If you like the sensationalist content of Reelz, there’s no reason you need to stick with cable to enjoy it. Read on to learn your options.
In a hurry? Reelz isn’t widely supported in the streaming industry, but a few great services offer it:
- 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 70+ 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
You’re waiting in line at the grocery store, and it’s taking forever. What’s your convenient, reliable source of entertainment?
You don’t have to admit it to us, but you know you read them: the supermarket tabloid headlines. Mmm, feel that sweet sweet schadenfreude. And that same irresistible, victimless emotional rubbernecking instinct is exactly why people watch Reelz.
What Is Reelz
Reelz was founded as ReelzChannel in 2006 by Hubbard Broadcasting, which also owns the art-focused Ovation. Originally, it covered a lot of the same material as E! — movie reviews, entertainment news, and red carpet coverage of awards.
The name was shortened to Reelz in 2012. Over time, it’s narrowed its focus to the tragic, the morbid, and the salacious stories of famous people from actors to presidents.
The true-crime genre, in vogue on and off for decades, is currently experiencing a high in popularity. This is reflected in the present spate of murder and real-life mystery channels: A+E’s Crime + Investigation, Discovery’s Investigation Discovery (ID), NBCUniversal’s Oxygen, and Dan Abrams’s Law + Crime.
Networks covering celebrity lifestyles (and shenanigans), such as PeopleTV and E! are addictive guilty-pleasure fodder. Reelz double-dips, so to speak, by attracting fans of both true crime and celebrity gossip and goings-on.
By combining the two, it manages to stand out from channels that focus on one or the other. Plus, the majority of its content is originally-produced, so it’s not just another Law & Order rerun factory.
Reelz Shows
Reelz’s most popular shows tend toward the sensationalist docusoap end of documentaries. They are entertaining, but you’re not likely to discover who really killed Kennedy or anything. It’s more along the lines of The Smoking Gun covering murders instead of shoplifting and drunk driving arrests.
They also have shows about scandal without the murder, if you prefer your scuttlebutt sans blood. And there are COPS and COPS Reloaded for an extra hardcore dose of reality.
Featured series include:
- Autopsy: The Last Hours Of: A forensic pathologist examines celebrity deaths, usually ones that were sudden, early, or mysterious. The current season’s documentaries include Grace Kelly, Whitney Houston, and Tom Petty.
- Friends Speak: Friends of notorious criminals or their victims are interviewed. Current subjects include Bobbi Kristina Brown and Carole Baskin.
- Murder Made Me Famous: A deep dive with People crime reporter Steve Helling into high profile murders and what creates a celebrity criminal. Upcoming episodes feature the Menendez brothers, the DC Sniper, and the BTK Killer.
- The Price of Fame: A look at the dark side of celebrity, examining the tragic aspects of the lives — and deaths, where applicable — of various entertainers. Celebs covered include Angelina Jolie, Robin Williams, Patrick Swayze, and Carrie Fisher.
- The Real Story Of: The true stories behind “inspired by real events” movies. Films picked apart include Munich, Donnie Brascoe, Zero Dark Thirty, and Lone Survivor.
Unblock Your Favorite Movies and Shows With a VPN
If you can’t watch your favorite movies and shows because of your location, a VPN will allow you to get the access you are entitled to, plus extra security and unequalled privacy. Check out our VPN Guide for everything you need to know, including our top pick ExpressVPN.
Other brands worth checking out include Hotspot Shield and CyberGhost.
Stream Reelz
Reelz isn’t the most ubiquitous channel, but it’s not super-obscure, either. It’s a pay channel, but you don’t need to pay cable’s high prices or commit to their long contract periods.
These streaming services all carry Reelz for cheaper than your average cable or satellite service and you pay month-to-month. Cancel anytime.
Philo
Philo likes to keep it simple. It’s got one package with 60+ channels for only $25/mo. The lineup includes Crime + Investigation, ID, Law & Crime, and PeopleTV. But if you subscribe to the Movies & More add-on (just $3/mo additional), you get Reelz, plus Cinémoi, HDNet Movies, MGM HD, and Sony Movies.
The base plan comes with unlimited cloud DVR and simultaneous streaming on up to three devices. Get more information in our Philo review.
Sling TV
Sling TV is a bit more complicated, but the flexibility can be worth the extra decision-making. First, you choose a base package for $40.00/mo. For Reelz fans, we recommend Sling Blue, which has has 40+ channels including ID, E!, and Oxygen.
Then you can customize your package with add-ons and premiums. The Hollywood Extra includes Reelz, Start TV, FXM, and more movie-centric networks for $6/mo.
The Sling Blue plan comes with 50 hours of cloud DVR storage and streaming on up to 3 devices at once. There are more details in our Sling TV review.
DIRECTV STREAM
The streaming version of DIRECTV, DIRECTV STREAM leans on its pre-existing longstanding partnerships with content creators and distributors (NBCUniversal, Paramount Global, Discovery, etc) to give you a wide variety of the most popular channels.
The base tier, the Entertainment Package, is $79.99/mo and includes Reelz and its sister-channel Ovation, E!, ID, and roughly 80 other networks.
All plans come with unlimited DVR storage (online orders) and streaming on unlimited devices. See our DIRECTV STREAM review for more details.
Get DIRECTV STREAM Free for 5 Days
Other Ways to Watch
- Reelz Now: Reelz Now lets you watch Reelz content on-demand, but you have to log in with your TV provider. Note this only provides on-demand movies and episodes (like Netflix), not a live channel (with a schedule).
- Stand-Alone Subscription: Subscribe to the Reelz app through Amazon Prime Video Channels or the Roku Channel Store for $1.99/mo.
- Free Ad-Supported Streaming Sites: Most of the major free ad-supported web/app-based services have a Reelz channel: Xumo, The Roku Channel (not to be confused with the Roku Channel Store), Tubi, Redbox, IMDB TV (on Amazon.com), and Pluto TV. Note this will not be the same as the Reelz channel you get with a pay service. Content may be limited and will reflect older episodes.
TVs and Devices to Stream Reelz
All the major streaming services support the most popular devices in use. The ones we’ve discussed support the following:
- Amazon Fire TV
- Apple TV
- Android mobile
- Chromecast
- iOS devices
- Roku
- Web browsers.
Sling and DIRECTV STREAM support Samsung smart TVs. Sling and Philo support Android TV-based devices.
Sling supports a number of other devices including LG and VIZIO smart TVs as well as Xbox and Oculus gaming systems.
See our streaming service reviews for more details.
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. |
Today’s Reelz Schedule
Here is today’s schedule in Eastern Time:
| Cops – Jacksonville, FL; Palm Beach County, FL; Albuquerque, NM: Coast to Coast A K-9 unit helps officers apprehend a robbery suspect; officers investigating a suspicious parked vehicle find heroin in the passenger's wallet. | |
| Cops – Jacksonville, FL; Whittier, CA; Maui County, HI: Hide 'n Seek A routine traffic stop turns into a high-speed chase; a K-9 unit is called in when an officer investigates a suspicious vehicle parked in front of the residence of a known drug dealer. | |
| Sheriffs of El Dorado County – All in a Night's Patrol Following a deputy on a typical night shift in El Dorado County. | |
| Sheriffs of El Dorado County – Just Can't Save Them All From Themselves Police and rescue workers respond to a vehicle that collided with a tree; a car full of teens is pulled over; the investigation of a suspicious vehicle in a freeway parking area leads to the arrest of a gang member. | |
| On Patrol: Live Hosts Dan Abrams, retired Tulsa Police Department Sgt. Sean "Sticks" Larkin and Deputy Sheriff Curtis Wilson provide analysis as law enforcement officers on patrol across the country are followed in real time. | |
| On Patrol: First Shift A discussion of what's in store for the upcoming episode of "On Patrol: Live" and a sneak peek of the departments and officers that the cameras will be following that night; the hosts also look back at the most memorable moments from past episodes. | |
| On Patrol: Live Hosts Dan Abrams, retired Tulsa Police Department Sgt. Sean "Sticks" Larkin and Deputy Sheriff Curtis Wilson provide analysis as law enforcement officers on patrol across the country are followed in real time. | |
| On Patrol: Live Hosts Dan Abrams, retired Tulsa Police Department Sgt. Sean "Sticks" Larkin and Deputy Sheriff Curtis Wilson provide analysis as law enforcement officers on patrol across the country are followed in real time. | |
| Cindy Crawford and Ellen Pompeo share secrets Join Cindy Crawford and Ellen Pompeo as they discuss their busy lives and the breakthrough skin care discovery that keeps them looking their best. Take a trip to the stunning French countryside to see a rare French melon that defies aging. | |
| Ninja Woodfire Outdoor Grill Meet the Shark Ninja Wood Fire Grill, with Master Grill, BBQ Smoke, and Air Fry outdoor capabilities. Powered by electricity and flavored by real burning wood pellets, Woodfire Technology allows you to easily create rich flavor you can see and taste. | |
| Relief from Inflammation Connie Craig-Carrol & Founder Ken Meares investigates Omega XL, the ultimate all-natural solution for joint pain from inflammation. | |
| Oxypure Zero, Air Purifier With Zero Replacement Filters JD Scott shares the Oxypure Zero, a wifi-enabled air purifier with zero replacement filters. | |
| Cindy Crawford and Ellen Pompeo share secrets Join Cindy Crawford and Ellen Pompeo as they discuss their busy lives and the breakthrough skin care discovery that keeps them looking their best. Take a trip to the stunning French countryside to see a rare French melon that defies aging. | |
| Paid Programming Paid programming. | |
| Friends Speak – Chris and Shanann Watts Chris and Shanann Watts were by all accounts the perfect couple with two perfect children; in 2018, the family was shattered by the disappearance and murder of Shanann and the kids at the hands of Chris himself. | |
| Drug Running & Arms Smuggling: Real Story of American Made Drug smuggler for the Medellín Cartel Barry Seal flips as a DEA agent after being caught in an elaborate sting; Seal leads the DEA directly to Pablo Escobar. | |
| Undercover in Escobar's Cartel: Real Story of the Infiltrator The real story of US Customs agent Robert Mazur who was portrayed by Bryan Cranston in "The Infiltrator"; Robert and his team of agents go deep undercover to infiltrate the dangerous world of Pablo Escobar's Medellin Cartel. | |
| Benghazi: The Real Story A look at what went wrong and the truth behind why Chris Stevens was left exposed as he risked his life to pursue peace in Libya. | |
| Argo: The Real Story CIA legend Tony Mendez masterminded the escape of six diplomats from revolutionary Iran during the 1979 hostage crisis by dressing them up as a Canadian film crew. | |
| A Spy in the FBI Robert Hanssen is a contradiction. On the surface, he is a family man, devout Catholic, and career FBI agent. Secretly, he is a spy, betraying the trust of everyone he knows. | |
| Cops – Las Vegas, Nevada Las Vegas police pursue seven men who allegedly bailed out of a suspected stolen van; search for methamphetamine. | |
| Cops – Las Vegas, Nevada Bike sting nets an alleged shoplifter; officer stops a truck with stolen plates; accidental shooting. | |
| Cops – Las Vegas, Nevada In Las Vegas; burglary call; marijuana possession; impounded bikes stolen from police; stolen-vehicle call. |
Wrapping Up
So go ahead, roll around in all that delicious sex, drugs, and rock-and-roll scandal with Reelz, and see if truth really is stranger than fiction.
When it comes to streaming Reelz, our first choice is Philo. Try Philo free for 7 days.
FAQ
What is the difference between Reelz Now and Reelz apps on Fire TV?
Most streaming platforms, including Amazon Fire TV and Roku, support both Reelz Now and Reelz, and it can get confusing as to which is which. We’re going to get a little technical here, so stick with us:
- Reelz Now is the app/web-based on-demand service that you sign into with your TV provider. It uses the TV Everywhere system, which is a protocol supported by most pay channels and most pay TV providers to allow you to access channels and on-demand content from that channel on different platforms (for example, watch TV on your computer or phone instead of your TV). If you don’t have a pay TV provider in the form of a cable, telecom, satellite, or streaming TV subscription, you can’t use it.
- Reelz is the one you want if you don’t have or want a TV provider and you want to watch Reelz (the live channel, not just on-demand). It’s currently $1.99/mo, and available on Amazon Prime Video Channels or the Roku Channel Store. Just subscribe, and the channel will be added to your available content on that platform.
Ditch “Big Cable” Now – 3 Simple Steps to Cut the Cord
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