Streaming Costs for Election Night

American voters will cast their ballots on Tuesday, Nov. 3, but the cost of watching the results varies widely depending on the streaming service a household chooses. While traditional television packages have historically offered a single point of entry, the fragmentation of digital streaming creates a complex pricing structure for accessing live coverage.

Six major networks are broadcasting dedicated election specials. NBC has scheduled 13 hours of live programming under the title Decision ’26. This coverage begins at 2 p.m. PT (5 p.m. ET) and concludes at 3 a.m. PT (6 a.m. ET) on Nov. 4. ABC’s Vote 2026 runs from 4 p.m. PT (7 p.m. ET) to 11 p.m. PT (2 a.m. ET). CBS News will air America Decides: Election 2026 starting at the same 4 p.m. PT (7 p.m. ET) time slot.

Other networks have set different start times. Fox News’ Democracy 26 begins at 3 p.m. PT (6 p.m. ET). MS Now’s We the People also starts at 3 p.m. PT (6 p.m. ET) and features Rachel Maddow. NewsNation will provide coverage from 4 p.m. PT (7 p.m. ET) to 9 p.m. PT (midnight ET). CNN is also listed among the broadcasters providing live feeds.

For viewers without a traditional cable subscription, DirecTV offers the most comprehensive access. The service carries NBC, MS Now, CBS, Fox News, CNN, NewsNation, and ABC in all signature packages. These packages include Entertainment, Choice, Ultimate, and Premier. DirecTV provides a five-day free trial for new subscribers. This allows users to watch Election Day coverage at no initial cost. After the trial, custom channel lineups start at $20.99 per month.

Hulu + Live TV provides a similar breadth of channels. It streams CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox News, MS Now, and NewsNation. The subscription starts at $89.99 per month. This plan is bundled with Disney+ and ESPN+. Unlike DirecTV, Hulu + Live TV does not offer a free trial for new subscribers according to the provided details.

Fubo presents a more limited option for election night. The service includes ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox News, and NewsNation. However, it does not carry CNN or MS Now. Fubo offers a five-day free trial. After the trial period, the cost is $54.99 for the first month and $64.99 per month thereafter.

Network-owned streaming services offer a partial alternative. Peacock will simulcast NBC coverage from 2:30 p.m. PT (5:30 p.m. ET) to 11 p.m. PT (2 a.m. ET). Disney+ and Hulu will stream ABC coverage live. Paramount+ will carry CBS News simultaneously. These services allow viewers to watch specific networks without a full live TV package, though they require separate subscriptions for each network’s content.

The availability of channels across platforms creates a trade-off between price and convenience. DirecTV and Hulu + Live TV both carry all seven listed networks. Fubo excludes two major outlets, CNN and MS Now. Viewers seeking to watch coverage from all networks in one place must choose between the higher monthly cost of Hulu + Live TV and the potential setup of DirecTV. Those willing to miss CNN or MS Now can opt for Fubo to save money after the initial trial month.

Coverage runs through the early hours of Nov. 4 for most networks. NBC’s program extends the longest, ending at 3 a.m. PT (6 a.m. ET). ABC and CBS conclude at 11 p.m. PT (2 a.m. ET). NewsNation ends earlier at 9 p.m. PT (midnight ET). The varying end times mean that late-breaking results may not be covered by all outlets simultaneously.