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How to Watch ION Television Live Online Free: WNBA, NWSL & Shows

Owned by The E.W. Scripps Company, ION Television broadcasts Friday night WNBA doubleheaders, Saturday night NWSL soccer doubleheaders, the Scripps National Spelling Bee, and daily marathons of Chicago P.D., Law & Order: SVU, FBI, and NCIS. Stream ION live for free on Tubi, Pluto TV, and The Roku Channel, or with Cloud DVR on Philo, Frndly TV, YouTube TV, Fubo, and DIRECTV Stream.

Minimum Required Packages

Where to Stream ION Television Live: Cheapest Plans & Add-on Math

Official Carrier Plans (United States)
Pluto TV Lowest Price

Pluto TV Free (Ad-Supported)

Free Included in Plan • Free Live TV Stream (No Subscription Required)
  • 300+ free live TV channels across sports, news, movies, and entertainment
  • Free live soccer games and studio shows on 24/7 CBS Sports Golazo Network
  • 24/7 sports news on CBS Sports HQ plus NFL, MLB, and PGA Tour channels
  • Instant watching on smart TVs, consoles, and mobile apps without signing up
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The Roku Channel Free Trial

Free FAST & On-Demand

Free Included in Plan • Free Live TV Stream (No Subscription Required)
  • 400+ free ad-supported live linear television channels
  • Exclusive MLB Sunday Leadoff live morning regular-season games
  • Full access to Roku Originals and on-demand movies
  • No credit card or user account required to begin watching
View The Roku Channel Plans →
Tubi

Tubi Free (Ad-Supported)

Free Included in Plan • Free Live TV Stream (No Subscription Required)
  • Over 250,000 movies, series, and Tubi Originals on demand
  • Over 260 live linear FAST channels including Bloomberg TV and Euronews
  • Cable-style electronic program guide for linear navigation
  • Up to 3 simultaneous active streams across supported devices
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Frndly TV Free Trial

Basic

$8.99/mo ($83.88/yr) Included in Plan • Included in Basic, Classic & Premium Plans
  • All 50+ live channels including Hallmark, A&E, The HISTORY Channel, Lifetime, Vice TV, and Outdoor Channel
  • 72-hour Look Back catch-up window and on-demand library
  • Video quality capped at 480p Standard Definition (SD)
  • 1 active stream at a time and no Cloud DVR storage
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Philo Free Trial

Philo Essential Plan

$25.00/mo Included in Plan • Included in Core Base Plan (7-Day Free Trial)
  • 70+ live cable channels (AMC, HGTV, Discovery, History, MTV, BET, TLC)
  • Unlimited Cloud DVR that saves recordings for 365 days
  • Fast-forward through commercials on DVR recordings
  • Up to 3 simultaneous streams & 10 household profiles
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YouTube TV Free Trial

Sports Plan

$64.99/mo Included in Base Plan
  • Includes local ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, and CW stations plus ESPN, ESPN2, FS1, FS2, TNT, TBS, truTV, and USA Network
  • Includes NFL Network, NBA TV, SEC Network, Big Ten Network, ACC Network, Golf Channel, and CBS Sports Network
  • Includes free ESPN Unlimited access ($31.99/mo value) for ESPN+, NHL Power Play, LaLiga, and WWE PLEs
  • Unlimited 9-month Cloud DVR, 4-game Multiview, and 3 streams at once across 6 family profiles
View YouTube TV Plans →
Fubo Free Trial

Fubo Pro

$88.99/mo Included in Plan • Included in Pro & Elite Plans
  • 200+ live channels including ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN, FS1, USA Network, beIN SPORTS
  • Local Regional Sports Networks (FanDuel SN, NESN, Marquee, MASN, Space City, Altitude)
  • Free ESPN Unlimited login and Unlimited Cloud DVR
  • 10 simultaneous streams on home Wi-Fi + 2 streams on the go
View Fubo Plans →
DIRECTV Stream Free Trial

Choice

$99.99/mo (+ Local RSN Fee) Included in Plan • Included in Entertainment & Choice Plans
  • 125+ live channels including all local Regional Sports Networks
  • Adds MLB Network, NBA TV, NFL Network & Golf Channel
  • Includes SEC Network, ACC Network, Big Ten Network & ESPNU
  • Unlimited Cloud DVR & 4K live event channels
View DIRECTV Stream Plans →
2026 Live Stream & Programming Guide

How to Watch ION Television Online: Live Stream, Shows & Broadcast Rules

Updated October 2026

How to Stream ION Television Live Without Cable

You do not need to pay for cable or a pricey live TV bundle to watch WNBA or NWSL games on ION Television. Because parent company E.W.

Scripps distributes ION as both a free over-the-air broadcast network and a Free Ad-Supported Streaming TV (FAST) channel, you can pick up your local ION station in 720p or 1080i HD with an indoor digital antenna or stream the national ION feed 100% free with no login required on Tubi, Pluto TV, The Roku Channel, Samsung TV Plus, and Sling Freestream. Watch out for two common traps if you use sports apps or paid bundles: first, live Friday night WNBA games on ION are blacked out during live play inside WNBA League Pass in the US (unlocking only after the final buzzer), and second, Hulu + Live TV and paid Sling Orange or Blue packages do not carry the local ION channel in their main guides. If you want Cloud DVR recording to pause and rewind live WNBA and NWSL games, ION is included in budget bundles Frndly TV and Philo (which offers a 7-day free trial) as well as YouTube TV, Fubo, and DIRECTV Stream.

What Airs on ION Television in 2026: Live Sports, Shows & Specials

Friday and Saturday nights on ION Television turn into a national women's sports showcase produced by Scripps Sports. From May through September, every Friday evening features the State Farm WNBA Friday Night Spotlight, airing live back-to-back WNBA regular-season games and regionalized matchups with studio coverage hosted by Larry Smith, Meghan McKeown, and Autumn Johnson.

From March through November, Saturday nights belong to the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), with a weekly live NWSL doubleheader kicking off at 7:30 PM ET and 10:00 PM ET preceded by the NWSL Pregame Show. Seasonal Scripps broadcasts also include Thanksgiving week's Elevance Health Women's Fort Myers Tip-Off college basketball tournament, the SI Women's Games, Athlos track and field, and May's live Scripps National Spelling Bee finals. Outside weekend sports windows, ION runs full-day procedural drama marathons dedicating entire weekdays to Chicago P.D., Chicago Fire, Law & Order: SVU, FBI, Blue Bloods, NCIS, and Hawaii Five-0.

Key Live Broadcasts, Shows & Viewers on ION Television

  • Basketball fans watching live Friday night WNBA doubleheaders and the Women's Fort Myers Tip-Off college basketball tournament
  • Soccer supporters tuning in every Saturday night from March to November for live NWSL regular-season doubleheaders
  • Viewers watching the Scripps National Spelling Bee finals, Athlos track and field, and the SI Women's Games
  • Procedural drama fans streaming all-day marathons of Chicago P.D., Law & Order: SVU, FBI, Blue Bloods, and NCIS for free

Why Watch ION Television Live

  • Streams 100% free with no subscription or credit card required on Tubi, Pluto TV, The Roku Channel, and Sling Freestream
  • Broadcasts free over the air in over 60 US television markets with a standard indoor digital antenna
  • Included with Cloud DVR support in affordable entertainment bundles Philo and Frndly TV as well as YouTube TV, Fubo, and DIRECTV Stream
  • Airs national Friday night WNBA and Saturday night NWSL doubleheaders with zero regional sports network fees

Broadcast & Streaming Caveats

  • Missing from the channel guide on Hulu + Live TV and paid Sling Orange / Sling Blue plans
  • Free FAST streams on Tubi, Pluto TV, and The Roku Channel do not offer Cloud DVR recording to save Friday WNBA or Saturday NWSL games
  • Friday night WNBA games on ION are subject to live national blackouts inside WNBA League Pass in the United States
  • Some regionalized Friday night WNBA windows air different matchups depending on whether you watch via local OTA antenna vs a national FAST app
Live Sports & Competitions

What Leagues & Sports Air on ION Television?

Select any competition to view the live broadcast schedule
Competition / Sport Broadcast Rights Live Schedule
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Frequently Asked Questions

How to Stream ION Television: Live TV & Schedule FAQ

Can I watch WNBA and NWSL games on ION Television for free without cable?

Yes. Unlike cable sports networks, ION Television streams live for free on ad-supported apps including Tubi, Pluto TV, The Roku Channel, Samsung TV Plus, and Sling Freestream, and is also available free over the air with a digital TV antenna in most US cities.

Why isn't ION Television showing up on Hulu + Live TV?

Hulu + Live TV does not carry the ION Television network in its channel lineup. If you subscribe to Hulu + Live TV and want to watch Friday night WNBA or Saturday night NWSL games on ION, simply open the free Tubi, Pluto TV, or Roku Channel app on your Smart TV.

Which paid live TV services include ION Television with Cloud DVR?

If you want to record live WNBA or NWSL games on ION using Cloud DVR, ION is carried in the base plans of Frndly TV, Philo, YouTube TV, Fubo, and DIRECTV Stream.

Why is a Friday night WNBA game on ION blacked out on WNBA League Pass?

Because ION Television is a national television broadcaster, Friday night WNBA Spotlight games airing nationally on ION are blacked out during live play inside WNBA League Pass in the United States. You can watch those games live for free on ION (via Tubi, Pluto TV, The Roku Channel, or an antenna), and full replays unlock on WNBA League Pass shortly after the game ends.

What sports and TV shows air on ION Television in 2026?

Through Scripps Sports, ION broadcasts State Farm WNBA Friday Night Spotlight doubleheaders (May to September), NWSL Saturday Night soccer doubleheaders (March to November), the Women's Fort Myers Tip-Off college basketball tournament, Athlos track and field, the SI Women's Games, and the Scripps National Spelling Bee. On weekdays and daytime hours, ION airs full-day crime drama marathons of Chicago P.D., Chicago Fire, Law & Order: SVU, FBI, Blue Bloods, NCIS, and Hawaii Five-0.

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