To watch live news on Android TV or Google TV, install the networks’ own apps from Google Play. On Google TV in the US, you can also open the built-in Live tab, which carries Google TV Freeplay, a free line-up that includes Sky News, Reuters, Bloomberg TV+, NBC News NOW and ABC News Live with no app to install. Outside the US, Freeplay isn’t offered, so apps like DW, France 24, Pluto TV and YouTube are your main sources. Below are the official steps for both systems and a channel-by-channel list.
Key facts (as of October 2026)
- Install news apps on Android TV or Google TV from Google Play.
- In the US, Google TV’s Live tab includes free Freeplay channels such as Sky News, Reuters, Bloomberg TV+, NBC News NOW and ABC News Live.
- Freeplay is not offered outside the US.
Android TV vs Google TV: which one do you have?
Google TV is a newer interface that runs on top of Android TV. Many Sony, TCL and Hisense TVs use it, along with Google’s own streaming devices. Older or simpler Android TV boxes still use the classic Android TV home screen. The apps are the same, but the way you find them is different.
Either way, the steps for getting live news on Android TV are much the same.
- Google TV: The top menu has tabs such as For you, Live (where available) and Apps, and search is built into the home screen.
- Android TV: You’ll see a row of apps and a separate Google Play Store app for installing new ones.
If you aren’t sure, press Home and look at the top of the screen. A row of tabs means Google TV.
How to install news apps
On Google TV
Google’s help center describes two ways to install apps.
- Press the Assistant button on the remote, or select Search on the home screen.
- Say or type the app name, such as “DW,” “France 24” or “Pluto TV.”
- When the app’s page opens, select Install.
Alternatively, open the Apps tab, go to App categories, pick the news category and install from there. Apps you already use on other devices show up under “Apps from my other devices,” which saves time if you have them on your phone.
On Android TV
- From the home screen, go to the Apps row.
- Open the Google Play Store.
- Browse categories, or select the search icon at the top and enter the app name.
- Select the app and follow the prompts to install it.
Check the developer name before you install. Deutsche Welle publishes the DW app and France Médias Monde publishes France 24. An unofficial “world news” app that collects streams from many networks may stop working, or may not have permission to show them.
Google TV Freeplay: free live news with no app
On Google TV in the US, Google offers a free, ad-supported set of live channels called Google TV Freeplay. Google’s support page says it doesn’t need an app download, sign-up or subscription. The channels come from partners such as Xumo and Scripps.
Freeplay is the quickest way to get live news on Android TV devices that run Google TV.
How to open it
- Press Home and go to the Live tab, or open the Google TV Freeplay app.
- Scroll the channel guide to the news section.
- Select a channel to start watching.
Freeplay has grown quickly. 9to5Google counted 252 channels in December 2025, up from 203 that September, with many local news additions. The site’s list updated in September 2026 includes these news channels:
| Type | News channels in Freeplay (US, September 2026) |
|---|---|
| International | Sky News, Reuters, CBC News, Bloomberg TV+ |
| US national | NBC News NOW, ABC News Live, Scripps News, Today All Day, Newsmax2, OAN Plus |
| Business and weather | Yahoo Finance, Cheddar, AccuWeather Now |
| News magazines | Dateline 24/7, ABC 20/20 |
| Spanish-language | Noticias Telemundo Ahora, Telemundo regional news channels, Estrella News |
| Local | Stations such as NBC 4 New York News, WSB Now Atlanta and KIRO 7 Seattle |
That list didn’t include BBC News, Al Jazeera, DW, France 24 or Euronews, so use the broadcaster apps for those. Line-ups change, so treat this as a snapshot and check the Live tab on your own TV.
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.
Free apps that add more news to the Live tab
Google says some free apps show their channels in the Live tab, recommendations and search results once you install them. It names Pluto TV, Tubi, Plex and Haystack News. Install one, open it once, and its channels appear alongside Freeplay. Outside the US, these apps work on their own wherever they’re offered, even without Freeplay.
Broadcaster apps for international news
These are the official TV apps we confirmed from publisher announcements and app listings. Search Google Play on your TV to check whether they’re offered in your country.
International broadcasters fill the gaps in live news on Android TV with their own apps.
- DW (Android TV), published by Deutsche Welle. Its listing says it streams all of DW’s TV channels, including English, German, Spanish and Arabic. See our DW News live guide.
- France 24 (Android TV), published by France Médias Monde. It launched on Android TV in 2015 as a free app with live streams in French, English and Arabic. More in our France 24 English guide.
- YouTube. Many networks run official 24/7 live streams on their YouTube channels, and the YouTube app on Android TV plays them. This is often the easiest option where a network has no TV app in your region.
Cable news channels such as CNN and Fox News need a live TV subscription for the full live channel. On Google TV, YouTube TV links through the Google Account tied to the subscription, and Sling TV and Philo can be linked as well. Google’s live TV help page describes all three.
Cast news from your phone instead
Most Google TV and Android TV devices have Chromecast built in. That gives you another way to get a news stream onto the big screen without installing anything on the TV.
Casting is a handy backup for live news on Android TV when an app is not available.
- Connect your phone and TV to the same Wi-Fi network.
- Open a news app or the YouTube app on your phone and start the live stream.
- Tap the cast icon (a rectangle with Wi-Fi waves) and choose your TV.
Your phone works as the remote, and you can keep using other apps on it while the TV plays. This helps when a broadcaster has a phone app in your country but no TV app. The cast icon only appears in apps that support it. For phone apps worth casting from, see our guide to watching live news on your phone.
A starter set of apps for live news on Android TV
If you’re setting up a new TV mainly for news, this order works well:
- YouTube, usually preinstalled, for official network live streams.
- One FAST app, such as Pluto TV, for a channel-surfing guide of free news.
- Two or three broadcaster apps for the networks you watch most, such as DW or France 24.
- A live TV service, only if you need US cable news.
Start with the free options first. Many viewers find they cover most of what they watch.
Make the Live tab work for news
Mark favorite channels
- Open the Live tab or the Freeplay app and go to the channel guide.
- Select a channel’s name. A star appears and the channel moves to the Favorites section at the top.
- Select the name again to remove the star.
Clean up recents
Channels you’ve watched recently appear under “Recents” if Web & App Activity is turned on. To remove one, press and hold the select button on that channel and choose Remove.
If Freeplay won’t load
Google suggests updating the device’s software and making sure the Google TV Home app is up to date.
Frequently asked questions
Is live news free on Google TV?
Yes, in the US. Google TV Freeplay includes free news channels such as Sky News, Reuters and ABC News Live with ads and no sign-up. Elsewhere, free broadcaster apps and FAST apps like Pluto TV provide free live news.
Is Google TV Freeplay available outside the US?
Not as of October 2026. Both Google’s help page and recent 9to5Google coverage describe the built-in channels as US-only. Viewers in other countries should use the broadcaster apps or YouTube.
Can I watch BBC News on Android TV?
BBC News wasn’t in the US Freeplay line-up we checked. In the UK, the BBC iPlayer app streams BBC channels live, and a TV Licence is required. Our BBC News live guide covers official options in other countries.
How do I watch CNN or Fox News on Google TV?
You’ll need a live TV service that carries them, such as YouTube TV or Sling TV, or a pay-TV login for the network’s app. Our guide to watching news without cable compares the options.
Does the DW app work on Android TV?
Yes. Deutsche Welle publishes a dedicated DW app for Android TV, and its listing describes live streams of DW’s channels, including DW English. Search “DW” in Google Play on your TV.
Where are news apps on a Google TV remote?
There’s no news button. Press the Assistant or search button and say the app’s name, or say “open DW” once it’s installed.
Sources
- Google TV Help: Watch live TV on Google TV
- Google TV Help: Install apps on Google TV
- Android TV Help: Download or delete apps and games
- 9to5Google: Google TV free channels list (updated September 2026)
- 9to5Google: Google TV Freeplay passes 250 channels (December 2025)
- AIB: France 24 launches a new Android TV application
