Best value streaming service for ION May 2026
 | Fubo Pro | $73.99/mo |
| YouTube Base Plan | $82.99/mo | |
 | DirecTV Entertainment | $89.99/mo |
GOAL Recommends: Fubo is the premier choice for sports enthusiasts due to its unmatched breadth of coverage and industry-leading features like Multiview. Whether you are tracking elite European soccer or domestic American leagues, the service provides a robust lineup that caters to every type of fan. For a deep dive into the platform's value, including current subscription tiers and user experience, you can read our comprehensive Fubo review: Pricing, plans, subscriptions, free trials, and more. Beyond its competitive features, the platform's greatest strength is its variety; you can explore the complete selection of sports, news, and entertainment offerings in our Fubo channels list and guide to see exactly why it remains a top-tier cable alternative.
What is coming up on ION in May 2026?
In May 2026, ION Television will offer its signature blend of marathon procedural dramas alongside a robust weekend lineup of live professional women's sports. Viewers can tune in throughout the week for back-to-back, day-long marathons of hit investigative and first-responder series, including long-running favorites like Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, FBI, Bones, and Chicago Fire. The network's weekend schedule is anchored by exclusive live Scripps Sports broadcasts, taking over prime time on Fridays and Saturdays. Friday nights feature weekly national WNBA on ION doubleheaders, highlighting marquee matchups such as the Golden State Valkyries facing the Seattle Storm and the Connecticut Sun taking on the New York Liberty. Saturday nights shift the action to the pitch with the NWSL on ION, broadcasting regular-season professional soccer matches throughout the month, including key contests like Gotham FC battling Boston Legacy FC and Angel City FC hosting San Diego Wave FC.
What is the ION TV channel?
ION Television, simply referred to as ION or ION TV, is a broadcast television network and FAST television channel owned by Scripps Networks. Launched in 1998 as Pax TV, it focused primarily on family-oriented programming. Under the Scripps ownership, the channel began shifting focus to sports packages with the inclusion of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) and the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA).
NWSL on ION
For fans of the NWSL, ION TV has become a cornerstone of the league's broadcasting schedule, serving as the dedicated home for "NWSL Saturdays." This partnership brings a consistent window of doubleheaders into American living rooms every weekend, typically featuring back-to-back matches starting in the early evening. Because ION is an over-the-air broadcast network, it is one of the most accessible ways to follow stars like Sophia Smith and Naomi Girma, often requiring nothing more than a digital antenna or a basic cable package.
If you are looking for the most efficient way to catch every goal from the regular season through to the playoffs, you can find a complete guide on how to watch and live stream NWSL soccer across all its various platforms. While ION handles the Saturday night slate, the league's wider reach includes placements on CBS, ESPN, and Prime Video. However, for those specifically focusing on the weekend action, ION’s high-definition broadcasts and dedicated pre-game shows provide a premium viewing experience that has significantly elevated the profile of domestic women’s soccer in the United States.
Where can I watch it for free?
You can access the ION channel through five-day free trials on leading streaming services Fubo and DirecTV.
It's also available on YouTube TV's base plan.
READ MORE: How to get a five-day free pass with Fubo
How much does it cost?
ION channel is available on all Fubo and DirecTV plans. It is also available for free on Sling Freestream.
| Provider | First month | Monthly cost |
|---|---|---|
| Fubo Pro | $54.99 | $84.99 |
| Fubo Elite | $74.99 | $104.99 |
| Fubo Deluxe | $84.99 | $114.99 |
| DirecTV Entertainment | $49.99 | $89.99 |
| DirecTV Choice | $59.99 | $94.99 |
| DirecTV Ultimate | $84.99 | $124.99 |
| DirecTV Premier | $124.99 | $169.99 |
| Sling Freestream | Free | Free |
If you are out of the country and would like to watch upcoming ION content on your favoured streaming service, you can do so by bypassing geo-restrictions by using a Virtual Private Network (VPN).
READ MORE: The best streaming VPNs for watching sports
