You don’t need a cable subscription to watch Turner Classic Movies (TCM) as a live TV channel.
Sling TV, DIRECTV STREAM, Hulu Live TV and YouTube TV all offer different channel packages for streaming TCM live.
A more affordable option is Max (formerly HBO Max), which has a dedicated section to TCM films, but does not offer a live TV channel. I’m also going to show you a quick way to reference today’s TCM schedule below. Here is a quick review of all of your options.
Table of Contents
- What is the Turner Classic Movies Channel?
- What’s the best way to watch TCM without cable?
- Watching Turner Classic Movies FAQs
What is the Turner Classic Movies Channel?
Turner Classic Movies is a cable TV channel that launched in 1994 with a focus on showcasing movies that were released before 1950. The movie catalog is derived from Warner Bros. (films before 1950), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (films before 1986) and RKO Pictures.
If you’re looking for a way to watch James Caan movies or classic films starring Dorothy Provine, TCM is where you will find it. Movies starring Paul Newman, Clint Eastwood, Maggie Smith and Melanie Griffith can also be found on TCM.
Cord-cutters can watch TCM live using a Smart TV, Roku Amazon Fire TV, web browsers, and iPhones (iOS).
Sling TV
Sling TV carries TCM under the Hollywood Extra add-on. It’s the cheapest way to watch TCM live without cable at $46 per month.
You can choose the Hollywood Extra add-on after picking a base package, either the Sling Orange or Sling Blue plan.
Sling Orange has roughly 34 channels including CNN, MSNBC, ESPN and entertainment networks such as A&E and HGTV. The Sling Orange plan costs $40 per month.
Sling Blue has 43+ channels including AMC, History, TNT and NFL Network. The Sling on-demand library is included in each bundle.
The Hollywood add-on bundle has TCM, Reelz, H&I (Heroes & Icons), startTV, GRIT, HDNET Movies, Sundance TV, Cinemoi and Bounce. Other channel add-on bundles have popular sports channels such as NHL Network, NFL RedZone and ESPNU.
You can look over your channel options with Sling, before deciding whether to sign up. Sling TV will give you a free or discounted streaming device if you prepay for two months of service.
There are no contracts with Sling TV. Subscriptions run month to month, and you can cancel online. Sling TV has apps for Samsung Smart TVs, Roku, Apple TV and Amazon Fire TVs.
Hulu Live TV
Hulu Live TV has more than 75 live TV channels and unlimited Cloud DVR storage.
Subscribers also get unlimited access to Disney+ and ESPN+ and the Hulu on-demand library.
Hulu’s live TV bundle includes ESPN, ESPN2, CNN, Nickelodeon, and local FOX, CBS, NBC and ABC stations.
A subscription costs $69.99 per month. There is currently no free trial with Hulu Live TV.
You can look at Hulu’s channel lineup in your area. Subscribers can watch live TV on two screens at once. You can watch ESPN+ through the ESPN app. Disney+ works with its own app as well.
You can watch live TV within the Hulu app, using a Roku, Fire TV Stick, Google Chromecast, Apple TV, iPhones and tablets.
DIRECTV STREAM
A DIRECTV STREAM (formerly AT&T TV) Entertainment subscription includes Turner Classic Movies in its Entertainment channel bundle.
The Entertainment plan has more than 75 channels for $74.99 per month. Subscribers can watch live TV on up to 20 screens at once.
ESPN, ESPN2, FS1 and regional sports networks are included in the channel lineup. You get unlimited hours of Cloud DVR storage. As far as on-demand content, DIRECTV STREAM has 40,000 movies and shows.
Subscribers can get three months of Showtime, STARZ, Cinemax and EPIX for free before the monthly rates kick in.
You can sign up for a free 5-day trial without any obligations.
DIRECTV STREAM works on Roku, Android TV, Fire TV devices, Apple TV and smartphones and tablets. Subscriptions run month to month and so you can cancel whenever you want.
You can look over the different channel lineups before deciding whether to sign up.
YouTube TV
YouTube TV subscribers get more than 85 live TV channels for $72.99 per month. The streaming service carries local channels, CNN, CNBC, FX, FXM and TCM.
Subscribers can create up to six profiles at once. There is unlimited Cloud DVR and on-demand movies and shows.
YouTube TV works with a Fire TV Stick, Chromecast, Roku, Apple TV and Android TV devices. New customers can try out YouTube TV free for a week.
Turner Classic Movies on Max
Max, the new iteration of HBO Max, does not have Turner Classic Movies as a live TV channel, but it does maintain a collection of TCM films.
HBO Max costs $14.99 per month for the ad-free version. The ad-supported plan costs $9.99 per month. The best deal for a Max subscription is through Amazon Prime because you can get a free 7-day trial, and cancel whenever you like.
What’s the best way to watch TCM without cable?
Max has a deep vault of TCM Movies and costs $14.99 per month for the ad-free plan.
For a live TV channel, Sling TV is the cheapest option at $46 per month. You also have flexibility with your channel lineup because you can choose either the Sling Orange or Blue plan.
| SERVICE | PRICE | LIVE TV CHANNEL |
|---|---|---|
| Max | $14.99 per month | No |
| Sling TV | $46 per month | Yes |
| Hulu Live TV | $69.99 per month | Yes |
| DIRECTV STREAM | $69.99 per month | Yes |
| YouTube TV | $69.99 per month | Yes |
Watching Turner Classic Movies FAQs
Here are questions readers ask when they are researching ways to watch TCM without a TV provider or cable subscription.
Where can I find today’s TCM schedule?
You can easily see what’s on TCM live today, tonight and this week by going to the Turner Classic Movies schedule and TV listings.
Does TCM have a streaming app?
Yes. It’s free to download, but only cable TV and streaming service subscribers can unlock movies and its East and West live TV feeds. Subscribers to DIRECTV STREAM, Hulu Live TV and YouTube TV and activate the TCM app. With Sling TV, you cannot activate the TCM app.
Is there a TCM app for Roku?
There is a TCM app for Roku, but you need to activate it with a cable TV subscription. The movie selection is pretty limited. A cheap alternative is to subscribe to HBO Max, which has a section dedicated to TCM movies.
Can I watch Turner Classic Movies on Fire TV?
Yes. Instead of looking for an app for Turner Classic Movies, use a streaming service. Max carries TCM movies. Hulu Live TV, YouTube TV, Sling TV and DIRECTV STREAM carry TCM as a live TV channel.
Can I watch Turner Classic Movies on Netflix?
No. You can find TCM films on Max. Both TCM and Max are owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. The company operates Max and Discovery+.
Can I watch Turner Classic Movies on my computer?
Yes. Subscribers to Sling TV, DIRECTV STREAM, YouTube TV, and Hulu Live TV can watch TCM from a web browser on a PC, laptop or Mac computer.
Where can I watch Turner Classic Movies?
Max has a big library of Turner Classic Movies available on-demand. You can find them under the TCM tab in the main menu of Max. To watch the TCM channel live, you can subscribe to Hulu Live TV, YouTube TV, DIRECTV STREAM and Sling TV.
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.
Note: This article was published September 30, 2022, 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
