Best Streaming Services for Watching Sports in 2024
With 2024 Olympic right around the corner, you might be wondering: What are the best streaming services to watch sports in 2024? We have the answers! Keep scrolling to check out all our top choices for watching sports online.
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BEST OVERALL VARIETY
Hulu + Live TV
Best for streaming the olympics
Peacock
best for nfl and pga tour
Paramount+ With Showtime Annual Plan
BEST budget pick
Sling
BEST FOR THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
Prime Video
Best for TNT
Max
BEST FOR FIGHT FANS
Dazn
In the list below, you’ll find the best overall live-TV streaming service as well as the best budget-friendly option. Plus, find out how to watch specific sports coverage and channels, including live events on NBC, CBS and TNT. Or, perhaps you’re a fight fan hoping to catch the next big match — we’ve got you covered, too!
Whether you’re a sports fanatic or just hoping to dip your toe in the water, you’ll likely find a sports streaming service for you in our roundup below. In the off-chance that you peruse our favorite sports streaming services and you don’t find exactly what you’re looking for, check out our list of the overall best streaming services in 2024 and best monthly streaming deals to find the streamer that meets your needs.
BEST OVERALL VARIETY
Hulu + Live TV
WHO IT’S FOR: Sports fanatics looking for the best TV streaming service for watching live sports
WHY WE PICKED IT: There are tons of live-TV streaming services out there, all of which could cater to sports fans. Hulu + Live TV, however, sets itself apart by offering an ESPN Plus subscription in addition to its live-TV channel offerings. This means, subscribers not only get to watch some of the best streaming channels for sports like ESPN, CBS Sports Networks, FS1, Golf Channel, the NFL Network and NBC Sports Network, but you can also see exclusive content thanks to ESPN Plus, including live games, classic archived games, studio shows and documentaries. Overall, this live-TV streaming service offers a comprehensive channel list and gets you the most sports coverage for the price.
WHAT IT’S MISSING: Despite its robust channel offerings, some sports channels are not included, like NBA TV, all Bally Sports networks and the MLB Network.
Pros
Exclusive content from ESPN Plus, Hulu and Disney Plus
Huge channel lineup
High-quality original content
Customizable with entertainment add-ons for Max, Showtime, Starz and more
Offers local channels in select markets
Add-on available to stream live TV on more devices
Sports add-on for even more sports coverage
Cloud DVR option
Cons
Missing Bally Sports, NBA TV, MLB Network and some other sports channels
Base plan includes ads while streaming library content
Base plan doesn’t allow downloading for on-the-go viewing
Free trial comes and goes
Best for streaming the olympics
Peacock
WHO IT’S FOR: Right now, Peacock is for anyone and everyone hoping to immerse themselves in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris!
WHY WE PICKED IT: Peacock is the online streaming home for all things NBC — including the 2024 Olympics. In order to access your local live NBC station, you’ll need to subscribe to Peacock Premium Plus for $11.99/month. In our experience, Peacock offers a remarkably clear picture with little to no buffering issues during live streaming, making it great for watching fast-paced sports coverage. Plus, the interface lists sports coverage by event, making it easy to sift through all the live sports coverage to find exactly what you’re looking for — especially during the 2024 Olympic games. (Get more details about Peacock and why we love it!)
WHAT IT’S MISSING: Peacock doesn’t allow users to sign up for a free trial, requiring you to pay before you try it out. Also, if you’re looking for a variety of sports coverage — not just NBC coverage — you’ll want to look for another subscription.
Pros
Noticeably clear picture while streaming
Access to Sunday Night Football, Premier League Soccer, WWE content and other sports coverage
Access to NBC streaming library
Uncensored Bravo reunions
Extensive reality TV library
Supports multiple accounts and concurrent streams
Easy to use
Cons
Live NBC limited to premium tier
No free trial
Movies come and go without warning
Less high-quality scripted content than competitors
best for nfl and pga tour
Paramount+ With Showtime Annual Plan
Use code “THECHI”
On Sale 50% off
WHO IT’S FOR: NFL and PGA aficionados — or Sling subscribers hoping to add CBS to their channel lineup
WHY WE PICKED IT: Paramount Plus offers your local live CBS station, making it great for watching NFL games, NCAA March Madness, soccer matches, major golf tournaments and more. If you find yourself regularly seeking out sports on CBS, Paramount Plus is for you. Like Peacock, in our experience we’ve never had connectivity issues with Paramount Plus and it is a reliable choice for catching high-stakes action during big games. We also love the price, and right now the streamer is on major sale! For just $60/year you can stream your local live CBS channel and more with the premium Paramount Plus plan — that’s just $5/month! (Get more details.)
WHAT IT’S MISSING: As with Peacock, this streamer only gives you access to one live TV sports channel: CBS. If you’re looking for a better variety of coverage, you’ll want to try out a different live-TV streaming service.
Pros
Full CBS access with premium tier
Live NFL games, PGA Tour events, NCAA March Madness
Soccer matches (National Women’s Soccer League, UEFA Champions League and more)
Access to Showtime with premium tier
Easy to use
Supports multiple devices/concurrent streams
Cons
Live CBS limited to premium tier
Less buzzworthy original content
No free trial during limited-time discount period
Fewer blockbuster movie titles compared to competitors
BEST budget pick
Sling
On Sale 25% off
WHO IT’S FOR: Sports fans seeking a near-total cable replacement on a budget
WHY WE PICKED IT: Sling offers a variety of sports channels including ESPN, TNT and ABC in select markets. Plus, you can customize any plan to add specific sports channels you want to stream, like NBA TV. If you can’t afford the high price of Hulu + Live TV, but want something similar, Sling is for you.
WHAT IT’S MISSING: The major downside of this live-TV streaming service is that it doesn’t include CBS. If you’re a sports fanatic who wants CBS for NFL coverage or PGA tournaments, you can supplement your Sling subscription with Paramount Plus for just $11.99/month more, keeping your all-around streaming cost relatively low compared to other live-TV streaming services. Also be aware, in our experience, we’ve run into some connectivity issues while streaming — but this typically resolves itself and is still worth the price.
Pros
Customizable and access to more sports channels through add-ons
Sizable channel lineups
Access to TBS and TNT in all plans
Low price
Frequent discounts for new users
Free streaming option
Cons
Limited offering of local and regional sports networks
No CBS
Some reports of connection/streaming issues
BEST FOR THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
Prime Video
WHO IT’S FOR: Thursday Night Football fans searching for a single platform that combines multiple streaming services
WHY WE PICKED IT: Prime Video is home to Thursday Night Football and it can help you access other sports coverage by adding other major streamers to your account, including Paramount Plus, Max, NBA League Pass and PGA Tour Live. This means, instead of downloading tons of apps to your TV and navigating between them, you can click Prime Video and seamlessly switch between streaming platforms for a seamless sports-watching experience. If you prefer not to get the complete Prime Membership bundle, you can subscribe just to Prime Video for $8.99/month.
WHAT IT’S MISSING: Prime Video recently introduced commercial breaks to its library streaming experience, forcing users to pay extra to avoid ad interruptions. Plus, despite being a one-stop shop for most streamers/channels, users cannot add on some major platforms including Netflix and Hulu.
Pros
Access to Thursday Night Football and WNBA games
Ability to add-on other channels and streamers
Easy-to-use and seamless interface
Ability to rent or buy movies
Discounted standalone Prime Video subscription
X-ray feature offers bonus content and information about the cast and soundtrack while you watch
Cons
Additional fee to avoid commercial breaks while streaming library content
Can’t add Disney Plus, Peacock, Hulu or Netflix
Best for TNT
Max
$9.99/month Buy Now ON PRIME VIDEO
WHO IT’S FOR: Sports fans hoping to stream TNT coverage and want the prestige of HBO
WHY WE PICKED IT: Max is not only the place for prestige TV — it also offers live MLB, NBA, NHL and U.S. soccer coverage on TBS, TNT and truTV with its Bleacher Report (B/R) add-on. (And, the streamer is offering the add-on for free to new users for a limited time!) With its streaming library of iconic HBO shows including The Sopranos, The Wire, Game of Thrones, Girls and Sex and the City, paired with its more current HBO offerings like Succession, The Last of Us, House of the Dragon and The White Lotus, Max is an obvious top pick for streaming sports and premium content. Basically, if you want to know what everyone is talking about at happy hour, from the Knicks’ latest win to House of the Dragon’s latest murder, you probably should subscribe to Max.
WHAT IT’S MISSING: A clumsy rebrand into “HBO Max” has situated high-end content alongside unscripted fare from Discovery and TLC, diluting the brand and user experience. Also, in the last year, Max hasn’t really produced any major original series, instead relying heavily on the power of HBO.
Pros
Access to select MLB, NHL, NBA, NCAA Men’s March Madness, and U.S. Soccer games through free (for a limited time!) B/R add-on
Home to all the HBO greats
Huge catalog of non-HBO shows
Sleek user interface
Option for parental control
Cons
Reality show clutter
Fewer original series than competitors
Free trial comes and goes
Ad-free versions get pricey
B/R add-on typically costs an additional $9.99/month
BEST FOR FIGHT FANS
Dazn
WHO IT’S FOR: People who consistently keep up with boxing and MMA
WHY WE PICKED IT: There really isn’t a better way to watch the most fight content in one place than with Dazn. The platform streams fights from Golden Boy Promotions, Matchroom Boxing, GGG Promotions and World Boxing Super Series. Plus, you’ll get access to events from its MMA partners including Bellator, Combate Americas and KSW.
WHAT IT’S MISSING: The service does, however, have major blind spot: It doesn’t include Top Rank Boxing or UFC.
Pros
Exclusive boxing and MMA events
Ability to watch additional fights through PPV
150+ fights per year
Ability to watch replays of every event
Cons
No Top Rank Boxing
No UFC
Limited sports coverage for a pretty penny
OTHER OPTIONS TO CONSIDER
Fubo TV
HIGHLIGHTS: Seven-day free trial; access to 175+ channels; no commitments; four subscription options; offers Bally Sports, EPSN, CBS, Fox, Golf Channel, NBA TV, NFL Network and more.
DirecTV Stream
HIGHLIGHTS: Five-day free trial; plans include ESPN, Fox, FS1, Golf Channel, NFL Network, TNT and more.
ESPN+
HIGHLIGHTS: Exclusive content that isn’t on the ESPN networks; allows subscribers to purchase UFC PPV events; offers bundles with Disney+ and Hulu.
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