The Cord Cutting Report

How to Stream Big Ten Network Online Without Cable

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How to Stream Big Ten Network

Big Ten Network is available on DIRECTV STREAM, fuboTV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, and Vidgo. You can use a Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV and Android TV devices such as Google Chromecast with Google TV to watch these live TV streaming services.

Watch Big Ten Network Live Stream

Big Ten Network used to be a staple of cable TV, but now you don’t need Comcast (Xfinity), Spectrum or even DIRECTV to watch college football.

That’s because there are a number of ways to watch BTN and pay less than you are now. This guide will quickly show you how to live stream Big Ten Network without cable no matter where you live in the United States.

What’s the best option?

Right now, I think it’s DIRECTV STREAM, which carries more than 105 live TV channels including Big Ten Network, FS1, ACC Network, SEC Network and ESPN. Local ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX stations are among your other key football channels.

You can watch Big Ten Network live along with any other network in its channel lineup on your Smart TV, streaming device or smartphone. You’re able to watch live TV on 20 screens at once.

There is unlimited Cloud DVR.

You can stream Big Ten Network live on a Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Firestick, an iPhone, tablet or game consoles like XBox One and Nintendo Switch.

Their latest promotion includes a 5-day free trial. There are no contracts, and you can cancel online whenever you like.

Subscribers can activate the BTN TV app, and get BTN’s “Extra Game Football Channels” in your channel lineup.

If DIRECTV STREAM isn’t your thing, that’s fine. Keep reading.

Table of Contents

How can I get Big Ten Network without Comcast, Xfinity?

It’s time for you to learn how to cut the cord if you’re a college football fan.

Why? Because Comcast has had an on-again, off-again relationship with BTN. A few years ago, Big Ten Network was dropped across 29 states from Comcast’s basic cable package. That meant paying more to get Big Ten Network with Comcast.

You may also remember the channel blackout scare that happened on the eve of college football season.

Now isn’t the time to lose Big Ten Network or FS1 due to cable TV negotiations. 

All of these live TV streaming services have no contracts and no sneaky fees. But here’s one more tip on how to watch Big Ten football for free.

How to Watch Big Ten Football with a TV Antenna

Some college football games are on CBS and ABC. Many of the streaming services that I’m about to flesh out below do have local channels and regional sports channels like SEC Network, PAC 12 Network, ESPN2, and ESPNU.

Depending on where you live, a streaming service may live stream Big Ten Network, but it’s missing that local CBS station.

That might not matter because there’s an excellent chance that you can get CBS, FOX and many other local networks without paying anything. 

You just need a decent TV antenna to start watching Big 10 games on ABC and CBS for free. 

Head over to the free online tool at the Antennas Direct website and punch in your zip code or address.

You’ll see a list of broadcast towers near your home, and even some recommended models. 

To get started with a TV antenna, plug it into the coax jack in the back of your TV and under settings scan for channels for OTA (over-the-air) or “Air TV”.

Here are a number of resources that I have assembled over the years based on my own hands-on testing. 

DIRECTV STREAM

A DIRECTV STREAM subscription includes Big Ten Network and a number of key channels for college football such as FOX, ESPN and FS1.

The Choice plan includes all your local broadcast channels such as ABC, CBS, and NBC. You also get ACC Network, ESPN2, ESPNews, ESPNU, and SEC Network. 

Subscribers get more than 105 channels, unlimited Cloud DVR to record games and 40,000 on-demand movies and shows. Subscribers can watch live TV channels on up to 20 screens at once.

Subscribers can get three months of HBO Max, Cinemax, Showtime, STARZ, and EPIX for free before the monthly rates kick in.  

You can sign up for a free 5-day trial without any obligations. 

The Choice plan usually costs $89.99 per month. There are no contracts. You can subscribe month to month and cancel whenever you want.

DIRECTV STREAM works on Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV and Smart TVs running on Android TV and Google TV. 

You can look over the different channel lineups before deciding whether to sign up. 

fuboTV

fuboTV has all the channels you will need to watch Big 10 football. 

Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN2, PAC 12 Networks and local CBS, ABC, NBC and FOX stations are part of the starter bundle.

There are entertainment channels like A&E, Bravo, FX, two Hallmark channels and National Geographic. The Weather Channel, CBSN and FOX News are among 140 channels in its lineup.

There is 1,000 hours of Cloud DVR, and you don’t even need to rely on that to record games. fuboTV has “lookback”, an on-demand feature for sporting events that aired in the last 72 hours.

Subscribers can watch live TV on two screens at once. You can look over fubo’s channels to see what locals and regional sports networks are available in your area. 

With a fuboTV subscription, you can activate the BTN TV app for live streams of college football games outside of your home. There are about 39 apps that you can sign into total on your streaming device or smartphone.

If you own a 4K TV, then take note: fuboTV is the only streaming service that live streams select sporting events in 4K HDR.

fuboTV has its own app for live streaming on Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Fire Sticks, Apple TV and Android TV devices like NVIDIA Shield TV. You can also live stream Big Ten Network on your iPhone and Android smartphone using the fubo mobile app.

There’s a free 7-day trial for new customers. A subscription costs $69.99 per month.

Is Big Ten Network on Sling TV?

Yes. Sling TV is now the cheapest option for watching Big Ten Network at $51 per month.

Big Ten Network is on Sling TV’s Sports Extra bundle when you subscribe to the Blue plan. 

Sling TV can be a good option if you already use a TV antenna or have another way to get local channels that carry NFL games.

A subscription to Sling Blue costs $40 per month and carries 45+ channels including NFL Network. The Sports Extra bundle costs another $11 per month.

Sling Blue subscribers can watch live TV on three screens at once. 

Sports Extra carries 12 channels, NFL RedZone, FS2 and PAC 12 Network. 

SEC Network, Big Ten Network, Longhorn Network, ACC Network, ACC Network Extra, ESPNU and ESPNews are some of the key channels on Sports Extra that carry college football.

When you sign up for Sling TV, the first month is half price. There are no contracts, or extra fees like cable TV. You can look over the channel lineup before deciding whether to sign up.

If you plan on signing up for an entire season of Big 10 football, you might want to prepay for a couple of months and get a free streaming device instead.

Vidgo

You can watch Big Ten Network when you subscribe to Vidgo.

There are 95+ live TV channels, including ESPN, ESPN2, FOX, NFL Network, and NFL Redzone.

Vidgo does not carry CBS so you can’t get 100 percent of Big 10 coverage with the service. But ACC Network, Longhorn Network and PAC 12 Networks are included. 

Subscribers can watch live TV on three screens at once.

Vidgo works on Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, PCs and iOS devices. There is a watch-party option if you are using the mobile app. 

A Vidgo subscription costs $59.95 per month. You can look over the channel lineup before deciding whether to sign up.

Youtube TV

YouTube TV has Big Ten Network as part of a 85+ channel lineup for $64.99 per month. You’ll find some other college football gems like SEC Network, FS1, FS2 and ESPNU.

YouTube TV works with Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV and Android TV devices such as Google Chromecast with Google TV.

YouTube TV has Big Ten Network and SEC Network in its channel lineup.

If you’re worried about getting local channels, YouTube TV might be a good fit. The streaming service put an emphasis on getting local channels into its lineup when it launched.

Try out YouTube TV free for 7-days.

What is BTN Plus?

BTN Plus is a subscription based service that does NOT have college football games. It’s basically a catch-all for games that aren’t aired on TV. So we’re talking about women’s volleyball matches, not college football.

What’s the Best Way to Watch Big Ten Network Without Cable?

DIRECTV STREAM is one of the best deal for most people for getting Big Ten Network without cable.

The Choice plan has a number of local channels like ABC and FOX, which you will need for Big 10 coverage. So you don’t have to worry about missing any college football games or even NFL games.

You can get a free 5-day trial.

You’ll get 105+ live channels, including sports networks like ESPN, FS1, FS2 and SEC Network.

If I wasn’t going with DIRECTV STREAM for Big 10 coverage, I’d also consider trying fuboTV, which gets you an 130+ channel lineup that includes Big Ten Network, FOX, ABC, FS1 and PAC-12 Networks. A subscription costs $69.99 per month after a free 7-day trial.

If you cancel the trial beforehand? No problem. That’s the beauty of using a live streaming service like fuboTV instead of cable. No more hassles or oddball fees. Look over fuboTV’s channel lineup and see if it’s worth considering.

So how are you going to stream Big Ten Network without cable? Tell fellow readers in the comments below.

Note: This article was published on August 23, 2021, and has been updated.

For more news on streaming, how-to guides and reviews, head over to the main page of The Cord Cutting Report or follow the CCR on Google News. 

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