You’re standing in a Kroger checkout line in Memphis, and everyone is staring at their phones. Odds are, at least half of them are checking the Action 5 News live feed or hovering over a radar map. It’s a Memphis thing. Honestly, the Mid-South has this weird, deep-seated relationship with WMC-TV that goes back decades. Since 1948, actually.
Staying informed isn't just about headlines here. It's about knowing if that line of storms in Arkansas is going to cross the bridge before you pick up the kids.
How to Watch Action 5 News Live Right Now
If you've cut the cord, you're probably scrambling to find the stream when the "breaking news" banner pops up. It's easier than it used to be. You don't need a clunky cable box to see what Joe Birch or Joy Redmond are talking about.
Basically, the most direct way is the Action News 5 app. It’s on iOS and Android. They updated the player recently because, let’s be real, the old one used to lag right when the weather got interesting. If you're on a laptop, you just hit their website. Look for the "Watch Live" tab. It’s usually a big red button. You can't miss it.
Streaming on Your TV
- Roku and Fire TV: Search for the "Action News 5" channel. It’s a free download.
- YouTube: They have a "Digital Desk" stream that goes live for specific segments, especially at 7 a.m. and during major events.
- Hulu + Live TV & YouTube TV: Since WMC is an NBC affiliate, these major services carry the live local broadcast.
- fuboTV: Another solid option if you want the full channel lineup plus local Memphis news.
Sling TV is kind of the odd man out here. They don't always carry WMC, so check your specific zip code before you commit to a subscription just for local news. An old-school HD antenna still works wonders for picking up Channel 5 over the air for free.
The Faces You See Every Day
The team at Action 5 News has seen some shakeups lately. Transitions are weird for viewers. We get used to a certain voice at 6 p.m. and then suddenly, they’re gone.
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Richard Ransom recently made waves by announcing he was leaving the TV news world for a career change in early 2025. That was a big blow for long-time viewers. But some things stay the same. Joe Birch is still the bedrock of that newsroom. He’s been there forever. People trust him. Then you’ve got Joyce Peterson, the "News Lady" who returned after a health hiatus. Seeing her back on air felt like a bit of normalcy returned to the city.
Arianna Poindexter and Andrew Douglas usually handle the morning chaos. They have that "I’ve had three coffees and I’m ready to tell you about a 240 wreck" energy that you need at 5 a.m.
Why the Weather Team Matters Most
In the Mid-South, the Chief Meteorologist is basically a celebrity. Ron Childers has that "calm in the storm" vibe. When the sirens go off in Shelby County, people don't just want the data. They want a human telling them exactly where the rotation is.
The WMC5 First Alert Weather app is actually separate from the main news app. It’s got a 250-meter radar. That's high-res enough to see if the rain is hitting your neighbor's house and not yours. Some users complain about the ads, but when there's a tornado warning, the push notifications are usually faster than the sirens.
The Digital Desk and the 24/7 Cycle
News doesn't just happen at 5, 6, and 10 anymore. That’s a relic. Action 5 News live now exists in this weird space called the Digital Desk.
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They stream extra content there that doesn't always make the main broadcast. Think long-form interviews with MPD officials or deep dives into local school board drama. It feels more casual. It's less "anchorman" and more "let’s talk about what’s happening in Midtown."
You’ll find this on their Roku app and often on their Facebook Live feed. It’s great for background noise while you’re working from home, but it can get repetitive if there isn't much breaking news.
Common Misconceptions About the Stream
People often get frustrated because the live stream goes dark during commercials or certain syndicated shows. That’s a licensing thing. WMC doesn’t own the rights to stream "Kelly Clarkson" or "Jeopardy!" over their app in the same way they do for the news.
If you tune in at 6:30 p.m. and see a "we'll be right back" screen, don't throw your phone. The news will start back up at the top of the hour.
Also, the "Action News 5" you see in Memphis isn't the same as "Action News" in other cities. It’s a common branding name used by Gray Television. If you’re traveling and search for Action 5 News live, make sure you’re looking for the Memphis/WMC version, or you’ll end up watching weather for a city you’ve never been to.
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Getting the Most Out of the Coverage
To really stay ahead of things in Memphis, you need to mix your sources. Action 5 is great for the "right now" stuff.
- Download both apps: Use the News app for the live stream and the Weather app for the radar.
- Enable specific alerts: Don't turn on all notifications or you'll go crazy. Just set them for "Breaking News" and "Severe Weather."
- Check the YouTube channel: Sometimes the live stream on the website gets buggy. The YouTube mirror is often more stable on mobile data.
If you’re looking for the live broadcast schedule, it’s pretty standard. Mornings start at 4:30 a.m. and run through the Today show cut-ins. Evening news blocks start at 4:00 p.m., 5:00 p.m., 6:00 p.m., and the final wrap-up at 10:00 p.m.
The best way to stay connected is to keep the Action News 5 app on your home screen and check the "Digital Desk" during the day for real-time updates that don't wait for the evening anchors. This ensures you're never out of the loop when something big happens on Union Avenue or across the Mid-South.
Next Steps for You: Check your smart TV's app store for the Action News 5 channel to set up your free "big screen" viewing. If you're heading out, verify your app's notification settings for "First Alert" weather to ensure you get location-specific warnings for your exact neighborhood.