Sinclair-Owned CBS Stations Will Remain Available on DIRECTV STREAM, Paramount+ with Showtime After New Deal
The multi-year renewal ensures Sinclair-owned CBS stations will continue to be distributed in major markets across the country.
As anyone subject to the recent carriage dispute between Disney and Spectrum knows, distribution agreements are key to keeping programming on the air. Networks and station owners disagreeing over fees can often lead to channels going dark for millions of users, but Sinclair and Paramount have managed to avoid that unpleasant step with the announcement of a new distribution deal.
- Paramount and Sinclair have agreed to a distribution agreement for 23 CBS stations.
- These stations provide coverage to 10 million households, and include six of the top 50 media markets in the United States.
- The new deal means that customers in these areas will continue to have access to CBS on live TV streaming platforms, as well as Paramount+ with Showtime.
Which Sinclair-Owned CBS Stations Are Affected by New Deal?
The new distribution agreement will allow Sinclair-owned stations to keep broadcasting CBS in 21 markets. Additionally, Paramount reached an agreement to renew the affiliation of WTVH in Syracuse, NY, and WGFL in Gainesville, FL, stations to which Sinclair provides services.
The deal covers 8% of the total TV-watching populace of the United States, some 10 million households in all. It’s a multi-year deal, so customers won’t have to worry about another round of negotiations leading to problems between Paramount and Sinclair next year. Sinclair is one of the largest station owners in the country, with 185 stations in 86 markets.
Check out the markets affected by the new Sinclair-Paramount deal below.
| Market | Callsign |
|---|---|
| Albany, NY | WRGB |
| Austin, TX | KEYE |
| Bakersfield, CA | KBAK |
| Beaumont, TX | KFDM |
| Boise, ID | KBOI |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | KGAN |
| Cincinnati, OH | WKRC |
| Columbia, MO | KRCG |
| El Paso, TX | KDBC |
| Eugene, OR | KVAL |
| Gainesville, FL | WGFL |
| Grand Rapids, MI | WWMT |
| Harrisburg, PA | WHP |
| Medford, OR | KTVL |
| Ottumwa, IA | KTVO |
| Portland, ME | WGME |
| Quincy, IL | KHQA |
| Salt Lake City, UT | KUTV |
| Sioux City, IA | KPTH |
| South Bend, IN | WSBT |
| Syracuse, NY | WTVH |
| West Palm Beach, FL | WPEC |
| Yakima, WA | KIMA |
How Can You Watch CBS Without Cable
The new distribution deal means that users in the above markets will continue to have access to CBS content. There are several ways to watch CBS in these markets without a cable subscription, as four live TV streaming services offer the channel in most areas of the U.S.
DIRECTV STREAM is our favorite way to watch CBS without a cable subscription. The service normally starts at $74.99 after a five-day free trial, but for a limited time, new users can take $10 off their subscription for their first three months of service ($30 total). Users also get free access to premium streamers like Max, SHOWTIME, and others for three months when they subscribe to DIRECTV STREAM, which has more of the most in-demand cable channels than any other service.
Fubo offers CBS in the vast majority of markets as well. It comes with a free trial of varying lengths for new customers and is one of the few providers that offers regional sports networks (RSNs) for watching the NBA and NHL regular seasons. This service starts at $85.98 after the RSN fee, but sports nuts will be able to watch the NFL on CBS and more of their local teams as well using Fubo.
Hulu + Live TV is another service that offers CBS to a vast majority of potential customers. Its plans start at $76.99, and while the service doesn’t carry any RSNs, it does give users more access to live sports via ESPN+. In fact, ESPN+, Disney+, and Hulu are all free through Hulu + Live TV thanks to the inclusion of the Disney Bundle in the price of the service.
YouTube TV carries CBS as well, and its plans start at $72.99. That won’t get you access to any regional sports channels though, nor will you get any free streaming platforms for your trouble with YouTube TV.
What About Paramount+?
If you’re not necessarily in the market for a service that provides you dozens or hundreds of cable channels but you still want to stream CBS, Paramount+ with Showtime is the way to go. This service costs $11.99 per month or $119.99 per year and carries a 24/7 livestream of your local CBS affiliate in all markets. That’s in addition to the full on-demand libraries of both Paramount+ and Showtime, of course.
Paramount Plus
Paramount+ is a subscription video streaming service that includes on-demand access to 40,000+ TV show episodes from BET, CBS, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, Nick Jr. and more. The lineup includes “1883,” “Tulsa King,” “Star Trek: Discovery,” Nickelodeon’s “SpongeBob SquarePants,” and “PAW Patrol.” Subscribers can watch the NFL, college football, The Masters, college basketball, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa, Serie A, and NWSL. The service also offers the option to watch your live CBS affiliate. The upgraded ad-free package includes premium movies and shows from Showtime.