TV One provides true crime and other programming aimed at a middle-aged Black audience. But it’s enjoyed by a much broader group. And no one need a cable contract to enjoy it. Read on to learn your options.
In a hurry? TV One is not as widely available online as some channels. But you still have a few good options:
- DIRECTV STREAM: This full cable replacement service gives you everything you expect from cable and more for less money. A 5-day free trial is now available for DIRECTV STREAM.
- Philo: Super inexpensive live TV streaming service with 7-day free trial.
If you can’t watch your favorite sports, TV and movies because of your location, try ExpressVPN to get access to the content you deserve. Signup now.
Table Of Contents
TV One is among several channels launched in the last twenty years to feature programming produced by and for people of color. It differentiates itself from its predecessor (and competitor) BET by targeting an older demographic, 25- to 54-year-olds.
But you don’t need a cable or satellite subscription to catch the latest episode of Unsung. Read on to find out how you can watch the largest Black-owned network without the cable company taking you for a ride.
What Is TV One
TV One’s parent company, Urban One, was founded as Radio One back in 1980 (the same year as BET). TV One itself came along in 2004, in response to criticism of BET’s representation of people of color and a desire from older African-Americans for content that wasn’t wall-to-wall music videos or obnoxious teen reality.
The channel has grown to become the largest African-American-owned media conglomerate, encompassing over 50 radio stations, two TV channels, a syndication service, a set of online brands, and a brand-management agency to support the whole media empire.
TV One is not the only network vying for Black viewers. Aside from its own sister-station Cleo TV (targeting women of color), there’s:
- Allblk (AMC)
- aspireTV (UP Entertainment)
- BET (Paramount Global)
- BET
- BET Her
- BET Gospel
- BET Jams
- BET Soul
- Black News Channel (BNC — a newcomer to the industry)
- Bounce TV (the first African-American targeted broadcast channel)
- Fox Soul (Fox’s digital streaming local-ish channel)
- Oprah Winfrey Network (also known as OWN, targeting Black women)
- Revolt (urban music channel founded by Sean “Puff Daddy” Combs).
TV One Shows
TV One’s content consists mostly of true-crime series (For My Man, Sins of the City, Fatal Attraction), documentaries on Black America and notable individuals (Uncensored, Unsung, Hey, Black America!), lifestyle reality and talk shows (One Stage to the Next, Life Therapy, Sister Circle), original movies (Christmas Dilemma, Blood on Her Badge, Bad Dad Rehab), and classic African-American series (In Living Color, Empire, What’s Happening!!, Family Matters).
It also airs the annual Urban One Honors, which celebrates entertainers, artists, educators, and community leaders of color.
Featured original series include:
- Fatal Attraction: True crime series that centers around a different romance-turned-homicidal each week.
- Life Therapy: Actress-turned-life-coach AJ Johnson gives clients a dose of straight talk to help them improve their lives.
- Rickey Smiley for Real: Reality show that follows the professional and personal life of the comedian.
- Sins of the City: Limited anthology true-crime docuseries that examines the dark side of a different city each week via an in-depth review of a crime that had a major impact on that city, from initial discovery to the trial aftermath.
- Unsung: TV One’s award-winning breakout biography series spotlights overlooked and under-credited R&B, hip-hop, soul, and gospel musicians from the 1960s on. It has spawned spin-off series Unsung Hollywood (focusing on actors and shows), Unsung Presents: The Decades, and at least two Unsung Films made-for-TV biopics.
Get DIRECTV STREAM Free for 5 Days
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.
Stream TV One
Many cable TV companies carry TV One, but you can watch it cheaper and with no long-term contracts and commitments with a live TV streaming service. The biggest services (Hulu + Live TV, FuboTV, Sling TV, YouTube TV) do not offer it. But a few others do.
Philo
Philo is a great choice for those looking to save a little (actually a lot) on their TV provider. You get over 60 channels for $25/mo, including TV One, Cleo TV, aspireTV, BET, BET Her, OWN, and Revolt. But it is missing all local channels. Try Philo free for 7 days.
No messing around with tiers or packages; they have one plan, three add-ons for movies, unlimited DVR, and simultaneous streaming on up to 3 devices for all accounts. Just note that this service has no sports channels or local stations. (Philo review)
DIRECTV STREAM
If the saying is, “Go big or go home,” DIRECTV STREAM (formerly AT&T TV) is not going home. Urban One fans can get both TV One and Cleo TV in the Choice Package for $108.99/mo, as well as the Oprah Winfrey Network, BET, and Black News Channel (the only streaming service that carries BNC). New customers get a 5-day free trial with DIRECTV STREAM.
You also get all your local regional sports networks so you can follow your home team on the court, diamond, rink, or field. If you sign-up online, all plans come with unlimited cloud DVR and streaming on unlimited devices at once. (DIRECTV STREAM review)
Get DIRECTV STREAM Free for 5 Days
Vidgo
Vidgo costs $69.99/mo. In all, you get 100+ channel lineup, which includes TV One, aspireTV, BET, and OWN. It also includes a lot of content that is family-friendly (Disney Channel) and sports-oriented (ESPN).
Note that Vidgo does not offer any DVR service or on-demand content, and offers limited local network support. You can, however, stream on up to three devices at once. (Vidgo review)
Streaming Devices for TV Now
You can watch TV Now on most streaming devices regardless of the service you select:
- Amazon Fire TV
- Android phones and tablets
- Apple TV
- Chromecast
- iOS (iPhone, iPad)
- Roku
- Web browser.
DIRECTV STREAM makes things very easy by providing the option of using its own device (it costs $120 or $5/mo for 24 months). You can also use Samsung smart TVs with it.
Vidgo and Philo support devices built on Android TV. And Philo allows you to use the Amazon Fire tablet.
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 TV One Schedule
Here is today’s schedule in Eastern Time:
| The Cosby Show – It Ain't Easy Being Green Rudy plays her parents against each other to wear inappropriate clothes to a party. | |
| The Cosby Show – Cliff's Mistake Cliff misplaces a power drill he borrowed; the children plan a Halloween party. | |
| The Cosby Show – Shakespeare Hillman College's Dr. Foster (Roscoe Lee Brown) and his friend (Christopher Plummer) help Theo and Cockroach tackle a Shakespeare play. | |
| The Cosby Show – That's Not What I Said Cliff and Clair take out their frustrations on each other after Theo gets into trouble with the law. | |
| The Cosby Show – Looking Back In a series of flashbacks, the Huxtables help Elvin understand Sondra by reliving events from the family's past. | |
| The Cosby Show – Looking Back In a series of flashbacks, the Huxtables help Elvin understand Sondra by reliving events from the family's past. | |
| The Cosby Show – Where's Rudy? The Huxtables go to the mall to cheer Clair's entry in a winter squash contest; Rudy gets lost. | |
| The Cosby Show – Bookworm Clair takes Cliff to the first coed meeting of her book discussion group. | |
| The Cosby Show – Dance Mania Theo and Cockroach plan on attending the taping of a TV dance show; Cliff learns "new math" from Vanessa. | |
| The Cosby Show – The Locker Room Theo fears Vanessa's reputation will be ruined when one of his locker room buddies asks her out on a date. | |
| The Cosby Show – The Show Must Go On Cliff takes Rudy and her friends to a vaudeville tribute show; Vanessa's ex-boyfriend proposes marriage. | |
| The Cosby Show – Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star Clair and Cliff meet with Rudy's teacher (Melba Moore) to discuss their daughter's refusal to play the violin. | |
| Living Single – Playing House Kyle and Maxine take off for some privacy; Synclaire and Overton decide to live together for the weekend. | |
| Living Single – Swing Out Sisters During a night out on the town, the women meet some interesting characters when they visit a gay bar. | |
| Living Single – Moonlight Savings Time Overton gets Max into trouble while employed as a handyman in her building; a male housekeeper is hired. | |
| Living Single – Living Single Undercover Khadijah helps Max expose a scandal at City Hall; Jim Brown helps explain a franchise move to Overton. | |
| Living Single – One Degree of Separation Synclaire's and Overton's parents meet for the first time; guest Gladys Knight; Antonio Vargas; Denise Nicholas; Ron O'Neal. | |
| Living Single – Too Good to Screw Khadijah and Max prepare a bash for Synclaire at Madonna's penthouse; Kyle's brother visits and upsets Overton. | |
| Living Single – Papa Was a Rolling Stone Khadijah's (Queen Latifah) estranged father (Ron O'Neal) visits and forces her to confront her feelings for him; Kyle (T.C. Carson) tests Max (Erika Alexander). | |
| Living Single – Never Can Say Goodbye Synclaire and Overton (Kim Coles, John Henton) walk down the wedding aisle as Kyle and Khadijah (T.C. Carson, Queen Latifah) sing a duet. | |
| Living Single – Love Don't Live Here Anymore Max and Kyle (Erika Alexander, T.C. Carson) are forced to make a big decision; a struggling songwriter named Tripp (Mel Jackson) moves in. | |
| Living Single – Love Don't Live Here Anymore Synclaire and Overton are stranded on a deserted island while on their honeymoon; Tripp settles in at the brownstone. | |
| Living Single – High Anxiety Max accidentally gives Khadijah a depressant instead of aspirin before her big date with NBA star Cedric Ceballos. | |
| Living Single – Reconcilable Differences Overton (John Henton) gambles the money for a new bed; Regine (Kim Field Freeman) can't handle Mr. Perfect's (Kristoff St. John) obsession with his dog. | |
| Uncensored – Marques Houston Marques Houston recalls his journey as a multi-talented entertainer, from joining the group Immature at 8, to his extensive career with 13 albums, and his acting roles in movies and TV shows. | |
| Uncensored – Raz B Singer Raz B, former teen heartthrob as a member of the platinum-selling boy band B2K, reflects on his rise to fame, struggles with the music industry, and getting the group back together once again. | |
| Unsung – Chingy Under the wings of Atlanta's premier hip-hop label, Disturbing tha Peace, Chingy's breakout single "Right Thurr" catapulted him into stardom. But in 2010, a malicious rumor would put his career on ice for more than a decade. | |
| Unsung – Hip Hop DJ's From the turntable to production, mixtapes, and radio, for the past 50 years the DJ has remained the cornerstone of hip-hop. Join us to uncover their journey, from shaping music and culture to adapting in an evolving landscape. | |
| Uncensored – Irv Gotti Irv Gotti rises from Hollis DJ to A&R at Def Jam and founder of his own record label; he discusses his journey creating Murder Inc. Records, fighting to launch hip-hop stars, and becoming a force in music, film and television. | |
| Unsung – Hip Hop DJ's From the turntable to production, mixtapes, and radio, for the past 50 years the DJ has remained the cornerstone of hip-hop. Join us to uncover their journey, from shaping music and culture to adapting in an evolving landscape. | |
| Uncensored – Irv Gotti Irv Gotti rises from Hollis DJ to A&R at Def Jam and founder of his own record label; he discusses his journey creating Murder Inc. Records, fighting to launch hip-hop stars, and becoming a force in music, film and television. | |
| Living Single – Playing House Kyle and Maxine take off for some privacy; Synclaire and Overton decide to live together for the weekend. | |
| Living Single – Swing Out Sisters During a night out on the town, the women meet some interesting characters when they visit a gay bar. | |
| Living Single – Moonlight Savings Time Overton gets Max into trouble while employed as a handyman in her building; a male housekeeper is hired. | |
| Living Single – Living Single Undercover Khadijah helps Max expose a scandal at City Hall; Jim Brown helps explain a franchise move to Overton. | |
| Peter Popoff Ministries For over 30 years Reverend Peter Popoff has provided spiritual direction and powerful testimonies to receive God's blessings in your life. | |
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| Oxypure Zero, Air Purifier With Zero Replacement Filters JD Scott shares the Oxypure Zero, a wifi-enabled air purifier with zero replacement filters. | |
| Mercy Ships Mercy Ship's crew of world class medical volunteers sail across the globe providing lifesaving surgeries to those with nowhere else to turn. | |
| One Day, One Bathroom: Quality Remodeling With FREE Installation! Trusted brand Jacuzzi and renowned interior designer, Christina Hall, share their secrets on how you can easily and affordably transform your bathroom into a gorgeous custom, safe and stylish space in 1 day! Call now for a FREE quote & installation! | |
| A Different World – Breaking Up Is Hard to Do Couples at Hillman College experience broken hearts and discord as Valentine's Day approaches. |
Wrapping Up
So you don’t have to rely on cable to get your True Crime Mondays on, or catch all the inspiring stories over Women’s History Month. Just subscribe to one of the services listed above, and you can cut the cord without cutting off Fatal Attraction.
Our top choice to stream TV One is Philo since it offers a full lineup of channels and great extras. Try Philo free for 7 days.
FAQs
What awards shows does TV One broadcast?
Currently, TV One airs the Urban One Honors, run by its parent company for various artistic and community contributions. In the past, it has carried the Stellar Gospel Music Awards and the NAACP Image Awards (both have since moved to BET). It has also previously broadcast the Triumph Awards, presented by Al Sharpton’s National Action Network.
Can I watch TV One through its app or website?
There are some full episodes available on the website (particularly in the Rewind section), and you can watch Rewind episodes (prior seasons) on the iOS app, but newer episodes require a TV provider login. The Roku and Android apps require a TV provider login to watch anything. None of the streaming services seem to provide TV Everywhere access to TV One, however.
Can I watch TV One with an antenna?
No. Over-the-air (OTA) networks, like your local ABC, NBC, Fox, or CBS broadcast stations, are free for anyone to pick up with an antenna, but are also included in many pay TV subscriptions as well. TV One is not OTA; it’s a pay channel, like Discovery, BET, or TBS. That means you need to subscribe to a pay TV provider to get it: cable, satellite, or internet streaming (like the services above).
Who owns TV One?
TV One is wholly owned by Urban One, originally founded as Radio One by Cathy Hughes. It was built starting from a single radio station in Washington, DC in 1980, by Hughes and her son Alfred Liggins. When Radio One went public in 1999, Hughes became the first woman of color to lead a publicly-traded company.
Urban One has since acquired Reach Media, HelloBeautiful.com, and Elev8.com. Hughes and Liggins have both been inducted into the Broadcast & Cable Hall of Fame.
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