If you’re scrambling to find the game and staring at a confusing grid of hundreds of channels, I feel your pain. Nobody wants to miss kickoff or the first tip-off because they’re stuck scrolling through infomercials. Honestly, if you're looking for what channel on dish is cbs sports network, the answer is dead simple.
CBS Sports Network is channel 158 on DISH Network.
It doesn't matter if you're in New York, a tiny town in Montana, or the suburbs of Dallas. Unlike your local CBS station—which jumps around depending on your zip code—this is a national cable feed. On DISH, 158 is the magic number. It's usually broadcast in high definition (HD), provided your equipment and plan support it.
Why You Might Not See Channel 158
Finding the channel number is one thing. Actually being able to watch it is another. I've seen plenty of people get frustrated because they punch in 158 and get a "Not Subscribed" message.
Basically, CBS Sports Network (CBSSN) isn't in the "base" starter package. If you have America’s Top 120, you’re probably out of luck. To get this channel, you usually need to be on America’s Top 200 or higher.
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The America’s Top 200 tier is sort of the "sweet spot" for sports fans. It’s where DISH starts bundling in things like MLB Network, NHL Network, and of course, CBSSN. If you’re a die-hard college football fan or you follow the Mountain West or the Patriot League, you sort of have to have this package.
- America’s Top 200: Includes Channel 158.
- America’s Top 250: Includes Channel 158.
- America’s Everything Pack: Includes Channel 158.
If you are on a lower plan and a huge game is happening right now, you can sometimes add the Multi-Sport Pack. It’s an add-on that costs around $13 a month. It’s a lifesaver if you don't want to commit to a more expensive base package but need your sports fix for a few months out of the year.
What's Actually on CBS Sports Network?
It’s funny, people often confuse this with the main CBS broadcast channel. They aren't the same. The main CBS channel has the NFL on Sundays and the "big" SEC games.
What channel on dish is cbs sports network matters because this is the 24/7 cable sibling. This is where you find the deep cuts. We're talking about:
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- College Football: Tons of Mountain West, MAC, and Service Academy games (Army/Navy stuff is huge here).
- College Basketball: They carry a massive amount of mid-major hoops that you won't find on ESPN.
- Professional Bull Riding (PBR): If you're into the "toughest sport on dirt," this is its primary home.
- UEFA Champions League: While a lot of soccer has moved to streaming, CBSSN still airs specific matches and great pre-game/post-game coverage like UEFA Champions League Today.
There's also Jim Rome. Love him or hate him, his show Rome is a staple of the afternoon lineup on 158.
Troubleshooting the "Missing" Channel
Sometimes technology just acts up. If you're sure you pay for America’s Top 200 but 158 isn't showing up in your guide, check your Guide Settings.
DISH has a "Favorites" list and a "Subscribed" list. If your guide is set to "My Channels" and for some reason the system hasn't updated your permissions, it might hide it. A quick fix is to switch the guide filter to "All Channels." If it shows up there but says you aren't subscribed, you might need to send a "hit" to your box.
You can do this without calling support. Just log into the MyDISH app or website and look for the "Wake up my receiver" or "Reset service" option. It fixes about 90% of these weird authorization glitches.
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Streaming CBS Sports Network as a DISH Subscriber
You aren't tethered to your living room. One of the best perks of having a DISH login is that you can use the DISH Anywhere app.
If you're at a bar or stuck at a wedding and your team is playing on channel 158, just download the app, sign in with your DISH credentials, and you can stream the live feed of CBS Sports Network on your phone. It works surprisingly well, though I’d recommend being on Wi-Fi so you don't eat through your data plan.
Also, you can use your DISH credentials to log directly into the CBS Sports app on devices like Roku, Apple TV, or Fire Stick. Just select "DISH" as your TV provider when it asks you to authenticate.
Is it worth the upgrade?
If you're asking what channel on dish is cbs sports network, you're likely looking for a specific game. If that game is a one-off, paying for a package upgrade might feel steep.
But honestly? If you follow college sports at all, 158 is a workhorse channel. It covers the gaps that the major networks ignore. For fans of teams in the American Athletic Conference or the Atlantic 10, it's pretty much mandatory viewing.
Quick Summary for the Road
- Go to Channel 158.
- Make sure you have America's Top 200 or the Multi-Sport Pack.
- Use the DISH Anywhere app if you’re on the go.
- If it's missing, reset your receiver via the MyDISH portal.
To get the most out of your sports viewing, check your current DISH programming tier under the "Account" section of your receiver's menu. If you're currently on the Top 120, you can usually trigger an upgrade instantly through the on-screen prompts to unlock channel 158 in time for the game.