How To Watch MSNBC Without Cable: Your Top Options

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Some of the best streaming services to watch MSNBC live without cable include Sling TV, TVision Live, Hulu + Live TV and fuboTV.  However, there are major important differences between the streaming services that can enhance or negate your viewing experience.  Read on to see the differences in detail and find out which streaming service works best for you. 

Years ago, American households had to have cable TV to watch Morning Joe, All in with Chris Hayes or the Rachael Maddow show on MSNBC. This has changed with the introduction of live streaming on the internet .

Is MSNBC Available On Sling TV

• $35 per month ($25 for the first month)
• 45+ Channels
• 3-Day Free Trial

While Sling might offer two plans—Sling Blue and Sling Orange—only the Blue plan offers MSNBC. This is because Sling Orange focuses on sports and family networks like ESPN and Disney Channel. On the other hand, Sling Blue gives you access to news and entertainment networks like Discovery Channel and NBC.

If you want to get both Discovery and Disney-owned networks, you would have to get the Sling Orange + Blue plan for $50 a month.

Between Orange and Blue, the latter is the only plan with local channels. It currently offers NBC and Fox—no ABC, CBS and PBS.

When it comes to regional networks, we recommend purchasing a quality antenna.  Sling does offer an HD antenna for free when you pre-pay for two months of service.  The antenna allows you to get live broadcasts from local networks not included in the Sling Blue lineup.  To learn more, read our article, Do Indoor TV Antennas Really Work, here.

Sling Blue is also an ideal choice for those who want to get more channels outside of the basic lineup. However, the networks come at an extra cost. These are:

You can purchase the Kids Extra, Comedy Extra, Lifestyle Extra and News Extra in a bundle for $13 a month with the “4 Extras Deal.” But for $21 a month, the “Total TV Deal” includes all seven add-ons and Cloud DVR Plus.

Sling TV only offers 50 hours of free DVR, but the Cloud DVR Plus add-on increases this to 200 hours. If you only need the DVR upgrade, you can get it for an additional $5 a month.

Unfortunately, the DVR comes with a few limitations.  Without the DVR Plus extra, the service deletes earlier recordings once storage is full.  Furthermore, you cannot record some channels like Local Now.

During the pandemic, when people were required to quarantine, Sling launched its Watch Party feature to narrow the distance between loved ones.

You can host watch parties for up to three to four participants. They do not even have to be Sling subscribers. The service allows non-customers to join three watch parties for free. Although Sling allows three simultaneous streams, you can only host one Watch Party at a time.

However, even if streaming devices like Roku, Amazon Fire TV and Apple TV support the service, the feature is only available on Chrome and Safari desktop browsers.  Sling promises to bring watch parties to other devices soon.

Sling TV offers a 3-day free trial.  If you are not happy, you can cancel at any time with no  additional fees.

MSNBC on TVision Live

• $40 per month
• 30+ Channels (+30 more for a limited time)
• No Free Trial

TVision gives you access to MSNBC in its Live plan. The service has 30+ channels, including ESPN, Fox, CNN and MSNBC. However, there is more.

TVision Live offers Vibe channels like AMC, BBC America and Discovery Channel for a limited time.  Despite the possibility of change, the service has not indicated when this offer will end.  If you enjoy the extra channels, you can keep them by adding TVision Vibe for $10 a month.

ABC, NBC and Fox networks are available on TVision Live.  However, we recommend purchasing a separate antenna for your local TV viewing to get the full selection of networks in your area.

If you like the flexibility of Sling TV, TVision Live might not appeal to you.  Sling offers more than seven groups of channels, while TVision only has premium networks.  They are:

1. EPIX – $5.99/mo
2. STARZ – $8.99/mo
3. Showtime – $10.99/mo

Keep in mind, Sling also offers these premium networks plus more.

Additionally, since TVision Live is a relatively new streaming service, only a few devices support it. You can simultaneously stream it on up to three screens but only on mobile devices, Android TV, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV and Google Chromecast.  At the time of writing, Roku, Samsung TV, game consoles and web browsers are incompatible with TVision.

One major drawback to TVision Live is, it is only available to T-Mobile customers and legacy Sprint postpaid customers.

The service is in its infancy and should soon be available nationwide.  TVision Live’s drawbacks like device compatibility and service availability, might change as TVision grows.

Fortunately, TVision gives you access to its on-demand library and 100 hours of DVR. If you want to make the most out of your favorite shows and movies, the service allows you to prolong your recordings by 5, 10, 30 or 60 minutes.

Currently, TVision doesn’t offer a free trial. However, there are no annual contracts or hidden fees, so you can cancel any time after subscribing.

MSNBC on Hulu + Live TV

• $64.99 per month ($70.99 for Hulu no Ads + Live TV)
• 65+ Channels
• 7-Day Free Trial

For $64.99 a month, Hulu + Live TV carries dozens of entertainment, news and sports channels like TBS, TNT, Discovery Channel, CNN, MSNBC, ESPN and NBCSN. If you want local news or sports events, Hulu + Live TV carries live broadcasts from NBC, Fox, CBS and ABC.

Aside from live TV, you also gain access to Hulu’s on-demand library. Hulu has more than 10,000 shows under its belt—with some of them being exclusive to Hulu. Some notable series available on Hulu include Larry King Now, Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Fargo. The service also allows you to stream new episodes after they premier.

If the available content on Hulu + Live TV’s standard plan doesn’t satisfy you, you can always purchase add-on packages. They are:

• Español Add-on – $4.99/mo (CNN en Español, Discovery en Español, NBC Universo, etc.)
• Entertainment Add-on – $7.99/mo (CNBC World, Cooking Channel, Discovery Life, etc.)
• STARZ – $8.99/mo
• Cinemax – $9.99/mo
• SHOWTIME – $10.99/mo
• HBO Max – $14.99/mo

Hulu + Live TV also has a Watch Party feature similar to Sling, which allows subscribers to watch on-demand shows and movies together from different locations.

Only eight people can join a single Watch Party session. If you share your account with someone else, they can join you through their profiles. However, the service only allows two simultaneous streams. You can upgrade this to unlimited screens, but it will cost you an extra $9.99 a month.

The feature also has a group chat for all participants. Additionally, your friends can continue watching the program even if you need to pause for a while. The service even makes sure you don’t fall behind by providing you with a “click to catch up” button.

Like Sling TV, you can only use the feature on web browsers despite being available on Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV, Roku, gaming consoles and mobile devices.

To start a Watch Party, follow these steps:

1. Go to Hulu’s website and select the movie or show you want to watch
2. Press the Watch Party icon on the movie or show’s detail page
3. Click “Start the Party”
4. Copy the link and send it to anyone you want to join

To join someone else’s Watch Party, use the link you received from the Watch Party host.

Hulu + Live TV also offers 50 hours of cloud DVR storage. You can enhance this to 200 hours, but the add-on costs an additional $9.99 a month.

Alternatively, you save money by getting both the Unlimited Screens and Enhanced Cloud DVR for $14.99 a month.

If you are interested in the service, you can try it for seven days, with the free trial. Like other streaming services, canceling your subscription won’t lead to additional fees.

MSNBC on fuboTV

• $64.99 per month
• 110+ Channels
• 7-Day Free Trial

After dropping the Standard plan last year, fuboTV Family is now the cheapest plan. It is still one of the most expensive packages on this list at $64.99 a month but the available channels and features make the cost worth it.

FuboTV’s channel lineup is among the largest in the industry, with more than 100 networks. The service has Disney-owned networks like ABC, A&E and ESPN. If you want to couple MSNBC with educational shows and movies, there are also channels from Discovery in the lineup. The service notably lacks Turner networks like TNT, TBS and CNN.

Regarding local networks, fuboTV has plenty. The service offers Fox, NBC, CBS, ABC and more. The networks’ availability depends on where you live. You can check whether a channel is available in your area through the fuboTV’s website.

FuboTV add-ons present a mix of sports and entertainment networks. Below are some notable add-ons available for purchase:

FuboTV’s 250-hour cloud DVR storage allows users to record and keep their favorite shows and movies. However, its enhanced 1,000-hour upgrade is $16.99 a month.

You can watch the service on multiple devices, including Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV, Google Chromecast and more. This is good for those who own more than one of these devices since you can stream fuboTV on up to three screens. But with Family Share Max, you get five simultaneous streams at home plus two more on the go for $9.99 a month.

FuboTV’s free trial lasts for a week. There are no long-term commitments, and you can cancel anytime.

Is MSNBC on Amazon Prime Video

You cannot watch MSNBC live on Amazon Prime Video.  But it is possible to search for some of MSNBC’s shows on Amazon Prime Video. However, at the time of writing, shows like Lockup, MSNBC Undercover and MSNBC Films are currently unavailable.

For new subscribers, Amazon Prime offers a 30-day free trial.

Does MSNBC have a Streaming App

MSNBC does have a streaming app. You can download it through your device’s channel store. However, only iPhone, iPad and Apple TV devices have an MSNBC-dedicated app.

Unfortunately, like other channel-specific apps, most of the content is locked behind a TV service verification. This means you still need a cable or steaming service subscription to fully utilize the app.  With the subscription, you can stream live MSNBC content and stay up to date with the latest news.

Conclusion

As noted, cable TV isn’t the only way to watch your favorite news network.   

Streaming services like Sling TV and Hulu + Live TV lets you choose what networks you want to have alongside MSNBC with their long list of add-ons.

On the other hand, TVision Live gives T-Mobile and Sprint customers an option to watch MSNBC on a platform cheaper than cable TV.

Fubo TV streaming service offers MSNBC with a strong sports lineup.

If you subscribe to any of the services mentioned above, and have an Apple device, you can unlock everything within the official MSNBC app.

There is more than one way to stream MSNBC, and you don’t need to have a large monthly cable subscription, to get it.

Lloyd Rano Opalec

How do you stream MSNBC? Have you tried any of the streaming services we mentioned above? How was your experience? Let us know in the comments below. Your input might help others with their decision.

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