There are a lot of places to get your reality TV these days, but A&E still reigns as one of the great kings of the realm. While the lives of A&E’s reality stars may be full of conflict by necessity, there’s no reason yours has to. Get rid of the cable box and get yourself into a streaming service. If you absolutely need to keep your A&E shows available, we’ll show you your options. Here’s everything you need to know about how to watch an A&E live stream for free.
What is A&E?
Launched in 1984, A&E initially made a name for itself as, for all intents and purposes, a secondary PBS. You’d see reruns of Columbo, Law & Order, and Agatha Christie’s Poirot, as well as the original series Biography. Around 2002, A&E overhauled its programming to feature more reality shows, and it’s stuck with that ever since. Some of its most famous shows include Duck Dynasty, Storage Wars, and Hoarders. It’s current lineup features an even bigger cornucopia of reality TV, such as Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath, Live PD, and Scared Straight, where troubled youths are sent to prison for a day.
- Launched: February 1984
- Slogan: “We are A&E.”
- Genre: Reality/Docusoaps/True Crime/Documentary
- Formally called: Arts & Entertainment Network (1984–1995), A&E Network (1995–1997)
- Parent Company: A&E Networks
Best Shows on A&E
- Hoarders
- The First 48
- Ghost Hunters
- Intervention
- Marcia Clark Investigates: The First 48
A&E live stream: How to stream A&E
Not every live TV streaming service offers an A&E live stream—the channel is notably missing from YouTube TV —but you still have plenty of options, all of which come with at least a free seven-day trial.
A&E on Philo
Philo is a budget-minded streaming service, and depending on what channels you want, it might be right for you. The 59 Philo channels lean decidedly toward entertainment; the Philo channel list includes AMC, Discovery, IFC, Lifetime, and the Paramount Network, all for $20 a month. If you’re a fan of A&E, you’re in luck: You can find it on Philo. Philo also comes with free cloud DVR, but shows recorded are deleted after 30 days, so binge responsibly.
| Monthly | $25 |
A&E on Hulu with Live TV
Hulu Live TV is a great way to stream live TV, as it comes with access to Hulu’s massive library of on-demand content. You’ll be able to choose from movies, shows, and Hulu’s original programming, and keep up with what’s new each month. Hulu plans even include a bundle option where you can access Disney+ and ESPN+ along with Hulu.
Hulu Live TV sets you up with local channels and has a broad spectrum of entertainment and sports channels to review, including the full suite of ESPN channels, Cartoon Network, FX, HGTV, and even deep cuts like National Geographic and Syfy, and of course, A&E where you can stream hits like Intervention and Hoarders.
| Hulu Live TV | $69.99 |
| Hulu Live TV (no ads on Hulu content) | $75.99 |
A&E on Sling TV
If you’re looking for a streamlined, cost-effective streaming package, check out Sling TV. It offers two basic cable packages, Sling Orange and Sling Blue, each of which costs $30 per month. There’s also the third option of getting Sling Orange + Blue for just $45 per month. You’ll get more Sling TV channels by choosing Sling Blue, with its 40 channels including sports favorites like FS1 and NBCSN and cable mainstays like Food Network and Discovery Channel. But Sling Orange brings must-haves Disney Channel and ESPN as part of its package. To gain access to A&E, you’ll either need Sling Orange, Sling Blue or Sling Orange + Blue. Sling also has a number of add-ons, including robust international packages organized by languages all over the globe.
| Orange | $35 |
| Blue | $35 |
| Orange + Blue | $50 |
A&E on FuboTV
FuboTV started as a streaming service geared toward sports fans, but it’s evolved into a broadly-appealing option with entertainment and news options alongside its robust sports choices. Depending on the package, you can access as many as 181 FuboTV channels. If you’re looking to be entertained, Bravo, IFC, MTV, and VH1 are options even at Fubo’s most basic tier. The Fubo channel list still includes plenty of sports, including the Fubo Sports Network, which has original programming mixing sports and humor. The FuboTV cost starts at $54.99 a month, and with Disney Media favorites like ABC, ESPN, and the Disney Channel coming on board in 2020, some who were on the fence about Fubo are giving it another look.
To watch A&E you’ll want to dock in at the Family level, though all tiers carry the channel.
A&E on AT&T TV Now
If you’re already looking to AT&T for your wireless needs, you might consider AT&T TV Now to cover streaming for you. AT&T TV Now channels start with Plus and Max, which even include HBO. Then, AT&T plans expand from there, approaching cable selection and pricing with AT&T TV Now’s biggest packages. AT&T streaming also comes with Cloud DVR, letting you record up to 20 hours of TV per month. If you’re looking for A&E, get in at the Entertainment tier or higher.
Other ways to watch A&E online
A&E app & website
Like a lot of other channels, you can watch A&E shows on the channel’s official site and app, which is available on iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV, and Chromecast. Simply select what show and episode you want to watch, and you’ll be prompted to enter a cable or streaming service login. If you’re using DirecTV Now, FuboTV, Philo, or Hulu, you’re good to go. No such luck for Sling TV users, though, which seems to be a trend for at least a few other channels.
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