The Smithsonian Channel provides awe-inspiring and powerful documentaries and docudramas. The network is famous for genres such as space, science, travel, air, history, pop culture, and nature.
But where can you watch and access the channel? It is accessible through several television providers and streaming platforms, each with its pros and cons.
Read on to learn about the various options for watching the Smithsonian Channel, including availability, packages, and costs.
Streaming services that carry the Smithsonian Channel
Streaming platforms give you flexible viewing options to watch the Smithsonian Channel without needing a cable subscription. Here’s a look at one of the most popular streaming choices for accessing Smithsonian Channel content:
1. Paramount+
Paramount+ gives you this channel in its extensive on-demand library. As a subscriber, you can stream exclusive Smithsonian documentaries and full episodes of popular Smithsonian shows.
With Paramount+, you get two main plan options:
- The Essential plan: Gives you over 40,000 shows and movies on-demand, with some commercial interruptions, for $7.99/month. This covers all the Smithsonian content but does not include a live CBS feed.
- The Premium plan: This plan bumps your subscription up to $12.99/month for commercial-free streaming (except for live TV and a few shows). It adds your live local CBS station, letting you watch CBS and Smithsonian content. It also gives you perks like downloads for offline viewing.
Both Paramount+ plans offer a free 7-day trial upon signing up. So you can test it out risk-free before committing.
2. Hulu
Hulu also provides you access to Smithsonian Channel programming through a few different plan options.
The basic Hulu plan with ads gives you unlimited on-demand shows and movies for $9.99/month after a 30-day free trial. This includes access to the Smithsonian catalog. With ads, it’s an affordable way to watch your favorite documentaries and explore new Smithsonian shows.
To remove ads, you can upgrade to the Hulu No-Ads plan for $18.99/month with no free trial. Going ad-free allows you to stream Smithsonian content without interruptions.
For the full live TV experience plus on-demand, Hulu + Live TV bundles 75+ live channels for $82.99/month after a 3-day free preview.
This premium plan has an extensive channel lineup that features news, sports, entertainment, and more hit shows, including live Smithsonian access. It also includes Disney+ and ESPN+ to round out your streaming options.
3. YouTube TV
YouTube TV grants access to stream the Smithsonian Channel plus over 100 popular networks, all through an intuitive and user-friendly interface.
As a cord-cutting platform, it makes watching your favorite Smithsonian programs straightforward without a traditional cable subscription.
Signing up gives you a 10-day free trial to test it out firsthand. Pricing past the trial is affordable, starting at $59.99 monthly for your first three months and then $82.99 thereafter.
Built-in cloud DVR functionality allows you to record unlimited content to watch on-demand later. Any programs you record sit in your library till you delete them, giving you plenty of time to catch up on a backlog.
This feature is handy for documenting and preserving your favorite Smithsonian documentaries and series before they expire.
Simultaneous streaming makes services like YouTube TV convenient for families and housemates. On the base plan, you can stream on up to 3 devices concurrently, letting everyone pick what they want to watch without disrupting anyone else’s viewing.
4. Philo
Philo offers a budget-friendly streaming plan focusing on popular entertainment and lifestyle channels. For just $25 per month, you get unlimited access to over 70 channels, including the Smithsonian Channel.
Unlike most streaming services nowadays, Philo keeps it simple with one reasonably priced plan. When getting started, there’s no need to select multiple subscription tiers, and you will also get a free 7-day trial.
Beyond living room viewing, Philo allows you to stream on three devices simultaneously. You could watch that new Smithsonian documentary on your phone while your kids view something else on their tablets.
Philo also includes unlimited DVR storage to record programs like the Smithsonian’s latest archeology special or favorite series to watch later.
Anything you record through their service stays available for viewing for up to one year after initial airing. This is useful when you’ve got so much to catch up on across 70+ channels!
5. Fubo TV
Fubo TV is known for having many regional sports networks. So, the service, first and foremost, caters to loyal sports fans.
That said, its channel lineup also includes popular entertainment, news, and non-sports offerings like the Smithsonian Channel. While its on-demand library cannot compete with YouTube TV or Hulu, it covers many basics.
The monthly price is $79.99. But for avid sports viewers who are also looking for science, nature, and history documentaries on Smithsonian, Fubo TV delivers.
They offer a 7-day free trial, so you can experience channels like Smithsonian without commitment first. Test out the platform if you want a sports-focused package incorporating Smithsonian alongside outlets like Discovery, AMC, and more.
6. Amazon Prime Video
Amazon Prime members can access select titles from the Smithsonian Channel through Amazon Prime Video. This provides another streaming option for watching your favorite Smithsonian programs on-demand.
Rather than subscribing directly to the channel, Prime members can add Paramount + to their subscription as an add-on and then get access. You can also rent or buy individual Smithsonian shows and documentaries through Amazon’s online store.
Prices are very reasonable, with most single titles available for rent starting at just $2.99. Without committing to an ongoing subscription, you can pay a small fee each time you find a Smithsonian show to enjoy.
7. Pluto TV
Pluto TV offers a free streaming option for Smithsonian Channel content. This service gives you access to live and on-demand shows without requiring registration or payment information.
You can scroll through their channel guide and select the dedicated Smithsonian Channel. This functions like a live cable channel with a schedule of programs.
In addition to the live Smithsonian stream, Pluto TV has an on-demand section. There, you can browse and play past Smithsonian episodes for shows you may have missed when they aired live.
As a free service, Pluto TV relies on commercials to cover costs. So you’ll see occasional ad breaks when watching the Smithsonian Channel and other content. But that’s a reasonable trade-off for unlimited access without any subscriptions or logins required.
8. YouTube
The Smithsonian Channel maintains an official YouTube channel that gives you free access to select content. As a video platform, YouTube allows the channel to frequently upload the latest full episodes, trailers, and short clips.
So, if you don’t have a streaming subscription or cable package with Smithsonian Channel access, sampling their YouTube videos is a no-cost way to get a taste.
You can browse their content library to find full episodes of shows that interest you across history, science, travel, and more.
While only some full episodes are available this way, consider YouTube an extra value. The official Smithsonian Channel page supplements whatever other streaming or cable access you may already have. Trailers can give you a preview to decide if a show is for you.
9. Sling TV
Sling TV is another option for accessing the Smithsonian Channel over the web rather than through a cable box.
The channel is included in Sling’s standard packages, either the Sling Orange or Sling Blue base plans. This means you can watch Smithsonian documentaries and series for $40/month as part of your Sling subscription without needing any add-ons.
Sling also lets you customize your channel lineup beyond the base packages. You can add extras like a cloud DVR to record shows, premium channels like Starz, or extra content bundles. This allows you to shape your streaming TV service around the channels and features you value most.
Cable and satellite TV options
Aside from streaming platforms, you can also access the Smithsonian Channel through major cable and satellite TV providers. You can access it through the following options:
1. DirecTV
The Smithsonian Channel is part of the DirecTV channel lineup, available on channel 570 in high definition.
When considering DirecTV, you’ll choose from a few main package options.
- The Entertainment package offers a budget-friendly starting point for accessing popular channels. For $57.99/month, plus a $15 Advanced Receiver Fee, you get over 100 channels.
- For sports enthusiasts who want to catch games on regional sports networks, the Choice package, which costs $69.99, bumps your channel count while adding more sports.
- The Ultimate package builds on Choice by mixing in some additional sports and a sampling of movie channels. Expect to pay $97.99 monthly for this tier.
- Finally, the Premier plan includes premium channels like Starz and Cinemax in addition to a full channel lineup. As DirecTV’s priciest offering, Premier costs $142.99 per month.
In short, the Smithsonian Channel comes standard no matter which package you select. The main decision is which level of channels and price point best fits your household.
2. Spectrum
With Spectrum, you can watch the Smithsonian Channel via their Spectrum TV app on mobile devices or Spectrum On Demand if you have their set-top box.
The platform offers TV packages ranging from $25/month up to $105/month, depending on the number of channels you want.
Even their most basic $45/month TV Stream package grants access to over 85 channels, including the insightful Smithsonian Channel.
No matter which Spectrum TV tier you choose, you’ll be able to enjoy commercial-free, on-demand Smithsonian documentaries about history, science, nature, and culture from the comfort of your living room TV or devices.
3. Comcast Xfinity
As a Comcast Xfinity customer, you have several options for accessing Smithsonian Channel content. These include adding Smithsonian to your channel package or using the Xfinity Stream app to view shows on-demand.
Plans and pricing depend on location. However, they range between $20 to over $200 depending on the internet and TV subscription you choose from your location. For exact figures, head over to their official site to build your plan.
4. Cox TV
Cox provides another option for accessing the Smithsonian Channel through their Contour TV packages. A popular starter bundle is their Cox Contour TV Starter plan.
The Starter plan offers over 75 local channels, including local broadcast stations, for $61 monthly. This basic channel lineup includes your local CBS, and Smithsonian Channel shows.
In addition to locals, the starter package includes popular cable stations like HGTV, Food Network, and ESPN.
Cox offers Contour TV packages that move up to over 150+ channels if you want to expand your channel selection. Their higher-tier plans add extra sports, movies, news, and entertainment channels.
5. Dish Network
Dish Network provides the Smithsonian Channel on channel 367 across all of its TV packages, starting at $67.99/month for the Flex Pack with over 50 channels.
Packages like America’s Top 200 and 250 include 190+ and 240+ channels, respectively, and also contain Smithsonian content.
Dish also offers DishLATINO and international packages, but the Smithsonian Channel is not included in those. It is available on all of Dish’s main English language packages.
Additionally, Dish provides a DISH 55 plan for customers 55 and over, with perks like free standard installation.
6. Optimum
Optimum cable TV features the Smithsonian Channel on channel 163. You can access it by adding TV to your Optimum internet plan for as low as $30 extra per month.
So, with an eligible internet subscription, Optimum viewers can watch Smithsonian Channel programming conveniently packaged together.
7. Verizon Fios
Verizon Fios TV offers the Smithsonian Channel on certain plans starting from their $85/month mix-and-match Fios TV plan. This plan, with 125+ channels, contains Smithsonian content.
Higher plans, like their $129/month option with 425+ channels, also carry the Smithsonian Channel on the Fios TV lineup. Alongside Smithsonian, Verizon’s most packages feature add-ons like Paramount+ or Showtime.