USA Network is one of the most popular and widely-available cable channels in the United States. Owned by NBCUniversal, USA Network offers an array of programming including sports, reality shows, scripted series, and more. With around 90 million households able to access the channel, USA Network draws in millions of viewers each week.
If you‘re a DirecTV customer wondering how to watch, this guide will explain everything you need to know about finding USA Network on channel 242. We‘ll cover the channel‘s history, types of shows offered, sister stations from NBCUniversal, whether NBC may return soon, and much more.
A Brief History of USA Network
USA Network traces its origins back to 1977 when it launched as the Madison Square Garden Sports Network based in New York City. Focused on sports programming in its early days, it was spearheaded by CEO Kay Koplovitz and emerged as one of America‘s first national cable channels.
The channel was officially rebranded as USA Network in 1980. Throughout the 1980s and 90s, USA expanded its programming beyond just sports to include children‘s shows, movies, reality series, and other genres. Now simply known as "USA", the network hit its stride with popular shows like Monday Night Raw, Monk, Burn Notice, and Suits.
USA Network has gone through several owners over the decades but was acquired by NBCUniversal in 2004. Even with ownership changes, it has remained a fixture of American cable TV for nearly 50 years now.
What Does USA Network Show?
As a general entertainment channel, USA Network offers a diverse mix of sports, unscripted series, scripted shows, and syndicated reruns. Here‘s a quick look at some of the programming you‘ll find while watching.
Sports
The channel‘s sports offerings include:
- WWE – Monday Night Raw, NXT
- Golf – US Open, Ryder Cup
- Basketball – NCAA games
- Motorsports – Select NASCAR races
- Olympics – Part-time coverage
WWE‘s wrestling programs have been staples on USA Network for 30+ years now, making up the bulk of its sports content.
Reality TV Shows
Some of USA Network‘s most popular programs fall into the reality/unscripted category:
- Temptation Island – Couples test their relationships
- The Biggest Loser – Weight loss competition
- Chrisley Knows Best – Follows the Chrisley family
- Miz & Mrs – Reality show about married WWE stars The Miz and Maryse
- Straight Up Steve Austin – Steve Austin has celeb guests join him in adventures
From family antics to extreme weight loss, USA Reality shows run the gamut when it comes to real-life entertainment.
Scripted Series
While USA Network no longer boasts an extensive scripted lineup, a few noteworthy shows airing now include:
- Chucky – TV series based on the Child‘s Play horror movie franchise
- Queen of the South – Drama about a woman tangled up in a drug cartel
- The Sinner – Anthology crime series featuring disturbed killers
- Suits – Legal drama series (now ended)
- Mr. Robot – Hacker-themed psychological thriller series (now ended)
In addition to originals like the above, you‘ll find daily reruns of popular crime hits such as Law & Order: SVU, NCIS, CSI, and more.
Movies & Syndicated Series
Rounding out USA Network‘s schedule are movies and syndicated reruns it has licensed such as:
- Modern Family
- The Office
- NCIS: Los Angeles
- Chicago P.D.
- Recent hit movies like A Quiet Place and Spider-Man: Homecoming
You‘ll generally find movie blocks and syndicated reruns during the daytime hours and in late-night slots. Of course, sports, reality shows, and USA Network originals take priority in peak evening viewing hours.
USA Network Sister Channels from NBCUniversal
In addition to USA Network itself, NBCUniversal also owns several other popular channels that DirecTV customers can access. Known as "sister networks", these NBCU-operated channels often complement USA‘s programming.
Here‘s a quick look at USA Network‘s main sister channels you‘ll also find on DirecTV:
Main USA Network Sister Channels on DirecTV
| Sister Channel | DirecTV Channel |
|---|---|
| CNBC | 355 |
| E! | 236 |
| MSNBC | 356 |
| NBC | Not currently available |
| Bravo | 237 |
| Oxygen | 251 |
| Universal Kids | 408 |
| Syfy | 239 |
Now let‘s explore some of the shows and content you can find on each sister network.
CNBC – Business & Finance News
As a leader in live business news coverage, CNBC offers acclaimed programs like Mad Money, Power Lunch, Squawk Box and more. Viewers can stay updated on market moves and hear expert analysis all day long.
E! – Pop Culture & Celebrity Entertainment
E! is the network for non-stop celebrity culture and entertainment news. Popular shows cover the latest Hollywood gossip, reality TV drama, fashion trends and more. Binge fan favorites like Botched, The Bradshaw Bunch, and round-the-clock E! News updates.
MSNBC & NBC – News & Political Commentary
MSNBC cable news channel provides live coverage and expert insights on current political and news events. Signature programs include Morning Joe, The Rachel Maddow Show, The Last Word, and The 11th Hour.
Meanwhile, NBC is negotiating with DirecTV to have the flagship broadcast network restored soon so customers can once again enjoy The Tonight Show, Dateline NBC, Sunday Night Football and NBC‘s other programming.
Bravo – Reality Shows Galore
The Bravo channel serves up juicy reality shows primarily aimed at female audiences. Bask in the drama of The Real Housewives franchise, glimpse high-end lifestyles on Million Dollar Listing, view intense competitions like Project Runway, and more.
Oxygen – True Crime Shows
Oxygen switched formats in recent years to focus exclusively on true crime programming. Fans of the genre can binge shows like Snapped, Killer Couples, Aaron Hernandez Uncovered, and other gritty docu-series exploring real murders, investigations, and mysteries.
Universal Kids – Children‘s Programming
As a safe bet for family viewing, Universal Kids offers age-appropriate shows for young ones ages 2 to 12. Preschoolers will love programs like Ruff-Ruff Tweet & Dave while older kids can enjoy animated and live-action series based on DreamWorks movies, Trolls, Puss in Boots and other youthful franchises.
Syfy – Sci-Fi, Drama & Paranormal
Lastly, the Syfy channel draws viewers who enjoy science fiction, fantasy, paranormal, superhero, horror and other out-of-this-world genres. Buzzworthy originals like The Ark, Chucky, Reginald the Vampire and Day of the Dead air alongside reruns of classics like X-Files and Quantum Leap.
Will NBC Return to DirecTV Lineup?
DirecTV customers have been without access to the NBC broadcast network for a while now due to an ongoing carriage dispute. NBCUniversal yanked their channels from DirecTV back in October 2022 when the two sides could not agree on financial terms for content licensing.
However, latest reports indicate negotiations are back underway between NBCU and DirecTV‘s parent company AT&T. Many industry experts believe NBC will eventually return to the DirecTV channel lineup later in 2023.
In the meantime, USA Network and NBCU‘s other cable channels fortunately remain available so DirecTV viewers can still enjoy some of NBC‘s best programming via that route.
Once restored, the NBC broadcast network would offer customers popular shows like:
- NBC Nightly News – Flagship evening news program
- Today Show – Long-running morning show
- The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon – Late-night talk show
- Sunday Night Football – Primetime NFL games
- The Kelly Clarkson Show – Daytime talk variety show
- Dateline NBC – Newsmagazine featuring true crime stories
So stay tuned – NBC may once again be watchable for DirecTV subscribers soon!
How to Watch USA Network on DirecTV
Wondering what channel is USA Network on DirecTV exactly?
You can access USA Network on DirecTV channel 242 in high definition.
To start watching now:
- Turn your TV to DirecTV channel 242
- If you don‘t see USA Network onscreen, use your DirecTV remote or mobile app to make sure your subscription includes this channel
- Sit back and enjoy your favorite USA Network shows in crystal clear HD!
And remember – with DirecTV Stream you can also watch USA Network anywhere on mobile devices, laptops, tablets and more. Stream away from home or on the go!
USA Network on DirecTV – Key Takeaways
- USA Network is on DirecTV channel 242
- Owned by NBCUniversal, USA Network has been airing since 1977
- Programming includes sports (WWE), reality shows, scripted series and more
- Sister channels like Bravo, E!, Syfy and others complement USA‘s lineup
- Negotiations underway that may soon return NBC to DirecTV
- With a Mix & Match channel package from DirecTV, access USA Network and 200+ options
So don‘t miss out on fan favorites like WWE wrestling, Temptation Island dating antics, Chucky horror chaos and everything else USA Network is serving up lately! Add channel 242 to your DirecTV lineup today.
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of shows does USA Network have?
USA Network offers a diverse mix of sports (WWE), reality series, scripted dramas, some comedy, and syndicated reruns. Signature shows span wrestling, dating competitions, crime series, horror programs, and more.
What channel is Bravo on DirecTV?
Bravo TV can be found on DirecTV channel 237.
Does DirecTV offer any free previews of USA Network?
DirecTV occasionally provides temporary free previews of certain channels. However, USA Network is not currently available via any free preview for DirecTV subscribers.
Can I live stream USA Network on my phone with DirecTV?
Yes! If you add DirecTV Stream to your account, you can download the DirecTV app to live stream USA Network anywhere on phones, tablets, laptops and more.
Why did NBC and other channels leave DirecTV?
Due to failed carriage agreement negotiations in 2022, NBCUniversal pulled their portfolio of channels (including NBC, Bravo, USA Network, Golf Channel, E! and more) from the DirecTV lineup. But NBCU remains in active talks to return soon.
