You just want to see the game. Or maybe you're trying to catch Ghosts or the local news before your phone spoils the headlines. Whatever it is, the old way of hooked-up coaxial cables and clunky boxes is dying, and honestly, good riddance. But trying to figure out how to watch CBS live TV in the current streaming mess feels like a part-time job.
There are so many options. Some are cheap. Some are basically cable with a different name. Some are actually free, which feels like a glitch in the system, but it's totally legal.
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The reality is that CBS isn't just one thing anymore. It's a local broadcast, a national news feed, and a sports powerhouse all wrapped into one. If you're sitting there wondering why you can't just find a "play" button on the web, you aren't alone. Let's break down what actually works right now and why some "hacks" are just a waste of your time.
The Paramount+ Reality Check
If you want the most direct route, it's Paramount+. But here is where people get tripped up: not every tier gives you the live feed.
If you sign up for the "Essential" plan, you’re mostly getting on-demand stuff. You get the NFL on CBS and UEFA Champions League, but you don't get your local live CBS station. For that, you have to pony up for the "Paramount+ with Showtime" tier. It’s annoying. It costs more. But it’s the only way to get your specific local affiliate—like WCBS in New York or KCBS in Los Angeles—streaming directly inside that specific app 24/7.
It's a solid deal if you're already paying for Showtime, but if you just want the local news, it might feel like overkill. One cool thing though? The app is everywhere. Your Roku, your smart fridge (probably), and your phone.
The Antenna Secret Nobody Talks About
Everyone forgets about the air.
Seriously, the simplest way to watch CBS live TV is often a $20 piece of plastic you stick to your window. High-definition broadcast signals are flying through your living room right now. If you live in a city or a decent-sized suburb, a digital antenna pulls these in for zero dollars a month. No subscriptions. No "limited time offers."
You plug it into the back of your TV, run a "channel scan," and suddenly CBS shows up in crisp 1080i or even 4K in some "NextGen TV" (ATSC 3.0) markets. The picture quality is actually better than streaming because it isn't compressed to hell and back to save bandwidth.
Of course, if you live behind a mountain or in a basement apartment, this won't work. Physics is a jerk like that. But for millions of people, it’s the "one weird trick" that actually isn't a scam.
Live TV Streaming Services: The Heavy Hitters
Then there are the "Skinny Bundles." These are for people who want the full cable experience—channel flipping, DVR, a grid guide—without the 2-year contract.
YouTube TV
This is widely considered the gold standard right now. It has almost every local CBS affiliate in the country. The interface is fast. The DVR is unlimited. You can literally record every single CBS show and keep them for nine months. It’s expensive, though, often creeping up toward $75 a month.
Hulu + Live TV
Similar price point to YouTube TV. The big sell here is that they bundle in Disney+ and ESPN+. If you're already paying for those, the math starts to make a lot more sense. You get your live CBS feed, plus the entire Hulu library.
Fubo
Originally for sports nerds. If you’re trying to watch CBS live TV specifically for the NFL or college football, Fubo is a contender. They carry local CBS stations in most markets. Just watch out for the "regional sports fee" they sometimes tack on—it can make the bill jump unexpectedly.
Why You Can't Just Use the CBS App Anymore
It used to be simpler. You’d download the CBS app, maybe see some clips, and sometimes find a live stream if you logged in with a cable provider.
That’s mostly gone.
Paramount Global (the parent company) has moved almost everything under the Paramount+ umbrella. If you go to CBS.com now, they really, really want you to subscribe to their paid service. You can still watch some recent episodes for free with ads a day or two after they air, but for live TV? The "free" ride on the website is basically over unless you have a cable login from your parents or a friend.
Watching CBS News for Free
Here is a pro tip: if you only care about the news, you don't have to pay anything.
CBS News 24/7 (formerly CBSN) is a free, ad-supported streaming news channel. It’s not your local 6 PM news with the local anchors, but it’s live, it’s CBS, and it covers the big national stories. You can find this on Pluto TV, the Roku Channel, or even just by searching on YouTube. It's a great "background" channel for when you just want to know what's happening in the world without opening your wallet.
The NFL Factor
Sundays are different.
If your goal is specifically to watch the NFL on CBS, you have more flexibility. Because the NFL is a licensing monster, they make sure the games are accessible. Usually, if you have any version of Paramount+, even the cheap one, you can stream the NFL game that is airing on your local CBS station.
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But keep in mind: this is "geo-fenced." If you're a Cowboys fan living in Seattle, you're going to see the Seahawks game on CBS, not the Cowboys. To get around that, you'd need NFL Sunday Ticket, which is a whole different (and much more expensive) beast hosted on YouTube.
International Workarounds
If you're outside the US, things get tricky. CBS is an American broadcast network. If you try to log into Paramount+ in the UK or Australia, the library is different. You won't see the live US feed.
A lot of people use VPNs (Virtual Private Networks) to look like they’re in the US. It works, sometimes. But streaming services are getting really good at blocking known VPN IP addresses. It’s a cat-and-mouse game. If you're traveling, your best bet is usually a service like YouTube TV that allows a "traveling" window, though even that has limits.
How to Choose
It really comes down to your budget and your tech tolerance.
If you want "set it and forget it" and you have the money, get YouTube TV. It feels the most like the TV we grew up with, just better.
If you’re on a budget, buy a Mohu Leaf antenna or a similar brand. Spend the $25 once and enjoy free TV for the next decade.
If you just want CBS and nothing else, Paramount+ with Showtime is the cheapest way to get a legal, high-quality live stream without a bunch of extra channels you won't watch.
Moving Forward With Your Setup
Don't just sign up for something today. Do a quick audit first. Check your zip code on a site like AntennaWeb.org to see if a digital antenna will actually pick up CBS in your house. There is no point in paying $80 a month if a one-time $20 purchase does the job.
If the antenna is a no-go, grab a free trial. Almost all these services—Paramount+, YouTube TV, Fubo—offer at least a week for free. Use it to watch a big game or a season premiere and then set a reminder on your phone to cancel it before the bill hits.
The "cable-cutting" era was supposed to make things cheaper. It didn't always do that, but it did make things more flexible. You aren't locked in. If you hate Paramount+, cancel it and try Hulu next month. You're in charge of the remote now.