MSNBC is NBC’s politics channel, and it’s a great place to tune in for congressional goings-on, Supreme Court decisions, and world events. That’s the kind of live political coverage you can’t find on Netflix. So you’ve cut the cord, but that doesn’t mean you’ve also cut off your ability to watch MSNBC and other channels you love. You’ve got options and we’re here to show them to you below.
How to Watch MSNBC Without Cable
Your best bet for watching MSNBC without cable is a skinny bundle. A skinny bundle is similar to cable in a lot of ways: It offers live broadcasts of network channels; you can flip through channels just like you did with traditional TV; and with some streaming services, you can record shows to watch later. As the name suggests, a skinny bundle is a little more trim around the waist than its legacy counterpart. Best of all, skinny bundles aren’t the only things that are slimmed down relative to cable; the prices are too. Let's take a look at your options for watching MSNBC without cable.
Fans of MSNBC will be happy to know that Hulu’s take on the skinny bundle includes the network. Hulu’s skinny bundle does not, however, include tiers or big add-on packages. The service keeps things pretty simple, so you should have little trouble tracking down MSNBC. You can read our full review of Hulu + Live TV to learn a bit more about the service.
When fuboTV relaunched in 2017, MSNBC was added along with a broader lineup of channels akin to what you’d find with the competition. While fuboTV still claims it has an edge in sports, non-fans will still find plenty to watch, so don’t be turned off by the service’s sports-heavy branding. To see what we thought of the service, check out our review of fuboTV, or sign up for the free trial.
Sling TV works a little differently than most of the competition. Instead of dividing its content into tiers, Sling TV uses an á la carte model that has you choose from its base packages first and then select add-on packages, which are small, relatively cheap, and stuffed with channels grouped together by category. The result is a very customizable service; just find MSNBC and build a bundle around it. Check out our review of Sling TV for more information.
YouTube TV
YouTube TV is Google’s skinny bundle service. It works similarly to its competitors, offering a suite of live network television channels that includes MSNBC. You can read our YouTube TV review or just test it out for free by taking advantage of the service’s free trial offer.
Can I Watch MSNBC on Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, or Chromecast?
You can watch MSNBC in loads of places, including on devices like Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, and Chromecast. Why limit yourself to watching MSNBC on one kind of device if you don’t have to? As you’ll see from the chart below, you have plenty of options.
| Roku | Fire TV | Apple TV | Android TV | Chromecast | iOS | Android | Web browser | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hulu + Live TV | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| fuboTV | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Sling TV | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| YouTube TV | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Most Popular Shows on MSNBC
Before you dive into MSNBC, you’ll probably want a general idea of what’s hot to watch. Below are top shows to catch while you’re on MSNBC:
- “Morning Joe”
- “Deadline: White House”
- “The Beat With Ari Melber”
- “The ReidOut”
- “The Rachel Maddow Show”
More to Stream for Fans of MSNBC
Understandably, you may get bored of MSNBC after a while, so if you’re looking for similar content from another channel, we’ve got you covered.
CNN is one alternative for people who like MSNBC. As one of the pioneers of cable news, CNN changed the way people follow the news. From “Anderson Cooper 360” to “Declassified,” you can watch these CNN shows without cable.
We know people who watch Fox News and people who watch MSNBC may be far away from each other on the political spectrum, but there’s always value in seeing how different outlets report on the same news events. For more, read our guide to watching Fox News without cable.
We also suggest PBS, home to essential news programs like “PBS NewsHour.” In most cases, viewers can get a livestream of PBS with a TV antenna since PBS is a network that broadcasts over the air. But you can enjoy PBS without cable and tune into its news team.
You can’t watch MSNBC on Sling TV. Where did you see that?
Yes, you can.
See: http://blog.sling.com/announcements/nbc-networks-now-available-on-new-multi-stream-service-sling-blue/
Yes but they keeping going blank screen on me… sporadically and too long… since last night… so cancelled.
I watch MSNBC on Sling every day. It is a $5 add on to the package
It is now included in the Blue Pkg.
How to watch MSNBC on peacock
Sling Blue has it
I do it every day!
Roku has an NBC News channel where clips are available. There is also a 30-minute delayed broadcast in the news lineup at XTV, another Roku channel.
Can’t seem to find that delayed channel. XTV. Where did you find it?
Can’t seem to find XTV, but I’m interested in checking it out. Where did you find it? The point of cutting cord was to save money, but if I have to have another service, I may as well have stayed with cable. :/. Right?
Those of you with Roku should add channel PEAR as a “private channel”, using the code: channel pear.
You are then entitled to load up to 5 sources for free (and many more for a very low price, which lessens as you subscribe monthly, by 6 months, or annually).
I loaded MSNBC, and apart from image/voice sync issues, am very happy with it. The clips stop momentarily while the stream is being refreshed, but the music during the pauses is a lot less annoying than any commercials would be.
Plus, I loaded Cinemax!
Another source of free MSNBC is to be found on Hulu Plus, this in the form of yesterday’s or weekly clips. I select clips from Morning Joe, but if you want to stay with Joe, you have to keep selecting clips, otherwise it defaults to Rachel Maddow.
Happy cable cutting!
Paper Tiger
Thanks so much for this, Bobby. Fantastic!
The code is channelpear, with no space between both words.
Came back saying it’s been taken down due to copyright issues, etc. Don’t bother with channel PEAR since it doesn’t exist anymore. I added it and then had to removed it shortly afterward.
Thank you 😊
This article is a few months old, but, for those that have stumbled upon it, you should know that you can also get MSNBC on YouTubeTV – https://tv.youtube.com.
While I’m a bit disappointed that they didn’t use the “10 Foot Interface” like they did on https://www.youtube.com/tv, based on what I’ve tested, thus far, it’s far more functional if using on an HTPC with Chrome, than Sling TV is.
MSNBC is also available on XTV.
I started watching Mhz a couple of months ago. Some fine foreign shows, especially mysteries.
You can see MSNBC on Roku by downloading the free Pluto app. One of the best free apps around.
this is no longer true
oct 2019
Only a limited news line is available on Pluto. Current shows are not shown. Sorry. Same with CNN.
Who do you contact at MSNBC/name, dept, etc. to let them know you are unhappy about something? I do not like the way they have eliminated shows like Lawrence O’Donnell and Chris Hayes and update the rows of takeouts for the various evening news shows from 7 pm to 11 pm. Also would like to see a row on The Beat with Ari Melber. I know they have put one or two clips from some of these evening shows all into one row but I prefer the previous way they did it. This just changed recently.
What are you talking about?
Apple TV only has MSNBC clips, delayed by 2 hours or so. Pluto TV appears to be a delayed feed by a day or more.
I have been watching MSNBC on my phone (Wi-Fi). I signed up for their newscast, which comes as email. I actually signed up for Rachel Maddow, but after a while it goes on to other shows. Very few of Rachel’s are getting on it these days, maybe 1 in 10. Still, you can keep going forever if you have that kind of time and each show has slightly different take and different interviewees. An ad precedes each clip, but the ads are short. This is costing a little less I think than any of the devices listed. But I don’t want to pay $40 a month and up just to watch MSNBC! Of course it doesn’t make for hearing other points of view…
The whole point of “Cutting the Cable” is to avoid paying the ridiculous amounts of money cable charges. Every example you’ve giving is not a cost savings. $40+/month dollars plus internet $30-$70/mo. you might as well keep cable. Your article is utterly useless.
I agree…$30 to $40 + Internet cost is way higher than the bundled cable packages. How is this cheaper? Makes no sense whatsoever.
I apologize in advance for my lack of knowledge, but can you please explain which (if any) of the above options can be viewed on an actual TV, as opposed to just watching on a computer? Just FYI, I do own one newer LG 4K Smart TV that has Amazon & Netflix, etc. on them (& I have logins for both), and a couple of other regular flat screens. I am currently a DirecTV customer & evaluating possible cord-cutting options. Thank you.
No need to apologize! The services listed in the article can all be viewed on a TV screen. To get them up there, you’ll either need A) a smart TV or B) an external streaming device that you can plug into your TV. Either way, you’ll just have to make sure that the service you choose is compatible with the streaming “platform” that your streaming device or smart TV runs. For instance, Roku boxes and Roku smart TVs use the Roku platform, which has apps for all of the services we listed above.
LG has a platform of its own called LG WebOS, so that’s almost certainly what your TV is running. I would check out the app store on your TV (here’s how: https://www.lg.com/uk/support/guides/tv/smart-tv/apps ) to see what’s available. From what I see online, you should have access to at least Sling TV, and probably a few more live TV options. Hope that helps!
My favorite channels are MSNBC CNN Oprah’s Channels Home & Gardens
Yeah I get the free clips on an msnbc app with my firestick but it is limited and they have everybody on but The Last Word, which is weird he is their best host!
I do not want a bundle selection or whatever just MSNBC
I would pay $10 a month for just that but no more.
I’m the same as MT!
No clips just live MSNBC!
Enough with the promoting of those 2 services I hear over and over. I want to know which streaming service has live MSNBC. I wouldn’t have a problem with paying $10 either for some live MSNBC. When I come home and turn on the Shield I want to see live streaming MSNBC 🙂
does anybody use showbox?
Every Single “ad” states “Watch MSNBC FREE with xxxxx TV service” click here for free trial … is a total LIE.
Sure, watch for 7 days free – THEN you must PAY to watch MSNBC (albeit with the channels offered) …
Seriously, this is worse than loss leader advertising. LIES are not loss leaders. They are LIES.
I agree with several of the other posts in this thread.
JUST WANT MSNBC as a stand alone, stable, reliable, sync’d, streaming feed.
@ a $5 – $10/ month subscription rate; like PBS.
Don’t want to have to pay $60/mo for Hulu, or other, “bundle” of stuff I never watch.
With $60 Hulu and $70 Internet, I’m nearly back up to my CATV “bundled” package.
I just received notice that my provider’s app is going up to $49.95 per month so count me in with those who only want to pay for MSNBC. It is basically the only feed I use. I have an antenna for local channels and Roku offers a variety of options should I want to watch something else. Wonder why MSNBC doesn’t consider that?
Spectrum. I pay 28.00 a month for ten channels of my choice. I got in on the deal when they first launched. I believe the regular price is 38. Hope that helps some.
The least expensive way I have found so far for both MSNBC live and CNN is Sling TV. You will need the Sling TV Blue package plus the News Extra Add On. This will give you a bunch of channels plus MSNBC and CNN live for $30.00 per month, should you want to record then add another $5.00 for their cloud DVR. I have looked at every other way to do this and this is the only viable alternative that comes close to having cable or satellite.
I tried Sling but MSNBC was hopelessly out of sync with the audio. Their support had no solution.
This is very disappointing.. I have a TCL Roku TV with an antenna.
Is there anything we can do to get MSNBC added to Roku? To have to purchase a subscription with cable or Hulu or the other pay for play services is like I’m back with cable.
I don’t know if the decision 6 not to include MSNBC is from Roku or MSNBC, but I’d like to know about convincing them to air it as part of Roku. I don’t care if the broadcast is delayed some.
I do not understand why MSNBC cannot have its own paid app or way of watching it on ROKU. All the advertisements are shown. I am so tired of “paying” to watch programs that also have so many advertisements. I don’t mind “paying” a reasonable price, but am so tired of paying, paying, paying to see advertisements.
Wtf this is 2021. We should have access to any channel we want LIVE on any device, a la carte via that channel’s app. with one cost for ad free and another cost for with selective ads. It’s just a formula to arrive at the subscription cost. the functionality has been sitting there, available for years. the networks never evolved with the technology and that has left the entire TV experience challenged. I only watch MSNBC but att screwed up my billing and I never saw a bill until after the service was cancelled and turned off. So now I’m SOL because none of the above mentioned options are worth the effort it takes to view content. Unbelievable.
MSNBC is not “live” on ANY streaming service, due to the contracts they have with cable and satellite providers. Your best bet is to subscribe to Peacock, where you can view MSNBC shows the following day. Until Peacock adds “live” MSNBC feeds, we’re stuck with delayed streams.