How to Watch The Weather Channel without cable

The Weather Channel is cable TV network that is available on four live TV streaming services. You can also subscribe to the network within the Weather Channel app.

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The Weather Channel is cable TV network that is available on four live TV streaming services. You can also subscribe to the network within the Weather Channel app.

Here are all the ways to watch The Weather Channel without cable.

How to Watch The Weather Channel

The Weather Channel has been around since 1982. The network is the one people often turn to for detailed weather maps, radar, local forecasts and major weather events.

It also became a favorite for segments such as Local on the 8s. The segment shows viewers the current weather alerts and forecasts for their local area. The name “Locals on the 8s” comes from the timing of the segment throughout the hour (e.g. Broadcasts come at 12:08, 12:18, 12:28, etc.).

TWC’s approach to live weather coverage became novel in the 24/7 news cycle driven by cable TV, especially when Jim Cantore was reporting from the eye of a hurricane or massive weather event.

Climate news, hurricanes throughout the Gulf of Mexico, and the occasional blizzard in the Northeast are all part of the network’s coverage.

frndly TV 

frndlyTV offers an inexpensive option to watch The Weather Channel without a cable TV subscription. frdnly (as in “friendly) has more than 40 live TV channels, including A&E, History, Hallmark Channel, MeTV, and INSP.

The service has three plans all with the same channel lineup. The differences come down to picture resolution, number of simultaneous live streams and DVR recordings. 

The $6.99 per month “Basic” plan has only SD picture resolution, and you can watch on one screen at a time. The Classic plan costs $8.99 per month, upgrades to HD picture resolution and lets you watch on two screens at once. You can keep recordings on the Cloud DVR for up to three months. 

The Premium plan costs $10.99 per month. It allows up four screens at once, and you can keep recordings up to 9 months. frndlyTV has a free 7-day trial

YouTube TV

YouTube TV is one of the most popular streaming services for live TV in the U.S. The basic plan has more than 85 live TV channels for $64.99 per month.

You’ll get local NBC, FOX and ABC in many parts of the U.S. You can watch live TV on three screens at once.

Subscribers get unlimited Cloud DVR. ACC Network, FS1, and ESPNews are all in the channel lineup. YouTube TV has apps for Smart TVs, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV and Google TV. New customers can sign up for a free trial.

fubo TV

fuboTV has The Weather Channel in its entry-level Pro plan. It has over 140 channels.

It’s a popular choice among cable subscribers looking to cut the cord, but still watch live sports. ESPN, ACC Network and SEC Network are among the cable television channels in the Pro bundle.

fuboTV carries local ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC stations in most of the U.S. Subscribers to the Family plan get 1000 hours of Cloud DVR. 

There are select live sporting events and entertainment shows in 4K. fuboTV maintains a vast library of on-demand movies and TV shows. If you miss a game, you can use fubo’s look-back section, which has sporting events that aired in the last 72 hours. 

Subscribers can activate more than 40 apps for channels that are in your lineup. A subscription costs $69.99 per month. You can watch live TV on up to three screens at once. 

fuboTV works on Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Roku and Android TV devices such as Google Chromecast. There are mobile apps for iPhones and Android smartphones if you are away from home. 

New customers can look over the channel lineup in their area or sign up for a free 7-day trial

DIRECTV STREAM

DIRECTV STREAM has The Weather Channel in the Choice plan.

A subscription costs $89.99 per month. The Choice plan has 90+ channels, including CNN, ESPN and Nickelodeon. Subscribers can get HBO Max included for three months before the regular $14.99-per-month rate kicks in.

DIRECTV STREAM has a free 5-day trial. You can look over the different channel lineups before deciding whether to sign up. 

DIRECTV STREAM works on Roku, Amazon Fire TV and Apple TV.

The Weather Channel TV app

The Weather Channel has a standalone service that costs $2.99 per month. The streaming service works on Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Samsung Smart TVs and Xfinity Flex. The Weather Channel app has live 24/7 coverage and on-demand shows.

Otherwise, you can subscribe to YouTube TV, frndlyTV, fuboTV or DIRECTV STREAM.

How to Watch The Weather Channel FAQ

These are questions readers ask when they are researching ways to watch the The Weather Channel without a pay TV provider.

Is The Weather Channel on Sling TV?

No. The Weather Channel is not on Sling TV. You can watch The Weather Channel on frndly TV, fuboTV, DIRECTV STREAM and YouTube TV.

Does Hulu Live TV have The Weather Channel?

No. Hulu Live TV carries 75+ live TV channels, including ESPN, HGTV and local ABC, NBC, CBS, and Fox stations. Hulu’s live TV service includes 50 hours of Cloud DVR and costs $69.99 per month.

Subscribers get unlimited access to Hulu’s on-demand streaming service, Disney+ and ESPN+.

Is The Weather Channel app free on Roku?

No. The Weather Channel is not free on Roku or any other Smart TV or streaming device.

For a quick local forecast from The Weather Channel, add the Local Now app to a Roku, Fire TV or other major streaming device. It doesn’t require any activation or streaming subscription. Local Now is owned by The Weather Channel’s parent company. 

Under the weather section of the app, you will find a local forecast that’s pretty much the “Local on the 8s” that’s on The Weather Channel. That might be just enough for your Weather Channel fix if you can get by without Cantore.

Can you watch The Weather Channel on Amazon Prime?

No. The Weather Channel is not available through Amazon Prime or Amazon Channels. You can stream The Weather Channel live through Youtube TV, fuboTV, frndly TV and DIRECTV STREAM.

What’s the best way to watch The Weather Channel without cable?

frndly TV is the most affordable option to watch The Weather Channel without cable TV.

You can get a subscription with $6.99 per month following a free 7-day trial. For HD picture quality, you can subscribe to the Classic plan for $8.99 per month. Subscribers to the Classic plan also get unlimited Cloud DVR for recordings.

You can watch live TV on two screens at once. And you can keep recordings for three months. 

* This article was published on December 10, 2020, and has been updated to reflect the latest plans and pricing of streaming services.

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Jim Kimble is a seasoned industry expert with over two decades of journalism experience. He has been at the forefront of the cord-cutting movement since 2016, testing and writing about TV-related products and services. He founded The Cord Cutting Report in 2016, and serves as the editor.

Major publications, including MarketWatch, Forbes, and South Florida Sun Sentinel, have interviewed Kimble for his years of expertise. He gives advice on the complexities consumers are navigating with streaming options, and over-the-air TV. Kimble has been a staff writer or correspondent for several award-winning, daily newspapers, including The Boston Globe.