How To Watch BBC America Without Cable

I certainly need my BBC America. After all, I’m a hardcore Whovian (that’s a fan of Doctor Who, for the uninitiated). Being able to access as many of the show’s 840 episodes as possible is a must – as well as the BBC’s other popular shows like Blue Planet, Orphan Black, Luther, and the latest hit Killing Eve.

All you need to watch BBC America is a streaming device like a Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, etc. and a streaming service that carries BBC America. 

Watch BBC America Through These Streaming Services

All of the following streaming services will let you watch BBC America live just as if you had cable. Each of these online streaming services will also carry some BBC America content on-demand.

Live BBC America on Philo

The most affordable way to watch BBC America without cable is by subscribing to the streaming service Philo. For just $20 a month, you get over 60 channels, including BBC America, as well as the ability to record as many shows as you like and watch them for 30 days. You don’t even need to provide a credit card number for the seven-day free trial – all you need is your mobile phone number.

With online access to BBC America streaming through Philo, you will never miss great shows like “Doctor Who,” “Killing Eve,” “Top Gear America,”  and “The Last Kingdom.”

Sign Up For A Free Trial To Philo

Philo is supported on Apple iPhone and iPad (running iOS 9 or newer), Android phones and tablets (running 5.0 or newer), Fire TV, Apple TV, Roku, and Chromecast.

Stream BBC America on FuboTV

FuboTV is an excellent place to go for sports, but it offers many other general channels, including BBC America. BBC America is offered, along with 70+ other channels,  on its basic package for $64.99/month. The FuboTV app is available on major platforms, including Apple TV, Android TV, Roku, and Amazon Fire TV. The service also includes a DVR and lets you watch on 2 screens at once (upgrades are available.)

You can sign up for a 1-week free trial or check out our review of FuboTV for more details.

Watch BBC America on Sling TV

A more price-conscious alternative is Sling TV. BBC America is in its “orange” and “blue” packages, each of which is $30 a month. Sling TV provides a live stream of BBC America, so you can watch what would be airing on BBC America just as if you had cable.  It is included in its Cloud DVR, so that you can record shows for later.

Sling TV is available on Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, and more, so it’s not a problem to enjoy BBC America on a TV, tablet, computer, or other smart devices.  There are more channels available on Sling TV than what I’ve mentioned here. To find out more about what Sling TV has to offer, and more information about Sling TV device compatibility, check out this detailed review of Sling TV.

The review includes information on a Sling TV free trial and ways to get discounted (and Free) streaming devices, so be sure to check it out. Currently, there are offers for a 7-day trial and free Amazon fire stick if you sign up for two months.

Sign up for a free trial to Sling TV!

BBC America is on YouTubeTV

YouTubeTV also offers BBC America streaming live, as well as limitless storage space for recording your shows. Your library of recorded shows can be streamed anywhere. BBC America is included in the base package for $64.99 a month.

Youtube TV includes a cloud DVR and supports Roku, Android, iOS (includes AirPlay to Apple TV), and Chromecast/Chromecast-compatible TVs. Please read our review of YouTube TV for more details.

AT&T TV Now

While BBC America is available through AT&T TV Now, it’s a part of their “Entertainment” plan, which is $93 per month. We don’t see any real value outside the “Pro” package, and maybe the Max package if you are a sports fan. See our review of AT&T TV Now for more information on their service.

Watch BBC America on Roku, Firestick and More

The BBC America app on your Apple TV, Roku, or other devices will allow you to watch its shows on-demand if you have a subscription to the streaming services Philo, Fubo TV,  and YouTube TV. You can use your login from these services as your TV provider when signing on to the BBC America app. It will unlock all the content on the app. This will allow you to watch on BBC America on your browser, Fire TV, Apple TV, Roku, or other supported streaming devices.

How To Watch on Your Device

For example, let’s assume we have a Philo TV subscription and a Roku. We can follow the steps below to get the BBC America app working on our device. While the steps below use Philo and Roku to watch BBC America, most streaming services and devices will have the same process.

1. Go the channel store or app store on your device. On Roku, it’s called the “Channel Store.”
2. Search for BBC America
3. Add the BBC America app to your device and then open it. 
4. Your Roku device will then show you an activation code and a URL.
5. Using a computer or mobile web browser, you go to the URL.
6. You will then be asked for a TV provider and a username/password. I’m entering the username and password I use for Philo. I’ll supply a full list of TV everywhere apps and supported streaming TV providers in the next section.
7. Once you sign in on BBC Americas website, your TV screen will refresh. You should now have access to all the video content the app provides.

BBC America on Amazon Prime

Many of the shows on BBC America, are included for streaming with an Amazon Prime Video membership. However, this will only provide older seasons. You will need to have one of the services mentioned previously to watch the current season of shows airing on BBC America.

Purchase BBC America Shows Online

If you are merely interested in a few BBC America shows, you can purchase the full run of the current season online from Amazon, Itunes, or another service.  This may be a cheaper option than subscribing to a streaming service to deliver all BBC America has to offer. To buy the latest season of a BBC America show on Amazon, a season pass costs between $7-35, which is less than many monthly services and makes sense if it’s the only show you want to watch.

That said, there you may be interested in shows on other networks. In that case, you may be better off going with Philo.  It ultimately depends on how many shows you are going to follow in a year. Almost every popular show is available online, and once you purchase it, you own it.  That means you can watch it whenever you want.

For information on watching other TV channels online check out: How To Watch Any TV Channel Online Without Cable

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