MS NOW Streams Live on Major Connected TV Platforms
The cable news network's 24-hour live channel now reaches viewers through Roku, Apple TV, Samsung, Google TV and Amazon Fire TV.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Television
Live Poll
Would you pay $7.99 monthly for live news streaming instead of cable?
MS NOW has launched its 24-hour live channel on Roku, Apple TV, Samsung, Google TV and Amazon Fire TV for its $7.99-a-month membership. Full episodes on demand are available across the same connected-TV platforms.
Why it matters
MS NOW has historically relied on pay-TV distributors to reach viewers, and the rollout gives it a direct route to audiences. Parent company Versant is seeking another way to reach viewers as traditional pay-TV continues to decline.
The membership costs $7.99 a month or $79.99 a year, and new annual subscribers can get 30% off their first year through Nov. 17. Subscriber counts for the membership were not disclosed.
The players
MS NOW
MS NOW is the cable news network that has historically distributed its programming through pay-TV providers before launching its direct-to-consumer membership.
Versant
Versant is the parent company of MS NOW, seeking new ways to reach viewers as traditional pay-TV subscriptions decline.
The details
Subscribers can watch the live channel on connected-TV apps, while existing pay-TV customers can sign in with participating provider credentials. The connected-TV experience initially lacks some interactive features available on web and mobile membership, which are scheduled to receive member-exclusive series, twice-daily live Q&As with journalists and live events in the first quarter of 2027.
Timeline
September 2026: MS NOW launched direct-to-consumer membership with live TV on web and mobile.
Monday, after Nov. 2, 2026: The connected-TV live channel and membership rollout begins.
Nov. 17, 2026: Deadline for the 30% first-year annual subscription discount.
First quarter 2027: Interactive features are scheduled for web and mobile platforms.
Industry Dynamics
The move reflects a broader shift in which cable news networks, long dependent on pay-TV carriage, are building direct-to-consumer business models as cord-cutting reduces traditional distribution. Versant's effort to reach viewers through connected-TV platforms follows that pattern across the U.S. television market.
Viewers can now watch MS NOW live and on demand through Roku, Apple TV, Samsung, Google TV and Amazon Fire TV, either by paying $7.99 a month or signing in with existing pay-TV credentials. Some interactive features are available only on web and mobile for now.
The takeaway
Cord-cutters can now reach MS NOW's live channel without a cable or satellite subscription, while pay-TV customers can use their existing provider login. Checking whether a discount or membership fits your viewing habits before Nov. 17 can lower the first-year cost.
What happens next
Interactive features, including member-exclusive series and twice-daily live Q&As, are scheduled for web and mobile platforms in the first quarter of 2027. The 30% first-year discount for new annual subscribers ends Nov. 17.
Further reading
For more on how networks are reaching viewers beyond cable, see Television coverage.
Live Poll
Would you pay $7.99 monthly for live news streaming instead of cable?
