How to Watch TLC without cable

I’ve navigated the world of TLC streaming services, comparing seven options. Here are my findings on their plans and prices to help you choose wisely.

tlc
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TLC is still called by many its original name “The Learning Channel”, and remains a sought-after cable TV channel. 

But you don’t need a cable TV or satellite subscription anymore to watch TLC live. So if you’re a fan of 90 Day Fiancé, Dr. Pimple Popper or Seeking Sister Wife, there are a number of streaming services that carry TLC as a live TV channel.  

Streaming services with TLC

If you’re unfamiliar with live TV streaming services or cord cutting, here’s a quick primer. There is a new age of TV underway, and you don’t need Comcast, Spectrum, Dish or DIRECTV to watch TLC.

Instead you can get an affordable Internet connection, and live stream your channels using a Roku, Apple TV or Amazon Fire TV. You just need to pick a live TV streaming service with the channel lineup that you want.

Philo

PLANPRICECHANNELS
Philo$25/month72
Device support: Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and Chromecast with Google TV along with Smart TVs by Samsung, and Sony Bravia.

With Philo, you can watch TLC live along with 72 other channels for $25 per month.

Philo comes with unlimited Cloud DVR. You can use Philo on up to three streaming or mobile devices at once. And there is a robust on-demand section of movies and TV shows. 

You can stream live TV through Philo on an Amazon Fire TV Stick, Apple TV, Roku and Android TV devices Google Chromecast.

Philo’s channel bundle includes A&E, History, BBC America and all three Hallmark channels. You can look over the channel lineup to see if Philo is a good fit. Philo is the best option for fans of entertainment channels because it gives you a live TV package without having to pay more for sports.

If you sign up for Philo, you will also be able to activate the TLC app on Roku, Fire TV and other popular streaming devices. Philo has a free trial for 7 days, and you can sign up in less than a minute using your mobile number.

Hulu + Live TV

  • Sign up & get Disney+ and ESPN+ included
  • Unlimited Cloud DVR (9 mos.)
  • Two simultaneous streams
PLANPRICECHANNELS
Hulu + Live TV$76.99/month90+
Device support: Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and Chromecast with Google TV along with Smart TVs by Samsung, VIZIO SmartCast, Sony Bravia, PlayStation, XBox, Xfinity Flex and Xumo TV.

Hulu with Live TV has more than 90 channels such as Discovery Channel, TLC, Investigation Discovery and key sports networks like ESPN.

A subscription costs $76.99 per month, but you’re also getting unlimited access to Disney+, ESPN+ and Hulu’s on-demand library. You can watch live TV channels through Hulu on up to two screens at once. 

Your local channels will vary depending on where you live. So be sure to look over your channel lineup to see what’s available in your area. Hulu Live is a decent choice if you are already paying for Disney+, and want to bundle your services to save some money. Having ESPN+ adds some value as well if you have sports fans in your home.

Hulu with Live TV works on Apple TV, Chromecast, Echo Show, Fire TV, Fire Stick, iPhones, Roku players, Nintendo Switch, Xbox 360 and Xbox One. 

Sling TV

PLANPRICECHANNELS
Orange$40/month32 (No locals)
Blue$40/month40 (Locals included)
Orange + Blue$55/month88
Device support: AirTV Mini, Amazon Echo Show, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Roku, Apple TV, Chromecast along with Smart TVs from LG, Samsung, Sony Bravia and VIZIO SmartCast.

You can watch TLC live with Sling TV, but it’s only available on the Sling Blue channel bundle.

The Sling Blue bundle has 45+ channels, including A&E, Investigation Discovery and TLC.

You can look over the channel lineups for Sling TV before deciding what will work best for you.

Subscribers can live stream TV on up to three devices at once. If you want to record shows or movies, Sling TV includes 50 hours of Cloud DVR.

Sling TV supports just about every major streaming device out there, including Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV and Roku. Sling TV is another excellent option because it offers a mix of entertainment and sought-after sports networks such as ESPN while staying well under the average cost of a live TV streaming service.

A subscription to the Orange or Blue plan costs $40 per month. There are no contracts, or extra fees like cable TV. So you can easily cancel whenever you want online.

Fubo

  • Free trial
  • 1,000 hours Cloud DVR
  • 10 simultaneous streams
PLANPRICECHANNELS
Pro$74.99/month176
Elite $84.99/month241
Premier$94.99/month250 & Showtime
Device support: Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Apple TV, Chromecast with Google TV, Xbox One, along with Smart TVs by Hisense, Samsung, LG, Sony Bravia and VIZIO SmartCast TV. Android, iPhones and iPads with current iOS.

Fubo (formerly fuboTV) has over 170 channels including TLC, Animal Planet, Investigation Discovery, MotorTrend, and OWN. 

This streaming service pulls together live local ABC, NBC and FOX stations, alongside regional sports channels, entertainment and news.

fuboTV started out as a sports-first platform, but has reshaped itself into a full-blown replacement for cable TV. 

It is the only streaming service that has been airing select sporting events live in 4K. And if you miss a game, fuboTV has a unique “look back” feature that has all games that aired in the last 72 hours. 

Look over the channel lineup to see what local channels and regional sports networks are in your area. Fubo is dedicated to sports fans, and derives its value as offering a cable-like bundle and hard-to-find regional sports channel such as NESN or MSG. But when it comes to watching TLC, Fubo’s price is on the higher side.

You can watch live TV channels on two devices at once. Subscribers get 1000 hours of Cloud DVR, and you can activate a few dozen TV Everywhere apps. 

fuboTV works on Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV and Android TV devices. There’s a mobile app for iOS and Android. You can also watch live TV on a PC or smartphone. A subscription costs $74.99 per month.

Discovery Plus

  • Popular Cable TV shows
  • Budget-friendly price
  • Free 7-day trial
PLANPRICECHANNELS
Standard (ad-supported)$4.99/mo.On-demand
Ad-free$8.99/moOn-demand
Device support: Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, LG Smart TV, Samsung TV, VIZIO Smart TV, Xfinity Flex.

Discovery Plus is the new on-demand streaming service that has TLC shows among its portfolio of popular cable TV channels.

Animal Planet, HGTV, Food Network, TLC, Discovery ID, OWN, Discovery, A&E, Lifetime, History, Travel Channel, Science Channel, diy Network and the dodo are among the networks it carries.

There are no live TV channels or new episodes on Discovery Plus. But if you’re looking for full seasons of your favorite show, then Discovery+ offers a lot to watch at a much lower price than a cable subscription. Discovery Plus is an affordable way to watch TLC programs on demand. You won’t find the latest seasons, but that might not matter if you are catching up on your favorite TV shows.

There are no contracts or commitments with Discovery+. You can sign up for a free 7-day trial and cancel online if the service isn’t for you.

YouTube TV

  • Free trial
  • Unlimited Cloud DVR
  • Three simultaneous streams
PLANPRICECHANNELS
YouTube TV$72.99/month128
Device support: Android TV, Google TV, Smart TVs by Samsung, LG, VIZIO, Hisense, Sharp and Sony; Chromecast, Google TV, Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Xbox, PlayStation and Google Nest Hub; Android and iOS devices.

YouTube TV carries TLC as part of the base plan. For $72.99 per month, subscribers get more than 128 live channels and unlimited Cloud DVR.

Subscribers get local broadcast channels, including ABC, CBS, NBC, PBS and FOX stations. The channel lineup has ESPN, ESPN2, Oxygen Network, USA Network, Comedy Central, FOX News, CNN, and Telemundo.

A subscription includes unlimited Cloud DVR. You can watch live TV on up to three screens at once. If you are all about live TV and having a robust lineup from entertainment channels such as TLC and HGTV, YouTube TV has a polished user interface, and a channel lineup similar to a cable TV package.

DIRECTV STREAM

PLANPRICECHANNELS
Entertainment$79.99/month75+
Choice$108.99/month105+
Ultimate$119.99/month140+
Premier$164.99/month150+
Device support: Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and Chromecast with Google TV along with Smart TVs by Samsung, Sony Bravia

DIRECTV STREAM carries more than 75 channels, including TLC, in the Entertainment plan. A subscription costs $79.99 per month. ESPN, Nickelodeon and HGTV are part of the channel lineup. 

Subscribers can stream on up to unlimited screens. There is unlimited Cloud DVR for recordings and 40,000 on-demand movies and shows. You can watch TV on unlimited screens within your home.

Discovery, Lifetime, MSNBC and Paramount Network are among the entertainment channels.

The Choice package has 40 regional sports channels, including Bally Sports networks, NBC Sports and Marquee Sports Network. Choice subscribers get more than 105 channels total.

The Ultimate package has more than 140 channels, including local channels, and more sports and entertainment channels. The Premier Package has over 150 channels, including premium channels such as Max, Cinemax and Showtime. 

DIRECTV STREAM is the most expensive bundle for watching TLC. But it may be an attractive option for people who are more comfortable with the package they had from satellite with added flexibility of being able to cancel online whenever they like.

Subscribers can get three months of Max (formerly HBO Max) Showtime, STARZ, Cinemax and MGM+ for free before the monthly rates kick in. DIRECTV STREAM works on Roku, Android TV, Fire TV devices, Apple TV and smartphones and tablets.

What’s the best way to watch TLC without cable?

There are a number of ways to watch TLC without cable. What’s the best way to watch new episodes live? Let’s narrow down your choices.

  • Philo is the cheapest way to watch TLC live without cable for $25 per month. Subscribers get 64 channels and unlimited Cloud DVR. You just need an Internet connection and a Fire TV, Apple TV or Roku. Philo has a free 7-day trial.
  • Sling TV is the second cheapest option for streaming TLC live at $40 per month. You’ll need to subscribe to the Sling Blue bundle. Sling TV works with Fire TV, Apple TV, Roku, PCs, smartphones and Xbox game consoles. You can check the latest offer Sling TV is making to new and returning customers.

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.

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.

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