How to Watch CBS Live in 2026: Streaming, Antenna, and Paramount+ Options Explained

What Makes CBS Essential in 2026

CBS might be the most underestimated network on television. It doesn't get the hype of ESPN or the sports-media attention of Fox, but the list of things that air exclusively on CBS is stacked:

Sports

• NFL on CBS: AFC games every Sunday afternoon throughout the football season. CBS is one of only two networks (along with Fox) that carry the NFL's bread-and-butter weekly broadcasts. If your team is in the AFC, CBS is where the majority of regular-season games air.
• March Madness: CBS shares NCAA Tournament coverage with Turner Sports (TBS, TNT, truTV). The Final Four and National Championship rotate between CBS and TBS. CBS carries first-and-second-round games plus its share of the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight.
• The Masters (Rounds 3 and 4): CBS has carried The Masters weekend coverage for 71 consecutive years. Saturday and Sunday rounds air on CBS from 2 to 7 p.m. ET.
• SEC on CBS: Select SEC football games air on CBS on Saturday afternoons during the fall, including marquee rivalry matchups.
• PGA Tour: CBS carries regular-season PGA Tour events throughout the year alongside its Masters coverage.
• UEFA Champions League: CBS and CBS Sports Network air select Champions League matches, with Paramount+ streaming the full schedule.

Entertainment

• NCIS (and its franchise spinoffs: NCIS: Origins, NCIS: Sydney), Tracker, Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage, Ghosts, Elsbeth, Matlock, Survivor, The Amazing Race, 60 Minutes, and the annual Grammy Awards and American Music Awards.

News

• CBS Mornings, CBS Evening News, Face the Nation, and 48 Hours.

CBS vs. CBS Sports Network: They Are Not the Same Thing

This trips up a lot of cord-cutters, so let's clear it up.

CBS is a free broadcast network. You can get it with an antenna. It carries NFL games, March Madness, The Masters, SEC football, primetime entertainment, and local news.

CBS Sports Network (CBSSN) is a separate cable channel. You cannot get it with an antenna. It carries additional college sports (basketball, football, baseball), NWSL soccer, and studio programming. CBSSN is included with DIRECTV MySports, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, and Fubo, but it is NOT on Sling TV or Paramount+.

If you're looking for NFL on CBS, March Madness on CBS, or The Masters on CBS, you need the broadcast CBS channel (antenna, Paramount+, or a live TV service). If you want college sports on CBS Sports Network, you need a live TV streaming service that carries CBSSN specifically.

DIRECTV MySports is one of the few services that includes both CBS (most markets) and CBS Sports Network in the same package.

Pick Your Path: Options to Watch CBS Live

"I just need CBS on one TV."

Antenna. $20 to $40 one-time. Free CBS in HD forever. No subscription, no app, no password. Check AntennaWeb.org for reception in your area.

"I want to stream CBS and I don't need other channels."

Paramount+ Premium at $13.99 per month. This is the only Paramount+ tier that includes a 24/7 live local CBS feed. You also get Showtime originals, the full Paramount+ on-demand library (NCIS, Survivor, Star Trek, Yellowstone), NFL on CBS, UEFA Champions League, and CBS News 24/7. The Essential plan ($8.99 per month) includes NFL on CBS and Champions League but does NOT include your live local CBS station.

"I want CBS plus the other broadcast networks for news and shows."

DIRECTV MyNews at $39.99 per month. You get CBS, ABC, NBC, Fox, CNN, Fox News, CNBC, MS NOW, Newsmax, BBC News, and more. Unlimited Cloud DVR. 5-day free trial. No contract. This is the cheapest live TV bundle that includes all four major networks.

"I want CBS for sports, and I also need ESPN, TBS, Fox, and the rest."

DIRECTV MySports at $64.99 per month ($44.99 per month for the first two months). You get CBS (most markets), CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, Fox, FS1, FS2, TBS, TNT, truTV, NBC, ABC, MLB Network, NFL Network, NBA TV, NHL Network, SEC Network, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, Golf Channel, and more. ESPN Unlimited is included free. Unlimited Cloud DVR. 20 simultaneous streams. 5-day free trial. No contract.

This is the path for the viewer who watches NFL on CBS on Sundays, March Madness across CBS and TBS, The Masters on CBS and ESPN, Saturday MLB on Fox, Tuesday MLB on TBS, and midweek MLB on ESPN. MySports covers every single one of those windows in a single package.

"I want maximum content and don't mind spending more."

DIRECTV MySports + MyNews Duo Pack at $60 per month for the first two months. Everything in both Genre Packs. CBS, ABC, NBC, Fox, ESPN, TBS, TNT, CNN, Fox News, NFL Network, MLB Network, and more. ESPN Unlimited included.

Other Services That Carry CBS

YouTube TV (~$82 per month): CBS included. 100+ channels including ESPN, Fox, TBS, TNT. Unlimited DVR. Missing MLB Network, NHL Network, ESPN Unlimited.

Hulu + Live TV ($89.99 per month): CBS included. 95+ channels. Disney+ and ESPN Unlimited included. Missing MLB Network, NHL Network, NBA TV.

Fubo (~$79 per month): CBS included. 150+ channels including ESPN, Fox, FS1, NFL Network. Missing TBS, TNT, truTV (no Turner Sports channels). 1,000 hours DVR.

Sling TV: CBS is NOT available on Sling in most markets. If CBS is a must-have, Sling is not your service.

The Full Comparison & Options for CBS Live

FAQ

How can I watch CBS live without cable?

CBS is a broadcast network available free with an antenna in most areas. For streaming, Paramount+ Premium includes a live CBS feed for $13.99 per month. DIRECTV MyNews includes CBS for $39.99 per month, and MySports includes CBS plus ESPN, Fox, TBS, TNT, and more for $44.99 per month (promo). YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, and Fubo also carry CBS.

Is CBS free with an antenna?

Yes. Your local CBS affiliate broadcasts a free over-the-air signal. A digital antenna ($20 to $40) picks up CBS in HD in most areas.

Does Paramount+ include live CBS?

Only on the Premium plan at $13.99 per month. The Essential plan ($8.99 per month) includes NFL on CBS and Champions League but does not include a 24/7 live local CBS feed.

Is CBS on Sling TV?

No. Sling TV does not carry CBS in most markets. If CBS is a must-have, Sling is not the right service.

What is the difference between CBS and CBS Sports Network?

CBS is a free broadcast network that carries NFL games, March Madness, The Masters, and primetime shows. CBS Sports Network is a separate cable channel that carries additional college sports, NWSL soccer, and studio programming. They are not the same channel and require different subscriptions.

Does DIRECTV MySports include CBS and CBS Sports Network?

Yes. MySports includes both CBS (most markets) and CBS Sports Network in the same package, along with ESPN, Fox, FS1, TBS, TNT, MLB Network, NFL Network, and 15+ other channels.

Can I watch NFL games on Paramount+?

Yes. Both Paramount+ Essential ($8.99 per month) and Premium ($13.99 per month) include NFL on CBS game broadcasts. However, only the Premium tier includes your live local CBS station for other programming.

Does DIRECTV require a satellite dish?

No. DIRECTV Genre Packs are streaming-only products delivered over your home internet connection through the DIRECTV app. No dish, no installation, no equipment rental.