# Getting rid of cable - how do we watch sports? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 29, 2018, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-rid-of-cable-how-do-we-watch-sports/826875 "2018-12-29T17:28:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2018, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-rid-of-cable-how-do-we-watch-sports/826875/1 "2018-12-29T17:28:49Z")
So we’re thinking of cutting the cord here at Chez Athena. 90% of the stuff we watch, we watch online anyway, so it makes sense. But that last 10% - mostly sports - I can’t get a good answer on. What do we get so that Mr. Athena can watch NFL, NBA, college football, college basketball, the occasional baseball game. etc? I see Hulu has some of those channels, is that the answer? If I cut off cable and he can’t watch the game, I’m gonna be in big trouble so HELP! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2018, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-rid-of-cable-how-do-we-watch-sports/826875/2 "2018-12-29T17:36:51Z")
Over the Air TV–free; get a good Antenna. Some streaming options. For example SlingTV includes ESPN…: > **[Watch Live Sports Online | Sling TV](https://www.sling.com/programming/sports)** > > Get front row access to top teams when you watch live sports online with Sling TV. Stream the action on ESPN, NBC & more. ---
**Author:** ![LegendHasit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/legendhasit/32/8246_2.png) [@LegendHasit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LegendHasit)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2018, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-rid-of-cable-how-do-we-watch-sports/826875/3 "2018-12-29T18:02:40Z")
We recently upgraded our Roku and now can enjoy a whole mess of free tv channels through [Pluto.tv](http://Pluto.tv). Been stuck in classic TV for a few weeks with a reasonable amount of commercials, and noted they have a bunch of movie, sports, news, entertainment and other channels to explore. We don’t get many antenna tv channels, so the streaming tv has been great. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2018, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-rid-of-cable-how-do-we-watch-sports/826875/4 "2018-12-29T18:28:25Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > Some streaming options. For example SlingTV includes ESPN…: > [Watch Live Sports Games Online with Sling TV](https://www.sling.com/programming/sports) It sounds like that’ll get the OP a good part of the way there. Between ESPN and the NFL Network, it’ll cover most of the NFL games that aren’t on the broadcast networks (CBS, NBC, and Fox) – the challenge then becomes whether she’s close enough to her local stations to pick those channels up with an over-the-air antenna. I know that she’s in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, which is pretty rural. ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2018, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-rid-of-cable-how-do-we-watch-sports/826875/5 "2018-12-29T18:28:39Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > Over the Air TV–free; get a good Antenna. > > Some streaming options. For example SlingTV includes ESPN…: > [Watch Live Sports Games Online with Sling TV](https://www.sling.com/programming/sports) We live in the middle of nowhere; there is no over-the-air TV. Really. I didn’t even realize there was such a thing until I was an adult and moved away and people got TV without cable. Amazing! ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2018, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-rid-of-cable-how-do-we-watch-sports/826875/6 "2018-12-29T18:30:19Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > It sounds like that’ll get the OP a good part of the way there. Between ESPN and the NFL Network, it’ll cover most of the NFL games that aren’t on the broadcast networks (CBS, NBC, and Fox) – the challenge then becomes whether she’s close enough to her local stations to pick those channels up with an over-the-air antenna. I know that she’s in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, which is pretty rural. Alas, no over-the-air options. So the channels on Hulu don’t have the games that are on CBS/NBC/Fox? ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2018, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-rid-of-cable-how-do-we-watch-sports/826875/7 "2018-12-29T20:45:19Z")
> [@Athena](#): > > Alas, no over-the-air options. So the channels on Hulu don’t have the games that are on CBS/NBC/Fox? It might, I’m not sure (I’m still on cable, and I’m in a big city). It looks like you can check that out here: [Stream Live Sports, News, TV Shows, and Movies | Hulu + Live TV](https://www.hulu.com/live-tv) ---
**Author:** ![UCBearcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/77aa72/32.png) [@UCBearcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UCBearcats)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2018, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-rid-of-cable-how-do-we-watch-sports/826875/8 "2018-12-29T21:00:07Z")
Hulu Live gets me most everything. The networks, Espn, and Fox Sports. I’m very happy with it. ---
**Author:** ![diggerwam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/919ad9/32.png) [@diggerwam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/diggerwam)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2018, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-rid-of-cable-how-do-we-watch-sports/826875/9 "2018-12-29T21:08:32Z")
Playstation Vue has ESPN, NFL network, NFL Redzone, etc. You also have NBC sports app, Fox sports app, Amazon Prime. I don’t generally miss much sports that I’m interested in. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2018, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-rid-of-cable-how-do-we-watch-sports/826875/10 "2018-12-29T23:08:49Z")
A couple comparisons of streaming services for sports: > **[The Best Sports Streaming Service - Reviews.com](https://www.reviews.com/entertainment/streaming/best-sports-services/)** > > We have reviewed The Best Sports Streaming Service > **[Best Live Sports Streaming Services 2019 - NBA, NFL, NHL and More! | Flixed](https://flixed.io/best-live-sports-streaming-services)** > > You don't need cable TV to get live sports anymore! Here are the best live sport streaming services for every major league, including NBA, NFL, and more! ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2018, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-rid-of-cable-how-do-we-watch-sports/826875/11 "2018-12-29T23:18:44Z")
Xbox one has ESPN /fpoxsports/NBC sports etc apps available to download for free. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2018, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-rid-of-cable-how-do-we-watch-sports/826875/12 "2018-12-29T23:48:55Z")
I’m not sure how far outside Marquette you are, but you should be able to pick up Channel 7 NBC. The other stations are a stretch [https://antennaweb.org/Stations?Address=Marquette%2C%20Michigan%2049855%2C%20United%20States&AntennaHeight=False&Latitude=46.56&Longitude=-87.41](https://antennaweb.org/Stations?Address=Marquette%2C%20Michigan%2049855%2C%20United%20States&AntennaHeight=False&Latitude=46.56&Longitude=-87.41) Granted NBC only gets you Sunday Night Football (maybe some other stuff) Brian (I’m well aware it is hilly, and maybe channel 7 is behind a hill from you) ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2018, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-rid-of-cable-how-do-we-watch-sports/826875/13 "2018-12-29T23:50:37Z")
> [@Athena](#): > > So we’re thinking of cutting the cord here at Chez Athena. 90% of the stuff we watch, we watch online anyway, so it makes sense. But that last 10% - mostly sports - I can’t get a good answer on. What do we get so that Mr. Athena can watch NFL, NBA, college football, college basketball, the occasional baseball game. etc? I see Hulu has some of those channels, is that the answer? If I cut off cable and he can’t watch the game, I’m gonna be in big trouble so HELP! 😃 Did you see this [thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=867716)? I have been looking at various ‘live’ streaming options that include local channels. This seems to be hard to do in smaller, more remote markets. For example, for the UP zip code 49895, PlayStation Vue (no PlayStation required) does not have any at all - just On Demand for ABC/NBC/CBS/Fox. Can you live with a basic lifeline cable package to get locals and then sign up for Vue, SlingTV, DirectTV Now or HuluLive to get ‘cable channels’? ESPN seems to be a big stumbling block for sports. Right now they value their cable deals more than streaming customers. This explains it > **[Should you try ESPN+? Here's what it does and doesn't include](https://www.pocket-lint.com/tv/news/disney/143579-espn-plus-how-does-it-work-what-does-it-offer-and-how-much-is-it/)** > > There’s no separate app to install on your device; ESPN+ is within the ESPN app. Here's what you need to know about ESPN's sports streaming service. ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2018, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-rid-of-cable-how-do-we-watch-sports/826875/14 "2018-12-30T00:04:17Z")
> [@Athena](#): > > I see Hulu has some of those channels, is that the answer? There are two kinds of Hulu: Normal Hulu: Has on-demand streaming from the various networks. This is not live content. It is pretty much just the regular TV shows from the network. No sports. About $8/mo. Hulu Live: This is like cable TV, but delivered as streaming. You will have a set of channels that deliver live content like you have with cable. There will also be on-demand shows from the same channels. About $40/month. In fact, there are many companies providing a cable-like streaming package, such as YouTubeTV, SlingTV, PSvue, and others. If you want to be able to continue to watch sports like you did with cable, you’ll likely have to sign up for one of those services. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2018, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-rid-of-cable-how-do-we-watch-sports/826875/15 "2018-12-30T00:56:52Z")
> [@Athena](#): > > So we’re thinking of cutting the cord here at Chez Athena. 90% of the stuff we watch, we watch online anyway, so it makes sense. But that last 10% - mostly sports - I can’t get a good answer on. What do we get so that Mr. Athena can watch NFL, NBA, college football, college basketball, the occasional baseball game. etc? I see Hulu has some of those channels, is that the answer? If I cut off cable and he can’t watch the game, I’m gonna be in big trouble so HELP! 😃 Have you ruled out retraining him to a point where televised sports are not important to him?