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TCM Channel Live Stream: Watch Movies Without Ads or Cable Cheaper Online

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Movie fans love TCM because it runs unedited films without commercials. At one time, you needed a cable subscription to get the channel. But no more! Read on to learn all your options to watch TCM.

In a hurry? If you want to start watching TCM without cable now, these three streaming services provide immediate access, and a lot more.

  • DIRECTV STREAM: Makes it easy to switch from cable to streaming with their 75+ channel Entertainment plan and options for much more. A 5-day free trial is now available for DIRECTV STREAM.
  • Sling TV: The top low-cost streaming service provides a great base channel lineup in both its plans. Save 50% with Sling TV.
  • Hulu + Live TV: This total entertainment streaming service provides a great on-demand selection and all the essential live TV channels.

If you can’t watch your favorite movies and shows because of your location, try ExpressVPN to get access to the content you deserve.

In a hurry? Unfortunately, we don’t know a streaming service in that offers this TV channel/sport. But if you’ve already paid for the right service, and just can’t watch because of your location, there is an easy way to get the sports, movies, and TV you deserve. You need a VPN, like one of the following.

ExpressVPN

1. ExpressVPN: Established VPN provider in 105 countries. Smart DNS, a built-in ad-blocker, and unlimited bandwidth. Try it with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Private Internet Access

3. Private Internet Access: The only no-logs VPN with a location for every US state. Get 82% off + 2 months free.

If you’re overwhelmed and not sure where to begin, you’ll find all the answers in our full VPN guide.

Save 50% on Sling TV Now

How To Watch TCM Live Without Cable

Turner Classic Movies (TCM) is unusual in the “basic cable” world. It doesn’t run any commercials. The channel is funded primarily on carriage fees, the money that cable, satellite, and streaming companies pay for rights to provide the channel to their customers.

As a result of this, TCM is not as widely available as, say, Discovery or Hallmark. But it is still available for one main reason: there are a lot of TCM fans! Famed director Martin Scorsese plays it in his editing room for inspiration. Like him, most TCM viewers are older. But this is changing with more and more young people tuning in.

Since TCM is not broadcast over the air, you can’t get with an antenna, or for free. You need to purchase it through a third-party provider. And for those who want to avoid long contracts with cable and satellite companies, streaming services are the only option.

All you need is an internet connection and a supported streaming device. If you’re reading this, you likely already have both. All you need to do is sign up with the right streaming service — you can decide which one that is below.

Sling TV

Sling TV Logo
Movie ChannelsAMC, Bravo, Disney, SyFy
Total Channels40+
Cloud DVR50 hours
Simultaneous Screens3
Free Trial
Sling TV Price*$40.00/mo

Sling TV does not offer TCM with either of its base plans. Sling Blue does, however, provide you with AMC, Bravo, Disney, SyFy, and almost 40 other channels for just $40.00/mo.

One of the selling points of Sling TV is how easy it is to personalize with add-ons. For $6/mo, you get the Hollywood Extra add-on, which includes TCM, FXM, Cinémoi, and 7 other film-oriented channels. That’s $41 per month and you have TCM with a bunch of other channels.

For another $6/mo, you can get the Lifestyle Extra add-on, which includes Lifetime Movies, the 3 Hallmark channels, and 6 others.

This plan comes with 50 hours of DVR storage and the ability to stream on up to three screens at one time.

Check out these in-depth articles on Sling TV for more:

Save 50% on Sling TV Now

Sling TV TCM
Sling TV’s dashboard with TCM’s schedule and on-demand shows.

DIRECTV STREAM

DIRECTV STREAM
Movie ChannelsAMC, Bravo, Disney, SyFy, TCM
Total Channels75+
Cloud DVRUnlimited*
Simultaneous ScreensUnlimited
Free Trial*
DIRECTV STREAM Price$79.99/mo
* When you order online.

The DIRECTV STREAM (formerly AT&T TV) base (Entertainment) plan offers 75+ channels for $79.99/mo. It comes with TCM as well as AMC, Bravo, Disney, and SyFy. If you also want FXM and Lifetime Movies, you will need to choose the Ultimate plan. It comes with 130+ channels (including HBO MAX free for a year) for $119.99/mo.

The cloud DVR that comes with DIRECTV STREAM is unlimited as long as you sign-up online.

On the other hand, DIRECTV STREAM has the best deal in the industry when it comes to sharing an account. You can use your account on unlimited devices simultaneously in one household and away.

Read more about DIRECTV STREAM in our detailed review.

Get DIRECTV STREAM Free for 5 Days

Hulu + Live TV

hulu logo
Movie ChannelsAMC, Bravo, Disney, FXM, LTM, SyFy, TCM
Total Channels85+
Cloud DVRUnlimited*
Simultaneous Screens2
Free Trial
Hulu Price$76.99/mo
*9 month storage

Hulu is known for its on-demand streaming service. It is extremely popular with cord-cutters who don’t care about watching live TV but want to stay up on recently aired shows. Hulu + Live TV adds to that 85+ live channels for $76.99/mo.

In addition to TCM, Hulu + Live TV offers other movie channels like AMC, Bravo, Disney, FXM, Lifetime Movies, and SyFy. And you get Disney+ and ESPN+. They also provide access to premium movie channels like Cinemax, Showtime, HBO, and Starz.

Hulu + Live TV comes with unlimited cloud DVR (9 month storage). You can also stream on up to two screens at one time. The simultaneous screens can be upgraded.

Find out more from these guides:

Try Hulu + Live TV Today!

Unblock Your Favorite Movies and Shows With a VPN

If you can’t watch your favorite movies and shows because of your location, a VPN will allow you to get the access you are entitled to, plus extra security and unequalled privacy. Check out our VPN Guide for everything you need to know, including our top pick ExpressVPN.

Get ExpressVPN Today

Other brands worth checking out include Hotspot Shield and CyberGhost.

Other Ways to Get TCM Online

There are other ways to watch TCM live:

  • TCM.com: You can watch both the east and west coast feeds of TCM as well as a huge collection of movies on-demand. This requires a login from your streaming service. It doesn’t work with Sling TV, however.
  • TCM App: This is the same as the TCM.com website but it runs on Fire TV, Apple TV, and Roku devices.
  • YouTube TV: a general streaming service similar to Hulu + Live TV.

TVs and Devices That Support TCM

Sling TV TCM Android
Android phone with TCM via Sling TV.

The three streaming services that we’ve discussed above support most of the streaming devices that are currently in use.

All of them support the main “stick” devices: Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, and Roku. They also support Chromecast, which allows your TV to accept casts from mobile devices and web browsers (if the TV doesn’t already support this).

Hulu and Sling support smart TVs with Android TV. DIRECTV STREAM and Sling TV support recent Samsung smart TVs. They also support a number of other devices including LG smart TVs, Xbox One gaming consoles, and Oculus VR devices.

DIRECTV STREAM supports its own device, which can be an easy way to move away from cable, without having to mess with third-party devices.

And finally, all the streaming services support web browsers. This has an advantage — most devices that run web browsers can be connected to a smart TV for display.

Superpower Your Live TV Streaming With a VPN

You can’t beat a VPN for privacy, security, and access. We have used them for years as an important part of our streaming toolkit and we recommend ExpressVPN. Other brands worth checking out include Hotspot Shield and CyberGhost.

i See our VPN Buyer’s Guide for complete information on how to choose the best VPN for your needs.

Today’s TCM Schedule

Here is today’s schedule in Eastern Time:

MovieBeach Red

A U.S. captain (Cornel Wilde) and his men try to take a Pacific island from the Japanese during World War II.

MovieAt Sword's Point

Sons and a daughter (Maureen O'Hara) of the Four Musketeers rally to rescue royal women from a duke (Robert Douglas).

MovieAlice in Movieland

Alice wins a free trip to Hollywood and dreams about her arrival.

MovieThe Gay Diplomat

A Russian captain (Ivan Lebedeff) frequents drawing rooms of World War I Bucharest to find a female spy.

MovieThe Lady Refuses

A rich man (Gilbert Emery) hires a woman (Betty Compson) to rescue his son (John Darrow) from a gold digger.

MovieOn With the Show

The producer is broke, the box office has been robbed, and the coat-room girl (Sally O'Neil) bumps the star (Betty Compson) of the show.

MovieHard Boiled Mahoney

A mysterious woman (Betty Compson) hires Slip (Leo Gorcey), Sach (Huntz Hall) and the rest of the Bowery Boys to find a missing girl (Teala Loring).

MovieHere Comes Trouble

A blundering rookie reporter runs into some unexpected difficulty when he is assigned to cover the police beat.

MovieBlondes at Work

A reporter (Glenda Farrell) scoops her male colleagues by following a diary kept by her policeman boyfriend's (Barton MacLane) driver (Tom Kennedy).

MovieStreet Girl

A jazz quartet befriends a poor violinist (Betty Compson), and she puts them in the money as their manager.

MovieInside the Lines

During World War I, the paths of an officer in the English secret service and a German spy converge in Gibraltar.

MovieThree Who Loved

Injustice decides the fate of two bank workers (Conrad Nagel, Robert Ames) in love with a Swedish girl (Betty Compson).

MovieWeary River

A convict (Richard Barthelmess) gains radio fame and the governor's attention with his newly discovered singing talent.

MovieThe Children's Hour

Based on Lillian Hellman's play about the effect of a student's malicious lie at an exclusive boarding school.

MovieAnother Part of the Forest

A Southern Civil War profiteer (Fredric March) deserves his mean sons (Dan Duryea, Edmond O'Brien) and daughter.

MovieWatch on the Rhine

A Nazi spy blackmails a German patriot (Paul Lukas) living in Washington with his wife (Bette Davis) and family.

MovieToys in the Attic

Two New Orleans sisters meddle with their brother (Dean Martin) and his child bride (Yvette Mimieux).

Wrapping Up

TCM has thousands of ad-free movies for you to enjoy, and now you can do it without cable.

We recommend Sling TV for streaming TCM. Save 50% on your first month of Sling TV.

Get DIRECTV STREAM Free for 5 Days

Get comfortable and start streaming while enjoying more for less money!

FAQs

How do I watch TCM for free?

TCM is a pay-TV station. It isn’t broadcast over the air and isn’t available for free. You must get it from a third-party provider. There is no way to get TCM free long-term.

How do I get TCM on-demand?

“TCM on-demand” or “Watch TCM” is available through the TCM website or app. These give you access to the east and west coast live streams of TCM. But they also give you on-demand access to TCM’s large collection of classic films. To use this, you must log in with your streaming services using TV everywhere. 

What type of shows does TCM offer?

TCM doesn’t have much in the way of shows — they just air movies. This is one reason that many film fans like it so much. They present one film after another with introductions by the hosts. What’s more, there are no adverts on TCM, so films run uninterrupted.

Get DIRECTV STREAM Free for 5 Days

Ditch “Big Cable” Now – 3 Simple Steps to Cut the Cord

  1. Pick the right streaming service
  2. Get the content you deserve with the best VPN.
  3. Supercharge your internet provider

That’s it — you’ll save money, take back control, and enjoy TV more!

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