USA Network has been entertaining viewers for over 45 years, evolving from its origins as a sports channel into one of cable‘s most popular entertainment networks known for its mix of sports, reality series, dramas and more. This in-depth guide will tell you everything you need to know about accessing USA Network today on DirecTV.
The History and Evolution of USA Network
USA Network debuted back in 1977 as the Madison Square Garden Sports Network airing New York sports games. It was renamed USA Network in 1980 and began expanding beyond sports into children‘s programming, movies and original series.
Over the years, USA Network has been owned by various companies like Paramount and Universal before being acquired by NBCUniversal in 2004. Currently, USA Network reaches about 90 million households making it one of cable‘s most widely available channels.
While WWE wrestling and reruns still make up a chunk of programming, USA has received acclaim for prominent original series over the last two decades like "Monk," "Burn Notice," "Suits" and "Mr. Robot."
USA Network‘s Programming Today
Though not positioned as narrowly as when it started out, USA Network still dedicates a portion of its lineup to sports coverage including:
- WWE Raw
- Select WWE NXT matches
- Golf tournaments
- College basketball
- NASCAR races
- Olympic Games
Reality series are also central to USA Network‘s lineup. Some current and recent hits include "Temptation Island," "The Courtship," "Miz and Mrs," "Straight Up Steve Austin" and more.
Scripted shows have dwindled but horror series "Chucky" remains popular. Many acclaimed older series like "Suits" and "White Collar" can be found in syndication. NBCUniversal series "Law & Order: SVU" and Dick Wolf‘s "Chicago" franchise shows are also frequently aired.
USA Network‘s Sister Stations on DirecTV
As part of the NBCUniversal family, USA Network has several sister stations that viewers can also access through their DirecTV subscriptions. Here‘s a quick look at the main sister stations and the types of programming featured:
CNBC (Channel 355) – News, market reports and business/money-themed talk shows
E! (Channel 236) – Celebrity news, pop culture commentary, reality shows
MSNBC (Channel 356) – News, political talk and opinion programming
NBC (Not Currently Available) – Popular NBC shows, news, morning shows
Bravo (Channel 237) – Reality series often focused on affluent women
Oxygen (Channel 251) – True crime series and documentaries
Universal Kids (Channel 408) – Children‘s series, family programming
Syfy (Channel 239) – Science fiction, fantasy, supernatural and paranormal
So if you‘re ever looking for something different, explore USA Network‘s sister stations through your DirecTV service.
NBC‘s Temporarily Unavailable Status on DirecTV
Normally USA Network‘s closest sister station, NBC, would be another great channel to watch popular NBC programming and news. However, due to an ongoing contract dispute, NBC network is not currently available on DirecTV.
Luckily, negotiations are still ongoing between AT&T (DirecTV‘s parent company) and NBCUniversal so NBC will likely be restored in the near future. Stay tuned for any updates.
How to Watch USA Network on DirecTV
Have a DirecTV satellite TV subscription? Here are all the details on accessing USA Network:
Channel Number: 242
So to watch USA Network, simply tune to channel 242. You can watch live or utilize DirecTV Genie DVR to record your favorite USA Network programs. Live streaming access is also included through the DirecTV app.
Frequently Asked USA Network Questions
Here are answers to some common questions about accessing USA Network:
Is USA Network available to watch for free?
No, a cable, satellite or live TV streaming subscription is required.
Is USA Network mainly a sports channel?
No, though they do dedicate a portion of programming to live sporting events. USA Network today focuses more on reality shows, dramas and comedy series.
Can I watch USA Network on Peacock?
Yes, USA Network‘s programming is included with Peacock Premium.
Does YouTube TV or other live TV streaming services offer USA Network?
Yes. Many streaming TV providers like YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, DIRECTV STREAM and Sling TV include USA Network in their channel packages.
So there you have it – everything you need to know about accessing USA Network on DirecTV today. Check out channel 242 to watch hit shows like WWE Raw, "Temptation Island," syndicated reruns and more from this long-running entertainment staple.
