With cable TV prices continuing to rise, more and more people are ditching traditional cable and satellite TV services.
But what about sports fans who don’t want to miss out on ESPN’s great sports programming and analysis?
The good news is that there are plenty of ways to stream ESPN without a cable subscription.
How to Watch ESPN Without Cable?
The easiest way to stream ESPN without cable is by subscribing to a live TV streaming service.
Most of the major services like Sling TV, Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, and DIRECTV STREAM all include ESPN and ESPN2 in their channel lineups. Here’s a quick rundown of how to get ESPN with some of the most popular streaming services:
Sling TV’s Sling Orange package includes ESPN and ESPN2 for $40 per month. Sling is one of the cheaper options for streaming ESPN and still provides 30+ channels.
Hulu + Live TV includes over 75 channels including ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPN3 for $70 per month. Hulu + Live also allows you to record ESPN to watch later.
YouTube TV offers 85+ channels, including ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNEWS, ESPNU, and SEC Network for $65 per month. YouTube TV has unlimited DVR storage for recording games.
DIRECTV STREAM’s Entertainment package has 65+ channels and all the main ESPN channels for $70 per month. DIRECTV STREAM has an advanced voice remote and unlimited cloud DVR.
Most of these streaming services offer free trials so you can test them out before committing to a subscription. Sling TV and DIRECTV STREAM offer the lowest regular prices for access to ESPN.
Can I Watch ESPN on Fire TV, Roku, Chromecast, YouTube, or Apple TV?
The great thing about streaming services is that you can watch them on pretty much any device. All of the major live TV streaming platforms are available on:
- Fire TV
- Roku
- Chromecast
- Apple TV
- Smart TVs
- Game consoles
- Mobile devices
So whether you prefer to stream ESPN on your Fire TV Stick or Chromecast ESPN from your phone to your TV, you’ll be able to access ESPN on your favorite devices.
Most services offer intuitive apps that make streaming ESPN a breeze on any device once you log into your account.
YouTube is one option for watching some ESPN content for free. Highlight clips, sports news, and analysis are available on ESPN’s YouTube channel. However, live games and ESPN’s TV channels are not available on YouTube.
Most Popular Shows to Stream on ESPN
Here are 5 of the best ESPN shows to watch without cable:
- SportsCenter – ESPN’s flagship sports news program airs multiple editions throughout the day and is a must for keeping up with the latest sports headlines and highlights.
- First Take – Stephen A. Smith and Max Kellerman debate the day’s top sports topics on this popular morning debate show. It airs weekdays at 10 a.m. ET on ESPN.
- Pardon The Interruption (PTI) – Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon co-host this fast-paced sports commentary show each weekday at 5:30 pm ET.
- NBA Countdown – ESPN’s NBA pregame show airs before primetime NBA games and provides news, analysis, and predictions from host Mike Greenberg and basketball insiders.
- Monday Night Football – ESPN airs a weekly Monday night NFL game during football season along with pre and postgame coverage. Stream MNF without cable through ESPN’s streaming platforms.
More Channels to Watch for ESPN Fans
In addition to ESPN’s family of channels, sports fans may want to consider these extra channels when subscribing to a streaming TV service:
- NFL Network – Get NFL news, analysis, and live games with NFL Network. Available on most streaming services.
- NHL Network – Watch NHL games, highlights, and hockey coverage on this network for hockey fans.
- MLB Network – Follow Major League Baseball with this network’s programming and live baseball games.
- SEC Network – College football fans can get extra SEC conference matchups and coverage.
- Golf Channel – Tune into PGA Tour events and golf news by adding this channel.
Conclusion
By ditching cable for streaming services like Sling TV, Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, and DIRECTV STREAM, you can save money each month while still being able to watch live sports and shows on ESPN.
With unlimited access to your streaming devices and advanced DVR features, streaming ESPN has never been easier without expensive cable packages.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Ques 1. How much does ESPN cost?
Ans- ESPN costs around $6-8 per month when added to services like Sling TV, Hulu Live, or YouTube TV.
Ques 2. Is the ESPN app free?
Ans- No, the ESPN app requires a TV provider login or an ESPN+ subscription.
Ques 3. Where can I watch ESPN?
Ans- ESPN is available on cable TV as well as live TV streaming services like Sling, Hulu Live, YouTube TV, and FuboTV.
Ques 4. Is ESPN Plus a channel?
Ans- No, ESPN+ is a standalone streaming service that does not provide ESPN cable channels.
Ques 5. Does ESPN+ include ESPN?
Ans- No, an ESPN+ subscription does not grant access to the ESPN cable channels.
