Cinemax Streaming Options
4 streaming options available
DI
DIRECTV Stream
Includes Cinemax
$89.99 - $169.99/mo
Premier package or standalone premium bolt-on
Watch on DIRECTV Stream
HU
Hulu + Live TV
Includes Cinemax
$88.99 - $105.98/mo
Cinemax Premium Add-on ($9.99/mo)
Watch on Hulu + Live TV
YO
YouTube TV
Includes Cinemax
$64.99 - $82.99/mo
Cinemax Premium Add-on ($10.00/mo)
Watch on YouTube TV
SL
Sling TV
Includes Cinemax
$19.99 - $64.99/mo
Cinemax Premium Add-on
Watch on Sling TV
Official Subscription Packages
Streaming Plans & Pricing for Cinemax
Free Trial
DIRECTV Stream
DIRECTV Stream
Entertainment
$89.99/mo
- 90+ live linear channels
- Includes local ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC broadcast feeds
- Unlimited Cloud DVR storage with 9-month retention
- Unlimited simultaneous screens on home network
Free Trial
DIRECTV Stream
DIRECTV Stream
Choice
$104.99/mo
- 125+ live linear channels
- Unlocks regional sports networks (YES, NESN, MASN, FanDuel Sports Network)
- Includes MLB Network, NBA TV, SEC Network, ACC Network, and Big Ten Network
- Unlimited simultaneous screens on home network
Free Trial
DIRECTV Stream
DIRECTV Stream
Ultimate
$129.99/mo
- 160+ live linear channels
- Carries complete RSN suite plus NHL Network and CBS Sports Network
- Includes FX Movie Channel, Starz Encore suite, and National Geographic Wild
- Unlimited simultaneous screens on home network
Free Trial
DIRECTV Stream
DIRECTV Stream
Premier
$169.99/mo
- 185+ live linear channels
- Includes all premium network suites: Max, Paramount+ with Showtime, Starz, and Cinemax
- Complete regional sports and specialized collegiate athletic carriage
- Unlimited simultaneous screens on home network
Free Trial
DIRECTV Stream
DIRECTV Stream
DIRECTV Sports Pack
$14.99/mo
- Adds NFL RedZone, NHL Network, and MLB Network
- Carries CBS Sports Network, Fox Soccer Plus, and Next Level Sports
- Includes regional out-of-market sports simulcasts
Free Trial
Hulu + Live TV
Hulu + Live TV
Hulu + Live TV (With Ads)
$88.99/mo
- 95+ live linear channels including ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC
- Includes Disney+ (With Ads) and ESPN+ digital sports library
- Unlimited Cloud DVR storage with 9-month retention
- 2 simultaneous transmission screens
Free Trial
Hulu + Live TV
Hulu + Live TV
Hulu + Live TV (No Ads)
$99.99/mo
- 95+ live linear channels including all local broadcast affiliates
- Ad-free viewing on Hulu on-demand library and Disney+ titles
- Includes full ESPN+ live sports coverage
- Unlimited Cloud DVR storage with commercial fast-forwarding
Free Trial
Hulu + Live TV
Hulu + Live TV
Unlimited Screens Add-on
$9.99/mo
- Unlimited concurrent screens on the primary home network
- Up to 3 simultaneous mobile screen connections outside the home
- Applies across all live channel feeds and on-demand titles
Free Trial
Hulu + Live TV
Hulu + Live TV
Sports Add-on
$9.99/mo
- Adds NFL RedZone, Fox Sports 2, and Golf Channel
- Includes MAVTV, Outdoor Channel, and Sportsman Channel
- Commercial-free Sunday afternoon football scoring coverage
Free Trial
Hulu + Live TV
Hulu + Live TV
Entertainment Add-on
$7.99/mo
- Adds American Heroes Channel, BET Her, and CNBC World
- Includes Cooking Channel, Crime + Investigation, and Destination America
- Integrates Discovery Family, Discovery Life, and Science Channel
Free Trial
Hulu + Live TV
Hulu + Live TV
Español Add-on
$4.99/mo
- Adds CNN en Español, Discovery en Español, and Discovery Familia
- Includes ESPN Deportes, Fox Deportes, and History en Español
- Live international soccer and Latin American sports telecasts
Free Trial
YouTube TV
YouTube TV
Base Plan
$82.99/mo
- 100+ live linear channels including local ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC
- Unlimited Cloud DVR storage with 9-month episode retention
- 3 simultaneous screens across household devices
- 6 individual user profiles with personal DVR libraries
Free Trial
YouTube TV
YouTube TV
Sports Plan
$64.99/mo
- Carries ESPN, ESPN2, FS1, FS2, NFL Network, and CBS Sports Network
- Includes ACC Network, Big Ten Network, and SEC Network
- Unlimited Cloud DVR storage with 9-month retention
- 3 simultaneous display screens
Free Trial
YouTube TV
YouTube TV
Spanish Plan
$34.99/mo
- 30+ Spanish-language networks including Univision, Telemundo, and UniMás
- Includes ESPN Deportes, Fox Deportes, and TUDN
- Unlimited Cloud DVR storage with 9-month retention
- 3 simultaneous screens
Free Trial
YouTube TV
YouTube TV
4K Plus Add-on
$9.99/mo
- Live sporting telecasts in 4K Ultra High Definition
- Unlimited simultaneous screens on the primary home network
- 3 concurrent display screens outside the home network
- Offline viewing for DVR recordings downloaded to mobile devices
Free Trial
YouTube TV
YouTube TV
Sports Plus Add-on
$10.99/mo
- Adds NFL RedZone with commercial-free Sunday coverage
- Carries beIN SPORTS USA, Fox Soccer Plus, and MAVTV
- Includes Fight Network, Billiard TV, and SportsGrid
- Integrates directly into existing Cloud DVR and Multiview features
Free Trial
YouTube TV
YouTube TV
NFL Sunday Ticket
$379.00/yr
- Every live out-of-market Sunday afternoon regular-season NFL game
- Integrated four-game Multiview viewing options
- Available as a Base Plan add-on or standalone YouTube Primetime Channel
- Real-time fantasy league statistics tracking
Sling TV
Sling Select
$19.99/mo
- 10+ live linear channels
- Includes FS1, FOX News, FX, and NFL Network
- 3 simultaneous transmission screens
- 50 hours of Cloud DVR storage included
Sling TV
Sling Essentials
$19.99/mo
- 10+ live linear channels
- Includes ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, and Freeform
- 1 simultaneous transmission screen
- 50 hours of Cloud DVR storage included
Sling TV
Sling Essentials & Select
$34.99/mo
- 20+ live linear channels
- Carries ESPN, FS1, FOX News, and NFL Network
- 3 simultaneous screens on Select feeds; 1 screen on Essentials feeds
- 50 hours of Cloud DVR storage included
Sling TV
Sling Orange
$45.99/mo
- 30+ live linear channels
- Carries ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, and Freeform
- 1 simultaneous transmission screen limit
- 50 hours of Cloud DVR storage included
Sling TV
Sling Blue
$45.99/mo
- 40+ live linear channels
- Carries FS1, NFL Network, Bravo, and USA Network
- 3 simultaneous transmission screens
- 50 hours of Cloud DVR storage included
Sling TV
Sling Orange + Blue
$60.99/mo
- All channels from Orange and Blue combined
- Up to 4 simultaneous screens (1 Orange stream + 3 Blue streams)
- 50 hours of Cloud DVR storage included
- Access to unified multi-pack sports and entertainment add-ons
Sling TV
Sports Extra (Orange Add-on)
$11.00/mo
- Adds SEC Network, ACC Network, ESPNU, and ESPNews
- Carries Longhorn Network, NBA TV, and MLB Network
- Restricted to single-device transmission rule of the Orange base tier
Sling TV
Sports Extra (Blue Add-on)
$11.00/mo
- Adds NFL RedZone, Big Ten Network, and Fox Sports 2
- Carries Golf Channel, NHL Network, and MLB Network
- Permits playback across 3 simultaneous screens
Sling TV
Sports Extra (Orange + Blue Add-on)
$15.00/mo
- Includes NFL RedZone, Big Ten Network, SEC Network, and ACC Network
- Unlocks ESPNU, FS2, Golf Channel, NHL Network, NBA TV, and MLB Network
- Adds 20+ specialized sports networks
Editorial Review & Field Test
Cinemax Broadcast Assessment
The Verdict
Cinemax puts out a clean 1080i high-definition feed with crisp 5.1 surround audio, giving film lovers uncut theatrical presentations devoid of commercial breaks. The feed runs dependably across digital multichannel portals like Hulu and Sling TV without buffering hiccups, but finding it requires tethering to an existing digital host. It remains a solid secondary movie channel for cinephiles craving niche genre cinema and explosive action catalogs without premium tier price tags.
Best For
- Film buffs hunting for uncut Hollywood action titles, cult thrillers, and genre cinema
- Subscribers wanting feature-length movies without commercial interruption
- Fans tuning into archived original action series like Banshee and Strike Back
- Cord-cutters adding dedicated linear movie channels through flexible digital packages
Pricing Reality
You cannot buy Cinemax as a standalone direct-to-consumer application because MAX absorbed parent company Warner Bros. Discovery digital resources. Instead, you must purchase it as a digital add-on pack through providers like Hulu, Sling TV, Prime Video Channels, or YouTube TV for around $9.99 to $10 monthly on top of your base plan. That means the absolute minimum monthly cost to access the linear feed sits closer to $20 to $50 once base platform fees are factored in.
What We Like
- Zero commercial interruptions during feature films and serialized action dramas
- Pristine high-definition video output paired with uncompressed 5.1 multichannel audio
- Reliable digital hosting through established TV partners like Hulu, Sling TV, and DirecTV
- Flexible month-to-month digital cancellation with no long-term contractual commitments
Things to Consider
- MAX does not include the live linear Cinemax channel in its standard membership tiers
- No standalone digital app exists, forcing users to buy a base subscription from another provider
- The network stopped producing expensive new original scripted programming
- Rigid geographic IP restrictions completely halt digital access outside American borders
Looking for a specific team or game?
Live rights are distributed daily across multiple television networks. Check today's sports TV schedule or find channels by team.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to Stream Cinemax: Live TV & Schedule FAQ
Can I watch Cinemax for free with a digital TV antenna?
No. Cinemax is a premium encrypted pay-TV channel and does not transmit over the air, meaning indoor digital antennas cannot capture its signal.
Is the linear Cinemax channel included with a standard MAX subscription?
No. MAX provides an on-demand catalog from Warner Bros. Discovery, but it deliberately omits the live linear Cinemax broadcast channel.
What is the cheapest way to watch Cinemax without cable?
The lowest-priced digital route is adding the Cinemax pack ($9.99 per month) to a basic Hulu plan, or pairing it with Sling TV packages.
Can I access Cinemax while traveling outside the United States?
Domestic US television providers enforce strict geographic IP blocks that prevent viewing the live domestic digital feed outside American territory.
Where Cinemax is Available
Licensed Broadcast TerritoryOfficial distribution for Cinemax is licensed within United States. Check the full directory of verified television networks and legal cord-cutting options available in this territory.