The Best Sports Streaming Services

By Jim Kimble Editor, Cordcuttingreport.com

live tv

does it cost so much to watch live sports ...

Why

when there are so many streaming services?

I PAY for...

a half dozen of the streaming services chosen for this list.

I have subscribed to just about all of them on and off over the years...

streaming services

THESE

aren't ranked against each other

Instead, they are judged by:

Price

Overall value

Channel lineups or live sports

compared to cable TV or satellite TV.

Sling TV

31 to 50+ channels

Starts at $40 per month. Sports fans get ESPN, ESPN2 and TNT with the Sling Orange plan. 

Cheapest for ESPN, NFL RedZone & PAC-12

Flexible channel bundles

On-demand library

Cloud DVR included

PROS

No regional Sports Networks

NFL RedZone costs extra

Local channels are scarce

CONS

But for $11 more

adds ACC Network, ACCNX, SEC Network, SEC Network+, ESPNU, PAC 12 Network Longhorn Network, beIN Sports, NBA TV, MLB Network, ESPNews, Tennis Channel, NHL Network and MLB Strike Zone'

the Sports Extra bundle

Paramount+

Live NFL, Golf & Soccer

Starts at $4.99 per month. Subscribers can watch NFL games that air every Sunday on CBS.

NFL budget option

UEFA Champions League games

Bundle with SHOWTIME for a discount

Decent movie library

pros

Sports coverage limited to CBS

SEC football & basketball cost more

Local CBS station under Premium plan

cons

NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship, the PGA TOUR, The PGA Championship, The Masters and Combate Global MMA are on the Premium plan.

For $9.99 per month

ESPN+

Live NHL, MLB & PGA TOUR

For $9.99 per month, ESPN+ carries daily NHL and MLB games and select NBA & NFL games.

Cheap price

Live & on-demand games

Can get a discount with Disney Bundle

"30 for 30" library & ESPN Originals

PROS

UFC pay-per-view is pricey

No in-market game coverage

cons

But...

Alternative simulcasts of NFL and NBA games arrived in 2022.

La Liga, MLS, Bundesliga, Dutch Eredivisie, Liga MX and EFL Championship are on ESPN+.

Peacock

For $4.99 per month, you get Sunday Night Football, Notre Dame football, golf, NASCAR, INDYCAR, and Premier League soccer .

NFL, Soccer & NASCAR

Cheap access to sports on NBC

Sunday Night Football

Month-to-month subscriptions

pros

Interface could be better

Too many commercials

Average movies & TV shows

cons

You can go commerical-free for $9.99 per month.

All subscribers can watch Peacock on three screens at once. Exclusive Sunday morning MLB games debuted in 2022.

YouTube TV

ACC Network, Big Ten Network, SEC Network, ESPN, ESPN2, Golf Channel, MLB Network, NBA TV, NFL Network, TBS and TNT are included in the base channel plan.

85+ channels

Starts at $64.99 per month.

Best Menu & Interface

Includes local channels

Unlimited Cloud DVR storage

PROS

4K Plus Add-on is pricey

Weak Sports Add-on

No NHL Network

cons

But ...

YouTube TV has across-the-board coverage for NFL, college basketball in just about every corner of the U.S.

A COUPLE

MORE TIPS

Consider benefits of short-term subscriptions vs long-term ones.

Services are constantly changing. So I am always shopping around.

Annual subscriptions and bundles can sometimes save you money.

Check out the rest of the Best Sports Streaming Services at: 

cordcuttingreport.com