Quick Answer: The DISH Flex Pack is a small DISH satellite TV package. Its channel card lists A&E on 118, AMC on 131, HGTV on 112, History on 120, TBS on 139, USA on 105 and Hallmark Channel on 185. DISH calls it 50+ channels. The card dated July 2026 has 87 numbered lines, because it also counts shopping, music and faith channels. The Flex Pack has no local stations, no ESPN, no CNN, no Fox News and no TNT. Those sit in add-on packs. DISH does not post the Flex Pack price on its public packages page. Cord Cutters News reported it at $74.99 a month on October 7, 2026.
Last checked: October 9, 2026. Every channel and number below comes from DISH’s own Flex Pack channel card, which is marked valid as of July 2026. DISH uses one channel map for the whole country, so these numbers are the same in every state. Pack contents come from DISH’s channel guide of the same date. Each price is labeled with its source, because DISH publishes some prices and not others.
What Channels Are in the DISH Flex Pack?
The tables below sort DISH’s card by type of channel. Type a name in the box to jump to one channel. Where a channel shows two numbers, DISH lists it at both.
Entertainment
| Channel | DISH channel number |
|---|---|
| A&E | 118 |
| AMC | 131 |
| BINGE TV | 218 |
| Comedy Central | 107 |
| E! Entertainment Television | 114 |
| FX | 136 |
| FXX | 125 |
| IFC | 133 |
| Lifetime | 108 |
| Paramount Network | 241 |
| Pop | 117 |
| SYFY | 122 |
| TBS | 139 |
| truTV | 242 |
| TV Land | 106 |
| USA | 105 |
| We TV | 128 |
Classic TV and Movies
| Channel | DISH channel number |
|---|---|
| BUZZR | 245 |
| Catchy Comedy | 375 |
| Great American Family | 165 |
| Hallmark Channel | 185 |
| HDNet Movies | 130 |
| Heroes & Icons | 293 |
| INSP | 259 |
| MeTV | 247 |
| MeTV Toons | 376 |
| MovieSphere Gold | 298 |
| PixL | 388 |
| Start TV | 291 |
| TCM | 132 |
| WEST | 372 |
Home, Food and Learning
| Channel | DISH channel number |
|---|---|
| Cooking | 113 |
| Discovery | 182 |
| Food Network | 110 |
| HGTV | 112 |
| History | 120 |
| Magnolia Network | 111 |
| National Geographic | 197 |
| The Learning Channel (TLC) | 183 |
News and Weather
| Channel | DISH channel number |
|---|---|
| BBC News | 281 |
| C-SPAN | 210 |
| Free Speech TV | 269 |
| Headline News | 202 |
| MS NOW | 209 |
| WeatherNation | 215 |
Kids
| Channel | DISH channel number |
|---|---|
| BabyFirst | 823 |
| Cartoon Network (East) | 176 |
| Cartoon Network (West) | 177 |
Music
| Channel | DISH channel number |
|---|---|
| BET Gospel | 362 |
| BET Jams | 365 |
| BET Soul | 363 |
| CMT | 166 |
| CMT Music | 364 |
| MTV2 | 161 |
| NickMusic | 368 |
| VH1 | 162 |
Faith
| Channel | DISH channel number |
|---|---|
| BYUtv | 268 |
| Christian Television Network | 262 |
| Daystar | 263 |
| Eternal Word Television Network | 261 |
| Impact Network | 264 |
| NRB TV | 274 |
| SonLife Broadcasting Network | 257 |
| TBN Inspire | 258 |
| TCT | 266 |
| Three Angels Broadcasting Network | 267 |
Shopping and Everything Else on the Card
| Channel | DISH channel number |
|---|---|
| DEAL | 76 and 278 |
| DISH scapes | 199 |
| DISH scapes 2 | 198 |
| Enlace | 888 |
| EPIC | 85 and 224 |
| EXTRA | 221 and 288 |
| Gallery | 305 |
| HITN | 880 |
| Home Shopping Network | 70 and 287 |
| Home Shopping Network 2 | 226 |
| In Country Television | 230 |
| Jewelry Television | 227 |
| Mercury TV (MALL) | 86 and 220 |
| Pay-Per-View Guide | 502 |
| QVC | 71 and 137 |
| QVC 2 | 74 and 255 |
| Renew | 75, 223 and 277 |
| Sale | 225 |
| SHOP | 87 and 276 |
| TDV | 881 |
| YouTV | 228 and 275 |
Note: DISH posts two versions of this card, both dated July 2026, and they differ on three channels. The plain card lists MovieSphere Gold on 298. The version that shows satellite positions leaves it out, and lists mtvU on 366 and QVC 3 on 73 and 253. Treat those three as unsettled until DISH prints a new card.
Which Popular Channels Are Not in the Flex Pack?
This is what the “50+” label hides. DISH’s July 2026 card for America’s Top 120, the next package up, lists every cable channel in this table. The Flex Pack card lists none of them.
| Missing channel | DISH number | How to add it to the Flex Pack |
|---|---|---|
| Local ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC and PBS stations | Your local numbers | Locals Pack |
| ESPN | 140 | National Action Pack |
| ESPN2 | 143 | National Action Pack |
| FS1 | 150 | National Action Pack |
| CNN | 200 | News Pack |
| Fox News | 205 | News Pack |
| TNT | 138 | Drama & Classics Pack |
| Disney Channel | 172 | Kids Pack |
| Animal Planet | 184 | Kids Pack |
| Freeform | 180 | Variety Pack |
| Bravo | 129 | Variety Pack |
| Investigation Discovery | 192 | Variety Pack |
| Nickelodeon | 170 | Not in any add-on pack in DISH’s guide |
| Travel Channel | 196 | Not in any add-on pack in DISH’s guide |
It works the other way too. The Flex Pack card lists Hallmark Channel, TCM, Cooking, Magnolia Network and Great American Family. The America’s Top 120 card does not. So the bigger package is not simply the Flex Pack plus more. Our DISH channel lineup has the numbers for the larger packages.
Sports fans should note that ESPN costs extra here. If ESPN is your main reason for paying for TV, our guide to where to find ESPN lists cheaper ways to get it.
How Much Does the DISH Flex Pack Cost?
DISH does not show a Flex Pack price on its public packages page. Its terms page still names the Flex Pack, and it still prints the channel card, so the package exists. You have to ask DISH for the price.
The latest figure comes from Cord Cutters News. On October 7, 2026 it reported that DISH’s new price list puts the Flex Pack at $74.99 a month. DISH’s own terms page lists local channels at $17, which matches that report. Here is how the bill grows as you add packs.
| What you buy | Monthly cost before taxes and equipment |
|---|---|
| Flex Pack alone | $74.99 |
| Flex Pack with the Locals Pack | $91.99 |
| Add the News Pack | $101.99 |
| Add the National Action Pack too | $113.99 |
| America’s Top 120, new customer price on dish.com | $94.99 |
Look at the second row and the last row. The Flex Pack with local stations comes to $91.99. America’s Top 120 is $94.99 for new customers. That price includes local channels and a Hopper 3 DVR for one TV, and DISH promises it for two years. So $3 more buys ESPN, CNN, Fox News, TNT and Disney Channel. The Flex Pack only wins on price if you skip the Locals Pack.
Three cautions go with those numbers. First, the Flex Pack figures are reported prices, not prices DISH posts for shoppers. Second, DISH has not said what equipment the Flex Pack price covers. Its terms list a Hopper at $10 a month and each Joey box at $7. Third, America’s Top 120 comes with a two-year commitment. Leaving early costs $20 for each month left, and DISH says the price after two years is currently $107.99.
What Is in Each Add-On Pack?
DISH’s guide says channel packs need the Flex Pack or a higher package. The channel lists below come from that guide. The prices come from the source named in each row.
| Pack | Price a month | Price source | Main channels and numbers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Locals Pack | $17 | DISH terms page | Your local ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, PBS, CW, Telemundo and Estrella stations |
| News Pack | $10 | Cord Cutters News | CNN 200, Fox News 205, FOX Business 206, CNBC 208, Bloomberg 203, The Weather Channel 214, FOX Weather 222 |
| National Action Pack | $12 | Cord Cutters News | ESPN 140, ESPN2 143, FS1 150, AXS TV 167, Fuse 164, Discovery Turbo 246 |
| Regional Action Pack | $12 | Cord Cutters News | Big Ten Network 405 and 410, SEC Network 404, ACC Network 402, FS2 149 |
| Kids Pack | $10 | Cord Cutters News | Disney Channel 172 and 173, Disney Jr. 168, Disney XD 174, Nick Jr. 169, Nicktoons 178, Boomerang 175, Animal Planet 184 |
| Variety Pack | $6 | Cord Cutters News | BET 124, Bravo 129, Freeform 180, Investigation Discovery 192, Lifetime Movie Network 109 |
| Drama & Classics Pack | $6 | dish.com | TNT 138, ION 250, SundanceTV 126, Comet 289, Laff 239, MGM+ Drive-In 292, Family Movie Classics 387 |
| Heartland Pack | $6 | dish.com | Hallmark Family 186, Hallmark Mystery 187, Game Show Network 116, OWN 189, UPtv 188, RFD-TV 231, Cowboy Channel 232 |
| Outdoor Pack | $4 | dish.com | Outdoor Channel 396, Sportsman Channel 395, Outside TV 390, World Fishing Network 394 |
Worth knowing: some pack channels are already on the Flex Pack card. BBC News and MS NOW are in the News Pack list. Heroes & Icons and Start TV are in the Drama & Classics list. Hallmark Channel and Great American Family are in the Heartland list. You do not pay for them twice, but each of those packs adds fewer new channels than its count suggests.
Can an Antenna Replace the $17 Locals Pack?
For many homes, yes. DISH’s support page says an antenna lets you watch the broadcast networks with no monthly fees. With DISH’s OTA adapter, the antenna channels show up in the DISH guide, and you can record them as usual. DISH says the adapter works with the Hopper 3, the Hopper with Sling and the Wally.
There are limits. DISH says its PrimeTime Anytime feature does not work with antenna channels. What you receive depends on the signals at your address. And DISH’s page does not list a price for the adapter, so ask before you order. Skipping a $17 pack saves $204 a year, which is why the question is worth asking. Our guide to watching live TV for free covers antennas in more detail.
Who Should Pick the Flex Pack, and Who Should Skip It?
| Your situation | Better choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| You do not watch ESPN or cable news, and an antenna gets your local stations | Flex Pack | The base package is all you pay for, at a reported $74.99. |
| You want local stations through the dish | America’s Top 120 | $94.99 with locals, against $91.99 for the Flex Pack with the Locals Pack. |
| You want ESPN, CNN or Fox News | America’s Top 120 | Each of those needs a $10 or $12 pack on the Flex Pack. |
| You have good home internet and mostly watch A&E, AMC, HGTV, History and Hallmark Channel | Philo | Its $25 Essential plan lists all five, with no dish to install. |
| You have no reliable internet at home | Flex Pack or America’s Top 120 | Satellite TV does not need an internet line. |
Philo is the comparison most people miss. Its $25 Essential plan also lists Food Network, Discovery, Lifetime, TLC, Paramount Network and Comedy Central. It does not list USA, TBS, FX, Syfy or National Geographic, which the Flex Pack has. Our Philo channel lineup shows the full list.
How Has the Flex Pack Changed Since 2016?
| Item | At launch, August 2016 | October 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Flex Pack base price | $29.99 | $74.99, reported |
| Locals Pack | $10 | $17 |
| News Pack | $10 | $10, reported |
| National Action Pack | $10 | $12, reported |
| CNN and TNT | In the base package | CNN is in the News Pack. TNT is in the Drama & Classics Pack. |
The launch figures come from DISH’s press release of August 4, 2016. The base price is now two and a half times what it was, and two of the best known channels have moved out of the base package. The name is the same, but it is no longer the bargain it was at launch.
Is There a DISH Flex Pack for Seniors?
Not as a separate package. DISH’s site shows no senior version of the Flex Pack. DISH does run a 55+ offer. Its page lists a free movie rental each month, technician visits at no cost and six months of DISH Protect Plus for $0. That page shows packages from $94.99 a month and does not mention the Flex Pack. So the offer is a set of perks, not a lower Flex Pack price.
What Should You Ask DISH Before You Order?
- Ask for the Flex Pack price in writing, and ask what equipment that price includes.
- Ask if a price guarantee applies, and how long the commitment runs.
- Ask for the America’s Top 120 price on the same call, so you can compare the two.
- Test an antenna at your address before you pay for the Locals Pack.
If you are checking one channel across several TV companies, our channel number finder looks it up by provider. And if the answers on that call are vague, treat that as your answer. A package with no posted price is one to buy only with the numbers in writing.
The author specializes in U.S. cable, satellite, and streaming TV services, with hands-on experience analyzing channel lineups, regional restrictions, equipment requirements, and contract terms. All the content is written with clear, easy-to-understand explanations to help readers compare services accurately and make informed decisions.