How to Live Stream CBS Without Cable

Updated December 18, 2020

Live Stream CBS Online Without Cable TV

The cheapest way to watch CBS for free – and without cable – is with a TV antenna.

But a TV antenna won’t work for everyone. Your second cheapest option?

That’s easy. It’s CBS All Access, a $5.99 per month streaming service that live streams CBS, and maintains a deep library of favorite TV shows and movies. You can use CBS All Access to watch live NFL games and college football, including the SEC Championship game.

This guide will quickly outline all your choices to watch CBS live, and even stream NFL football, college football, shows like Magnum P.I. and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

Watch CBS for free using a TV antenna

You can easily jump into this new era of cord cutting by checking whether you can use a TV antenna for some free CBS. Head over to Antennas Direct Transmitter Locator tool. Punch in your zip code or address and push the “View Channels” button.

If you see a CBS broadcast tower within a 30 or 40 mile range, then there’s an excellent chance that you can watch sports or whatever else you want for free in HD quality.

For more tips on using an antenna read my months-long studies: How to Choose the Best TV antenna & DVR and The Best Indoor TV Antennas.

If an antenna won’t work for you, keep reading.

There are plenty of other alternatives to cable so you can keep a live stream of CBS flowing to your TV.

CBS All Access offers a live stream and on-demand

CBS All Access is your cheapest option to live stream a local CBS Channel.

A subscription costs at $5.99 per month. You can sign up for a free 7-day trial.

You can get a live stream of CBS in 200 markets, and all of its shows on-demand the day after the live broadcast.

But CBS All Access isn’t just about CBS programming anymore.

In 2021, CBS All Access is going to be rebranded into Paramount Plus; and based on the variety of new programming that’s already on the service, it’s going to have this mini-bundle of on-demand shows from BET, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon and Smithsonian Channel. 

A lot of original series are already on the service, including a remake of The Stand, based on Stephen King’s famous novel.

Subscribers can stream up two shows simultaneously on separate devices. So someone might want to watch that latest Star Trek episode, while another member of the family catches up on The Big Bang Theory in the other room.

CBS All Access still has commercials despite it being a subscription-based platform. Recently, CBS began offering a commercial-free package, but that costs $9.99 per month. It’s a solid alternative to cable if you just want CBS programming and minimize your costs. CBS All Access let’s you try out its service free for a week.

Watch CBS on Hulu + Live TV

Hulu with Live TV is the best option for someone who wants CBS and a full suite of sports channels like ESPN, ESPN 2, ACC Network, FS1, FS2 and Big Ten Network. Bravo, CNN and History channel are in the mix too.

Subscribers get 65+ live channels, 50 hours of Cloud DVR and unlimited access to Hulu’s on-demand library. That’s the same library that people pay $5.99 per month for.

A subscription costs $64.99 per month. So you’re really getting two streaming services for the price of one. You can look at Hulu’s channel lineup in your area. Hulu also has a free 7-day trial.

If you choose either one of these services, you can live stream CBS on a Roku, Fire TV, and most other streaming devices including an iPhone or tablet. You can easily cancel online if you don’t like it. No hidden fees or contracts.

Watch CBS online, and CBS Sports Network with fuboTV

fuboTV offers CBS and CBS Sports Network as part of a 110+ channel bundle.

fuboTV is a sports-first platform, but doesn’t leave out your entertainment needs. A&E, History, Bravo, HGTV, TNT, CNN and Travel Channel are included in the entry-level channel bundle. Soccer fans will get to watch all the matches they want with beIN Sports.

Look over the channel lineup in your area to see what kind of local regional sports channels, or local NBC, CBS or FOX stations are available.

A subscription costs $59.99 per month. Subscribers get 30 hours of Cloud DVR and a “look back”, an on-demand feature that has sporting events that aired in the last 72 hours.

fuboTV became the first live streaming service to offer select sporting events in 4K.

A fuboTV subscription also gets you access to TV Everywhere apps for more than 30 networks. You can watch fubo on Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV, Fire Stick, web browser and NVIDIA Shield.

You can check out fuboTV free for 7 days.

Note: To get a free trial with the fuboTV standard plan ($59.99 per month), head over to the bottom of theAdd-ons & More section.

Live Stream CBS on AT&T TV Now

AT&T TV Now lets you live stream CBS from your smartphone, Roku, Apple TV and most other major streaming devices. There’s one exception: there’s no app for Android TV.

CBS is available across all four channel bundles offered by AT&T TV Now. The least expensive bundle gives you 45+ live channels including HBO, ESPN, ESPN2, FS1, TNT and TBS for $65 per month.

Subscribers get 20 hours of Cloud DVR to record shows, and a on-demand library. AT&T TV Now has a free trial that lasts a week.

YouTube TV has a CBS Live Stream

CBS is available in many markets with YouTube TV. You will get 85+ channels for $64.99 per month, including ESPN, NBC, FOX AND CBS.

YouTube TV works on Roku, Apple TV, Chromecast and Android TV devices like NVIDIA Shield TV. There is no support on Fire TV or Fire Stick because of Google’s ongoing spat with Amazon. You can try out YouTube TV with a free 7-day trial.

Is CBS on Sling TV?

No. According to The Chicago Tribune, CBS continues to be very selective about which streaming platforms the company partners with. CBS has struck agreements with AT&T TV Now, Hulu with Live TV and YouTube TV.

What’s the best way to get a CBS Live Stream?

CBS All Access is the cheapest way to get your local CBS station if you can’t use a TV antenna. New customers can sign up for a free 7-day trial.

For more news on streaming, how-to guides and reviews, head over to the main page of The Cord Cutting Report or follow the CCR on Google News.