Most basic sports channels, like ESPN and FS1, can be found on live streaming services like Hulu Live TV, YouTube TV, FuboTV, DIRECTV STREAM, and Sling. When it comes to the best live TV streaming service for sports, you want to look for the one that meets the following requirements:
- Do they carry my local broadcast channels? This is important as a lot of live sports air on CBS, FOX, ABC, and NBC.
- Do they carry your regional sports network? This is a must-have for MLB, NHL, and NBA fans.
- Do they carry national sports and college sports channels like ESPNU, SEC Network, BTN, ACC Network, etc?
What Are The Best Options For Sports
DIRECTV STREAM, fubo, Hulu Live TV, and YouTube TV are easily your best options if you want the most sports channels and local network channels. However, fubo and DIRECTV STREAM have many more regional sports networks across the US. That’s key for watching your local MLB, NHL, and NBA teams. There is a channel chart below covering all sports channels and the streaming services that offer them. But first, let’s look at some of the best live TV streaming services for sports.
Sports on DIRECTV STREAM
Cost: $79.99 per month for their “Entertainment” package, which will carry your basic sports channels like ESPN, FS1, etc. However, if you really want the sports DIRECTV STREAM offers you will need their “Choice” package, which you will need for regional sports and more niche sports channels. The Choice plan will cost $108.99 per month. You can take a closer look at their service on this promo page.
Local Channels: Covers ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, and more.
Regional Sports: Easily the best service to watch your regional sports networks. DIRECTV STREAM is the only service to carry Yes Network, Spectrum SportsNet, and Spectrum SportsNet LA. They also carry most of the NBC Sports Regional Sports Networks and all of the Bally Sports RSNs. Out of all the major RSNs the only one they do not carry is NBC Sports Philadelphia.
Major Cable Sports Channels: DIRECTV STREAM provides access to ESPN, ESPN2, FS1, FS2, TBS, TNT, USA Network, and more. Most of those are available in their more affordable “Entertainment” packages at $79.99 per month. However, you will lose out on Regional Sports and many other sports networks.
Where AT&T TV Comes up Short: The most significant mark against DIRECTV STREAM is the expense. While it’s considerably more expensive, it’s one of the only streaming services that will provide certain areas with their regional sports network.
Check out our Detailed Guide to DIRECTV STREAM for more information on their service.
Sports on Fubo TV
Cost: Starts at $74.99. Try a free trial to FuboTV
Local Channels: Has decent nationwide coverage for CBS, Fox, ABC, and NBC,
Regional Sports: FuboTV has all the NBC Sports and Bally Sports regional sports networks. They also carry MSG Network, NESN, Marquee, MASN, and more. The only major networks they are missing is MASN, Spectrum SportsNet, and Yes Network.
Major Cable Sports Channels: FuboTV has just about every sports network you can name. For $74.99, they provide access to NBC Sports Network, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3 (Through the ESPN app), FS1, FS2, SEC Network, ACC Network, BEIN Sports, BTN (Big Ten Network), PAC-12 Network, and more. Fubo TV also allows you to add ESPNEWS, ESPN-U, MLB Network, NHL Network, and more with add-on channel packages.
Where FuboTV Comes up Short: The only major flaw is they lack access to Bally Sports RSNs. Also, there is an additional mandatory monthly regional sports fee of $11-$14 more per month for fuboTV subscribers if you live in an area with a regional sports network (nearly everywhere in the country).
Check out our Detailed Guide to FuboTV for more information on their service.
Sports on Hulu Live TV
Cost: $76.99 per month (try Hulu Live TV)
Local Channels: Hulu offers live FOX, CBS, ABC, and NBC in nearly all US markets. It’s tied with YouTube TV for local channel coverage. You can check your zip code with Hulu to see which local channels are available in your area.
Regional Sports Networks: Hulu carries the NBC regional sports networks, Monumental Sports Network, and SportsNet NY. The page where you can check your zip code with Hulu will also show you which RSNs are offered in your area.
Major Cable Sports Channels: Hulu Live TV lets you watch ESPN without cable and is the only streaming service to include EPSN+ providing access to thousands of live sporting events you can’t watch anywhere else. They also provide access to ESPN, ESPN2, FS1, FS2, TBS, TNT, USA Network, and more.
Where Hulu Comes up Short: Hulu is missing the pro sports channels like MLB TV, NBA TV, and NHL TV. Hulu also doesn’t carry Fox College Sports channel or the Pac-12 Network. They have a small regional sports network advantage over YouTube TV by carrying SNY. However, they are far behind fubo and DIRECTV STREAM in RSN coverage.
Check out our Detailed Guide to Hulu for more information on their service.
Sports on YouTube TV
Cost: $72.99 per month (sign up on YouTube TV’s Website)
Local Channels: Also at the top with Hulu + Live TV on local channel coverage. You can check your Zip Code on YouTube TVs Website to see which channels are available in your area.
Regional Sports: Carries the NBC regional sports networks and Monumental Sports Network.
Major Cable Sports Channels: YouTube TV provides access to ESPN2, FS1, FS2, TBS, TNT, USA Network, MLB Network, NBA TV, NFL Network and more. YouTube also carries the Tennis channels in its standard channel plan.
Where YouTube TV Comes up Short: YouTube TV is missing a few big Fox RSNs. Like Hulu, they are also missing Pac-12. You also won’t find NHL Network on YouTube TV.
Check out our Detailed Guide to YouTube TV for more information on their service.
Sports on Sling TV
Cost: Starts at $40 per month, but will need to pay a minimum of $55 per month for both Sling Blue and Orange to cover your basic sports channels.
Local Channels: Sling only carries NBC and Fox in major markets.
Regional Sports: Sling doesn’t offer any regional sports
Major Cable Sports Channels: You can get ESPN, ESPN2, FS1, NBC Sports Network, TBS, and TNT if you subscribe to both the Sling Blue and Orange plan for $$55 per month. To have FS2 will require an $11 per month Sports Extra add-on package if you have Slings “Blue” package. The Sports Extra add-on is $15 per month extra if you have both Sling Blue and Sling Orange.
Where Sling Comes up Short: MLB, NBA, and NHL fans who want to watch their local teams’ games won’t be happy with Sling due to their lack of regional sports networks. However, they do offer a lot of different channel options, and will likely be the most affordable if you are only interested in specific sports channels.
Check out our Detailed Guide to Sling for more information on their service.
Sports Channel Comparison Chart
Below are the charts I promised to do a side-by-side comparison of each streaming service and the sports networks they carry. Local broadcast networks like Fox, CBS, ABC, and NBC carry a lot of sports. Those are not listed in the chart below. However, as I explain in our guide to watching local broadcast networks online, Hulu Live TV, DIRECTV STREAM, YouTube TV, and fubo are your best options for local channels. That guide is worth a read, as there are free ways to watch your local networks. We also link the specific guide for watching each channel in the tables below.
Sports Channels
The Table Below Shows the major sports networks and the streaming services that carry them. A lone green check indicates the channel is available in the basic channel plan for the service. A “+” and a dollar value indicate the channel is available in a channel add-on package or upgraded channel plan.
| Network | DIRECTV STREAM | fuboTV | Hulu Live TV | Sling Orange | Sling Blue | YouTube TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACC Network | ✔+$30 | ✔+$8 | ✔ | ✔+$11 | ✘ | ✔ |
| beIN Sports | ✘ | ✔ | ✘ | ✔+$11 | ✔+$11 | ✔+$11 |
| Big Ten Network | ✔+$30 | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✔+$11 | ✔ |
| CBS Sports Network | ✔+$41 | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ | ✔ |
| ESPN | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ |
| ESPN+ | ✘ | ✘ | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ |
| ESPN2 | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ |
| ESPNEWS | ✔+$30 | ✔+$8 | ✔ | ✔+$11 | ✘ | ✔ |
| ESPNU | ✔+$30 | ✔+$8 | ✔ | ✔+$11 | ✘ | ✔ |
| Fox Soccer Plus | ✘ | ✔+$7 | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✔+$11 |
| Fox Sports 1 | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Fox Sports 2 | ✔+$41 | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✔+$11 | ✔ |
| Longhorn Network | ✔+$30 | ✘ | ✘ | ✔+$11 | ✘ | ✘ |
| Golf Channel | ✔+$30 | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✔+$11 | ✔ |
| MLB Network | ✔+$30 | ✔+$8 | ✘ | ✔+$11 | ✔+$11 | ✘ |
| NBA TV | ✔+$30 | ✔+$8 | ✘ | ✔+$11 | ✔+$11 | ✔ |
| NFL Network | ✔+$30 | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | ✔ |
| NFL RedZone | ✘ | ✔+$11 | ✔+10 | ✘ | ✔+$11 | ✔+$11 |
| NHL Network | ✔+$41 | ✔+$8 | ✘ | ✔+$11 | ✔+$11 | ✘ |
| Pac-12 Network | ✘ | ✔+$8 | ✘ | ✔+$11 | ✔+$11 | ✘ |
| SEC Network | ✔+$30 | ✔+$8 | ✔ | ✔+$11 | ✘ | ✔ |
| TBS | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Tennis Channel | ✔+$30 | ✔+$8 | ✘ | ✔+$11 | ✔+$11 | ✔+$11 |
| TNT | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| USA Network | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | ✔ |
Regional Sports Networks
The table below shows a comparison of streaming services and which regional sports networks they provide. This table assumes the base price for each service and a “+” symbol with a dollar amount indicates the price of an upgraded channel package to get that channel.
| RSN | Fubo (Pro) | DIRECTV STREAM (Choice) | Hulu + Live TV (Base) | YouTube TV (Base) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Altitude | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ |
| Arizona’s Family Sports | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ |
| SportsNet Pittsburgh | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ |
| Bally Sports | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ |
| Marquee Sports Network | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ |
| Monumental Sports Network | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| MSG | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ |
| NBC Sports Bay Area | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| NBC Sports Boston | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| NBC Sports California | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| NBC Sports Chicago | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| NBC Sports Philadelphia | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | ✔ |
| NESN | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ |
| Root Sports Northwest | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ |
| Space City Home Network | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ |
| SportsNet NY | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ |
| MASN | ✘ | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ |
| Spectrum SportsNet | ✘ | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ |
| YES Network | ✘ | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ |
For a good comparison of the various live streaming services, including their sports content, you can check out our comparison of live streaming services after reading this guide.
