Spanning sports and comedy, TBS is a prominent channel in the cable world. Its viewership has taken some hits recently, but the former superstation remains a crucial network for baseball fans, wrestling buffs, and data-savvy March Madness bracketologists. (Try saying that three times fast.) There are even daytime marathons of popular sitcoms if you miss the channel’s whole “TBS very funny” era.
No matter how you consume TV—via cable, satellite, or streaming—there are several ways to watch TBS live. In this guide, we’ll break down your many viewing options, provide TBS channel numbers, and offer all the details you need to stay connected.
What channel is TBS on near me?
While TBS is widely available, its channel number differs nationwide—even within metropolitan areas. That’s why we assembled a list detailing TBS’s availability across six prominent providers in 50 major U.S. cities.
If your city isn’t covered, enter your zip code in our service finder tool after the table.
TBS channel numbers in major U.S. cities
| City | Cox channel | DIRECTV channel | DISH channel | Optimum channel | Spectrum channel | Xfinity channel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque, NM | — | 247 | 139 | — | — | 43 |
| Atlanta, GA | — | 247 | 139 | — | 39 | 39 |
| Austin, TX | — | 247 | 139 | — | 65 | — |
| Bakersfield, CA | — | 247 | 139 | — | 32 | — |
| Baltimore, MD | — | 247 | 139 | — | — | 31 |
| Bronx, NY | — | 247 | 139 | 39 | 8 | — |
| Brooklyn, NY | — | 247 | 139 | 39 | 8 | — |
| Buffalo, NY | — | 247 | 139 | — | 26 | — |
| Charlotte, NC | — | 247 | 139 | — | 24 | — |
| Chicago, IL | — | 247 | 139 | — | — | 33 |
| Cincinnati, OH | — | 247 | 139 | — | 6 | — |
| Cleveland, OH | 16 | 247 | 139 | — | 33 | — |
| Colorado Springs, CO | — | 247 | 139 | — | — | 25 |
| Columbus, OH | — | 247 | 139 | — | 17 | — |
| Dallas, TX | — | 247 | 139 | — | 51 | — |
| Denver, CO | — | 247 | 139 | — | — | 18 |
| Detroit, MI | — | 247 | 139 | — | — | 24 |
| El Paso, TX | — | 247 | 139 | — | 39 | — |
| Fort Lauderdale, FL | — | 247 | 139 | — | — | 43 |
| Fort Worth, TX | — | 247 | 139 | — | 51 | — |
| Fresno, CA | — | 247 | 139 | — | — | 24 |
| Houston, TX | — | 247 | 139 | — | — | 51 |
| Indianapolis, IN | — | 247 | 139 | — | 23 | 29 |
| Jacksonville, FL | — | 247 | 139 | — | — | 17 |
| Las Vegas, NV | 7 | 247 | 139 | — | — | — |
| Los Angeles, CA | — | 247 | 139 | — | 41 | — |
| Louisville, KY | — | 247 | 139 | — | 27 | — |
| Memphis, TN | — | 247 | 139 | — | — | 27 |
| Miami, FL | — | 247 | 139 | — | — | 43 |
| Milwaukee, WI | — | 247 | 139 | — | 3 | — |
| Minneapolis, MN | — | 247 | 139 | — | — | 46 |
| New York, NY | — | 247 | 139 | 39 | 8 | — |
| Oklahoma City, OK | 62 | 247 | 139 | — | — | — |
| Orlando, FL | — | 247 | 139 | — | 12 | 49 |
| Philadelphia, PA | — | 247 | 139 | — | — | 20 |
| Phoenix, AZ | 49 | 247 | 139 | — | — | — |
| Pittsburgh, PA | — | 247 | 139 | — | — | 23 |
| Portland, OR | — | 247 | 139 | — | — | 55 |
| Sacramento, CA | — | 247 | 139 | — | — | 43 |
| St. Louis, MO | — | 247 | 139 | — | 51 | — |
| St. Paul, MN | — | 247 | 139 | — | — | 65 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | — | 247 | 139 | — | — | 32 |
| San Antonio, TX | — | 247 | 139 | — | 12 | — |
| San Diego, CA | 25 | 247 | 139 | — | 2 | — |
| San Francisco, CA | — | 247 | 139 | — | — | 35 |
| San Jose, CA | — | 247 | 139 | — | — | 35 |
| Seattle, WA | — | 247 | 139 | — | — | 55 |
| Tampa, FL | — | 247 | 139 | — | 23 | 59 |
| Tucson, AZ | 30 | 247 | 139 | — | — | 37 |
| Washington, DC | — | 247 | 139 | — | — | — |
Data effective as of post date.
Get TBS with cable or satellite TV
TBS is a popular channel among cable and satellite TV providers. The following are four of our favorite services for TBS coverage, but you can browse more options on our Best TV Providers page.
| Provider | Price | TBS | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIRECTV | $84.99–$164.99/mo. | ✔ |
View plans Read DIRECTV review |
| DISH | $91.99–$121.99/mo. | ✔ |
View plans Read DISH review |
| Spectrum | $40.00–$105.00/mo. | ✔ |
Check Availability Read Spectrum review |
| Xfinity | $20.00–$80.00/mo. | ✔ |
Read Xfinity review |
Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
Get TBS with a live TV streaming service
Several of the Best Live TV Streaming Services offer TBS; Fubo is the notable exception. While many services offer TBS, we recommend browsing the ones listed below. You should also visit our MLB and March Madness guides if you’re mainly here for sports.
| Provider | Price | TBS | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIRECTV STREAM | $84.99–$164.99/mo. | ✔ |
View plans Read DIRECTV STREAM review |
| Hulu + Live TV | $81.99–$95.99/mo. | ✔ |
View plans Read Hulu + Live TV review |
| Sling TV | $45.99–$60.99/mo. | ✔ |
View plans Read Sling TV review |
| YouTube TV | $82.99/mo. | ✔ |
View plans Read YouTube TV review |
Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
Pro tip: No live TV streaming service is worth it without reliable internet. Visit our Best Internet for Streaming guide for ways to level up your download speeds.
Get TBS with Max, TBS.com, or an app
Some TBS Originals are available for on-demand streaming through Max (formerly HBO Max). Additionally, Max offers live TBS sports coverage via its B/R Sports hub. But starting March 30, 2025, you’ll need a Standard or Premium Max plan to access those live events.
To watch TBS on TBS.com or the TBS app, log in with an existing cable, satellite, or live TV streaming subscription. The website and the app allow you to access TBS East and TBS West feeds alongside select on-demand content.
What’s the cheapest way to get TBS?
Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
Sling TV offers the cheapest way to stream TBS 24/7. The live TV streaming service offers TBS in all its base plans, starting at $45.99/mo.. Depending on your chosen plan, you can get TNT and truTV alongside TBS—maximizing your TNT Sports channel lineup.
The primary downside to Sling TV is that it doesn’t widely offer local channels. Therefore, you may need an over-the-air (OTA) antenna to pick up local coverage from ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC. Check out our Best OTA Antennas if you need a reliable antenna.
What’s on TBS?
TBS primarily consists of sports and comedy programming. We’ve listed most of that content below, but it’s not everything you’ll find on TBS. The channel often airs Hollywood blockbusters on evenings when sports aren’t happening.
Sports
- All Elite Wrestling: All Access
- All Elite Wrestling: Dynamite
- ELeague
- MLB on TBS
- NBA on TNT*
- NCAA March Madness
- NHL on TBS
- U.S. Soccer on TBS
*Occasional overflow games and alternate broadcasts air on TBS.
Comedy and reality shows
- American Dad
- The Big Bang Theory
- The Cube
- Dinner and a Movie
- Family Matters
- Friday Night Vibes
- Friends
- I Survived Bear Grylls
- Impractical Jokers
- The Joe Schmo Show
- Miracle Workers
- Modern Family
- Stupid Pet Tricks
- Tarantula
- Wipeout
- Young Sheldon
What’s TBS?
TBS is a basic cable channel with a rich history dating back to the 1960s. Eventually obtained by Ted Turner, the Atlanta-based station became one of the first channels retransmitted via satellite to regional cable providers. Time Warner rebranded the channel in the mid-1990s as TBS Superstation and began focusing on comedy programming.
By 2001, popular sitcoms made up TBS’s schedule—including The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Full House, Home Improvement, and Seinfeld. The channel expanded its content in the late 2000s to include MLB regular season and postseason games. Today, TBS remains a hub for comedy series and marquee sports coverage.
What channel is TBS on FAQ
How can I watch TBS for free?
The only legal way to watch TBS for free is through a live TV streaming trial. DIRECTV STREAM and YouTube TV typically offer free trials of varying lengths.
Is TBS on Hulu or Netflix?
No, 24/7 access to TBS isn’t available on Hulu or Netflix unless you get Hulu + Live TV. However, depending on licensing agreements, some on-demand content from TBS may appear on Hulu and Netflix.
Does Paramount+ have TBS?
No, Paramount+ doesn’t include TBS content. The streaming service has March Madness games from CBS Sports. However, you’ll need a separate TV provider or Max with the B/R Sports Add-On to get TBS’s sports coverage.
