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How to Watch CNN without Cable

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Yes! You can watch CNN live without having a satellite or cable TV subscription. All you need is a subscription to one of the following live TV streaming services: Sling TV, Hulu + Live TV, DIRECTV Stream, or YouTube TV. Each service carries CNN in its channel lineup. This article will explain which is the best option for you

Table of Contents

Streaming Services With CNN

The following streaming services will let you watch CNN live without cable.

CNN on Hulu Live TV

Hulu Logo

Live streaming of CNN is available through Hulu Live TV. As with Sling, you can get a 1-week free trial to watch CNN live free of charge. Previously Hulu was known for its vast on-demand streaming library. Hulu Live TV includes the following features:

  • Over 60 live local and cable channels, including CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, ESPN, and more. See Channels in your Area
  • The basic package comes with 50 hours of cloud DVR storage. (Upgrades available)
  • Watch on 2 screens at once. (Upgrades available)
  • Comes with 6 customizable profiles
  • Includes entire Hulu streaming library
  • supported on Roku, Fire TV Devices, Apple TV, Chromecast, Xbox One, iOS, Android, and more.

After your free trial is up, Hulu Live TV will cost you $64.99 per month. I find it the best value of the services currently out there because it will allow you to stream your local broadcast networks in addition to CNN and a whole host of other channels. To see what channels are available through Hulu Live TV in your area, check out the tool: Channels Available by Zip Code.

For more information on this service, please check out Hulu Live TV review.

CNN Streaming on DIRECTV Stream

AT&T tv

DIRECTV Stream is another way to watch CNN live without cable. CNN is part of their “Entertainment” package for $69.99. The plan includes the following features:

  • watch 3 streams simultaneously per subscription 
  • a cloud-based DVR
  • channels like CNN, AMC, HGTV, Discovery, and more
  • supported on Apple TV, Android TV, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, and more

You can check out this streaming service through this online offer or read about it in our DIRECTV Stream review. They do not require a contract and you can cancel at any time. Also, they give you a full refund if you cancel within 14 days of subscribing. You can check out everything this service offers on this promo page or read about it in our DIRECTV Stream review.

CNN on Sling TV

Sling TV subscription

An affordable way to stream live CNN is with Sling TV. Subscribers will need to sign up for Sling TV’s Blue or Orange Package for $35 per month. You can try this promo offer and see if this solution will work for you. 

  • access to CNN, AMC, History Channel, A&E, and other channels on Sling TV
  • Sling also offers on-demand and a cloud DVR
  • You can stream up to 3 devices simultaneously on the Sling Blue plan. The Orange plan limits you to 1 stream at a time.
  • Supported on Windows and Mac PCs and laptops, Android and iOS devices, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Nexus player, Xbox One, 4th Generation Apple TV, Chromecast, and more.
  • Includes a cloud DVR along with other great features.

For details on Slings service offerings and the difference between them, check out my review of Sling TV.

CNN on YouTube TV

youtube tv logo

YouTubeTV also offers CNN streaming live. CNN is included in the base package for $64.99 a month.

Check our review of YouTube TV for all the information on this service. YouTube TV offers a 1-week free trial.

Watch CNN for Free

Some of the streaming services that carry CNN offer a free trial. You can take advantage of those and watch free CNN for almost a month or longer if you use different email addresses. Let’s look at the free trials available.

As long as you cancel before the free trial expires, you won’t be charged. You can cycle the free trials to get nearly a month of CNN free. If you get creative with email addresses and payment methods, you could watch free CNN even longer. Doing this would also let you test out the various live TV streaming services to see which one you like the best.

Watch CNN on Roku

To watch CNN on Roku, follow these instructions.

  1. Subscribe to a streaming service that carries CNN (Hulu Live TV, Sling TV, YouTube TV, or DIRECTV Stream)
  2. On your Roku Menu, navigate to “Search” and press “OK” on your remote
  3. Enter the name of the streaming service you subscribe to in the search bar
  4. Select the streaming service and press “OK.”
  5. Select “Add Channel” press “OK” on your remote. If the channel is already installed, “Go To Channel” will be an option.
  6. The App is now installed on your Roku. Open the app, and log in with the credentials you used to subscribe to the service. CNN will be a channel available through the app’s live TV guide.

Watch CNN Live on Fire TV

To watch CNN on Fire TV, follow these instructions.

  1. Subscribe to a streaming service that carries CNN (Hulu Live TV, Sling TV, YouTube TV, or DIRECTV Stream)
  2. On your Fire TV Home screen, click on the search icon in the upper-left corner of the screen.
  3. Enter the name of the streaming service you subscribe to in the search bar
  4. Select the streaming service and press “OK.”
  5. Select “Download,” and the channel will install
  6. The App is now installed on your Fire TV. Open the app, and log in with the credentials you used to subscribe to the service. CNN will be a channel available through the apps live TV guide.

Watch CNN Live on Apple TV

To watch CNN on Apple TV, follow these instructions.

  1. Subscribe to a streaming service that carries CNN (Hulu Live TV, Sling TV, YouTube TV, or DIRECTV Stream)
  2. Scroll right to the search icon in the upper-left corner of the screen
  3. Enter the name of the streaming service you subscribe to in the search bar
  4. Select the streaming service click the cloud icon, and the channel will install
  5. The App is now installed on your Apple TV. Open the app, and log in with the credentials you used to subscribe to the service. CNN will be a channel available through the apps live TV guide.

Watch with the CNN App

In order to stream CNN live through the CNN app, you have to enter your TV provider credentials. Most think you need a cable provider login to utilize the CNN app, but that isn’t the case. Currently, Hulu Live TV and DIRECTV Stream accounts will work to unlock the CNN app.

You can even download the CNN app on your Roku, Apple TV, or Amazon Fire TV and watch on your television using your Hulu Live TV or DIRECTV Stream credentials. There are detailed instructions in the next section on installing and activating the CNN Go app on your streaming device.

How To Watch on Your Device

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

  1. Go to the channel store or app store on your device. On Roku, it’s called the “Channel Store.”
  2. Search for CNN Channel
  3. Add the CNN 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. Enter the username and password you use for your Hulu Live TV account.
  7. Once you sign in on CNN’s website, your TV screen will refresh. You should now have access to all the video content the app provides.

Supported Streaming Devices

The CNN Go App is supported on all of the following streaming devices:

  • Android Devices
  • iOS Devices
  • Apple TV
  • Roku
  • Android TV
  • Amazon Fire TV
  • and more

For information on watching other TV channels online check out: How To Stream Specific TV Channels

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