How to Stream Big Ten Network Online Without Cable

By Jim Kimble

How to Stream Big Ten Network

Big Ten Network is available on 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 Hulu with Live TV, which carries 75+ live channels including Big Ten Network, FS1, FS2, FOX News and ESPN.

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

There’s 50 hours of Cloud DVR, and you’ll get Hulu’s on-demand library that people usually pay $5.99 per month for.

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.

A subscription costs $69.99 per month, lets you activate the BTN TV app, and includes ESPN+ and Disney+.

If Hulu 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 couple 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. 

Free Big 10 games without a TV antenna

Locast is a non-profit service that allows you to stream local ABC, CBS, PBS, FOX, NBC and a number of sub-channels. The service is only available in 36 markets in the U.S. but it’s constantly expanding. Roku, Amazon Fire TV and Android TV devices such as Smart TVs and Google Chromecast with Google TV all have a Locast app.

Since Locast is a non-profit, the app regularly asks for a donation, and some find that irritating. But Locast is an option worth exploring if you’re interested in getting local channels, but don’t want to pay for cable TV.

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 in the 110+ channel lineup too.

There’s 250 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 $64.99 per month.

Is Big Ten Network on Sling TV?

Yes. Sling TV is now the cheapest option for watching Big Ten Network at $46 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 $35 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 costs only $10.  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 $55 per month. The first month only costs $10. 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?

Hulu with Live TV is the best deal for most people for getting Big Ten Network without cable.

Hulu’s live TV plan has a number of local channels like ABC, CBS, 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’ll get 65+ live channels, including sports networks like ESPN, FS1, FS2 and SEC Network. Local CBS and ABC are included in the channel lineup alongside entertainment networks like HGTV for $69.99 per month.

You also get ESPN+, Disney+ and Hulu’s full on-demand library of movies and TV shows.

If I wasn’t going with Hulu for Big 10 coverage, I’d also consider trying fuboTV, which gets you an 110+ channel lineup that includes Big Ten Network, FS1, FS2 and PAC-12 Networks. A subscription costs $64.99 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. 

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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