What’s the Cheapest Streaming Bundle for Election News and Coverage?
Multiple on-demand streaming services are offering election coverage this year, and you can watch without coming close to what you’d pay for cable.
The 2024 U.S. presidential election is coming up fast. Election day is set for Tuesday, Nov. 5, less than two weeks away as of the time of this writing. Will Vice President Kamala Harris continue trying to build on the policies of the Biden administration, or will former President Trump win another term in the White House? The polls are incredibly tight, and a clear winner likely won’t emerge until election night itself, if not after. If you want to keep track of all the latest news and updates without a cable subscription, I’ll break down the best ways to watch national coverage of the election all evening long using top streaming services.
What Are the Best Ways to Watch Election Coverage Without Cable?
Which On-Demand Streamers Carry Election News?
Disney+ and Hulu
Disney+ and Hulu will both offer a modicum of election coverage, in the form of the ABC News Live channel. Both streamers offer around-the-clock access to this free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) channel, and it will obviously be carrying live updates and breaking election news all night long on Nov. 5. Both streamers start at $10 per month.
Max
Max comes with the “CNN Max” content hub free of charge, and personalities like Anderson Cooper, Christiane Amanpour, Wolf Blitzer, and others will bring their talents to the evening’s proceedings. CNN Max may offer a complete livestream of the CNN linear channel for the night, but at the very least it will offer news and updates. Max plans start at $10 per month.
Paramount+
Paramount+ will likely carry a good amount of content from CBS News during election night on both of its tiers. But viewers can upgrade to the Paramount+ with SHOWTIME plan for $13 and get access to a livestream of their local CBS station, which will carry not only national updates but also the latest news on local races.
Peacock
Peacock will have an excellent amount of 2024 election coverage. The streamer carries MSNBC content already, but on election night it will revive the multiview feature it first trotted out for the Olympics this summer. Viewers will be able to watch up to three streams at once: NBC News Now with Lester Holt and Savannah Guthrie; the “Kornacki Cam,” which will feature veteran MSNBC political reporter Steve Kornacki; and a decision desk feed. Viewers can also watch their local NBC station with the ad-free Peacock Premium Plus plan ($14 per month).
Prime Video
Prime Video is expanding into political coverage for the first time in 2024. It has enlisted longtime NBC reporter Brian Williams to lead its election night feed, supplemented by live guests including prominent contributors across news and traditional media, representing a range of backgrounds and perspectives, to share real-time poll results and commentary while also referencing third-party news sources across all political affiliations. Prime Video also offers FAST channels from ABC, CBS, Fox, CNN and others.
Should You Use a Free News Streaming Service on Election Night?
There are a number of free news streaming services available, including Local Now, NewsON, Haystack News and more. These streamers include live feeds from local news outlets in many of the country’s biggest media markets, and if you want to keep track of municipal elections and ballot measures that will affect your state or city and other local races, adding one of these services isn’t a bad idea.
What’s the Best Bundle Under $20 for Watching Election News?
Ultimately, I think voters will be best served by bundling Peacock and Prime Video together on election night. With Prime Video they’ll get variety; Brian Williams is a well-known figure and will moderate Amazon’s election coverage expertly. The number of FAST channels available with Prime Video from multiple sources will help viewers find the outlets they trust the most.
Peacock makes it into the bundle as well, because of the return of the multiview feature. This will allow news junkies to take in as much as possible at a time, as well as focus in on any one of the three streams in the multiview whenever they want.
I’ll throw NewsON into the bundle as well, because of the wide selection of channels available in top media markets around the country for free. This service will help viewers keep track of their local races with ease.
Cost of bundle: Starts at $17 per month
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Peacock
Peacock is a subscription video streaming service from NBCUniversal that includes original shows, blockbuster movies, and classic television series. Peacock is home to “Yellowstone,” and “The Office,” as well as original hits like “Poker Face” and “Bel-Air.” You can also watch live sports including NFL, MLB, WWE, Olympics, Premier League, NASCAR, French Open, College Football and Basketball, and PGA Tour. Premium Plus subscribers can stream their local NBC feed in all 210 markets.
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Amazon Prime Video
Amazon Prime Video is a subscription video streaming service that includes on-demand access to 10,000+ movies, TV shows, and Prime Originals like “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power,” “Jack Ryan,” “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” “The Boys,” and more. Subscribers can also add third-party services like Max, Showtime, STARZ, and dozens more with Amazon Prime Video Channels. Prime Video also offers exclusive live access to NFL Thursday Night Football.
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NewsON
NewsON provides instant access to live and on-demand newscasts from 275+ local TV station partners in 165+ U.S. markets. Viewers can personalize their experience by setting favorite stations and watching breaking news coverage of major events and storms from multiple local stations. The service covers more than 80% of the U.S. population.
Can You Use Live TV Services to Watch Election News?
Of course, streaming services like DIRECTV STREAM, Hulu + Live TV, and YouTube TV can all be used to stream cable news networks like CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, and more. Watching these services on a tight budget can be tricky, however, since they all cost $73 per month or more.
Sling TV is a notable exception. Its plans start at $40 per month, but it almost always has a deal for new customers that allows them to save at least $10, and often $20 off their first month of service. Sling’s Blue plan carries CNN, Fox News, and MSNBC in its Blue plan.
Sling TV
Sling TV is The Streamable’s choice for cord cutters on a budget. Sling is a live TV streaming service with multiple channel packages. The $40/month Sling Orange plan offers about 30 channels, including Disney Channel and ESPN. The $40/month Sling Blue plan offers about 40 channels, including ABC, Fox, and NBC in major markets.
You can combine Orange+Blue for a total of $55 / month. Sling also offers many channel add-on packages starting at $6/month.