Don’t have cable? This article will explain how you can stream the next Celtics game and every Boston Celtics game this season, no matter where you live.
Watch Every Celtics Game This Season
Don’t have cable? This article will explain how you can stream the next Celtics game and every Boston Celtics game this season, no matter where you live.
- Boston Celtics TV Market: throughout Massachusetts, eastern and central Connecticut, Vermont, Maine, New Hampshire and Rhode Island
- Best Solution when inside their TV Market: Watch on NBC Sports Boston through the Hulu Live TV streaming service (1-week free trial). The RSN will air all but 9 games this season, but those games will air on ABC and TNT. Those two channels included with your Hulu Live TV subscription.
- Best Solution when living Outside the Celtics TV Market: Watch nearly all Celtics games on NBA League Pass (sign up online). The Celtics only have a few nationally televised games. Those games will air on either ESPN, ABC, TNT, or NBA TV and won’t be on NBA League Pass. Read on to learn how to watch those nationally televised games.
What Channel Are The Celtics On
Where you can watch the Boston Celtics depends on whether or not you live inside the Boston Celtics TV market (throughout Massachusetts, eastern and central Connecticut, Vermont, Maine, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island). If you live inside that market, you can watch Celtics games on NBC Sports Boston. However, you will need ESPN, ABC, TNT, or NBA TV if you live outside that market. Let’s take a look at your options based on where you live.
Watching Celtics Games In Market
If you live in the Celtics TV market, you can watch most Celtics games on NBC Sports Boston, the Celtics regional sports network. There are 4 games on ABC, and 5 games on TNT this season that won’t be on NBC Sports Boston. I recommend either Hulu Live TV, DIRECTV STREAM, or YouTube TV since they all carry NBC Sports Boston, TNT, and ABC.
While some recommend Fubo because they have NBC Sports Boston and ABC, I wouldn’t take that advice. fubo surprisingly lacks TNT and you will miss the 5 Celtics games airing on TNT this season.
Hulu Live TV
Hulu Live TV offers NBC Sports Boston at the cost of $76.99 per month after you sign up. The service also provides ESPN, ABC, and TNT, so you can watch some nationally televised NBA games. You pay month to month with no contract, and if you cancel within your free trial period, you will not be charged. The service supports iOS, Android, Fire TV, Chromecast, Apple TV, Roku, and more. The base price includes a cloud DVR and stream on two devices at once, but the option to upgrade to unlimited streams. Hulu Live TV includes Hulu streaming library. (see our review of Hulu Live TV)
DIRECTV STREAM
DIRECTV STREAM is a live streaming service that carries NBC Sports Boston for those living in their broadcast region. However, you must subscribe to their “Choice” package for $108.99 per month. You can sign up online. They don’t force you into a contract, and you can cancel at any time. DIRECTV STREAM also carries ESPN, ABC, NBA TV, and TNT, which are all the networks that air nationally televised NBA games. The service also includes a cloud DVR service and allows you to simultaneously stream to an unlimited number of devices in the home, and up to 3 outside the home. DIRECTV STREAM is supported on Apple TV, Chromecast, Fire TV, iOS, Android, Roku, and more. See our review of DIRECTV STREAM for more details on this streaming service.
YouTube TV also provides NBC Sports Boston in the Celtics market. They also have TNT and ABC in their base package for $72.99 per month. The live streaming service also includes a DVR and supports Android, iOS, Apple TV, Fire TV, Chromecast, and more. Like the other services, YouTube TV offers a free trial, cloud DVR, local broadcast channels, and many other features. Please read our review of YouTube TV for more details on their service.
Watching Celtics Games Outside of Their TV Market
If you live outside the Celtics market, then most games will be available with a subscription to NBA League Pass. The exception is Celtics games nationally broadcast on ESPN, ABC, and TNT. To watch those games, you need a streaming service that carries those channels; like DIRECTV STREAM, Hulu Live TV, or YouTube TV. I cover these services below.
NBA League Pass
To watch most Celtics games if you live outside the Boston market, you will need NBA League Pass. NBA League Pass will show every Celtics game that isn’t exclusively airing nationally on ESPN or TNT. NBA League Pass also provides access to NBA TV, so you are covered when they broadcast the occasional Celtics game.
NBA League Pass provides three ways to subscribe:
- Team Pass – Watch live, out-of-market games for the Boston Celtics for $13.99 per month or $89.99 per year.
- League Pass – Watch live, out-of-market games for the Boston Celtics and every other team for $14.99 per month or $99.99 per year.
- Premium League Pass – Watch live, out-of-market games for every team for $22.99 per month or $149.99 per year. (commercial-free)
Keep in mind that there are blackout rules in effect. Games won’t be aired live if:
- They are being broadcast on ESPN, ABC, or TNT. (NBA TV is included with a subscription to NBA League pass.
- They are being broadcast where you live on the regional sports network’s broadcast area that owns the rights to air NBA games in your area. You will need a streaming service that carries your regional sports network like DIRECTV STREAM (sign up), to watch those games.
Celtics Games on ESPN, NBA TV, and TNT.
DIRECTV STREAM or YouTube TV carries TNT, NBA TV, and ESPN. However, NBA TV is included with a subscription to NBA League Pass. Therefore, if you have League Pass your options also include Hulu Live TV, as they carry TNT and ESPN. One of those services in addition to a subscription to NBA League Pass will provide live access to every Celtics game if you live outside their TV market.
DIRECTV STREAM Choice includes TNT, ABC, ESPN, and NBA TV and costs $108.99 per month. You can take advantage of their 5-day free trial. and they don’t force you into a contract, so you can cancel at any time. The service also includes a cloud DVR service and allows you to simultaneously stream to an unlimited number of devices in the home, and up to 3 outside the home. DIRECTV STREAM is supported on Apple TV, Chromecast, Fire TV, iOS, Android, Roku, and more. See our review of DIRECTV STREAM for more details on this streaming service.
YouTube TV also provides ESPN, ABC, NBA TV, and TNT in their base package for $72.99 per month if you live in their broadcast area. The live streaming service also includes a DVR and supports Android, iOS, Apple TV, Fire TV, Chromecast, and more. Like the other services, YouTube TV offers a free trial, cloud DVR, local broadcast channels, and many other features. Please read our review of YouTube TV for more details on their service.
Hulu Live TV costs $76.99 per month. After you sign up, the service provides ESPN, TNT, and ABC so you can watch nationally televised NBA games. You pay month to month with no contract and can cancel at any time. The service supports iOS, Android, Fire TV, Chromecast, Apple TV, Roku, and more. The base price includes a cloud DVR and the ability to stream on two devices at once, but the option to upgrade to unlimited streams. Hulu Live TV includes Hulu streaming library. (see our review of Hulu Live TV)
