TruTV has changed a lot over the years, but it now stands as one of the best overall channels for entertainment with a focus on comedy with a healthy dose of sports. Although it is one of the base “cable channels,” it is not necessary to have cable to enjoy it. Read on to learn your options.
In a hurry? Any of the following services will provide you with access to TruTV and many other channels:
- 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.
Table Of Contents
TruTV was launched in 2008, rising phoenix-like from the ashes of CourtTV. At the time, it was still very much a drama- and action-based reality network — so “real” that the channel’s staff felt the need to coin a new word for it: “actuality.”
Courtroom coverage was reduced to the “In Session” programming block from 9 am to 3 pm, then whittled away until it was removed altogether.
By 2014, the station’s content had completely shifted to comedic-themed reality shows, semi-scripted docuseries, sketch comedy, and reality competitions aimed at “funseekers.” Some syndicated series and films were also thrown into the mix.
The joke is on your cable company, though, if they think you need their expensive contracts to catch the latest Backyard Bar Wars. Just check out the streaming services discussed below, and you’ll be the last one laughing.
March Madness on TruTV
March Madness 2024 is on. TruTV will be showing First Four and first- and second-round coverage.
- Selection Sunday: March 17
- First Four: March 19, 20
- First/Second Rounds: March 21, 22, 23, 24
- Sweet 16/Elite 8: March 28, 29, 30, 31
- Final Four: April 6
- NCAA Championship: 9 p.m. Monday, April 8 (ET)
Here’s the full schedule:
| Round | Date | City |
| Selection Sunday | March 13 | N/A |
| First Four | March 15 and 16 | Dayton, Ohio |
| First/Second | March 17 and 19 | Buffalo, New York |
| First/Second | March 17 and 19 | Cincinnati, Ohio |
| First/Second | March 17 and 19 | Fort Worth, Texas |
| First/Second | March 17 and 19 | Portland, Oregon |
| First/Second | March 18 and 20 | Greenville, South Carolina |
| First/Second | March 18 and 20 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
| First/Second | March 18 and 20 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| First/Second | March 18 and 20 | San Diego, California |
| Sweet 16/Elite Eight | March 24 and 26 | San Antonio, Texas |
| Sweet 16/Elite Eight | March 24 and 26 | San Francisco, California |
| Sweet 16/Elite Eight | March 25 and 27 | Chicago, Illinois |
| Sweet 16/Elite Eight | March 25 and 27 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Final Four | April 2 and 4 | New Orleans |
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.
Other brands worth checking out include Hotspot Shield and CyberGhost.
How to Watch TruTV Live Without Cable
TruTV is currently marketed together with its closest sibling stations, TBS (more standard scripted comedy) and TNT (scripted drama), which were in turn part of the Turner Broadcasting family, which also included CNN, HLN, Cartoon Network/Adult Swim, Boomerang, and Turner Classic Movies. Turner Broadcasting is currently owned by WarnerMedia, making TruTV a step-sibling of HBO, Cinemax, and The CW.
Unfortunately, you can’t get TruTV with an antenna, because it’s not an over-the-air network (think NBC, ABC, CBS). It’s considered a “pay” or “cable” channel because you can only watch it if your local cable or satellite provider — like Xfinity or Verizon — makes it available.
At least, that’s how it used to work.
These days, more and more people turn to OTT (over-the-top) services that find alternate methods to deliver the same TV channels. No year-long commitments, no hidden fees, no waiting around all day for the cable guy to come just to plug in a few cords.
You can get all your favorite shows, live, just like you watch them on cable, through a streaming service that provides all the TV you love over the internet.
Streaming Services With TruTV
Another great advantage to streaming services is that you have choices. Usually at least two or three (and sometimes up to six or more) give you access to the channels you want.
Each service has its own pros and cons. You can choose one that works best for you. TruTV is carried by several of the biggest services: Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, and DIRECTV STREAM (formerly AT&T TV).
Let’s talk details.
Sling TV
The great strength of Sling TV is its flexibility. You can get around 40 channels or over a hundred. It’s the most customizable service out there. It’s cheap too. Sling Blue gives you TruTV plus 40+ other channels for just $40.00/mo!
This plan also comes with Cartoon Network (Adult Swim), Comedy Central, FX, TBS, and TNT. You also get your local NBC and Fox affiliates in most areas. Plus, you can watch on up to three devices at the same time if your household doesn’t always agree on what to watch. And you get 50 hours of cloud DVR.
Sling TV doesn’t have a free trial. Save 50% on Sling TV now! Read our thorough review for more information. You can also check out our guide to March Madness coverage and schedule.
DIRECTV STREAM
DIRECTV STREAM (formerly AT&T TV) carries TruTV and all the Warner sister stations (including TBS) in its base Entertainment package. You get Comedy Central, FXX, TV Land, and TLC.
DIRECTV STREAM offers four tiers of service. The lowest level is the Entertainment Plan with 75+ channels for $79.99/mo. The top-level is the Premier with 140+ channels for $164.99/mo. That plan might sound expensive but it comes with a ton of premium channels from HBO, Showtime, Starz, and MGM+.
All packages come with an upgradable unlimited cloud DVR (as long as you sign up online) and the ability to watch on unlimited different devices in the same home (and remotely). All TV packages also come with a full slate of local broadcast channels.
For details, see our DIRECTV STREAM review.
Get DIRECTV STREAM Free for 5 Days
Hulu + Live TV
Good old reliable Hulu + Live TV has got your back when it comes to Turner-WarnerMedia channels: it’s got them all. You get TruTV plus over 85 other channels, unlimited Cloud DVR with 9 month storage, and the ability to watch on up to 2 screens at a time, for $76.99/mo.
But wait, there’s more! They’ll even throw in access to their huge on-demand library, and Disney+, and ESPN+. Still not convinced? In most areas, your local network affiliates are included in the deal (including The CW). And, HBO and Cinemax are available as premium channels for a little extra.
If you’re still hunting up laughs, they also carry Comedy Central, FXX, and TV Land, plus TLC for more reality-based escapism. Read our Hulu + Live TV review for more information.
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. |
Other Ways to Stream TruTV
Searching for more ways to keep up with Fast Foodies? Here are more ways to stream TruTV:
- YouTube TV: Similar to Hulu + Live TV, you can get TruTV, TBS, TNT, plus over 80 other channels, including local networks.
- On-demand: TruTV’s shows are available to stream on several services. The most comprehensive collection is on HBO Max (since both HBO and truTV are part of WarnerMedia’s Entertainment division). You can also find some series on Amazon Prime Video and Vudu.
- TruTV App: Offers a live-stream of the channel plus on-demand content of former and current original series. It requires you to sign in with your TV provider so if you don’t already have a cable TV subscription or compatible streaming service it won’t do you much good.
TVs and Other Devices for Watching TruTV
Most modern TVs and streaming devices will allow you to watch TruTV with the services we’ve discussed. In particular, all of the following are supported:
- Smartphones/Tablets
- Android
- iOS
- Casting
- Chromecast devices
- Chromecast-enabled TVs
- TV Stick Devices
- Amazon Fire TV
- Apple TV
- Roku
- Samsung TVs
- Web browsers
- Chrome
- Edge
- Safari.
DIRECTV STREAM offers its own device (like a cable box), which is expensive ($120), but may make the transition from cable to streaming easier.
Hulu + Live TV and Sling TV support Android TV devices and smart TVs from LG and Vizio. They also both support the Xbox One. There are a number of less popular devices that are also supported; see our streaming reviews for more details.
Today’s TruTV Schedule
Here is today’s schedule in Eastern Time:
| World's Dumbest ... – World's Dumbest Motorheads 3 Out of control race car drivers; a trucker who can't out run a train; a DUI detainee with a bladder control problem. |
|
| World's Dumbest ... – World's Dumbest Performers 9 Brawling dancers; a rapper who is more a cougher; creepy furniture store commercials. |
|
| World's Dumbest ... – World's Smartest Inventions 5 Questionably brilliant innovations in portable toilets, beer finding technology, weapon storage, and wigs for newborns. |
|
| Impractical Jokers – Fraudway Q, Joe, Sal, and Murr one-up each other while trying not to laugh; they team up for a lunch that's for the birds; the big loser hits the Broadway stage where he's treated to a classic New York welcome by an agitated crowd. |
|
| Impractical Jokers – The Show Stopper Sal, Q, Joe, and Murr are at Universal Studios in Hollywood, Calif.; they serve up ridiculous surveys, then make things awkward while posing as maintenance workers; the big loser can't catch a break, no matter how many times he tries. |
|
| Impractical Jokers – Sucks for You Sal, Q, Joe and Murr bus their way through Katz's Deli, then express some unpopular opinions at the park; plus, the big loser must talk his way through some real highs and lows, in a punishment that truly sucks. |
|
| Impractical Jokers – Well... Q, Sal, Joe, and Murr play a game of tag at a coffee shop, then convince shoppers to deliver sketchy messages at the grocery store; the big loser may lose his mind in the show's first-ever non-punishment punishment. |
|
| Impractical Jokers – The Prize Fighter Q, Sal, Murr, and Joe get their checks bounced by customers who notice unusual charges, then help out coworkers with some peculiar trust exercises; the big loser finds himself balls-deep at a carnival game that's rigged for him to lose. |
|
| Impractical Jokers – Urine Trouble Joe, Sal, Q and Murr play receptionists looking for suspicious names; the guys seek marriage advice from strangers after a private eye shares incriminating photos; the big loser goes from pissed off to pissed on in the matter of one punishment. |
|
| Impractical Jokers – Irritable Vowel Syndrome Q, Murr, Sal and Joe seek help from customers while escaping security at the grocery store; they tell bizarre tales to diners at a food court; the big loser is left looking for a missing letter. |
|
| Impractical Jokers – Bad Carma Murr, Sal, Joe and Q showcase questionable products to participants, then rescue strangers who don't need to be rescued; the big loser must hit and run his mouth to get himself out of trouble. |
|
| Impractical Jokers – Fast Feud Four longtime friends compete to embarrass each other with a series of hilarious dares, if they refuse, they lose and at the end, the big loser must endure an epic punishment. |
|
| NHL Pregame On TBS Hockey experts analyze the pregame. |
|
| Impractical Jokers – Toll Booth Corrector Murr, Q, Joe, and Sal pose as nutritionists trying to recruit clients, then quit their jobs for bizarre reasons; the guys go head-to-head in a debate judged by a stranger; the punishment takes a toll on the loser, putting him in a tight spot. |
|
| NHL Pregame On TBS Hockey experts analyze the pregame. |
|
| NHL Pregame On TBS Hockey experts analyze the pregame. |
|
| NHL Hockey – First Round: Teams TBA The latest hockey action from across the NHL. |
|
| NHL Hockey – Vegas Golden Knights at Dallas Stars The West's top seed, Dallas, hosts Vegas for Game 7 of this Western Conference quarterfinal. The Golden Knights snapped a three-game skid and stayed alive by blanking the Stars 2-0 in Game 6. Each side owns one playoff series victory over the other. |
|
| NHL Hockey – Vegas Golden Knights at Dallas Stars The West's top seed, Dallas, hosts Vegas for Game 7 of this Western Conference quarterfinal. The Golden Knights snapped a three-game skid and stayed alive by blanking the Stars 2-0 in Game 6. Each side owns one playoff series victory over the other. |
|
| NHL on TBS Postgame Postgame analysis of an NHL game. |
|
| Impractical Jokers – Toll Booth Corrector Murr, Q, Joe, and Sal pose as nutritionists trying to recruit clients, then quit their jobs for bizarre reasons; the guys go head-to-head in a debate judged by a stranger; the punishment takes a toll on the loser, putting him in a tight spot. |
|
| NHL on TBS Postgame Postgame analysis of an NHL game. |
|
| Impractical Jokers – Drive, Drive, Drive Joe, Sal, Q, and Murr poise as waiting room receptionists and then pitch to a focus group; things get interesting on a road trip that drives tonight's loser to the edge. |
|
| Impractical Jokers – Poetry Slammed Joe, Sal, Q, and Murr pose as documentary subjects; the guys go looking for fights in a public park; one joker must crash a poetry slam. |
|
| Impractical Jokers – Bleach for America The guys play receptionist for the day; teaching parents proper home-schooling techniques; dreams come true as one joker lands the endorsement deal of a lifetime. |
|
| Impractical Jokers – Smashing Success The boys learn how hard it is to find good help these days; the guys return to their artistic roots; one joker reluctantly delivers a series of crushing blows. |
|
| Impractical Jokers – Pity in Pink The guys get greedy with fellow shoppers at the market, then offer major disservices to a focus group; tonight's big loser learns that the grass is always pinker on the other side. |
|
| Impractical Jokers – The Paternity Test Joe, Sal, Q and Murr pose as concierges in a hotel lobby; then try committing insurance fraud with the help of confused strangers; tonight's loser suffers a very personal punishment. |
|
| Impractical Jokers – You Dirty Dog The guys go to a recording studio and take the mic for each other; they go to the supermarket and the loser has to work at a pet shop. |
|
| Impractical Jokers – It's Electric The guys pitch their whimsical TV show ideas to focus groups; they go to the park with their daughters who share unpopular opinions with strangers; the loser heads to the spa for an electrifying punishment two years in the making. |
|
| Impractical Jokers – Fantasy Draft Joey Fatone joins forces with NBA basketball players Mo Bamba and Terrence Ross to assemble the ultimate professional "Impractical Jokers" team. |
|
| Impractical Jokers – Summer Vacation It's fun in the sun, as Joe, Q, Murr, and Sal take part in their very best and worst vacation challenges and punishments. |
|
| Paid Programming Paid programming. |
|
| Paid Programming Paid programming. |
|
| Paid Programming Paid programming. |
|
| Paid Programming Paid programming. |
|
| Impractical Jokers: Inside Jokes – Stage Fright A joker who graduated second in his high school class; one person's reaction in the Hug It Out challenge amazes Murr; a classic prop hides in the set for Q's musical punishment. |
|
| World's Dumbest ... – World's Dumbest Thrillseekers 6 A clumsy cliff diver; an amateur stunt man who will probably never go pro. |
|
| World's Dumbest ... – World's Smartest Inventions 6 A new idea for hiding your booze; shaping your body; de-odorizing your farts; covering your butt crack. |
|
| World's Dumbest ... – World's Dumbest Motorheads 7 A tipsy Mayor earns a DUI; some severe Australian road rage; a snowmobile avalanche. |
|
| World's Dumbest ... – World's Dumbest Competitions 2 Counting down 20 pointless contests, including sex doll river rafting, a beauty pageant for female prisoners and sumo wrestlers trying to make babies cry; celebrity commentators include Danny Bonaduce, Todd Bridges and Tonya Harding. |
Wrapping Up
So whether you love the hilarious firefighter hijinks of Tacoma FD or you go in more for the mind-bending street magic of Big Trick Energy, you don’t have to put up with your cable bill any longer.
Make the switch to one of these streaming services, and keep right on laughing with Impractical Jokers and all your other TruTV favorites.
FAQ
What TV shows can I watch on TruTV?
TruTV stays pretty true to its current theme of taking a standard reality premise and giving it a comedic twist.
The network’s two oldest original shows are still running and still popular: Impractical Jokers (four friends issue and complete outrageous public dares) and The Carbonaro Effect (a magician catches people’s reactions to spontaneous tricks on a hidden camera). Other current top original series include:
- Adam Ruins Everything
- Backyard Bar Wars
- Big Trick Energy
- Double Cross with Blake Griffin
- Fast Foodies
- Hot Ones: the Game Show
- It’s Personal with Amy Hoggart
- Tacoma FD
- Tirdy Works
- Top Secret Videos.
TruTV, because of a deal between Turner Sports and CBS, also airs NCAA Division I Championship games (March Madness) “First Four” and parts of the first and second rounds. Or, as SBNation puts it, “You’re watching college hoops on a comedy channel that used to cover courtroom proceedings.”
Ditch “Big Cable” Now – 3 Simple Steps to Cut the Cord
- Pick the right streaming service
- Get the content you deserve with the best VPN.
- Supercharge your internet provider
That’s it — you’ll save money, take back control, and enjoy TV more!
Page Updates ▼▲
-
Added links to streaming services. Updated some section headings. Updated some sub-sections. Image changes.
-
Updated some sub-sections. Added links. Image changes.
-
Image changes. Mentioned offers. Changed a few bits of content.
-
Added buttons for streaming services. Added VPN info. Image changes. Put related links. Mentioned offers.
-
Changed some content in main section. Updated some sub-sections. Image changes.
-
Added info about guide. Added links. Image changes. Pricing updates.
-
Added links to streaming services. Pricing updates. Added some links. Formatting changes.
-
Reworked one section. Updated one section.
-
Added sub-section. Added some more links. Changed a few bits of content.
-
Coming Soon: New Arrivals On Hulu Live In August And Beyond - 07/31/2022 -
How to Watch Live TV on Hulu - 07/17/2022 -
Top 15 Cities With the Most Baseball Victories - 07/15/2022