How to Watch Sports Without Cable TV

One of the major reasons families delay cutting the cord is the fear of losing out on their beloved local sports teams. While local sports do add some complexity to the process, it is by no means impossible. Watching sports without Cable TV is definitely possible!

If you only have a team or two that you care about, we suggest picking it out of the list below and seeing specific options to that team.

— Select Team —Arizona CardinalsAtlanta FalconsBaltimore RavensBuffalo BillsCarolina PanthersChicago BearsCincinnati BengalsCleveland BrownsDallas CowboysDenver BroncosDetroit LionsGreen Bay PackersHouston TexansIndianapolis ColtsJacksonville JaguarsKansas City ChiefsLos Angeles ChargersLos Angeles RamsMiami DolphinsMinnesota VikingsNew England PatriotsNew Orleans SaintsNew York GiantsNew York JetsOakland RaidersPhiladelphia EaglesPittsburgh SteelersSan Francisco 49ersSeattle SeahawksTampa Bay BuccaneersTennessee TitansWashington RedskinsAnaheim DucksArizona CoyotesBoston BruinsBuffalo SabresCalgary FlamesCarolina HurricanesChicago BlackhawksColorado AvalancheColumbus Blue JacketsDallas StarsDetroit Red WingsEdmonton OilersFlorida PanthersLos Angeles KingsMinnesota WildMontreal CanadiensNashville PredatorsNew Jersey DevilsNew York IslandersNew York RangersOttawa SenatorsPhiladelphia FlyersPittsburgh PenguinsSan Jose SharksSt Louis BluesTampa Bay LightningToronto Maple LeafsVancouver CanucksVegas Golden KnightsWashington CapitalsWinnipeg JetsAtlanta HawksBoston CelticsBrooklyn NetsCharlotte HornetsChicago BullsCleveland CavaliersDallas MavericksDenver NuggetsDetroit PistonsGolden State WarriorsHouston RocketsIndiana PacersLos Angeles ClippersLos Angeles LakersMemphis GrizzliesMiami HeatMilwaukee BucksMinnesota TimberwolvesNew Orleans PelicansNew York KnicksOklahoma City ThunderOrlando MagicPhiladelphia 76ersPhoenix SunsPortland Trail BlazersSacramento KingsSan Antonio SpursToronto RaptorsUtah JazzWashington WizardsArizona DiamondbacksAtlanta BravesBaltimore OriolesBoston Red SoxChicago CubsChicago White SoxCincinnati RedsCleveland IndiansColorado RockiesDetroit TigersHouston AstrosKansas City RoyalsLos Angeles AngelsLos Angeles DodgersMiami MarlinsMilwaukee BrewersMinnesota TwinsNew York MetsNew York YankeesOakland AthleticsPhiladelphia PhilliesPittsburgh PiratesSan Diego PadresSan Francisco GiantsSeattle MarinersSt Louis CardinalsTampa Bay RaysTexas RangersToronto Blue JaysWashington NationalsAtlanta United FCChicago FireColorado RapidsColumbus Crew SCD.C. UnitedFC DallasHouston DynamoLA GalaxyLos Angeles FCMinnesota United FCMontreal ImpactNew England RevolutionNew York City FCNew York Red BullsOrlando City SCPhiladelphia UnionPortland TimbersReal Salt LakeSan Jose EarthquakesSeattle Sounders FCSporting Kansas CityToronto FCAlabama Crimson TideArizona WildcatsArkansas RazorbacksAuburn TigersBaylor BearsBoston College EaglesCal Golden BearsClemson TigersColorado BuffaloesDuke Blue DevilsFlorida GatorsFlorida State SeminolesGeorgia BulldogsIllinois Fighting IlliniIndiana HoosiersIowa HawkeyesIowa State CyclonesKansas JayhawksKansas State WildcatsKentucky WildcatsLouisville CardinalsLSU TigersMaryland TerrapinsMiami HurricanesMichigan State SpartansMichigan WolverinesMinnesota Golden GophersMississippi BulldogsMissouri TigersNebraska CornhuskersNorth Carolina TarheelsNorthwestern WildcatsNotre Dame Fighting IrishOhio State BuckeyesOklahoma SoonersOklahoma State CowboysOle Miss RebelsOregon DucksPenn State Nittany LionsPitt PanthersPurdue BoilermakersRutgers Scarlet KnightsSouth Carolina GamecocksStanford CardinalSyracuse OrangeTCU Horned FrogsTennesee VolunteersTexas A&M AggiesTexas LonghornsTexas Tech Red RaidersUCLA BruinsUSC TrojansUtah UtesVanderbilt CommodoresVirginia CavaliersWake Forest Demon DeaconsWashington HuskiesWest Virginia MountianeersWisconsin Badgers

Watching In-Market Local Sports

Over-the-Air Antenna

Some local games are on broadcast TV. This includes almost all games from your local NFL team plus other games within the NBA, MLB, NHL and College ranks. You can check out your local TV guide to see if one is on now. Most of these games are broadcast on weekends and can be watched with a digital TV antenna. A TV antenna allows you to watch your local broadcast channels for free once you’ve purchased the antenna. However, this requires your home to be within range of the local station that is carrying the game.

Streaming Services

Many local sports games are now starting to show up on various streaming services. For instance, most Regional Sports Networks that carry your local NHL, NBA and MLB games are available on Hulu Live, AT&T TV Now and others. While they usually require an additional fee to watch, they are available. While availability differs per metropolitan area, these 5 services have pretty good coverage and free trials.

Hulu Live	YouTube TV	AT&T Now	fuboTV
Free Trial $45 / month	Free Trial $49 / month	Free Trial $50 / month	Free Trial $55 / month

Watching Out-of-Market Sports

If you do not live in what is considered the “home” area of the team you’d like to watch, then utilizing one of the official league apps will be your best choice. Before signing up for these services, check to see if they exist as an “add-on” to a streaming service that you already subscribe to (like Amazon Prime, Sling, etc.).

NHL

The NHL has NHL.tv, which shows all out-of-market games for all teams. Unfortunately, games on here are subject to blackouts if you live within what is considered the team’s “home region” and you’ll need a VPN to mask your location if that happens.

NBA

The NBA has NBA.tv, which shows all out-of-market games for all teams. Unfortunately, games on here are subject to blackouts if you live within what is considered the team’s “home region” and you’ll need a VPN to mask your location if that happens.

NFL

The NFL has two apps that allow you to stream games. The first is NFL Gamepass, which allows you to stream any NFL game after the live game has ended. This will be your cheapest and easiest option, but obviously you won’t be able to watch the games live. There is a free trial available.

The second (and most popular) is NFL Sunday Ticket which will allow you to stream live NFL games from any device, but the catch is that you can only watch out-of-market games. This means if you live in the market you are trying to watch the game for, you’ll need to mask your location with a VPN.

MLB

The Major League Baseball has MLB TV, which shows all out-of-market games for all teams. Unfortunately, games on here are subject to blackouts if you live within what is considered the team’s “home region” and you’ll need a VPN to mask your location if that happens.

Sports Channels on Streaming Services

Every streaming service is different in their channel lineup. While this is confusing when trying to decide which service to subscribe to, NoCable has tried to make it a bit easier. Here is the most up-to-date list of dedicated sports channels on the streaming services they are available on.

	Sling	Hulu Live	YouTube TV	AT&T Now	fuboTV
ACC Network	Y	Y	Y
bein Sports	Y				Y
BTN		Y	Y	Y	Y
CBSSN		Y	Y	Y	Y
ESPN	Y	Y	Y	Y
ESPN Classic
ESPN College Extra		Y
ESPN Goalline	Y	Y
ESPN2	Y	Y	Y	Y
ESPN3	Y
ESPN Desportes		Y		Y
ESPN News	Y	Y	Y	Y
ESPNU	Y	Y	Y	Y
Fox Soccer Plus	Y	Y	Y	Y
FS1	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y
FS2	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y
Golf Channel	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y
MLB Bases Loaded		Y
MLB Game of the Week			Y
MLB Network	Y		Y	Y
MLB Strike Zone
NBA League Pass			Y
NBA TV	Y		Y		Y
NBCSN	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y
NFL Network	Y				Y
NFL Redzone	Y
NHL Network	Y			Y
Olympic Network	Y	Y	Y	Y
Outside TV	Y
Pac-12 Networks	Y				Y
SEC Network	Y	Y	Y	Y
Stadium	Y
Tennis Channel	Y		Y
	Free Trial $25 / month	Free Trial $45 / month	Free Trial $49 / month	Free Trial $50 / month	Free Trial $55 / month