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What Channel Is Discovery Family On?

Cartoon adventures aren't just for Saturday mornings. Find Discovery Family channel numbers and watch animated favorites and family shows live.

✦ Edited and fact-checked by our Contributing Writer Creshonda Smith, who has years of experience covering TV, entertainment, and streaming services.

Status: Verified 11/12/26

Discovery Family keeps the cartoon fun going long after Saturday morning. Formerly known as the Hub Network, the channel took its current name in 2014 and has built its lineup around animated favorites, familiar characters, and lighter reality shows.

You won’t find Discovery Family with an antenna, but several satellite, cable, and live TV streaming services carry it. Some include the network in their regular lineup, while others require a particular subscription tier or add-on.

Whether you’re in the mood for a trip to Equestria or some classic cartoon mischief, we’ll help you track down the channel. You’ll find local channel numbers, streaming options, and a closer look at the shows airing on Discovery Family.

What channel is Discovery Family on near me?

DIRECTV and DISH have nationwide channel numbers for Discovery Family, while Spectrum and Xfinity use different numbers by market. Your subscription package also determines whether the channel is included.

Use the table below to find Discovery Family on your TV service. If your provider or city isn’t listed, enter your zip code afterward to explore available local options.

Discovery Family channel numbers in major U.S. cities

CityDIRECTVDISHSpectrumXfinity
294
179
–
130
294
179
–
–
294
179
75
133
294
179
265 / 266
–
294
179
507 / 1507
–
294
179
–
130
294
179
–
221
294
179
–
–
294
179
–
–
294
179
266
–
294
179
266
–
294
179
–
130
294
179
111
–
294
179
111 / 1111
–
294
179
–
101
294
179
98 / 111 / 1111
–
294
179
222 / 821
–
294
179
–
121
294
179
–
130
294
179
266
–
294
179
–
130
294
179
222 / 821
–
294
179
–
121
294
179
335 / 789 / 1335
–
294
179
–
336
294
179
98 / 117 / 1117
130
294
179
–
130
294
179
266
–
294
179
–
–
294
179
266
–
294
179
338
–
294
179
–
201
294
179
–
130
294
179
111 / 1111
–
294
179
–
130
294
179
–
130
294
179
–
–
294
179
266
–
294
179
–
–
294
179
81 / 139 / 1108
130
294
179
–
130
294
179
–
–
294
179
–
130
294
179
–
121
294
179
–
121
294
179
–
121
294
179
266
–
294
179
266
–
294
179
–
121
294
179
–
121
294
179
–
121
294
179
118 / 726
–
294
179
–
130
294
179
102
130
294
179
–
130
294
179
–
130



Data effective as of post date. Channel numbers and availability may vary by location and package.

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How to get Discovery Family

You can get Discovery Family through DIRECTV, DISH, and participating cable providers like Spectrum and Xfinity. Depending on your provider, the network may require a specific TV package rather than a basic subscription.

For streaming, Philo Essential includes Discovery Family, while Hulu + Live TV requires its paid Entertainment Add-on. Discovery+ also offers a library of on-demand entertainment, but it doesn’t include Discovery Family’s live TV feed.

Affordable live TV focused on entertainment, reality shows, and family favorites.

Discovery Family included
  • 70+ live TV channels
  • Unlimited DVR with one-year storage
  • Premium streaming apps with Bundle+

Live TV and on-demand favorites bundled together in one plan.

Discovery Family included
  • 95+ live TV channels
  • Disney+ and ESPN Select access
  • Unlimited cloud DVR

Live TV packages with local networks, news, entertainment, and premium add-ons.

Discovery Family included
  • Satellite and streaming TV options
  • National and regional sports channels
  • Unlimited cloud DVR on streaming plans

Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

What’s on Discovery Family?

Discovery Family has plenty of animated adventures to keep cartoon fans entertained. “My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic” follows Twilight Sparkle and her friends through Equestria, while “The Smurfs” brings the adventures of its tiny blue characters to the screen. “The Sylvester and Tweety Mysteries” adds some classic cartoon mischief with a detective twist.

Cartoons aren’t the whole story. “Cake Boss” follows Buddy Valastro and his bakery crew as they tackle elaborate creations, while “Cupcake Wars” puts talented bakers to the test. It’s a fun mix of animation and reality TV, with something different once the cartoons wind down.

Discovery Family channel FAQ

What's the cheapest way to get Discovery Family?

Philo Essential includes Discovery Family for $25 per month, making it the cheapest live TV option among the services featured here. Hulu + Live TV requires its Entertainment Add-on on top of the base subscription.

How can I watch Discovery Family for free?

Eligible new Philo subscribers can watch Discovery Family during a seven-day free trial of the Essential plan. The trial provides temporary access, so cancel before it ends to avoid charges.

Can I get Discovery Family as a standalone subscription?

No, Discovery Family doesn't sell a separate subscription to its live channel. You can find some shows on demand elsewhere, but you'll need a qualifying TV plan to watch the network live.

Is Discovery Family aimed only at young children?

No, its lineup includes children's animation and broader family programming. Check the schedule and ratings for a specific show before choosing it for a younger viewer.

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CableTV.com editors created this article using original analysis and proprietary inputs, with AI tools assisting in drafting. The final content was reviewed and edited for accuracy and quality.

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