If you are a fan of reality shows, A&E is probably essential. But due to the channel’s popularity, it is widely provided by live TV streaming services. Read on to learn how you can get it without a cable provider.
In a hurry? Several of the top streaming services offer A&E. These are the best:
- DIRECTV STREAM: Makes it easy to switch from cable to streaming with their 75+ channel Entertainment plan and options for much more. A 5-day free trial is now available for DIRECTV STREAM.
- Sling TV: The top low-cost streaming service provides a great base channel lineup in both its plans. Save 50% your first month with Sling TV.
- Philo: This service gives you 60+ live TV channel for just $25/mo!
If you can’t watch your favorite movies and shows because of your location, try ExpressVPN to get access to the content you deserve.
Table Of Contents
A&E is the flagship cable TV channel of A+E Networks, which also encompasses History, Lifetime, Crime + Investigation, and Spike Jonze’s Vice.
The channel is still trying to recover from the cancellation in 2020 of its biggest hit Live PD, and it has a couple of brand new series starting in early 2022 to help it do that: the reality drama Adults Adopting Adults and documentary serial Secrets of Playboy.
You can stream pay TV channels like A&E through the internet at a fraction of the price of cable or satellite, with no contracts or inconvenient installation appointments. Read on for more details.
What Is A&E
Once the Arts & Entertainment Network, the A&E channel used to be up there with PBS as a source of cultural, academic, intellectual programming — such as its Emmy- and Peabody-award-winning series, Biography and British co-productions and imports.
Over the years, it has succumbed to the same channel drift that claimed its sister channel History and most of the Discovery channels. Now, its content is largely a mixture of reality shows like Storage Wars and true crime documentaries like Killer Cases.
A&E was riding high as the #8 cable channel in ratings in 2020 when George Floyd was killed, prompting the network to put its top-rated show Live PD on indefinite hiatus.
With the controversy around the Austin, TX police department’s handling of Javier Ambler’s death while in custody while filming the show, A&E decided to make the hiatus permanent. Given it was many viewers’ favorite show, half its audience left overnight and the network dropped to #20.
It didn’t help that the show occupied multiple primetime evenings, giving A&E channel a giant hole in its programming schedule that they had to scramble to fill.
It’s not the first time A&E has canceled a show amid political controversy and experienced a viewer backlash. In 2013, after one year on the air, Duck Dynasty star Phil Robertson was first put on hiatus, then reinstated, ticking off viewers on both sides of the controversy.
The network announced last year that it was going to focus on “total-audience metrics” versus the traditionally coveted 18-54-year-old group. According to entertainment analysts, this means they’re going to be focusing on the 55-and-over crowd.
However, a recent documentary on Janet Jackson that aired on both A&E and Lifetime did very well across all age groups, so things could be looking up again.
A&E Shows
The top TV shows on A&E include:
- Biography
- Cold Case Files
- Court Cam
- Hoarders
- Intervention
- Secrets of Playboy
- Storage Wars
- Voices Magnified.
Unblock Your Favorite Movies and Shows With a VPN
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Other brands worth checking out include Hotspot Shield and CyberGhost.
How to Stream A&E
A&E’s sister channels at A+E Networks are FYI, History, Military History, Lifetime, LMN (Lifetime Movie Network), and Crime + Investigation. You can watch similar content — unscripted reality and documentaries — on Discovery’s TLC, NBCUniversal’s Bravo, and AMC Networks‘ WE tv.
Most of the major streaming services offer the A&E channel. The two major exceptions are FuboTV and YouTube TV.
Philo
Philo is a huge bargain, especially if you like the A+E channels. For $25/mo, you get over 60 channels, including all the A+E channels (except Military History) plus TLC and WE tv.
It doesn’t carry WarnerMedia, NBCUniversal (no Bravo), or Disney-owned channels. It’s also missing sports and your local networks. But it does come with a great interface, unlimited DVR, and streaming on up to 3 devices at once. And only Frndly is cheaper (see below).
Get all the details in our Philo review.
Sling TV
Sling TV lets you create your own custom package. It’s as close to a la carte cable as you’ll ever get. But you don’t even need that. A&E, Bravo, History, Lifetime, TLC, and Vice are all right there in the Sling Blue base plan for $40.00/mo. (Alternatively, you can get Sling Orange, which comes with fewer channels but does include ESPN and Disney Channel.)
Grab the Lifestyle Extra add-on for $6/mo to get FYI, LMN, WE tv, and more. 50 hours of cloud DVR are included, and you can watch Sling Blue on up to 3 devices at the same time.
Learn everything in our Sling TV review.
DIRECTV STREAM
If it’s in the top 50 cable channels, it’s likely that DIRECTV STREAM (formerly AT&T TV) carries it. So it’s not surprising at all to find A&E, Lifetime, History, TLC, Vice, WE tv, and Bravo all in the base tier, the Entertainment Package, which runs $79.99/mo.
DIRECTV STREAM also gives you all your local stations, as well as unlimited cloud DVR and unlimited devices streaming in your home at the same time.
For more, see our DIRECTV STREAM review.
Get DIRECTV STREAM Free for 5 Days
Hulu + Live TV
Hulu + Live TV offers over 85 live TV channels, and, as the name says, Hulu. That means thousands of on-demand shows and movies. But that’s not all! It also comes with Disney+ and ESPN+.
The base plan is $76.99/mo and includes A&E, Bravo, FYI, History, Lifetime, LMN, TLC, and Vice. If you toss on the Entertainment Add-on, you can get Crime + Investigation and Military History — it’s the only service that carries the latter.
Check out our Hulu + Live TV review for details.
Vidgo
Vidgo undercuts a lot of the competition, while still keeping sports and news in the mix. Not especially strong on local networks, it does carry A&E, FYI, History, Lifetime, LMN, TLC, and Vice in its Plus package, which is $69.99/mo.
You can stream on up to 3 devices, but Vidgo does take a pass on WarnerMedia, NBCUniversal, and AMC Networks channels. And it includes no DVR and on-demand content.
See our Vidgo review for more information.
Other Ways to Stream A&E
None of those grab you? Don’t worry, there are more ways to stream The Art of Entertainment:
- Frndly TV: Frndly TV is a skinny bundle of over 30 general information, educational, and family live and on-demand channels starting at $7.99/mo. They recently reached an agreement with A+E to carry all of A&E’s sister networks. Other channels include the Hallmark Channel, Weather Channel, INSP, and BYU TV. (Frndly TV review)
- A&E Crime Central: A&E’s on-demand collection of 900+ true crime and justice system series and specials curated from A&E, History, and Lifetime/LMN. Featured shows include Dog the Bounty Hunter, After the First 48, 60 Days In, and Female Forces.
- Hulu: Hulu’s on-demand library starts at only $6.99/mo and contains over a dozen of A&E’s juiciest true crime and legal documentaries and series, as well as Storage Wars and Duck Dynasty.
- A&E App: Most devices allow you to watch A&E live and on-demand with this app. It requires that you have a TV provider to use it via TV Everywhere. You can similarly watch right on the A&E website.
Superpower Your Live TV Streaming With a VPN
You can’t beat a VPN for privacy, security, and access. We have used them for years as an important part of our streaming toolkit and we recommend ExpressVPN. Other brands worth checking out include Hotspot Shield and CyberGhost.
| i | See our VPN Buyer’s Guide for complete information on how to choose the best VPN for your needs. |
Supported Devices to Stream A&E
Most of the streaming services listed above support the devices in use today. We’ll just go over the most popular devices but you can find complete lists in the streaming reviews.
Android TV-based televisions are not supported by DIRECTV STREAM but they are by the other services. In contrast, DIRECTV STREAM allows you to use its own device, which can make the switch to streaming easier.
You can also cast to your TV from a smartphone, tablet, or web browser using Chromecast that is either built-in or added as an external device. This is supported by all services.
Samsung smart TVs are supported by Hulu, Sling, and DIRECTV. Sling and Hulu also support LG and VIZIO smart TVs.
All the services support the popular TV “stick” devices: Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, and Roku. They also support mobile devices with iOS (iPhone, iPad) and Android.
The Xbox One gaming system is supported by Sling and Hulu. PlayStation and Nintendo Switch are supported by Hulu. And finally, Sling TV supports the Oculus VR system.
Today’s A&E Schedule
Here is today’s schedule in Eastern Time:
| The First 48 – Bad Romance; Out of Control The investigation into the execution of a Somali girl leads Minneapolis police to uncover a secret relationship that may have turned deadly; a shooter kills a beloved son when a house party in Tulsa, Okla., gets out of control. | |
| The First 48 – The House on Madrona Street An Atlanta woman is found naked and strangled to death in an abandoned house; the investigation into the crime reveals more disturbing facts. | |
| The First 48 – Knock Knock Police must wade through a web of secrets and lies when a man is found dead in his Tulsa, Okla., hotel room. | |
| The First 48 – Bloody Valentine; Storm Warning A man is shot to death while visiting his son in Tulsa, Okla.; a home invasion in Atlanta that killed a teenager and wounded two others may have been a contract killing. | |
| The First 48 – Bad Romance; Out of Control The investigation into the execution of a Somali girl leads Minneapolis police to uncover a secret relationship that may have turned deadly; a shooter kills a beloved son when a house party in Tulsa, Okla., gets out of control. | |
| The First 48 – The House on Madrona Street An Atlanta woman is found naked and strangled to death in an abandoned house; the investigation into the crime reveals more disturbing facts. | |
| The First 48 – Knock Knock Police must wade through a web of secrets and lies when a man is found dead in his Tulsa, Okla., hotel room. | |
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| Zombie House Flipping – Dallas: Pendelton Though Derek feels excited about flipping a 60-year-old house in 60 days, Chauncey has serious doubts; when they run into huge problems, it not only threatens their profit margin but also their ability to even finish the renovation. | |
| Zombie House Flipping – Dallas: Beechmont Derek and Chauncey buy an ugly, bug-infested zombie in Casa Linda, and they have high hopes of turning it around in only 30 days; the Dream Team encounters plumbing problems, cabinet calamities, and an actual burglary. | |
| Zombie House Flipping – Tampa: Peppertree When Dolmar and the team get a deal on a 4 bedroom two bath from one of Dolmar's lender contacts in the suburb of Port Richey, it seems too good to be true; when the market shifts, it's causing Dolmar and his team to have to make a hard decision. | |
| Zombie House Flipping – Tampa: Clearbrook Dolmar thinks he hit a homerun purchasing a zombie in a desirable community outside Tampa, Fla.; as the team starts to renovate, it's quickly discovered that this house is going to need a ton of work. | |
| 48 Hours to Buy – Ludowici, GA to Tacoma, WA Derek and Tiffany have a full household in Ludowici, Ga., with four-year-old twins and three lively dogs; when Sergaent First Class Snyder receives a permanent change of office to Tacoma, Wash., this Army family must rise to the challenge. | |
| Property Virgins – Gut Instinct Three years into their relationship, perfect matches Carling and Matt are on the hunt for a customizable home in a lakeside community they both love. | |
| Property Virgins – Stepping Up Ready to ditch their tiny urban rental, Jack and Julien are dreaming big about a bigger home; but with only a 30-day pre-approval window, the race is on to find a spacious live-work space before their financing dries up. | |
| The First 48 – Back Street When a man is shot on the side of the road, clues lead Detective Jason White to an ongoing crime spree, in his 100th case for Tulsa Homicide. | |
| The First 48 – Bad Love A young Oklahoma woman is shot in broad daylight; police Detective Justin Ritter believes witnesses to the crime are withholding information. | |
| The First 48 – The Third Man; Cash Money Murder New Orleans police search for the killer of a hip-hop promoter; a night of drinking turns deadly at a Tulsa, Okla., senior center apartment. | |
| The First 48 – Endless Love & Out of Time A woman is beaten and stabbed to death in her home in an act of vengeance; a Kansas City man is unable to get out of a dangerous business. | |
| The First 48 – Flight Risk; Trapped A SWAT team joins the action when the alleged killer of a young mother makes a run for the Mexican border; Miami detectives suspect an apparent suicide may instead be foul play. | |
| The First 48 – Teardrops; Almost Home Dallas detectives hunt a car thief who fatally shot a man and stole his vehicle; detectives search for a witness that can identify the killer of a Cleveland man. | |
| The First 48 – Sliders In Gwinnett County, a beloved special education teacher is gunned down in broad daylight when the suspects' plan to score some easy money spins out of control. | |
| The First 48 – Tricked; Rogue Gun In Mobile, Ala., a 21-year-old woman is shot dead in her hotel room by a mysterious visitor; when a 42-year-old music producer is found riddled with bullets in his Gwinnett County apartment, clues point toward a madman on a shooting spree. | |
| The First 48 – Spree Killer When a potential spree killer targets the most vulnerable in Tulsa, Okla., Detective Max Ryden must stop the murderer before he kills again. |
Wrapping Up
So don’t miss out on any of your favorite A&E programs. Sign up for one of the services above, and you can go ahead and sweep your cable bill right under the rug without missing any episodes of WWE’s Most Wanted Treasures or Extreme Unboxing.
Our top recommendation to watch A&E is Philo. Try Philo free for 7 days.
FAQs
Are A&E shows available on-demand?
A&E shows certainly are available on-demand! All of the services above except Vidgo have at least some on-demand content, which generally contains at least recent episodes of current shows. In addition, Hulu has a number of A&E series available and Amazon Prime Video has some included as well (and some you have to buy).
You could also subscribe to A&E Crime Central, A+E Networks’ on-demand library of true crime-related programming from across its major channels, either by itself directly through A+E or through Amazon Prime Channels, Apple TV Channels, or Roku Channels.
Is A&E available on FuboTV?
Sadly, FuboTV (and YouTube TV) have not reached an agreement with A+E Networks to carry any of its channels, which is why you won’t see FYI, Crime + Investigation, either of the History channels, either of the Lifetime channels, or Vice on those services either.
What is the cheapest way to get A&E?
That would be Frndly TV at $7.99/mo. It’s a mix of on-demand and live channels including Local Now, UPtv, Outdoor Channel, Game Show Network — basically a lineup of cable TV’s Most Inoffensive Channels, ranging from completely neutral (The Weather Channel) to religious-tinged (Dove Channel, BYU TV) to determinedly wholesome (Hallmark, INSP). They just acquired the A+E Networks channels, including A&E.
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