How to Watch CBS Without Cable: Antenna, Paramount+ and More

There are two cheap answers to how to watch CBS without cable. An HD antenna picks up your local CBS station free, and Paramount+ Premium streams the live feed of your local CBS affiliate for around $13.99 a month at the time of writing. Full live TV services such as YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo and DirecTV Stream also carry CBS in most markets.

CBS matters to a lot of cord cutters because of NFL Sundays, college football and long-running primetime shows. This guide shows which route fits which viewer.

CBS streaming options compared

Note that Sling TV does not carry CBS. Its local channels are limited to ABC, FOX and NBC in select markets.

Option 1: the free antenna route

Your local CBS station broadcasts over the air, so an antenna gets you the live channel at no monthly cost. That includes local news, CBS primetime, late-night shows and the NFL and college games your station airs.

Reception depends on distance and terrain. City viewers can usually manage with an indoor antenna, while rural homes may need an outdoor model. See our picks for the best TV antennas for rural areas if you are far from the towers.

Option 2: Paramount+ Premium

Paramount+ is owned by the same company as CBS, and its Premium plan is the cheapest legal way to stream your local CBS station live. At the time of writing it costs around $13.99 a month or $139.99 a year, with no ads on most on-demand content.

• Live local CBS: included on Premium in most markets.
• On demand: current CBS shows the day after they air, plus the Paramount+ library.
• Sports: CBS-aired NFL games and other CBS Sports events stream in the app.
• Essential plan: cheaper, but does not include the 24/7 live local station feed.

If football is your main reason for wanting CBS, our cheapest way to watch the NFL guide shows how Paramount+ fits with other networks’ games.

Option 3: a full live TV service

If you also want cable news, ESPN or kids’ channels, a live TV service can replace several apps at once. YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo and DirecTV Stream all carry CBS stations in most markets and let you record shows with a cloud DVR.

Before you choose, enter your ZIP code on each service’s site. A few affiliates are missing on some platforms, and carriage disputes can temporarily remove a station.

Free CBS content beyond the antenna

• CBS News 24/7 is a free live news stream in the CBS News app and on free platforms like Pluto TV, which Paramount also owns.
• Many CBS local stations run free local news streams in their own apps.
• Our list of free live TV streaming apps covers more legal free channels.

Recording CBS shows without cable

Cable boxes made recording easy, but you have good options without one:

• Paramount+: no DVR, but current CBS shows are added on demand, usually the day after they air.
• Live TV services: YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV and Fubo include a cloud DVR, so you can record CBS shows and games and watch them on any device.
• Antenna DVR: a network tuner or OTA DVR records your free CBS broadcast and streams it to apps on your TVs and phone, with no monthly fee on some models.

If you mostly watch live sports and news, recording matters less. If you binge primetime series, Paramount+ on demand may be all you need.

Device and setup tips

1. Install Paramount+ (or your chosen live service) on Roku, Fire TV, Google TV, Apple TV, a smart TV or a games console.
2. Sign up on the provider’s website if your TV app does not handle payment.
3. In Paramount+, open the Live TV section and pick your local CBS station. Allow location access if asked, since local feeds depend on where you are.
4. For football Sundays, use a wired connection where possible to avoid the picture dropping in quality.

Live TV over the internet is IPTV in the broad sense, and the technology is legal. Third-party sellers without broadcast rights are not, so check what any provider is licensed to show. If an annual all-in-one plan suits you better, our plan, IPTV Journal, is $89 for 12 months.

Which option should you choose?

• Good signal: antenna, free.
• Weak signal, mostly CBS: Paramount+ Premium.
• CBS plus cable channels: YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV or Fubo.
• Just news: the free CBS News 24/7 stream.

FAQ

Does Paramount+ have live CBS?

Yes, on the Premium plan, which includes the live feed of your local CBS affiliate in most markets. The cheaper Essential plan does not include that 24/7 local feed.

Is CBS on Sling TV?

No. Sling’s local lineup is limited to ABC, FOX and NBC in select markets. For CBS, use an antenna, Paramount+ Premium or another live TV service.

Can I watch CBS for free?

Yes, with an antenna if you are in range of a CBS station. CBS News 24/7 is also free, but it is a national news stream, not the regular CBS channel.

Can I watch NFL games on CBS without cable?

Yes. CBS-aired NFL games are on your local station via antenna, on Paramount+, and on live TV services that carry CBS in your market.

How much does Paramount+ cost?

At the time of writing, Essential is around $8.99 a month and Premium around $13.99 a month. Check Paramount+’s site for current pricing and offers.