How to Watch truTV Live for Free to See Who Comes Out on Top in the NBA Playoffs

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Figuring out which channels and streaming services to use for sports games can be quite the struggle, but it doesn’t have to be. If you’ve been trying to wrap your head around how to watch truTV live for free to catch all of the hoops action in the NBA playoffs, you’ve come to the right place.

Launched in 1991, truTV is an American basic cable channel that airs comedy, docusoaps, reality shows, and sports programming—including March Madness. While Warner Bros. Discovery currently owns truTV, it was first known as Court TV. Originally, the channel broadcasted true crime documentary series, legal dramas, and criminal case coverage. It was a joint venture between Time Warner, American Lawyer Media, Cablevision, NBC, and Liberty Media. However, in 2005, Liberty Media and Time Warner purchased ALM, Cablevision, and NBC’s stakes in Court TV. Following these buyouts, Time Warner decided to purchase Liberty Media’s share in 2006. Court TV was finally renamed to truTV in 2008, and that’s when the channel’s programming also shifted.

How to Watch truTV at a Glance

• Channel: Varies (see below)
• Streaming Options: DirecTV Stream, Sling TV, and Hulu+ With Live TV
• What’s Airing: NBA playoffs

Action-focused docusoaps, “caught on camera” programs, and legal coverage were the usual findings on truTV. It wasn’t until 2011 that the channel started adding sports broadcasts (like NBA games) from Turner Sports (renamed TNT Sports in 2023). The biggest addition was the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, which is more commonly known as March Madness. In 2014, truTV brought on more comedy-based reality series, and in 2024, it moved its focus to more sports programming. Shows that currently air on truTV include Impractical Jokers, The Carbonaro Effect, Adam Ruins Everything, American Dad!, and Family Matters.

Whether you’re in the mood for a comedy reality series, a sitcom, or a sports event, continue scrolling to learn how to watch truTV live for free so you don’t miss a single episode or game.

What channel is truTV?

• AT&T U-Verse: 164/1164
• FIOS: 183/683
• Cox: Varies by location 
• DISH: 242
• DirecTV: 246
• Spectrum: Varies by location
• Xfinity: Varies by location

How to watch truTV live for free

TruTV is available to stream on services like DirecTV Stream, Sling TV, and Hulu+ With Live TV. DirecTV Stream offers a five-day free trial, and starts at $85.99 per month after the trial ends. While Sling TV and Hulu+ With Live TV don’t have free trials, they’re cheaper per month than the other options, with Sling Blue starting at $40.99 for your first month and Hulu+ With Live TV starting at $81.99 per month.

• Best Overall Pick to Watch truTV: DirecTV Stream
• Best Budget Pick to Watch truTV: Sling TV
• Best Upgrade Pick to Watch truTV: Hulu+ With Live TV

Best Overall Pick to Watch truTV: DirecTV Stream

DirecTV is our best overall pick to watch truTV for free for its free trial, price, and channel selection. DirecTV Stream offers a five-day free trial. DirecTV offers four plans: Entertainment, which costs $85.99 per month; Choice, which costs $89.99 per month; Ultimate, which costs $119.99 per month, and Premier, which costs $164.99 per month. However, right now, you can score Choice for $79.99 per month, Ultimate for $109.99 per month, and Premier for $154.99 per month. That comes out to $10 in savings for those three plans, though all four plans offer truTV.

As for other differences between the plans, Entertainment includes more than 75 channels, the ability to stream on unlimited devices in your home, unlimited cloud DVR storage, and a special offer on premium channels. Choice, which is the most popular plan, includes more than 105 channels, regional sports networks, and everything included in Entertainment. Ultimate includes more than 140 channels and everything included in Entertainment and Choice. Premiere includes more than 150 channels, including premium channels like HBO and Starz, and everything included in Entertainment, Choice, and Premiere. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to watch truTV with DirecTV Stream’s free trial. 

1. Visit streamtv.directv.com‘s packages page
2. Click “Try It Free” for the plan of your choice
3. Enter your information and payment method
4. Search for truTV and start watching

Best Budget Pick to Watch truTV: Sling TV

Sling is our best budget pick to watch truTV based on its price and current deals. Sling offers two plans with truTV: Sling Blue and Sling Orange + Blue. Both currently have promotions, with Sling Blue costing $40.99 for your first month and $50.99 after your first month, and Sling Orange + Blue costing $55.99 for your first month and $65.99 after your first month.

As for the difference between the plans, Sling Blue includes 46 channels and the ability to stream on three devices at a time, while Sling Orange + Blue includes 46 channels (including all 22 exclusive channels) and the ability to stream on three devices at the same time. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to watch truTV with Sling.

1. Visit Sling.com
2. Click “Try Us Today”
3. Create an account
4. Choose your plan
5. Enter your information and payment method
6. Search for truTV and start watching

Best Upgrade Pick to Watch truTV: Hulu+ Live TV

Hulu+ With Live TV is our best upgrade pick to watch truTV based on its channel selection and its free subscriptions to Hulu, Disney Plus, and ESPN Plus. Hulu+ With Live TV offers four plans: a $82.99 per month plan with access to only live TV; a $82.99 per month plan with free subscriptions to Hulu with ads, Disney Plus with ads, and ESPN Plus with ads; a $87.99 per month plan with free subscriptions to Hulu with ads, Disney Plus with no ads, and ESPN Plus with ads; and a $95.99 per month plan with free subscriptions to Hulu with no ads, Disney Plus with no ads, and ESPN Plus with ads. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to watch truTV with Hulu+ Live TV.

1. Visit Hulu.com/liveTV
2. Click “Sign Up Now”
3. Enter your information and payment method
4. Search for truTV and start watching

TruTV Programming

Talk/Debate

• #Handles March 2024
• The Steam Room with EJ and Chuck

Sports

• NCAA March Madness (with TBS, TNT, and CBS)
• NHL on TNT (overflow coverage)
• MotoGP
• TNT Sports Tonight (overflow coverage)
• NBA on TNT (overflow coverage)
• NBA on TNT Postgame (overflow coverage)
• NHL Post-Game on TNT (overflow coverage)
• Inside March Madness
• NCAA Tip-Off

Programming from sister networks

• American Dad! (from TBS)
• Crimes Gone Viral (from Investigation Discovery)
• House of Highlights: Broadcast Boys
• NBA Tip-Off (from TNT)
• Inside the NBA Rewind (from TNT)
• The Inside Story (from TNT)TNT Sports: The Line (from TNT)