How to Watch CBS Live For Free to Catch Sports Games & Your Favorite Shows

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Whether you’re a fan of the latest crime dramas or can’t miss a game of Sunday night football, you’re probably eager to know how to watch CBS live for free. Luckily, there’s a way to catch all of your favorite shows without breaking the bank—and we’re diving into our tips for watching CBS live for free up ahead.

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Established in January 1927, the Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) has become a cornerstone of American television, providing a wide range of programming to audiences nationwide. CBS, which is currently under the ownership of Paramount Global, has a rich history that spans both radio and television broadcasting. With a legacy that includes iconic shows like I Love Lucy, MAS*H, and CSI, CBS has consistently delivered quality entertainment for nearly a century.

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In terms of its television network, CBS offers viewers a robust lineup of programming, totaling around 90 hours of regularly scheduled content each week, including 22 hours of primetime television. CBS is home to popular series such as NCIS, Young Sheldon, SWAT, and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, just to name a few.

Daytime programming on CBS features well-known talk shows and game shows like The Talk and The Price Is Right, while soap opera enthusiasts can catch The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful. For those in search of reliable news coverage, CBS News also air programs like CBS This Morning, CBS Evening News, 60 Minutes, and Face the Nation.

Sports aficionados, don’t worry—CBS also has you covered. From the excitement of NCAA March Madness to the the Masters golf tournament, CBS is a go-to destination for thrilling live sports action.

Additionally, CBS is known for broadcasting major events and awards shows, including the Grammy Awards, the Tony Awards, and the CMT Awards.

Curious about how to access all of these programs without spending a dime? Continue reading to find out how to watch CBS live for free and enjoy your favorite shows and events.

Image: Paramount Network/Courtesy Everett Collection.<cite>©Paramount Network / Courtesy Everett Collection</cite>
Image: Paramount Network/Courtesy Everett Collection.©Paramount Network / Courtesy Everett Collection

How to watch CBS live for free

CBS is available to stream on services like DirecTV Stream, Fubo, Paramount Plus, and Hulu+ With Live TV. DirecTV Stream offers a five-day free trial, and starts at $79.99 per month after the trial ends (with $10 off your first two months). Paramount Plus offers a seven-day free trial and starts at $5.99 per month. Fubo also offers a seven-day free trial, and starts at $74.99 per month after the trial ends. While Hulu+ With Live TV doesn’t have a free trial, it is cheaper per month than the other options, starting at $75.99 per month, and offers plans that include free subscriptions to Disney Plus and ESPN Plus.

Best Overall Pick to Watch CBS: DirecTV Stream

Watch CBS Live With DirecTV Stream

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Direct TV is our best overall pick to watch CBS live for free for its free trial, price, and channel selection. DirecTV Stream offers a five-day free trial. DirecTV offers four plans: Entertainment, which costs $79.99 per month with the first two months at $69.99 per month; Choice, which costs $108.99 per month with the first 1 month at $83.99 per month; Ultimate, which costs $119.99 per month with the first 1 month at $94.99 per month; and Premiere, which costs $174.99 per month.

As for other differences between the plans, Entertainment includes more than 75 channels, the ability to stream on unlimited devices in your home, unlimited cloud DVR storage, and a special offer on premium channels. Choice, which is the most popular plan, includes more than 105 channels, regional sports networks, and everything included in Entertainment. Ultimate includes more than 140 channels and everything included in Entertainment and Choice. Premiere includes more than 150 channels including premium channels like HBO and Starz and everything included in Entertainment, Choice, and Premiere. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to watch CBS with DirecTV Stream’s free trial.

  1. Visit streamtv.directv.com‘s packages page

  2. Click “Try It Free” for the plan of your choice

  3. Enter your information and payment method

  4. Search for CBS and start watching your favorite shows!

Best Free Trial Pick to Watch CBS: Fubo

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Fubo is our best free trial pick to watch CBS live for free. Fubo offers a seven-day free trial (two days longer than DirecTV Stream) and offers three plans: Pro, which costs $74.99 per month, with $20 off your first month; Elite, which costs $84.99 per month with $20 off your first month; and Premier, which costs $94.99 per month, with $20 offered off your first month.

As for the difference between the plans, Pro includes 180 channels, 1,000 hours of Cloud DVR, and the ability to watch on up to 10 screens at once. Elite includes everything in Pro, as well as a total of 256 channels and 4K resolution. Premier includes everything in Pro and Elite, as well as a total of 299 channels, Showtime, and Red Zone NFL Network. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to watch CBS with Fubo’s free trial.

  1. Visit Fubo.TV

  2. Click “Start Free Trial”

  3. Enter your information and payment method

  4. Search for CBS and start watching your favorite shows!

Best Budget Pick to Watch CBS: Paramount Plus

Watch CBS Live on Paramount Plus

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Paramount Plus is our best budget pick to watch CBS live for free based on its price. Paramount Plus offers a seven-day free trial and two plans: Paramount Plus Essential, which costs $5.99 per month or $59.99 per year, and Paramount Plus With Showtime, which costs $11.99 per month or $119.99 per year. To watch CBS live, fans will need Paramount Plus With Showtime.

As for the differences between the plans, Paramount Plus Essential includes limited ads; tens of thousands of TV shows and movies including CBS and Paramount Plus originals; NFL games on CBS; UEFA Champions League matches; and 24/7 live access to CBS News. Paramount Plus With Showtime includes everything in Essential, as well as no ads; Showtime original shows and movies; 24/7 live access to your local CBS network; college football; and the ability to download and watch shows on your mobile device. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to watch CBS with Paramount Plus’ free trial.

  1. Visit ParamountPlus.com

  2. Click “Get It Now”

  3. Select your plan

  4. Enter your information and payment method

  5. Search for CBS and start watching your favorite shows!

Best Upgrade Pick to Watch CBS: Hulu+ Live TV

Watch CBS Live With Hulu+ With Live TV

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Hulu+ With Live TV is our best upgrade pick to watch CBS based on its channel selection and its free subscriptions to Hulu, Disney Plus, and ESPN Plus. Hulu+ With Live TV offers four plans: a $75.99 per month plan with access to only live TV; a $76.99 per month plan with free subscriptions to Hulu with ads, Disney Plus with ads, and ESPN Plus with ads; a $81.99 per month plan with free subscriptions to Hulu with ads, Disney Plus with no ads, and ESPN Plus with ads; and a $89.99 per month plan with free subscriptions to Hulu with no ads, Disney Plus with no ads, and ESPN Plus with ads. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to watch CBS with Hulu+ Live TV.

  1. Visit Hulu.com/liveTV

  2. Click “Sign Up Now”

  3. Enter your information and payment method

  4. Search for CBS and start watching your favorite shows!

Image: Darren Michaels/CBS/Courtesy Everett Collection.<cite>Darren Michaels / ©CBS / courtesy Everett Collection</cite>
Image: Darren Michaels/CBS/Courtesy Everett Collection.Darren Michaels / ©CBS / courtesy Everett Collection

CBS Programming

Here’s a full list of CBS’ current and former program offerings:

Dramas

  • NCIS

  • Blue Bloods

  • S.W.A.T. 

  • FBI 

  • FBI: Most Wanted

  • The Equalizer

  • NCIS: Hawaiʻi

  • FBI: International

  • CSI: Vegas

  • So Help Me Todd

  • Fire Country

  • NCIS: Sydney

Comedies

  • Young Sheldon

  • The Neighborhood

  • Bob Hearts Abishola 

  • Ghosts

  • Ghosts (UK)

  • Docuseries

  • FBI True

Reality/non-scripted

  • Survivor

  • Big Brother 

  • The Amazing Race 

  • Celebrity Big Brother 

  • Tough as Nails 

  • The Greatest @AtHome Videos 

  • Secret Celebrity Renovation

  • The Challenge: USA 

  • Buddy Games 

Awards shows

  • Grammy Awards 

  • Tony Awards 

  • Kennedy Center Honors 

  • CMT Music Awards 

  • Golden Globe Awards 

Game shows

  • The Price Is Right

  • Let’s Make a Deal 

  • Lingo

  • Superfan 

  • Lotería Loca

  • Raid the Cage 

Talk shows

  • The Talk

Late night shows

  • The Late Show with Stephen Colbert 

  • Comics Unleashed

Specials

  • Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer 

  • Frosty the Snowman

  • Frosty Returns 

  • The Story of Santa Claus 

  • Robbie the Reindeer in Hooves of Fire

News

  • CBS Evening News 

  • Face the Nation

  • 60 Minutes 

  • CBS News Sunday Morning 

  • CBS Morning News 

  • 48 Hours 

  • CBS Overnight News 

  • CBS Reports 

  • CBS Mornings

  • CBS Saturday Morning 

Sports

  • NFL on CBS

    • AFC games (and inter-conference games when the AFC team is the road team)

    • The AFC Championship Game

    • The Super Bowl (every four years)

    • The NFL Today

  • PGA Tour on CBS

    • Masters Tournament (shared with ESPN)

    • PGA Championship (shared with ESPN)

    • PGA Tour (shared with NBC Sports)

  • College Basketball on CBS

    • Select weekend regular season games

    • CBS Sports Classic

    • Missouri Valley Conference men’s basketball tournament championship

    • Mountain West Conference men’s basketball tournament championship

    • Atlantic 10 men’s basketball tournament championship

    • Big Ten Conference men’s basketball tournament semifinals and Championship

    • Big Ten Conference women’s basketball tournament Championship

  • College Football

    • Southeastern Conference and Big Ten Conference Football

    • The Sun Bowl

    • The Army-Navy Game

  • Formula E

    • New York City ePrix

  • NCAA March Madness

    • Selection Sunday

    • NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament (shared with Warner Bros. Discovery Sports)

      • Final Four and National Championship Game (in odd-numbered years)

  • UEFA Champions League

  • Big3

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