watch live news free if you have a high-speed internet connection. All the Big Four networks (ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC) are currently offering free 24-hour news streams.
You can also watch the latest news on your local affiliate networks (including PBS) for free if you have an over-the-air (OTA) HD antenna, which gives you access to daily and Sunday morning national news as well as daily local coverage.
Free streaming news channels
In addition to the Big Four networks, there are a ton of free streaming news channels (too many for one article, in fact). So we’ll just stick to a dozen or so popular and upstart news networks that folks typically turn to for national news.
ABC News
Unlike your local ABC TV channel, the ABC News live feed gives you 24-hour news coverage. You can stream David Muir and company on any web browser or by downloading the ABC News app for free on your devices.
Al Jazeera
If you’re looking for international news coverage, Al Jazeera English is a solid option. Even though Al Jazeera US closed its doors last year, you can still livestream Al Jazeera in English using a web browser or a streaming device like Roku.
Bloomberg
Curious how the stock market is (under)performing? Yeah, me neither. In all seriousness, though, Bloomberg delivers live financial news for free on any web browser and most streaming devices.
CBS News
Yes, the house that Cronkite built is available to stream for free online. You can watch CBS News on any web browser and your favorite devices by downloading the CBS News app—“And that’s the way it is.”
Cheddar News
Most folks will be unfamiliar with Cheddar News. That’s because Cheddar is a newcomer, billing itself as a leader in “post-cable” news. True to its brand, you can stream Cheddar from your web browser or a compatible device like Apple TV.
CNN
You can watch CNN for free on Pluto TV (Dr. Sanjay Gupta fans, rejoice!)—just download the Pluto TV app or watch from your web browser. Heads up, though, you’ll notice a difference from regular CNN programming because the stream consists of curated content riddled with random, intrusive ads.
FOX News
Normally, FOX News requires a TV provider login to stream online. But FOX has stepped up during the coronavirus crisis to offer the FOX News livestream free on Fox.com and the FOX News app, which you can download for free on your favorite device.
NBC News
It’s not as flashy as MSNBC or CNBC, but NBC News streams 24/7 for free online. You can watch live NBC News coverage using an internet browser window or your favorite device, such as a tablet or smartphone.
NewsON
Want to watch your local news without having to hook up an HD antenna? NewsON features 200+ local channels nationwide streaming over the internet for free. In Salt Lake City, for example, I can stream my local CBS station using NewsON.
Newsy
Familiar with the phrase “Okay, boomer”? Then you may have heard of Newsy—the millennial and Gen X–focused news network. Generational divides aside, you can stream Newsy for free using the Roku Channel.
PBS NewsHour
Currently, you can stream every PBS program for free, including PBS NewsHour, using your internet browser or streaming device. So if you’re down with arts reporting (even in times of corona) from Jeffery Brown like we are, PBS NewsHour has got you—both live and on demand.
Pro tip: The only live TV streaming service that carries PBS is YouTube TV (100+ channels for $64.99 per month). Check out our comprehensive YouTube TV review for more details.
Roku Channel
Less a channel and more an app on your Roku device, Roku Channel features dozens of free news and weather apps, including NewsON and USA Today. You won’t get cable news for free on Roku Channel, but chances are you’ll be able to find a local news station in its offerings.
USA Today
Yes, the print classic of middle America is now streaming live TV news. If you’re curious to see how the crossover is going, you can stream USA Today live on the Roku Channel.
Pro tip: A quality streaming device can help you stream all the live news on your flat-screen TV. Check out our guide, “Best Streaming Devices,” to see which device is right for you.
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Live news networks that require a subscription
A lot of go-to cable news networks require a cable, satellite, or livestreaming TV subscription to stream programming on your TV or other devices. Here are a handful of popular news networks that require subscriptions.
CNBC
NBCUniversal hasn’t made all of its news channels free to stream, and business-focused CNBC is one of those that you’ll have to pay for as a cable subscriber. If you’re super into the stock market, you might want to pony up some of those dividends for a TV provider login—just saying.
CNN
Sure, you can stream a lot of CNN content for free on Pluto TV, but you’ll need a TV provider login to get the whole enchilada.
ESPNews
Some might say that ESPNews isn’t really a news network, but sports news was pretty much all sports fans had during the early pandemic. Unfortunately, you’ll need a TV provider login to get all the televised deets on upcoming MLB, NBA, NFL, and NHL seasons.
MSNBC
Like its cable-kissing cousin CNBC, MSNBC lives behind a pesky paywall. You’ll need a TV provider login to get all that sweet, sweet news analysis from the likes of Rachel Maddow and Chris Hayes.
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What are the best free live TV streaming sites?
For free news streams, we recommend Pluto TV, which lets you stream ABC News, Bloomberg, CBS News, CNN, Cheddar, NBC News, Newsy, RT America, and more all in one place.
FOX-owned Tubi also features some live TV news channels, like ABC News Live, NBC News Now, Fox LiveNow, Fox Weather, Cheddar News, Bloomberg, and more.
Best free live TV streaming services
- Pluto TV—Most free live news, hundreds of free content channels
- Tubi—50,000+ free shows and movies, free live news and sports channels
- Sling Free—ABC News, CBS News, and Newsy plus dozens of free content channels
- Roku Channel—Good variety of free content, free live news channels
- Crackle—Free classic shows and movies, no live news channels
You can’t lose with free, but you also might wanna consider some other cheap streaming options to get your news. (You can get decent live TV streaming for under $10 per month these days.)
We take a closer look at a ton of affordable streaming services in our in-depth guide to the Best Free and Cheap Streaming Services.
Pro tip: Instead of watching from a web browser, download the apps of your favorite livestreaming services for free on your devices. Apps are usually more convenient and user friendly.
Free live TV news FAQ
Can I watch CBS News: Live online?
Yes, you can watch CBS News live online by either streaming it on any internet browser, downloading the CBS News app on your favorite device, or signing up for Paramount Plus.
Can I watch FOX News live for free?
You can watch FOX News live stream for free by either downloading the FOX News app or watching the FOX News live stream free on your Roku device.
Is FOX News free on Roku?
If you download the FOX News app, you can watch the FOX News live stream free on your Roku device.
Does Roku get local news channels?
Roku devices don’t come with local news channels. You’ll either need an over-the-air (OTA) HD antenna or a live TV streaming service for that.
