Here Are The 3 Best Streaming Services For Sports
By Rachel Oaks
Switching from satellite or cable TV to streaming TV can save you fistfuls of cash. This is doubly true if you’re shelling out for sports channels to catch every game—but finding a streaming service that has all the sports channels you want can be tricky.
Most of the go-streaming services of Netflix, Hulu, etc. don’t even offer sports or sporting events. So when comparing the channel lineups of the top live TV streaming services to the 20 most-watched sports channels, three options came out on top: PlayStation Vue offering 19 of the 20 most-watched sports channels, DIRECTV NOW offering 18 of the 20 most-watched sports channels, and Sling TV offering 16 of the 20 most-watched sports channels
- Top sports channels: 19 of 20
- Pro: Multiscreen view
- Con: Works best on PlayStation 4 or Apple TV
- Perk: If PlayStation Vue looks right for you, it offers a free five-day trial so you can test it out before committing to it.
You don’t need a PlayStation to watch all the many sports channels of PlayStation Vue. However, a PlayStation 4 lets you use the multi-view function to watch three games at once. Or go for a 4th-generation Apple TV to watch four.
PlayStation Vue helps a lot when the seasons start to overlap for your favorite teams. You won’t have to jump back and forth between channels and risk missing something big.
- Top sports channels: 18 of 20
- Pro: HBO and CINEMAX included in featured packages
- Con: Potential changes coming to packages
- Perk: DIRECTV NOW gives $15 off your first two months to make the switch a little easier.
DIRECTV NOW’s history of changing up its packages and pricing can be worrisome if you’re looking for consistency. But it still has a ton of sports channels, and if you’re not going to miss MLB Network and NFL Network, it’s a pretty good option.
Heads up: DIRECTV NOW is in the middle of switching its name to AT&T TV NOW. That may spell more alterations to its packages and pricing. |
- Top sports channels: 16 of 20
- Pro: Pac-12 Networks
- Con: Spotty local channel availability
- Perk: Sling has a bunch of deals for new customers, but the easiest one to commit to is 40% off your first month.
Sling TV misses out on ABC and CBS, but you can use a VPN to watch local sports that would be blacked out on channels like ESPN. It’s also the only service in our top three that offers Pac-12 Networks, so it’s the right choice for college sports fans.
- Top sports channels: 12 of 20
- Pro: International sports
- Con: No ESPN
If your sports interests lie outside the major leagues, fuboTV might be the right choice for you. While it’s missing ESPN, it has a bunch of other sports channels—like FOX Soccer Plus and Fight Network—that are hard to find elsewhere.
In case you're looking for a breakdown for what channels you can get w/ each service, here you go.
Sports channel comparison
Sports Channel | PlayStation Vue | DIRECTV NOW | Sling TV | fuboTV |
ABC | ✔ | ✔ | — | — |
ACC Network Extra | — | — | ✔ | — |
beIN Sports | ✔ | — | ✔ | ✔ |
Big Ten Network | ✔ | ✔ | — | ✔ |
CBS | ✔ | ✔ | — | ✔ |
CBS Sports | ✔ | ✔ | — | ✔ |
ELEVEN SPORTS | ✔ | — | — | ✔ |
ESPN | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | — |
ESPN2 | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | — |
ESPN3 | — | — | ✔ | — |
ESPN Bases Loaded | ✔ | — | ✔ | — |
ESPN Classic | ✔ | — | — | — |
ESPN College Extra | ✔ | — | — | — |
ESPN Deportes | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | — |
ESPN Goal Line | — | — | ✔ | — |
ESPNEWS | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | — |
ESPNU | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | — |
Fight Network | — | — | — | ✔ |
FOX | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
FOX College Sports | ✔ | — | — | ✔ |
FOX Deportes | ✔ | ✔ | — | ✔ |
FOX Soccer Plus | — | — | — | ✔ |
FOX Sports 1 | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
FOX Sports 2 | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
fubo Cycling | — | — | — | ✔ |
fubo Sports Network | — | — | — | ✔ |
Golf Channel | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
GolTV | — | ✔ | — | ✔ |
MLB Network | ✔ | — | ✔ | — |
MLB Network Strike Zone | ✔ | — | ✔ | — |
NBA TV | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
NBC | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
NBCSN | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
NFL Network | ✔ | — | ✔ | ✔ |
NFL RedZone | ✔ | — | ✔ | ✔ |
NHL Network | — | ✔ | ✔ | — |
Olympic Channel | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Outside TV | ✔ | — | ✔ | ✔ |
Pac-12 Networks | — | — | ✔ | ✔ |
SEC Network | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | — |
Sportsman Channel | — | ✔ | ✔ | — |
Stadium | ✔ | — | ✔ | ✔ |
Tennis Channel | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
TBS | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
TNT | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
TVG | — | ✔ | — | — |
Univision Televisa Deportes | — | ✔ | — | — |
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