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Election season is upon us, with what’s shaping up to be potentially one of the most consequential midterm cycles
in decades. For many, that means tuning into live cable news coverage to watch as the results come in. But the cable news landscape has changed since the last major election; MSNBC was spun off from NBC Universal into MS NOW.
At a Glance: Where to Watch MS NOW Without Cable
- Streaming (Free trial): DirecTV, Hulu + Live TV
- Streaming (Paid): Sling
Since Nov. 2025, MS NOW has been a part of Versant Media, which also owns CNBC, E!, USA Network, and others. As a result, some familiar faces from MSNBC’s election night coverage are no longer at the network, including Steve Kornacki, who now heads up NBC’s coverage. Ali Velshi replaced Kornacki at the board for MS NOW. Election night coverage on MS NOW is typically led by Rachel Maddow, with Chris Hayes, Lawrence O’Donnell, Nicolle Wallace, and others joining the coverage.
It’s not the only cable news network to face an ownership shakeup; following Skydance’s completed purchase of Warner Bros. Discovery this month, CNN became part of the David Ellison-owned company.
MS NOW and CNN have both been targets of Donald Trump, with the president banning both networks and Politico from the White House in September.
Polls indicate that Democrats are favored to take over the House and have a decent shot at a Senate majority as Trump’s unpopularity drags down Republican candidates even in ruby red states and districts.
Where to Stream MS NOW
If you’re looking to tune into MS NOW’s news and election night coverage but don’t have cable, it’s available with its own membership plan. Alternatively, you can tune in using a live-TV subscription service that carries MS NOW; these are a few options and how much they cost.
DirecTV
MS NOW is available with all of DirecTV’s main plans, as well as the My News genre pack and others. The MyNews plan starts at $35 and includes other networks like NBC and CNN. Each tier comes with a five-day free trial.
Hulu + Live TV
Hulu + Live TV currently offers a three-day free trial. In addition to traditional cable channels, the service also includes access to Disney+ and Hulu. MS NOW is included in the plan, as are other news networks like CNN, ABC News, and CBS News.
Sling
While Sling does not include a free trial, it’s more affordable and customizable than some other live TV streaming services. The Sling Blue plan includes major news networks like CNN and MS NOW, plus entertainment channels like Food Network and FX.
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