You can watch DW News live in English for free, with no subscription and no login. Deutsche Welle streams its 24-hour English channel on dw.com, on the official DW News YouTube channel and in the free DW app for phones, tablets and Apple TV. The channel is also free-to-air by satellite in many regions, and some US public TV stations carry it or air its flagship shows. This guide explains each option as of October 2026 and what to expect from the schedule.
Key facts (as of October 2026)
- DW News streams free in English on dw.com, YouTube and the DW app, with no login.
- It is free-to-air by satellite in many regions, and some US public TV stations carry it.
- DW is Germany’s international public broadcaster, first on air in 1953.
What is DW News?
DW, short for Deutsche Welle, is Germany’s international public broadcaster. It made its first shortwave broadcast on 3 May 1953. Its job is to serve audiences outside Germany, in a role similar to the BBC World Service.
DW is funded from Germany’s federal tax budget, not from the household broadcasting fee that pays for domestic broadcasters such as ARD and ZDF. Its independence is set out in law, in the Deutsche Welle Act. The head office is in Bonn, where radio is produced, while television comes almost entirely from Berlin. Barbara Massing became director-general on 1 October 2025.
The English TV service in its current form started on 22 June 2015. That day DW merged its separate English feeds into one 24-hour English news channel. The main newscast, previously called Journal, was renamed DW News, and the name now stands for the whole English offering.
DW’s other TV channels
English is only one of DW’s TV services. As of early 2026 it also runs 24-hour channels in Spanish (for the Americas), Arabic and Russian. DW’s German-language TV channel closed at the start of 2024. If you want news from Germany in German, DW’s website and apps still carry German-language content, but not a live German TV channel.
How to watch DW News live in English
DW gives its programming away because reaching international audiences is its public mission. That makes it one of the easiest international news channels to watch legally. Here are the main routes.
| Option | Cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| dw.com live TV | Free | Watching in a browser on a PC, Mac or phone |
| DW News on YouTube | Free | Smart TVs, consoles, Roku, Fire TV and Google TV via the YouTube app |
| DW app (iOS, iPadOS, Apple TV, Android) | Free, no ads in the app | Phones, tablets and Apple TV |
| Free-to-air satellite | Free with a dish and receiver | Homes with satellite equipment in covered regions |
| US public TV stations | Free over the air | US viewers with an antenna in served cities |
| Cable and satellite operators abroad | Part of your TV package | Viewers in Canada, Africa, Asia and elsewhere |
On dw.com
DW’s website has a live TV section with a player for each of its channels. Choose the English channel to watch the same feed that goes out by satellite. It plays in any modern browser and needs no account.
On YouTube
DW runs an official English-language YouTube channel under the DW News name. It carries a live stream of the English channel as well as clips, explainers and documentaries. On a TV, the YouTube app is often the simplest route, because it is preinstalled on most smart TVs and available on Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV and Google TV devices. Use the verified DW News channel so you get the real live feed.
In the DW app
Deutsche Welle publishes a free app called “DW – Breaking World News.” The App Store listing shows versions for iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Apple Watch and Apple Vision, and the app is also on Android. Users can switch the app between many languages, and live TV is built in. DW says the app has no ads and no pop-ups.
By satellite and over the air
Since its 2015 launch, DW’s English channel has been free-to-air on satellite in many parts of the world. If you already have a dish, scan your receiver for DW. In the US, several public broadcasters carry DW on digital subchannels. These have included stations in Denver, Rochester, Orlando, the Quad Cities, Fresno and San Francisco. DW does not charge US public stations for its programming, so more stations may carry it. Check your local PBS member station’s channel guide.
Through local TV providers
Many cable and satellite companies around the world include DW in their packages. Examples have included Rogers in Canada, Zuku and StarTimes in Africa, and Akash DTH in Bangladesh. Contact your provider to confirm whether DW English is in your line-up.
Coming soon: the NewsLive streaming app. We’re building one subscription for live international news on Android, Roku, Fire TV and desktop. The service is under development — follow NewsLive for launch updates.
Setting up DW News on each device
Because DW offers several free routes, the best one depends on the screen you use most.
- iPhone or iPad: install the DW app from the App Store, open it and choose live TV. You can also use the YouTube app.
- Android phone or tablet: install the DW app from Google Play, or use YouTube.
- Apple TV: DW has a native Apple TV version of its app, which is the cleanest option on that device.
- Roku, Fire TV and Google TV: open the YouTube app, search for DW News and pick the live video from the verified channel. Our guide to live news on Fire TV walks through the steps.
- PC or Mac: go to the live TV section of dw.com and select the English channel, or open the DW News channel on YouTube.
A few habits help. Stick to official sources, since unofficial uploads often show old footage or disappear. If a stream stalls, refresh the player or switch from the website to YouTube, which tends to handle weak connections well. And if you want subtitles, the YouTube player’s auto-captions can help with names and places.
What you will see on DW News
DW’s English channel mixes regular newscasts with magazine shows and documentaries. The newscasts give a European, and often German, angle on world events. That makes DW useful for anyone following the EU, Ukraine, energy policy or German politics in English.
Flagship programmes
- DW News: the core newscast that runs at regular points through the day.
- The Day: DW’s main analysis program, aired Monday to Friday. It explains the biggest stories of the past 24 hours with experts and correspondents. Brent Goff, DW’s lead news anchor, presents it, with Nicole Frölich also listed as a presenter.
- Conflict Zone: a hard-hitting interview program hosted by Tim Sebastian, who questions politicians and officials from around the world.
- Focus on Europe and Euromaxx: reports and lifestyle features from across Europe.
- Tomorrow Today and Shift: science and technology programmes.
- Kick Off!: DW’s football (soccer) show.
DW programmes are also syndicated. In the US, The Day has aired on public stations such as WFYI in Indianapolis, and PBS has a listing page for it. Air times vary by station, so look up your local listings.
About the schedule
DW broadcasts on Central European Time, but its English channel is built for a global audience, so programmes repeat throughout the day. Exact slots change with seasons and news events. For today’s timings, use the program guide on dw.com, which shows the schedule for each channel.
Is DW News worth watching?
For viewers who want world news without American cable-news style, DW is a strong option. Its newscasts are measured in tone and lean toward explaining context. It is also one of the few major news channels that costs nothing in every country where it is available.
DW’s main limits are scale and depth on non-European stories. It has fewer correspondents than the BBC or CNN, and its coverage of the Americas is thinner. Many viewers pair it with another European broadcaster. Our guides to watching France 24 English live and streaming Euronews cover two good companions.
If you are building a lineup of English-language channels from across the continent, read our roundup of European news channels in English. For a big-screen setup, see how to watch live news on Android TV and Google TV.
See also: the UN inquiry into Russian strikes on Ukraine’s power grid.
Frequently asked questions
Is DW News free to watch?
Yes. DW streams its English channel free on dw.com, on YouTube and in its own app. There are no ads in the DW app and no subscription. DW is funded by German federal taxes, so it does not charge viewers.
Who owns DW News?
DW News is run by Deutsche Welle, Germany’s international public broadcaster. It is funded by the federal government but operates under the Deutsche Welle Act, which protects its editorial independence.
Where is DW News based?
DW’s TV programmes, including DW News, are produced almost entirely in Berlin. The broadcaster’s headquarters and radio production are in Bonn.
Can I watch DW News in the USA?
Yes. The dw.com stream, the DW News YouTube channel and the DW app all work in the US. Some public TV stations also carry DW on digital subchannels or air programmes such as The Day.
Does DW broadcast in German?
DW closed its German-language TV channel at the start of 2024. It still publishes German-language content online. Its current 24-hour TV channels are in English, Spanish, Arabic and Russian.
Who presents DW News?
Brent Goff is DW’s lead news anchor and presents The Day. Tim Sebastian hosts the interview show Conflict Zone. Other anchors rotate through the daily newscasts.
