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Watch TCM app access without cable or satellite?
For classic Hollywood film lovers, the Watch TCM app is the summit of Everest. It offers on demand streaming of an insanely vast and ever revolving catalog of the great classic films. The Criterion Channel app (which I do subscribe to) is another great source, but its offerings are much broader with foreign and art house films, and not nearly as comprehensive on the classic Hollywood pics. Kanopy, as well as some of the other major streamers like Max, etc offer good stuff but again, nothing even close to Watch TCM.
We’re thinking of finally cutting the cable cord, but as far as I know the Watch TCM app can only be accessed via an existing cable or satellite provider plan. Watch TCM does not offer its own subscription, like Criterion does, and you also cannot access it with an internet TV subscription such as Hulu TV, Sling, etc.
I’m hoping I’ve missed something but doubtful. There was a thread about this here, but it was locked over a year ago, so hoping there’s some more recent info. Does anyone know if there’s a way to access the Watch TCM app without cable or satellite provider? (To be clear, I’m not talking about streaming TCM channel live, which can do on most internet TV subscriptions like Sling, Hulu TV, etc. I’m specifically talking about the Watch TCM app, with the mega on demand catalog). It’s our primary streaming app and honestly if there’s no other way to access it, we’ll probably just keep cable.
Thanks!
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Well, I think you are definitely missing something because I went to the Watch TCM website and saw YouTube TV as a listed provider, in fact I was able to login with my credentials and got access to the contents.
Interesting
The TCM direct app has one major problem (actually it's not the app but how TCM runs it); the movies they show dont stay in the system for very long (generally less than a month), so if you aren't checking and watching every week, the movies "roll off" the system and you've missed it. The beauty of a subscription to a live streamer (like yttv) is the time their dvr holds the saved content. Like 9 months. I scan TCM every week ahead and mark anything I want to watch and mark it for dvr. Then it will be saved for the 9 months. Done.
I also love TCM. Their live schedule is actually better than what they keep available on their app each month. I subscribe to Sling with the Hollywood extra pack to get TCM. Then i upgraded to their 200 hr DVR. once a week i flip through TCM on the guide and record the classics i want to watch or watch again or even just save. It works great. Just make sure you lock the recordings you want to keep forever so they don’t accidentally get recorded over.
Cool! Does your Sling with Hollywood extra pack give you access to the Watch TCM app as well?
Unfortunately it doesn’t. I think maybe it used to or maybe it was back when i had cable because I’ve definitely used it before but i just tried but sling wasn’t a log in option.
Looks like the only way to access that app is with a cable login of some kind. I don't believe that will change anytime soon.
When cutting the cord sometimes some sacrifices have to be made. I know you already talked about the tcm hub on HBO max, that seems like the easiest way to get most of those movies without a cable sign in. There is also a small free selection (ad supported) of tcm movies on Vudu(Fandango at home). It's a free app. It seems like they rotate the free movies every once and a while. Those seem like your only two options other than just keeping cable for the sign in credentials.
I can access the Watch TCM app with my YouTubeTV credentials.
Muy interesante. Going to look into this today, thanks.
Good luck! Also thank you for this post lol - I was aware that I got access to the TCM channel but I didn’t know there was so much in the app!
You've got it right. For a long time, even Time Warner Cable (now Spectrum) wasn't good enough. My guess is that TCM charges them more for access to the app, and the streaming cable equivalents aren't paying it.
I had access to the TCM app via a full Hulu with live TV subscription for many months, ending a few weeks ago. Unless they changed something very recently at least Hulu is enough.
I agree though that TCM would be the holy grail if it offered a standalone subscription.
Very interesting
I'd like to see WBD kill off Max and go back to a standalone HBO app, except this time include the live HBO channels in it, plus the live TCM channel and all the on-demand movies from the Watch TCM app. Price it at $15 or $16/mo, all ad-free, with 4K, Dolby Vision and Atmos. Take all the other non-HBO/non-TCM stuff that's in Max and fold that into a joint venture with NBCU/Peacock, Paramount, and/or Hulu. Not that I think this will happen but I think it would help preserve the HBO and TCM brands, and the quality they stand for, and give cord-cutters a way to access just those premium services without a bunch of other stuff/crap.
So with you in this. I’d pay untold sums for this service.
You wouldn’t be able to use this through xfinity unless you have a subscription
Watch TCM is available for Youtube TV, Directv Stream customers but NOT for Sling users!
Been there done it.
Thanks to all for your help. I learned here that Hulu + Live TV does in fact grant TV provider access to the Watch TCM app, as does YouTube TV which ultimately we decided to go with because we were already getting Hulu, Disney+, and ESPN+ for $10/mo as a bundle through our Verizon mobile service. Side note: cancelling our Spectrum cable service was a nightmare that required multiple phone calls, hours and hours of time dealing with their reps, plus an in store visit, but it’s finally all done. In the end we’re saving over $200/month and have everything we had before. It’s a slog, but well worth it!
It looks like your cheapest route would be to go with Sling Blue at $40 a month, but Sling is bad about not doing tv everywhere- being able to sign in with your credentials on apps, so maybe do a trial and see if you can use sling credentials to sign in to the TCM app after you sign up. Otherwise, Hulu Live Tv is your next cheapest route.
I do not believe Sling + Hollywood Pack comes with the TV Everywhere login.
I had a sling sub and when I loaded up the Watch TCM app on my phone it automatically asked me if I wanted to use my Sling subscription for access. I say “yes” and it tried to log me in but ultimately said no dice. Not sure if that’s because my Sling sub is no longer active or because Watch TCM doesn’t allow Sling as an access route period. When I searched available providers on the Watch TCM app however, Sling was not an option.
Is there a TCM app for Android TV? Can't seem to find it...