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NewsNation is one of the few national cable news channels trying to occupy a nonpartisan lane — and it has built a surprisingly loyal audience since relaunching in 2021. If you cut the cord and want to keep watching, the good news is that several streaming services carry it. The bad news is that most of the biggest names — YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Philo — do not.
Short answer: FuboTV, Sling TV Blue, and DirecTV Stream all carry NewsNation live. If you want to pay nothing, the NewsNation app and website stream some content free. Here is how each option stacks up.
Which Streaming Services Carry NewsNation?
NewsNation (owned by Nexstar Media Group, the largest local TV station owner in the US) has made real carriage progress since its rebrand from WGN America. As of 2026, these live TV streaming services include it in their channel lineups:
FuboTV — Available in the Pro plan and up. FuboTV is the most sports-heavy of the bunch, so if you want NewsNation plus live sports on the same bill, this is the natural fit.
Sling TV Blue — Sling's Blue package carries NewsNation at around $40/month, making it the cheapest way to get the channel through a live TV service. Orange does not include it, so make sure you choose Blue or the Blue + Orange combo.
DirecTV Stream — The Choice plan and higher carry NewsNation. DirecTV Stream is pricier but typically carries the most complete channel lineup of any streaming service.
Services that do not carry NewsNation: YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, and Philo all skip it. If you are already subscribed to one of those for other reasons, you will need to supplement with the free app (see below) or switch services.
The Cheapest Live Option: Sling TV Blue (~$40/month)
Sling Blue is the budget pick for cord-cutters who want NewsNation live without spending $70+ per month. For around $40, you get NewsNation plus a solid spread of news and entertainment channels including CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, HGTV, Food Network, AMC, and more. Local channels depend on your market — Sling's local coverage is spottier than competitors.
The tradeoffs: cloud DVR is limited (50 hours on the base plan), and simultaneous streams are capped at three on Blue. For solo or small-household news viewing, it gets the job done at the lowest price among services that carry NewsNation.
Sling TV Blue
[VERIFY: ~$40/mo]
Cheapest live TV service with NewsNation — cancel anytime
Best All-Around Option: FuboTV
If you want NewsNation alongside live sports — NFL, NBA, MLB, college football — FuboTV is worth the higher price. The Pro plan starts at around $79.99/month and carries 200+ channels including most regional sports networks, all the major news channels (Fox News, CNN, MSNBC, NewsNation), and strong local affiliate coverage in most markets.
FuboTV includes unlimited cloud DVR storage on most plans, up to 10 simultaneous streams on the household plan, and a polished app experience on Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV, iOS, and Android. It is the most complete replacement for a traditional cable package if news is one of several things you watch, not the only thing.
FuboTV
[VERIFY: ~$79.99/mo]
NewsNation + live sports + 200+ channels — free trial available
The Premium Option: DirecTV Stream
DirecTV Stream is the most expensive of the three, but also the most comprehensive. The Choice plan (around $89.99/month) is the entry point for NewsNation carriage, and it brings in nearly every major news, entertainment, and lifestyle channel. If you need regional sports networks and the most complete cable replacement, DirecTV Stream typically has the deepest lineup.
The downside: price. At $90+/month you are paying close to what a bundled cable plan costs. The upside: no annual contract, and the app works well on most major streaming devices. If your household watches a wide variety of live TV and you want everything in one place, DirecTV Stream is worth considering.
DirecTV Stream
[VERIFY: ~$89.99/mo]
Most complete cable replacement — includes NewsNation and RSNs
How to Watch NewsNation Free (No Subscription Needed)
NewsNation offers free streaming through its own app and website (newsnation.com). The free tier includes on-demand clips, full episodes of flagship shows, and limited live streaming access. It is ad-supported and completely free to use — no credit card, no account required for most content.
What the free app misses: continuous live coverage. The free stream tends to be limited to select windows and on-demand content rather than a 24/7 live feed. If you primarily want to catch specific shows like Dan Abrams Live, Cuomo, or NewsNation Prime on your own schedule, the free app is a solid option. If you want NewsNation playing in the background all day like a traditional cable news channel, you will need one of the live TV services above.
The NewsNation app is available on iOS, Android, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, and Samsung Smart TVs. Download it directly from your device's app store — no setup beyond the download.
Setting Up NewsNation on Your Devices
Once you have picked a service — or decided to go with the free app — setup is straightforward on any major streaming device.
On Roku or Fire TV: Search for your chosen service (Sling TV, FuboTV, DirecTV Stream, or NewsNation) in the channel store. Install, sign in, and find NewsNation in the channel guide or by using the search function. If you are using Sling, navigate to News in the guide — NewsNation typically sits alphabetically there.
On mobile (iOS and Android): Download the app for your chosen service. Sign in with your subscriber credentials. NewsNation streams live on mobile just like on TV — useful for travel or commuting.
On a smart TV: Most Samsung, LG, and Vizio smart TVs have app stores with Sling, FuboTV, DirecTV Stream, and the NewsNation app natively available. If your smart TV is older and lacks the app you need, a $25–$40 streaming stick like the Roku Streaming Stick 4K or Fire TV Stick 4K will add full app support to any HDMI-equipped TV.
Best Overall vs. Best Budget — Our Recommendation
Best budget pick: Sling TV Blue at around $40/month. It is half the price of competitors and carries NewsNation live. If news is your primary reason for subscribing to a live TV service, Sling delivers what you need at the lowest cost.
Best overall pick: FuboTV if you also watch live sports, or DirecTV Stream if you want the most complete channel lineup. Both carry NewsNation in their base plans, and both outperform Sling in DVR, local channel coverage, and simultaneous streams.
Free option: The NewsNation app covers on-demand shows and some live streaming at no cost. It will not replace a full live TV subscription for heavy viewers, but for catching specific programs a few times a week it is the most cost-effective path.
Our team has tested each of these services across streaming devices and recommends starting with a free trial before committing. All three paid services offer trial periods — use them to verify NewsNation plays reliably on your hardware before your first billing date.
Sling TV Blue
[VERIFY: ~$40/mo]
Best value — lowest monthly cost for live NewsNation streaming
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