Summer is a season to be carefree and easygoing. However, as avid sports fans who have cut their cable subscriptions know, it’s getting more and more difficult to avoid cable while still watching all the events you want. When Fox, Disney, and Warner introduce their own sports service, Venue, perhaps things will be easier, but there’s no telling when that will happen, or even if it makes it past Congress. However, in the midst of this turbulent sea of increasingly disjointed content, you may refer to our guide to all services offering live sports, which includes additional details on what’s airing and how much it will cost you. This way, all you’ll have to worry about is if your Team USA face paint will wash off before you have to return to work; you won’t miss out on your favourite game, fight, match, race, or event.
MAX
Max’s attempt to enter the world of streaming sports hasn’t gone as planned. A live sports area branded with the Bleacher Report logo was added to the Warner Bros. Discovery app last autumn. The section featured games from MLB, NBA, NHL, NCAA basketball and the US national soccer team. The service was to be provided without charge until the first of March 2024, at which point a $10 monthly fee would be applied for the functionality. However, Max stated earlier this year that the add-on will be free while “technical integrations” are worked out, which should resolve the streaming issues that some users were having.
When the add-on is working successfully, it includes some unique events like the 24 Hours of Le Mans auto race and simulcasts any game that is played on Warner-owned cable stations TNT, TBS, and TruTV. The membership will give you plenty to watch, especially if you’re a basketball fan, but it’s not the best option if you want to watch every game your favourite team plays.
Bellator fighting, cycling, NBA, MLB, NHL, NCAA basketball, U.S. national team soccer, and sporadic special events are among the leagues that are accessible.
Sling
Sling essentially provides several cable channels and some broadcast channels for a significantly lesser cost than what you would pay for, say, Xfinity or Spectrum. Orange and Blue, the two entry-level packages, feature distinct channel lineups. Sling claims that if you’re an NBA fan, you should choose Orange since it has three ESPNs and TNT, but Blue is better for college basketball because it has truTV and TBS. For an additional $15 per billing cycle, you may access an additional 25 sports channels, such as NFL RedZone, FS2, and MLB Network, on top of the $60 monthly subscription fee for both. Check out the NFL standings to find out the best matchups every week before you spend your hard earned cash.
Leagues available: NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, MLS, Premier League, Ligue 1, Liga MX, golf, tennis, college football and basketball, and more, depending on the plan or add-ons you opt into.
ESPN+
While ESPN+ is available independently, it should be understood as a separate experience from ESPN television. Its live sports selection is a little on the small side, more fitting for a welcome addition or cost-effective add-on for die-hard hockey fans, for example, than a full-fledged live streaming service. It does, however, deliver a lot of college sports and a number of well-liked leagues for lacrosse, cricket, tennis, hockey, soccer and golf for the fee. ESPN’s original documentaries are available, encompassing the whole 30 for 30 series.
Leagues offered include, according to ESPN+, tennis, more than 180 MLB games, the NHL (as well as a few other hockey leagues), college football and basketball, foreign soccer leagues such as La Liga and Bundesliga, lacrosse, multiple cricket leagues, a plethora of combat sports and more.
FUBO TV
With the exception of TNT, TBS, and TruTV, the Warner networks that are available on Max’s B/R add-on, Fubo essentially offers all of the major broadcast and cable options. You can experiment with the bundles to determine which configuration works best for you. For instance, Real Madrid’s exclusive channel is included in the $7/month, quarterly-billed add-on that features ESPN and Fox’s Deportes networks along with a focus on foreign sports, particularly football. Everyone may find something to like here, with the obvious exception of those who wish to see Charles Barkley’s final season of Inside the NBA.
The following leagues are accessible: Premier League, Brasileirão, NASCAR, MLS, NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, college football and basketball, WWE, golf. Liga MX, Serie A, and many more.
PARAMOUNT+
Paramount+’s sports options are restricted, but based on your preferences, they may be a good fit. You can watch all UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, and UEFA Europa Conference League games in English with the basic, ad-supported $6 subscription, in addition to CBS NFL games. Then there is the $12 Showtime tier, which includes Combate Global MMA, the Masters and other PGA events, the SEC on CBS games, and NCAA basketball (the full tournament is available).
Limited NFL, NWSL, PGA, college basketball, UEFA, PGA, and select MMA leagues are available.