How to Watch Sports Online without Cable: Streaming Options for Every Sport

watch sports online

Are you looking for an easy-to-understand guide that clearly outlines how to watch sports online without cable? Confused about all of the different streaming options out there? Want to make sure you’re using a legal option to stream sports?

Whether you’re a fan of football, baseball, basketball, hockey, soccer, or any other sport, there’s good news…

You don’t have to pay for expensive cable or satellite TV to watch your favorite sports.

Thanks to the power of the internet and the advent of live streaming services, there are now several legal ways to stream sports online without cable.

In this guide, we’ll show you how to watch sports online without cable using a variety of streaming services.

We’ll also give you some tips on how to find the best streaming options for your favorite sport.

For the sake of simplicity, we’ve organized most of this guide by sport.

  • Football (NFL, College Football)
  • Baseball
  • Basketball (NBA, WNBA, College Basketball)
  • Hockey
  • Soccer
  • Golf
  • Tennis
  • MMA
  • Boxing
  • Wrestling (WWE, AEW, etc.)

We’ve also included the following helpful sections in our guide:

  • Tips for Choosing the Best Option to Watch Sports Online
  • National Sports Channels Streaming Options Chart
  • Regional Sports Networks Streaming Options Chart

Ready to learn how to watch your favorite sports online without cable? Let’s get started…

 

Top Streaming Options by Sport

 

Football (NFL, College Football)

There are lots of great options for football fans who want to stream NFL and college football games without cable.

What channels do you need?

If you want to watch NFL games online, you’ll need access to CBS, FOX, NBC (Sunday Night Football), ESPN (Monday Night Football), and NFL Network.

To stream college football, you’ll need access to ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, and ESPN. You may also want access to conference networks like SEC Network, Big Ten Network, and Pac-12 Network.

The good news here is that regional sports networks don’t play a big role in airing football games as RSNs are often the most complicated part of the streaming TV landscape.

What streaming services have all the channels you need?

The following streaming services offer most or all of the channels you need to watch NFL and college football games:

fuboTV Main
  • Sports: NFL, college football, MLB, NBA, WNBA, college basketball, golf, tennis, soccer, NASCAR, UFC, WWE, and more
  • Channels: ESPN, FOX Sports, local channels (CBS, NBC, ABC, FOX), regional sports networks, and more
  • Price: Starting at $74.99/month 
We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
Sling TV Main
  • Sports: College football, limited NFL, some MLB, NBA, WNBA, college basketball, golf, tennis, soccer, NASCAR, UFC, WWE, and more
  • Channels: ESPN, FOX Sports, TNT, and more
  • Price: Starting at $40/month 
We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
Hulu Live Main
  • Sports:  NFL, college football, MLB, NBA, WNBA, college basketball, golf, tennis, soccer, NASCAR, UFC, boxing, WWE, and more
  • Channels: ESPN, ESPN+, FOX Sports, TNT, local channels (CBS, NBC, ABC, FOX), regional sports networks, and more 
  • Price: Starting at $76.99/month 
We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
DTV STREAM Main
  • Sports:  NFL, college football, MLB, NBA, WNBA, college basketball, golf, tennis, soccer, NASCAR, UFC, WWE, and more
  • Channels: ESPN, FOX Sports, TNT, local channels (CBS, NBC, ABC, FOX), regional sports networks, and more 
  • Price: Starting at $74.99/month 
We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN allows you to stream sports safely from anywhere in the world. It's our go-to pick for international streaming.

We may receive a referral fee at no cost to you if you use our links.

 

Baseball

If you’re looking for ways to stream baseball games online, there are a few different options available to you.

What channels do you need?

To watch nationally featured Major League Baseball games (including the MLB Playoffs), you’ll need access to ESPN, FOX, FS1, TBS, and MLB Network. But more importantly, if you’re wanting to watch a specific team, you’ll need access to their regional sports network.

Regional sports networks are incredibly important for baseball fans who want to follow their team throughout the season, but it’s worth pointing out that the streaming landscape can be a little messy here. However, there are a few options we’ll outline below that have many RSNs across the country.

What streaming services have all the channels you need?

DTV STREAM Main
  • Sports:  NFL, college football, MLB, NBA, WNBA, college basketball, golf, tennis, soccer, NASCAR, UFC, WWE, and more
  • Channels: ESPN, FOX Sports, TNT, local channels (CBS, NBC, ABC, FOX), regional sports networks, and more 
  • Price: Starting at $74.99/month 
We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
fuboTV Main
  • Sports: NFL, college football, MLB, NBA, WNBA, college basketball, golf, tennis, soccer, NASCAR, UFC, WWE, and more
  • Channels: ESPN, FOX Sports, local channels (CBS, NBC, ABC, FOX), regional sports networks, and more
  • Price: Starting at $74.99/month 
We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
MLB.TV Main
  • Watch out-of-market MLB games live
  • 7-day free trial
  • $24.99/mo, $139.99/season (All Teams pass), or $119.99/season (Single-Team pass)
We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN allows you to stream sports safely from anywhere in the world. It's our go-to pick for international streaming.

We may receive a referral fee at no cost to you if you use our links.

 

Basketball (NBA, WNBA, College Basketball)

If you’re a basketball fan, there are lots of great options for watching NBA, WNBA, and NCAA basketball games throughout their respective seasons.

What channels do you need?

To watch nationally televised NBA games, you’ll need access to ESPN, ABC, TNT, and NBA TV. However, if you’re wanting to follow a specific team all throughout the season, you’ll most likely need access to their regional sports network as those channels carry the bulk of games throughout the season.

Regional sports networks are incredibly important for basketball fans who want to follow their team throughout the season, but it’s worth pointing out that the streaming landscape can be a little messy here. However, there are a few options we’ll outline below that have many RSNs across the country.

For those wanting to watch WNBA games, you’ll mostly need access to ESPN and CBS Sports Network.

For college basketball, you’ll need access to ESPN, CBS, FOX, NBC, and various conference networks like SEC Network, Big Ten Network, and Pac-12 Network. For March Madness, you’ll need to make sure you have CBS, TBS, TNT, and TruTV.

What streaming services have all the channels you need?

DTV STREAM Main
  • Sports:  NFL, college football, MLB, NBA, WNBA, college basketball, golf, tennis, soccer, NASCAR, UFC, WWE, and more
  • Channels: ESPN, FOX Sports, TNT, local channels (CBS, NBC, ABC, FOX), regional sports networks, and more 
  • Price: Starting at $74.99/month 
We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
fuboTV Main
  • Sports: NFL, college football, MLB, NBA, WNBA, college basketball, golf, tennis, soccer, NASCAR, UFC, WWE, and more
  • Channels: ESPN, FOX Sports, local channels (CBS, NBC, ABC, FOX), regional sports networks, and more
  • Price: Starting at $74.99/month 
We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
Hulu Live Main
  • Sports:  NFL, college football, MLB, NBA, WNBA, college basketball, golf, tennis, soccer, NASCAR, UFC, boxing, WWE, and more
  • Channels: ESPN, ESPN+, FOX Sports, TNT, local channels (CBS, NBC, ABC, FOX), regional sports networks, and more 
  • Price: Starting at $76.99/month 
We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
NBA League Pass Main
  • Watch out-of-market NBA games live
  • 7-day free trial
  • $14.99/mo & up
We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN allows you to stream sports safely from anywhere in the world. It's our go-to pick for international streaming.

We may receive a referral fee at no cost to you if you use our links.

 

Hockey

There are lots of great options for watching NHL games throughout the season.

What channels do you need?

To watch nationally televised NHL games, you’ll need access to ESPN, TNT, and TBS. However, if you’re wanting to follow a specific team all throughout the season, you’ll most likely need access to their regional sports network as those channels carry the bulk of games throughout the season.

Regional sports networks are incredibly important for hockey fans who want to follow their team throughout the season, but it’s worth pointing out that the streaming landscape can be a little messy here. However, there are a few options we’ll outline below that have many RSNs across the country.

What streaming services have all the channels you need?

DTV STREAM Main
  • Sports:  NFL, college football, MLB, NBA, WNBA, college basketball, golf, tennis, soccer, NASCAR, UFC, WWE, and more
  • Channels: ESPN, FOX Sports, TNT, local channels (CBS, NBC, ABC, FOX), regional sports networks, and more 
  • Price: Starting at $74.99/month 
We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
fuboTV Main
  • Sports: NFL, college football, MLB, NBA, WNBA, college basketball, golf, tennis, soccer, NASCAR, UFC, WWE, and more
  • Channels: ESPN, FOX Sports, local channels (CBS, NBC, ABC, FOX), regional sports networks, and more
  • Price: Starting at $74.99/month 
We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
Hulu Live Main
  • Sports:  NFL, college football, MLB, NBA, WNBA, college basketball, golf, tennis, soccer, NASCAR, UFC, boxing, WWE, and more
  • Channels: ESPN, ESPN+, FOX Sports, TNT, local channels (CBS, NBC, ABC, FOX), regional sports networks, and more 
  • Price: Starting at $76.99/month 
We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN allows you to stream sports safely from anywhere in the world. It's our go-to pick for international streaming.

We may receive a referral fee at no cost to you if you use our links.

 

Soccer

Soccer fans of all leagues have plenty of streaming options at their disposal.

What channels do you need?

Because there are so many different soccer leagues all around the world, TV rights can get a little messy, but we’ll do our best to break it down for you here as clearly as possible.

  • FIFA World CupFOX and FS1 will air the matches in English, while Telemundo and Universo will provide Spanish coverage.
  • Premier League–To watch the English Premier League, you’ll need access to NBC and USA Network.
  • UEFA Champions League–Paramount+ carries just about every Champions League match, while some will also air on CBS or CBSSN.
  • Europa League–Paramount+ carries just about every Europa League match, while some will also air on CBS or CBSSN.
  • UEFA Super Cup–Paramount+ carries Super Cup matches.
  • Bundesliga–Matches air on ESPN+, ESPN, and ESPN2.
  • FA Cup–Matches air on ESPN+.
  • Carabao Cup (League Cup)–Matches air on ESPN+.
  • Copa del Rey–ESPN+ will air the majority of the matches.
  • LaLiga–ESPN networks (ESPN, ESPN+, and ABC) will air most matches.
  • Serie A–Paramount+, CBS, and CBSSN carry many matches.
  • Copa America–Airs on various FOX Sports networks.
  • MLS–Currently airs mostly on ESPN+ and FOX Sports networks, but starting in 2023, every MLS game will stream via Apple TV.

What streaming services have all the channels you need?

Paramount+ Main
  • Sports: Some NFL, some college football, college basketball, UEFA soccer, PGA, and MMA.
  • Channels: CBS (and related networks)
  • Price: $4.99/mo & up
We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
ESPN+ Main
  • Sports: MMA (UFC, PFL), boxing, tennis, golf, NHL, college football, college basketball, MLS, some MLB, international soccer leagues (Bundesliga, La Liga, etc.), G League, lacrosse, cricket, and more
  • Channels: ESPN+
  • Price: $9.99/mo or $99.99/year
We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
fuboTV Main
  • Sports: NFL, college football, MLB, NBA, WNBA, college basketball, golf, tennis, soccer, NASCAR, UFC, WWE, and more
  • Channels: ESPN, FOX Sports, local channels (CBS, NBC, ABC, FOX), regional sports networks, and more
  • Price: Starting at $74.99/month 
We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
Hulu Live Main
  • Sports:  NFL, college football, MLB, NBA, WNBA, college basketball, golf, tennis, soccer, NASCAR, UFC, boxing, WWE, and more
  • Channels: ESPN, ESPN+, FOX Sports, TNT, local channels (CBS, NBC, ABC, FOX), regional sports networks, and more 
  • Price: Starting at $76.99/month 
We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN allows you to stream sports safely from anywhere in the world. It's our go-to pick for international streaming.

We may receive a referral fee at no cost to you if you use our links.

 

Golf

There are a few ways you can watch golf tournaments throughout the year.

What channels do you need?

To watch golf on television, you’ll need access to ESPN, NBC, CBS, TNT, Golf Channel, and FOX. Some events may also air exclusively on ESPN+.

What streaming services have all the channels you need?

fuboTV Main
  • Sports: NFL, college football, MLB, NBA, WNBA, college basketball, golf, tennis, soccer, NASCAR, UFC, WWE, and more
  • Channels: ESPN, FOX Sports, local channels (CBS, NBC, ABC, FOX), regional sports networks, and more
  • Price: Starting at $74.99/month 
We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
Hulu Live Main
  • Sports:  NFL, college football, MLB, NBA, WNBA, college basketball, golf, tennis, soccer, NASCAR, UFC, boxing, WWE, and more
  • Channels: ESPN, ESPN+, FOX Sports, TNT, local channels (CBS, NBC, ABC, FOX), regional sports networks, and more 
  • Price: Starting at $76.99/month 
We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
DTV STREAM Main
  • Sports:  NFL, college football, MLB, NBA, WNBA, college basketball, golf, tennis, soccer, NASCAR, UFC, WWE, and more
  • Channels: ESPN, FOX Sports, TNT, local channels (CBS, NBC, ABC, FOX), regional sports networks, and more 
  • Price: Starting at $74.99/month 
We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
ESPN+ Main
  • Sports: MMA (UFC, PFL), boxing, tennis, golf, NHL, college football, college basketball, MLS, some MLB, international soccer leagues (Bundesliga, La Liga, etc.), G League, lacrosse, cricket, and more
  • Channels: ESPN+
  • Price: $9.99/mo or $99.99/year
We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
Paramount+ Main
  • Sports: Some NFL, some college football, college basketball, UEFA soccer, PGA, and MMA.
  • Channels: CBS (and related networks)
  • Price: $4.99/mo & up
We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN allows you to stream sports safely from anywhere in the world. It's our go-to pick for international streaming.

We may receive a referral fee at no cost to you if you use our links.

 

Tennis

There are a few ways you can watch tennis tournaments throughout the year.

What channels do you need?

To watch tennis on television, you’ll need access to mainly need access to ESPN, Tennis Channel, and ABC. Some events may also air exclusively on ESPN+.

What streaming services have all the channels you need?

fuboTV Main
  • Sports: NFL, college football, MLB, NBA, WNBA, college basketball, golf, tennis, soccer, NASCAR, UFC, WWE, and more
  • Channels: ESPN, FOX Sports, local channels (CBS, NBC, ABC, FOX), regional sports networks, and more
  • Price: Starting at $74.99/month 
We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
Hulu Live Main
  • Sports:  NFL, college football, MLB, NBA, WNBA, college basketball, golf, tennis, soccer, NASCAR, UFC, boxing, WWE, and more
  • Channels: ESPN, ESPN+, FOX Sports, TNT, local channels (CBS, NBC, ABC, FOX), regional sports networks, and more 
  • Price: Starting at $76.99/month 
We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
DTV STREAM Main
  • Sports:  NFL, college football, MLB, NBA, WNBA, college basketball, golf, tennis, soccer, NASCAR, UFC, WWE, and more
  • Channels: ESPN, FOX Sports, TNT, local channels (CBS, NBC, ABC, FOX), regional sports networks, and more 
  • Price: Starting at $74.99/month 
We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN allows you to stream sports safely from anywhere in the world. It's our go-to pick for international streaming.

We may receive a referral fee at no cost to you if you use our links.

 

MMA

MMA lovers have several options to watch fights throughout the year.

What channels do you need?

To watch MMA on television, you’ll need access to ESPN and ESPN+ for UFC events (PPVs air exclusively on ESPN+) and Showtime and CBS for Bellator events.

What streaming services have all the channels you need?

fuboTV Main
  • Sports: NFL, college football, MLB, NBA, WNBA, college basketball, golf, tennis, soccer, NASCAR, UFC, WWE, and more
  • Channels: ESPN, FOX Sports, local channels (CBS, NBC, ABC, FOX), regional sports networks, and more
  • Price: Starting at $74.99/month 
We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
Hulu Live Main
  • Sports:  NFL, college football, MLB, NBA, WNBA, college basketball, golf, tennis, soccer, NASCAR, UFC, boxing, WWE, and more
  • Channels: ESPN, ESPN+, FOX Sports, TNT, local channels (CBS, NBC, ABC, FOX), regional sports networks, and more 
  • Price: Starting at $76.99/month 
We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
DTV STREAM Main
  • Sports:  NFL, college football, MLB, NBA, WNBA, college basketball, golf, tennis, soccer, NASCAR, UFC, WWE, and more
  • Channels: ESPN, FOX Sports, TNT, local channels (CBS, NBC, ABC, FOX), regional sports networks, and more 
  • Price: Starting at $74.99/month 
We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
ESPN+ Main
  • Sports: MMA (UFC, PFL), boxing, tennis, golf, NHL, college football, college basketball, MLS, some MLB, international soccer leagues (Bundesliga, La Liga, etc.), G League, lacrosse, cricket, and more
  • Channels: ESPN+
  • Price: $9.99/mo or $99.99/year
We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
Paramount+ Main
  • Sports: Some NFL, some college football, college basketball, UEFA soccer, PGA, and MMA.
  • Channels: CBS (and related networks)
  • Price: $4.99/mo & up
We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN allows you to stream sports safely from anywhere in the world. It's our go-to pick for international streaming.

We may receive a referral fee at no cost to you if you use our links.

 

Boxing

If you’re a fan of boxing, there are a few ways you can watch fights throughout the year.

What channels do you need?

To watch boxing on television, you’ll need access to ESPN, ESPN+, FOX, FS1, and Showtime. Some events may also air exclusively on DAZN.

What streaming services have all the channels you need?

fuboTV Main
  • Sports: NFL, college football, MLB, NBA, WNBA, college basketball, golf, tennis, soccer, NASCAR, UFC, WWE, and more
  • Channels: ESPN, FOX Sports, local channels (CBS, NBC, ABC, FOX), regional sports networks, and more
  • Price: Starting at $74.99/month 
We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
Hulu Live Main
  • Sports:  NFL, college football, MLB, NBA, WNBA, college basketball, golf, tennis, soccer, NASCAR, UFC, boxing, WWE, and more
  • Channels: ESPN, ESPN+, FOX Sports, TNT, local channels (CBS, NBC, ABC, FOX), regional sports networks, and more 
  • Price: Starting at $76.99/month 
We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
DTV STREAM Main
  • Sports:  NFL, college football, MLB, NBA, WNBA, college basketball, golf, tennis, soccer, NASCAR, UFC, WWE, and more
  • Channels: ESPN, FOX Sports, TNT, local channels (CBS, NBC, ABC, FOX), regional sports networks, and more 
  • Price: Starting at $74.99/month 
We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
ESPN+ Main
  • Sports: MMA (UFC, PFL), boxing, tennis, golf, NHL, college football, college basketball, MLS, some MLB, international soccer leagues (Bundesliga, La Liga, etc.), G League, lacrosse, cricket, and more
  • Channels: ESPN+
  • Price: $9.99/mo or $99.99/year
We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
DAZN Main
  • Sports: Boxing, MMA, soccer, eSports, and more
  • Channels: DAZN
  • Price: $19.99/mo or $149.99/year
We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN allows you to stream sports safely from anywhere in the world. It's our go-to pick for international streaming.

We may receive a referral fee at no cost to you if you use our links.

 

NASCAR

NASCAR fans have a few different ways they can watch races throughout the year.

What channels do you need?

To watch NASCAR on television, you’ll need access to NBC, FOX, and FS1.

What streaming services have all the channels you need?

fuboTV Main
  • Sports: NFL, college football, MLB, NBA, WNBA, college basketball, golf, tennis, soccer, NASCAR, UFC, WWE, and more
  • Channels: ESPN, FOX Sports, local channels (CBS, NBC, ABC, FOX), regional sports networks, and more
  • Price: Starting at $74.99/month 
We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
Sling TV Main
  • Sports: College football, limited NFL, some MLB, NBA, WNBA, college basketball, golf, tennis, soccer, NASCAR, UFC, WWE, and more
  • Channels: ESPN, FOX Sports, TNT, and more
  • Price: Starting at $40/month 
We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
Hulu Live Main
  • Sports:  NFL, college football, MLB, NBA, WNBA, college basketball, golf, tennis, soccer, NASCAR, UFC, boxing, WWE, and more
  • Channels: ESPN, ESPN+, FOX Sports, TNT, local channels (CBS, NBC, ABC, FOX), regional sports networks, and more 
  • Price: Starting at $76.99/month 
We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
DTV STREAM Main
  • Sports:  NFL, college football, MLB, NBA, WNBA, college basketball, golf, tennis, soccer, NASCAR, UFC, WWE, and more
  • Channels: ESPN, FOX Sports, TNT, local channels (CBS, NBC, ABC, FOX), regional sports networks, and more 
  • Price: Starting at $74.99/month 
We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN allows you to stream sports safely from anywhere in the world. It's our go-to pick for international streaming.

We may receive a referral fee at no cost to you if you use our links.

 

Wrestling (WWE, AEW, etc.)

If you like pro wrestling, you’ll be happy to know you have plenty of options to stream the big promotions, WWE and AEW.

What channels do you need?

To watch WWE on television, you’ll need access to FOX, USA Network, and Peacock. To watch AEW, you’ll need access to TNT.

What streaming services have all the channels you need?

Hulu Live Main
  • Sports:  NFL, college football, MLB, NBA, WNBA, college basketball, golf, tennis, soccer, NASCAR, UFC, boxing, WWE, and more
  • Channels: ESPN, ESPN+, FOX Sports, TNT, local channels (CBS, NBC, ABC, FOX), regional sports networks, and more 
  • Price: Starting at $76.99/month 
We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
fuboTV Main
  • Sports: NFL, college football, MLB, NBA, WNBA, college basketball, golf, tennis, soccer, NASCAR, UFC, WWE, and more
  • Channels: ESPN, FOX Sports, local channels (CBS, NBC, ABC, FOX), regional sports networks, and more
  • Price: Starting at $74.99/month 
We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
Sling TV Main
  • Sports: College football, limited NFL, some MLB, NBA, WNBA, college basketball, golf, tennis, soccer, NASCAR, UFC, WWE, and more
  • Channels: ESPN, FOX Sports, TNT, and more
  • Price: Starting at $40/month 
We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
Peacock Main
  • Sports: Some NFL (Sunday Night Football), Olympics, very limited MLB, WWE, IndyCar racing, Premier League soccer, cycling, rugby, and more
  • Channels: NBC (and related networks)
  • Price: $5.99/mo
We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN allows you to stream sports safely from anywhere in the world. It's our go-to pick for international streaming.

We may receive a referral fee at no cost to you if you use our links.

 

Choosing the Right Option to Watch Sports Online without Cable

Now that we’ve laid out the different options for streaming sports, let’s take a step back and talk about how you can choose the right streaming app(s) for your needs.

Here are some important factors you’ll want to consider:

1. What Sports/Teams/Leagues Do You Care About?

The first step is to make a list of the sports, teams, and leagues that you care about. This will help you narrow down the field and choose the best streaming option(s) for you.

For example, if you’re a baseball fan, do you want to follow a specific team all season long or are you just interested in watching the big national TV games and playoffs action? If you do want to follow a specific team, do you live in their local TV market or are you outside of the region?

These are the kinds of questions you’ll want to answer before moving on to the next step.

2. What Channels Do You Need?

Once you’ve figured out the sports/leagues/teams you want to watch, you need to start making a list of all the channels that broadcast those events.

For example, if you’re a fan of the NFL, you’ll need to find a streaming service that offers channels like CBS, NBC, ESPN, and the NFL Network. College football fans will need access to ESPN channels (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU), Fox Sports channels (FS1, FS2), and ABC/ESPN3.

If you’re wanting to follow a local MLB, NBA, or NHL team, it will be important to have access to the regional sports networks in your market.

3. What Devices Do You Want to Use?

The next step is to consider which devices you want to use to watch sports online without cable. The good news is that most streaming services offer apps for a variety of devices, including phones, tablets, computers, and smart TVs.

However, there are some occasional exceptions where a streaming service might not be available to users of certain devices.

4. What Other Channels Do You Want?

While this guide is about how to watch sports online, the reality is that most people want access to a variety of channels – not just sports.

If you’re looking for a well-rounded streaming service that offers a good selection of channels beyond sports, you should make a list of the other channels that are important for you to have.

This might include cable TV classics like CNN, HGTV, and AMC or popular channels like HBO, Showtime, and Starz.

5. What’s Your Budget?

Finally, you need to consider your budget when choosing a streaming service. Most of the options on our list cost between $35 and $70 per month, though there are some niche sports streaming services that are much more affordable.

Additionally, some of the services on our list offer discounts for signing up for a longer period of time (like 3 months) or for prepaying for several months at once.

The good news here is that you’re almost guaranteed to save a big chunk of change when you stream sports rather than paying for a traditional cable or satellite TV package.

 

National Sports Channels Streaming Options Chart

How to read the chart:

If it says “yes,” that means the streaming service carries the channel in its base package

The $ symbol indicates that the streaming service carries the channel but at an additional cost above the base package price.

Channels FuboTV ($69.99) Hulu with Live TV ($69.99) Sling Orange ($35) Sling Blue ($35) DirecTV Stream ($69.99) Vidgo ($59.95) YouTube TV ($65)
ABC Yes Yes No* No Yes Yes Yes
beIN Sports Yes No $ $ No Yes No
Big Ten Network Yes Yes No $ $ Yes Yes
CBS Yes Yes No No Yes No Yes
CBS Sports Network Yes Yes No No $ No Yes
ESPN Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes
ESPN 2 Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes
ESPNEWS $ Yes $ No $ Yes Yes
ESPNU $ Yes $ No $ Yes Yes
Fox Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes
Fox Deportes Yes $ No No $ Yes No
FS1 Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes
FS2 Yes Yes No $ $ Yes Yes
Golf Channel Yes Yes No $ $ No Yes
MLB Network $ No $ $ $ Yes Yes
MSNBC Yes Yes No Yes Yes No Yes
NBA TV $ No $ $ $ No Yes
NBC Yes Yes No Yes Yes No Yes
NBC Universo Yes $ No $ No No Yes
NFL Network Yes Yes No Yes No Yes Yes
NFL Red Zone $ $ No $ No $ $
NHL Network $ No $ $ $ Yes No
PAC 12 Network $ No $ $ No Yes No
Paramount Network Yes Yes $ $ Yes Yes Yes
SEC Network $ Yes $ No $ Yes Yes
TBS No Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes
Telemundo Yes Yes No No $ No Yes
Tennis Channel $ No $ $ $ No No
TNT No Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes
TruTV No Yes $ Yes Yes No Yes
USA Network Yes Yes No Yes Yes No Yes

Regional Sports Networks Streaming Options Chart

How to read the chart:

If it says “yes,” that means the streaming service carries the channel in its base package

The $ symbol indicates that the streaming service carries the channel but at an additional cost above the base package price.

Channels FuboTV ($69.99) Hulu with Live TV ($69.99) Sling Orange ($35) Sling Blue ($35) DirecTV Stream ($69.99) Vidgo ($59.95) YouTube TV ($65)
AT&T SportsNet regionals Yes No No No $ No No
Bally Sports regionals No No No No $ No No
Marquee Sports Network Yes No No No $ No No
MASN No No No No $ No No
NBC Sports (regional) Yes Yes No No $ No Yes
NESN Yes No No No $ No No
SNY Yes Yes No No $ No Yes
The Longhorn Network No No $ $ No No No
YES Network No No No No $ No No

 

Have any questions about how to watch sports online? Let us know by commenting below.

 

DIRECTV STREAM
  • The most live sports channels of any streaming service
  • Includes ESPN, FS1, regional sports networks, local channels (FOX, CBS, NBC, ABC), and more
  • Starting at $74.99/month
fuboTV
  • 200+ channels available
  • Includes ESPN, FOX Sports, local channels (CBS, NBC, ABC, FOX), regional sports networks, and more
  • Starting at $74.99/month 
Sling TV
  • The most affordable live streaming service
  • Includes ESPN, FS1, TNT, NFL Network, and more
  • Starting at $40/month
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