An Amazon Fire TV Cube or Fire TV Stick can be a gateway to some of the best sports streaming services for fans getting rid of cable TV.
After you buy a Fire TV or Fire Stick, it is common for people to feel a little lost. There are dozens of apps within the app store covering sports.
What’s the best way to watch local sports, or a favorite team?
I researched and wrote a rundown of the best sports streaming services based on my own experience as a subscriber. Here is a brief rundown to answer some of your questions.
Table of Contents
- How can I watch live NFL games on Fire TV?
- How to watch local sports on Fire TV
- How do I watch live CBS sports on Fire TV?
- Can I watch NBC sports on Fire TV?
- How to get free live sports on Fire TV
How can I watch live NFL games on Fire TV?
There are about a half dozen live TV streaming services that you can use to watch NFL games.
You can stream ESPN, NFL Network, CBS Sports Network and local ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC channels live without a cable TV or satellite subscription.
DIRECTV STREAM, fuboTV, Hulu Live TV, Sling TV and YouTube TV all carry local broadcast and cable TV channels.
Each service has pros and cons. Some of these streaming platforms may require a sports-add channel package for NFL RedZone or regional sports networks.
Let’s cover a few more common questions.
How to watch local sports on Fire TV
Local sports on Fire TV, such as in-market NFL, NBA and MLB games are available on most, but not all, live TV streaming services.
Hulu Live TV, YouTube TV, DIRECTV STREAM and fuboTV have nationwide coverage of local broadcast channels. They include local ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX stations. Sling TV only carries local NBC and FOX stations in a small number of markets across the U.S.
NFL on Fire TV
For NFL fans, YouTube TV, fuboTV, DIRECTV STREAM and Hulu Live TV have comprehensive coverage in their entry-level channel bundles. All of these services work with Amazon Fire TV streaming devices and Fire TV Edition Smart TVs.
MLB on Fire TV
MLB fans will need regional sports networks to watch local in-market games. Regional Bally Sports channels that carry local MLB games are available on DIRECTV STREAM and the new Bally Sports+ streaming service.
MLB.TV has coverage of out-of-market games for $49.99 per year. Apple TV+ offers free coverage of Sunday morning MLB games that are part of the national broadcast schedule.
NBA on Fire TV
NBA fans can use Sling TV as an inexpensive way to get TNT and ESPN on Fire TV.
But if you need local, in-market games on YES Network or Bally Sports, then you will need a DIRECTV STREAM subscription with the Choice plan. The new streaming service Bally Sports+ also carries regional Bally Sports channels. You can watch Bally Sports+ on Fire TV devices.
NBA TV and NBA League Pass gives you access to live out-of-market games.
ROOT Sports Northwest is also on DIRECTV STREAM and fuboTV. The same goes for AT&T SportsNet channels.
How do I watch live CBS sports on Fire TV?
Paramount Plus is an affordable option for Fire TV users who want to watch NFL games and college football that broadcasts on CBS.
Not everyone needs a full complement of cable TV channels.
The Essential plan costs $4.99 per month. Essential plan subscribers get access to Sunday NFL games that broadcast on local CBS stations.
UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and UEFA Europa Conference League games are also on the Essential plan. You can watch “SEC on CBS” by subscribing to the Premium plan, which costs $9.99 per month.
Can I watch NBC sports on Fire TV?
You can watch a variety of live sports on NBC using a Fire TV, Fire Stick or Fire TV Edition Smart TV.
Peacock TV is an affordable option for watching sports that are broadcast on NBC. Peacock streams live NFL Sunday Night Football, Golf, NASCAR, INDYCAR, Premier League soccer and WWE events.
You have to subscribe to the Premium plan, which costs $4.99 per month.
How to get free live sports on Fire TV
There is no legally free option on Fire TV devices that has the same comprehensive coverage of cable TV channels.
You can get a brief free trial of a live TV streaming service to watch live sports. Sports highlights are also available for free on YouTube and apps such as CBS Sports HQ.
Related: How to Watch Live Sports on Smart TVs.
Founder and Editor of The Cord Cutting Report. Before launching the site in 2016, he worked for more than two decades as a staff writer or correspondent for a number of daily newspapers, including The Boston Globe. His enthusiasm for tech began with the Atari 2600. Follow @james_kimble
