Previously known as Real World/Road Rules Challenge, The Challenge is MTV’s no-holds-barred competitive gauntlet that pits reality TV stars against one another to win a big cash prize.
Since its inception, various extreme challenges put reality stars through the wringer in a bloodbath of egos that MTV reality TV is famous for. And because it’s 35 seasons in, it proves to be the biggest challenge yet, with contestants from The Real World, Are You the One?, Big Brother, The Amazing Race, Survivor, Geordie Shore, Ex on the Beach, Shipwrecked, Survival of the Fittest, and So You Think You Can Dance fighting for that sweet million-dollar prize.
Here’s everything you need to know to stream The Challenge.
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What is The Challenge?
Previously known as Real World/Road Rules Challenge, the program is a spin-off of two reality shows The Real World and Road Rules. The show was originally only 30 minutes long but expanded to an hour in 2008. Starting in 2019, the show expanded yet again to 90 minutes an episode.
- Launched: June 1998
- Channel: MTV
- Genre: Reality/Competition
- Starring: Presented by T.J. Lavin
- Seasons: 35
- Status: Pending
The Challenge Reviews
What the critics are saying
- “By colliding these long-running arcs with the carefree antics of bright-eyed millennials, a new, more fascinating dynamic emerges, one where the veterans begin recognizing their old behavior in these new faces. Last season, a betrayal against Bananas by the younger Raines served to shatter their mentor/mentee relationship, one we’ve watched blossom across multiple seasons. It’s easy to call it scripted, but, while network manipulation is inevitable, there’s a curious sense of trust that develops over the years with these people, if only because we’ve watched them grow.” –Randall Colburn, Consequence of Sound
How to stream The Challenge
MTV is available on a handful of the major live TV streaming services. When trying to decide which one is best for you, you’ll want to weigh the cost, the other channels you’ll receive, and the compatible devices for streaming.
The Challenge 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 The Challenge 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 |
The Challenge 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 MTV, you’ll either need Sling Blue, Sling Orange or Sling Orange + Blue along with the Comedy Extra channel suite. 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 |
The Challenge 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 stream The Challenge, you’ll want to dock in at the FuboTV Standard level.
| Pro | $69.99 |
| Elite | $79.99 |
| Ultimate | $99.99 |
The Challenge on Vidgo
Vidgo offers a package for under $40 a month that pulls together more than 60 English-language channels into its National English Package. Vidgo channels include ABC, Fox, the ESPN family of channels (including ESPN Deportes), and it’s one of the few streaming services that carries BeIN Sports. But it’s like Fubo in that, even though it started out for streaming sports, it carries a lot more now. You might be surprised to know that Vidgo’s an option to stream MTV—and then you chat about it online via Vidgo’s Social TV platform.
| English Premium Package | $66.33/ 3 months |
| English Plus Package | $53/ 3 months |
| Spanish Mas Package | $25/ 3 months |
The Challenge and 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 MTV, get in at the AT&T TV Now Plus tier to stream it.
