Are Spectrum TV Customers About to Lose CBS, Other Paramount Channels? How to Stream These Networks Without Cable

Paramount Global could be heading toward a carriage dispute with Charter Communications. The two sides will see their current carriage deal for Paramount-owned channels on Spectrum TV plans expire on Tuesday, April 30, and without a new agreement its highly likely that Spectrum will pull those channels from its airwaves to pressure Paramount into better terms. The Streamable’s experts will break down the possibility of that happening, and show viewers where to stream channels like CBS, Nickelodeon, and VH1 if they disappear from Spectrum TV airwaves.

Key Facts:

• Spectrum’s last major carriage dispute was with Disney in early fall 2023.
• That dispute ended in a deal that saw several Disney-owned channels dropped from Spectrum TV plans permanently.
• If Spectrum TV does lose Paramount-owned channels, Hulu + Live TV is the best way to get them back.

Paramount still has the weekend to negotiate with Spectrum and reach a new deal. If the two sides are close enough to agreement on Monday but still have not finalized a deal, Spectrum could elect to keep Paramount-owned channels on its airwaves while they hammer out the last details. The value of the carriage agreement is an important part of Paramount’s ongoing merger talks with Skydance Media, giving the company more incentive to get a deal done.

However, Spectrum has proved to be a challenging negotiating partner for major channel owners in the past. The cable channel distributor was more than happy to hold Disney’s feet to the fire last fall as it insisted that its subscribers be granted access to Disney-owned streaming services like Disney+ and ESPN+ at no cost to them. After the dispute caused Disney’s channels to be pulled from Spectrum TV, the House of Mouse agreed to Spectrum’s demands.

The new carriage deal between Disney and Spectrum also led to eight Disney-owned channels being dropped permanently from Spectrum TV plans. A deal with Paramount could see channels owned by that company let go by Spectrum as well, and The Streamable will break down how to watch these networks whether they’re dropped temporarily in a carriage dispute or permanently as part of a new carriage agreement.

Which Paramount-Owned Channels Could Be at Risk in Potential Dispute with Spectrum?

What Are the Best Ways to Stream Paramount Channels?

If a carriage dispute with Paramount is the last straw for you as a Spectrum TV subscriber, there are plenty of live TV streaming services that allow you to watch Paramount-owned broadcast and cable channels with no long-term contracts, hidden fees or other pitfalls that can accompany a standard cable subscription.

Hulu + Live TV is our top recommendation for watching Paramount-owned channels via streaming. This service is offering a three-day free trial for new customers for a limited time, and critically for Spectrum TV customers who are leaving that service behind, it also comes with no-cost access to the Disney Bundle in all plans starting at $76.99 per month. That means you won’t lose access to your Disney+ account, and you’ll get to log into Hulu and ESPN+ as well with Hulu + Live TV.

DIRECTV STREAM is also a good choice to watch Paramount-owned networks. Like Hulu + Live TV, it comes with all top Paramount-owned channels except Paramount+ with SHOWTIME in its base ENTERTAINMENT package ($79.99 per month), and customers can easily add that on for $11 per month. DIRECTV STREAM also offers new customers a five-day free trial, though it does not offer free access to the Disney Bundle. New viewers can sign up for three free months of streamers like Max and STARZ when they subscribe, however, making DIRECTV STREAM an excellent value overall.

Sports lovers who value Paramount-owned broadcast and cable channels would do well to check out Fubo. This streamer carries the same lineup that DIRECTV STREAM and Hulu + Live TV do when it comes to Paramount channels, and it offers a free trial of varying lengths depending on what time of month a customer signs up. The vast majority of Fubo subscribers get access to their local regional sports network and a wealth of other sports channels in the streamer’s base Pro plan ($91.99 per month including RSN fees), so this is a fantastic platform for the sports-minded watcher.

Philo is a perfect way to receive Paramount-owned channels for viewers who already have an over-the-air antenna. Philo offers all top Paramount networks except for CBS and Paramount+ with SHOWTIME, but viewers can sign up for Paramount+ with SHOWTIME separately and receive a 24/7 livestream of their local CBS station as part of that service for $11 per month. Philo only costs $25 per month after a seven-day free trial, and it’s a terrific way to watch Paramount-owned networks for customers who are already signed up to Paramount+ with SHOWTIME to watch SHOWTIME originals and stream CBS.

YouTube TV is a very good all-around live TV service, and it carries the same lineup of Paramount-owned networks that DIRECTV STREAM, Hulu + Live TV, and Fubo do. It does not come with any free streaming services bundled into its $72.99 monthly price, however, which is why it ends up last on our list of potential options.