Where to live stream MSNBC
There are five streaming services where you can (legally) stream MSNBC live on your television. DIRECTV STREAM, fuboTV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV and YouTube TV all stream MSNBC live in their entry-level channel bundles.
How to watch MSNBC free or cheap online
Watching MSNBC live on a Roku, or Amazon Fire TV Stick can be a lot cheaper than cable.
Millions of people are already using streaming services to cut the cord from cable TV. And there are dozens of options for live streaming news.
But I get it, you want MSNBC. Because you want your fix of Morning Joe, or the latest news with Stephanie Rhule. You want The Rachel Maddow Show live and on-demand so you don’t miss a word of her nightly broadcast.
Table of Contents
- Where to live stream MSNBC
- How to watch MSNBC free or cheap online
- Watch MSNBC without cable: the cheapest option
- How to live stream MSNBC without cable
- Can I watch live news free on MSNBC.com?
- Why not use illegal sites to live stream MSNBC?
- Sling TV: Watch MSNBC live stream online
- Hulu with Live TV: Stream MSNBC live without cable
- fuboTV: live stream MSNBC without cable
- YouTube TV: Watch MSNBC Online without cable
- DIRECTV STREAM: Live Stream MSNBC
- Is MSNBC on Peacock?
- What’s the best way to get a MSNBC live stream?
Watch MSNBC without cable: the cheapest option
Right now, Sling TV is the cheapest option at $35 per month.
The Sling Blue plan has MSNBC and 44 more channels. CNN, NFL Network and Vice on TV are included in the channel lineup.
My runner-up pick is Hulu with Live TV because the live TV service includes Hulu’s full on-demand library.
You’ll get 65+ live TV channels, and a deep library of movies, Hulu Originals and network TV shows for $64.99 per month.
So you’re getting two streaming services for the price of one.
You might want to look over Hulu channel lineup to see what local and regional sports channels are available in your area.
Let’s take a quick look at all the ways you can live stream MSNBC.
How to live stream MSNBC without cable
Instead of relying on a cable box, you can use a Roku, Amazon Fire TV or Apple TV. Live TV services such as Sling TV and others have apps offering the same live TV channels that were once exclusive to Comcast or Spectrum.
The upshot is that live TV services offered online don’t require contracts or have extra fees like a typical cable bill.
The secret to cord cutting and saving money really comes down to learning how to get a reasonably priced Internet connection.
Can I watch live news free on MSNBC.com?
No. You’ll need to either subscribe to cable, a satellite TV service or a live TV streaming service to sign in to MSNBC.com.
The MSNBC Live Audio Stream is one free option if you can live without actually watching the network.
But if you’re looking for a cheaper way to watch MSNBC, then a live TV service such as Sling TV is going to be your best bet.
An audio simulcast of MSNBC is also available on SiriusXM. The satellite radio service is currently offering a 3-month trial for a $1, and includes a subscription to Hulu on-demand.
Why not use illegal sites to live stream MSNBC?
Great question. I regularly hear from people that “nothing can happen to me” if I stream or download copyrighted materials.
My response is: Good luck with that.
The truth is your Internet service provider can easily detect when you’re using a site to illegally download or watch material. And now, people who stream or download movies are being named as “John Doe” defendants in lawsuits.
This Houston, Texas law firm explains it in more detail if you’re interested in reading some scary scenarios.
My advice is keep it legal. There are plenty of decent choices to keep your costs down.
Sling TV: Watch MSNBC live stream online
Sling TV has been known for a few years as an inexpensive option to get channels like AMC, A&E and even ESPN without cable.
For the purposes of live streaming MSNBC, you’ll want to go for the cheapest option. That’s the Sling Blue bundle for $35 per month.
Sling TV also offers 50 hours of Cloud DVR for free, or 200 hours for another $5 per month. Not everyone likes the approach of having smaller add-on channel bundles, but some people love it.
It’s a decent option if you’re on a budget. You can look over the channel lineup before deciding whether to sign up.
You can cancel if it’s not for you. If you sign up for a brief subscription, you can also get a free or discounted streaming device.
Hulu with Live TV: Stream MSNBC live without cable
Hulu with Live TV combines a robust lineup of 65+ national networks including MSNBC and local channels like ABC, FOX, NBC and CBS.
You’re getting live TV and Hulu’s on-demand streaming service combined for $64.99 per month.
There are other favorite networks that you might recognize from your days as a cable subscriber. A&E, FX, History, National Geographic, HGTV, TBS and TNT.
Hulu includes 50 hours of Cloud DVR at no extra cost. You can stream on up to two devices at once, including a mobile device like an iPhone or Android smartphone when you’re not at home.
Hulu with Live TV lets you activate a few dozen apps to networks that are in your channel lineup.
So if you miss a show on Bravo, or National Geographic, you can sign in to the app and watch it on demand.
If you’ve been curious about some of the Hulu Originals programming such as Little Fires Everywhere, subscribing to Hulu is a decent way to check it out while replacing your cable TV subscription too.
You can easily check for your local channels with Hulu. New customers can sign up for a free 7-day trial.
And if you already subscribe to Disney+ or ESPN+, there is a way to bundle Hulu with Live TV and save $5.99 per month.
fuboTV: live stream MSNBC without cable
Sports fans should consider fuboTV for getting regional sports networks, and larger ones like NFL Network.
fuboTV has 120+ channels including AMC, History, IFC, A&E and of course, MSNBC and local channels for news. For sports, ESPN, FS1 and ACC Network have you covered.
The entry-level channel bundle costs $64.99 per month. You get 250 hours of Cloud DVR as part of your subscription.
fuboTV also has on-demand movies. The “look back” feature is an on-demand library of sporting events that aired in the last 72 hours. So there’s multiple ways to catch up on shows or sporting events that you missed a night or two before.
fuboTV even lets you go back a few hours and watch a show such as The Rachel Maddow Show on-demand. So you’re not eating up your Cloud DVR space.
On the sports front, fuboTV is the only live streaming service that has select sporting events in 4K.
Roku, Apple TV, Fire Stick and Android TV devices all have fuboTV apps. You can also use your credentials to sign into more than 40 TV Everywhere apps on your streaming devices. Try out fuboTV free for a week.
YouTube TV: Watch MSNBC Online without cable
YouTube TV will have local channels wherever its service is available, and MSNBC as one of its news channels along with CNN and FOX News.
Subscribers get 85+ channels for $64.99 per month.
CBS Sports Network, ESPN, all three FX channels, IFC and two National Geographic channels are part of the channel lineup.
YouTube TV has unlimited Cloud DVR, but may supplement some of your recordings with on-demand content. That means you won’t necessarily be able to fast forward through commercials.
There’s apps for YouTube TV on Roku, Apple TV, and a mobile one that streams on its own or to your TV with a Chromecast.
YouTube TV offers a very good service at a fair price. Try out a free week long trial with YouTube TV.
DIRECTV STREAM: Live Stream MSNBC
MSNBC is available on DIRECTV STREAM’s Entertainment bundle, which costs $69.99 per month. Subscribers get 65+ channels, 20 hours of Cloud DVR and 40,000 on-demand shows.
AT&T TV has ESPN, Nickelodeon, HGTV and TNT. There’s CNN, CNN International and CNN En Español, You’ll find C-SPAN and C-SPAN2 as well.
You’ll be able to stream MSNBC live on a Roku, Apple TV or Fire TV at home, and a smartphone if you’re not at home. Subscriptions are on a month-to-month basis, so you can cancel whenever you want.
You can look over the different channel lineups before deciding whether to sign up.
Is MSNBC on Peacock?
No. There are some excerpts from MSNBC that you can watch on Peacock. But there is no dedicated MSNBC channel.
What’s the best way to get a MSNBC live stream?
The answer may depend on what other channels you want along with MSNBC.
If you’re on a budget, or want a smaller channel lineup, Sling TV will get your MSNBC live for $35 per month under the Blue plan.
Sign up for Sling TV and you can subscribe on a month to month basis. There is no contract or long-term obligations. You can get a free or discounted streaming device by signing up for a brief subscription. You’re not obligated to keep your subscription after that.
From an overall value perspective, Hulu with Live TV is giving you a lot for $64.99 per month.
You’re getting 65+ live TV channels that you can watch with a Roku, Fire TV Stick, or on the go with your smartphone.
And you’re getting unlimited access to Hulu’s vast on-demand library of network TV shows, movies and Hulu Originals like The Handmaid’s Tale and Little Fires Everywhere.
You’ll also be able to record shows and activate apps including A&E, Bravo and Big Ten Network.
You can look at which channels Hulu with Live TV offers in your area to see if it’s a good fit for you.
If you already subscribe to Hulu on-demand, getting their live TV package makes the most sense. You can sign up for a free trial of Hulu + Live TV that lasts a week. Be sure to cancel before the trial ends if you don’t want to keep the service.
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.
This article was published April 13, 2018, and has been updated.
Founder and Editor of The Cord Cutting Report. Before launching the site in 2016, he worked for more than two decades as a staff writer or correspondent for a number of daily newspapers, including The Boston Globe. His enthusiasm for tech began with the Atari 2600. Follow @james_kimble
I would gladly pay for Peacock if they were to also stream MSNBC. I hate to pay a company that gives part of my subscription to the likes of Fox and OAN. It’s even more frustrating to know that Fox gets more of my subscription money than MSNBC does. Until I can get away from that model, I’ll have to catch the podcasts or listen to MSNBC on TuneIn.
I feel same way! I want msnbc and no other shows, so I cannot justify cable expense. I got rid of cable and use fire stick, but subscribing to msnbc requires cable company. I have cable for internet, but refuse cable tv outrageous fees for shows I don’t want. I’ll pay for msnbc but not spectrum cable tv.
ditto. I only have my social security income – and don’t watch regular TV at all. There is not an extra $10 in my monthly budget especially in winter with increased heating cost. But I would like to be able to watch MSNBC.
Agree.
I agree completely. HBO let you but a single sub; why not MSNBC? I cancelled Sling for this reason. $30- a month for MSNBC is not justifiable. Sling is a package of junk – no thanks.
MSNBC is now part of SlingTV Blue you do not have to buy news extra just an FYI Hulu TV does not have AMC and YouTube TV does not have History Channel. Sling Blue has the best overall cable channels but they don’t have Local TV stations
UNTIL THEY FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE US HAPPY AND SELL US WHAT WE WANT, WE MUST
RELY ON FRIENDS WITH CABLE…AND, BRING SOME BEER…
This is frustrating. I don’t have cable because I refuse to pay an arm and a leg to watch the few shows that interest me. I just cancelled basic Starz and Hulu because there’s a lot of junk I don’t watch. All I wanted to do is to be able to livestream MSNBC. I don’t want ESPN, Disney…etc Just MSNBC. I refuse to pay for cable or Hulu $54+, Sling $30 +, YouTube, and all to do that. I will just have to be satisfied with listening to it on the radio with XM Sirius. It would be nice if MSNBC would consider those of us who don’t want all the other programs and create a decent package for just MSNBC.
NBC News, an event co-host, is live streaming the debate for free.
I agree. Frustrating but I guess the consequence of choosing not to pay for cable and not to pay more $15/month for subscriptions (Netflix is my highest one). As streaming becomes more like cable I will adjust as needed but still won’t pay the high dollars.
MSNBC doesn’t have a free app like PBS? Those are the only stations we watch with our comcast cable service.
Agree. We chose the commercial free BASIC Hulu for about $11/month and couldn’t be happier. We listen to MSNBC live or watch the uploaded shows later in the day, ie Morning Joe and the others we like, ie Maddow, The Beat (only segments are often available however) on YouTube the following day
Why do you pay for You Tube?
Cutting cable is NBD depending upon your TV viewing interests, pick a service like HULU @ $45/month – 50 + but no sports channels or YouTubeTV at $50/month 60 channels with sports channels and a few others. Each have different services so choosing is about knowing your needs/wants. These services would save you at least $55.00/month
MSNBC IS ON MY HULU ACCT…LOVE IT SO FAR, FIRED PLAYSTATION VUE…
Why can’t I just add MSNBC to my Hulu account?
Hey that’s great, I did not know ! I have no suscriptions to any cable TV providers and I don’t intend to. I wouldn’t mind paying a few bucks to watch “legally” MSNBC but they force you to subscribe to a $50+ monthly fee… I find that ridiculous.
One advantage to cable is that when power goes down or snow blocks signal I can still get MSNBC live online. Also I can get it where ever I am that I can log into WiFi. A lot of Hotels and motels only have basic which doesn’t offer MSNBC. I think about cutting Cable because I am paying at least $110 a month, also pay for Netflix, VIKI, Youtube, WiFi, cell phone and other services, well over $350 a month. Oh well, I have a lot of interests.
WHY DOES PLAYSTATION VUE LOCK-UP? LOCKS UP AND HAS ME RELOADING WHEN IT
WON’T RESTART OFTER 5 MINUTES OR MORE…SEEMS OFTEN SO UNSTABLE,
I am going to stop paying for direct tv, watching CNN right now using the Spectrum app. I like MSNBC better, but I guess for now I will be watching CNN and the advertisers there will be putting their ads in front of my eyes while the MSNBC advertisers will no longer reach me
Why can’t I just watch MSNBC free on-line !!! I will watch the commercials and all. I just want to watch MSNBC live. For now all I can do is listen to it. This is 2019 !!! So STUPID that I can’t watch commercials for free.
If you have an android device, you can get the MSNBC Live app for free and watch it for free on your android device.
Hulu Live TV is a complete waste of money. We paid for one month just to watch MSNBC, and halfway through, we kept getting error messages. I called Hulu and the help we got? It’s either MSNBC or Hulu. Money right down the drain and Hulu was happy to keep it.
Can AppleTV be used to record programs and watch later without the ads? Without that it’s not that helpful. Xfinity is not more expensive than 40 bucks per month and it’s easy to record stuff.
Thanks for the information. Your facts on sling TV streaming are wrong.. You have to buy the Blue package and then pay extra for the Orange package to get CNN and MSNBC which costs significantly more with not that many other channels and most of the channels in the required basic Blue package are junk TV and play mostly teasers, not Complete series. I’m going to try Hulu after reading all of your praises about it. The same old junk is on streamers. Amazon opened their library after their recent failure. Is it ‘would or wouldn’t’ or ‘Ihop or I hob’ All lies. Major TV time to push Ihob … what a scam to cover an executives ass. Same no nothingings running streaming TV for short term profits and no reliable programming.Looks like AT&T is organizing a wall of competition as most streaming providers have the same junk and just raking in profits … and forcing people to watch all advertising unlike cable. It’s a shame we didn’t have a Bell Labs to direct people away from the unholy costs of cable with a regulated scheme both in cost and ad content on all cable and streaming which is now surpassing primary programming.