Nowadays, streaming is the new norm, and people are ditching their old and expensive cable tv subscriptions for streaming.
It makes sense also since streaming is a much more inexpensive option compared to cable TV, and you also don’t have to go through a ton of ads to watch your desired content as well.
Every big studio company is in the race of making their own streaming network and platform, and to their credit, there is a lot of thought and effort put in by them towards their customer.
However, there are not that many streaming options available that are only for sports and nothing else. Usually, you will find streaming services that offer tons of different types of content and along with it sports as well.
This is done obviously to gather in a larger audience for their streaming, and they are able to get more revenue streams out of it.
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How to choose a good sports streaming service
As I mentioned above, there aren’t a lot of options available when it comes to streaming services that are dedicated purely towards sports. However, there are some exceptions as well.
I will mention all the popular options that are currently available in the world of sports streaming, but the one thing that you should know before you are subscribing to a sports streaming is the purpose of watching the content.
Do you want a streaming service that is dedicated to only sports and nothing else, or do you propose of watching sports alongside some other form of entertaining content, such as movies, TV shows, etc?
Based on those decisions you should choose the right and the best sports streaming services for yourself.
When do you need a sports streaming service?
Well, this is an easy question to answer that should be quite similar to almost everyone who wants to check out a live sporting event because that’s when you require the most of a sports streaming service.
As I mentioned above, there are a lot of options available when it comes to streaming live sports because a lot of companies are now trying to cooperate live sports into their streaming services because they have figured out the potential of live sports for them.
Also, sports rights are not given to all sports broadcasting companies, so there are a lot of chances that one company has the rights to one particular live event, and the other company has the rights to other sporting events.
So, you need to choose the right type of streaming service that has the rights to the live sporting event that you want to check out.
With all that noted, here are some of the best sports streaming services you have available in the market right now.
Best Sports streaming services
1. ESPN Plus
ESPN Plus is one of those rare exceptions you will find in the world of streaming that is dedicated to only sports and nothing else. This streaming service contains everything and anything that you want to know about sports.
Over here, you will find Original content related to sports and all the behind the stuff that happens in the world of any sports.
There is a lot more to discuss about ESPN Plus, so without wasting any more time, let’s get into it!
Price – The overall price of ESPN Plus has gone up through the years, and now you will get ESPN Plus for either $9.99/month or $99.99/year.
Best for – ESPN Plus is best suited and designed for having a streaming service that is dedicated to sports and nothing else.
Platforms – ESPN Plus is available on multiple different platforms, such as Android, IOS, Smart TVs, Google TV, FireStick, etc.
If ESPN is not working in your country then we have listed the best ESPN alternatives
| Pros | Cons |
| ✅A streaming service dedicated to only sports ✅Original content | ❌Not available worldwide to use and download |
Key features of ESPN Plus
- 4K video content
- Original content on different sports
- Live sports coverage
- Avaialble on multiple devices
Who is the right user for ESPN Plus?
ESPN Plus is designed for people who want to know everything and anything there is to sports. It is a streaming service which is dedicated to sports, and that’s all you get from it.
It is targeting a niche group of people who wants a dedicated streaming service to watch sports rather than having the option of an add-on for sports.
Still, that being said, it does the job that it claims to do, and it does it pretty well.
Why we picked it? Overall rating & review
ESPN Plus is easily one of the only sports streaming services available that do not show anything except sports. There is quite a lot of content that is available on this streaming service, and for a lot of people, that might not be the best option.
If you are someone who likes to watch other sources of entertainments, such as movies, tv shows, etc., along with some sports, then Disney also offers a Disney Plus bundle pack, where you get Disney Plus, Hulu and ESPN Plus all wrapped under one blanket.
However, as a sports streaming service, ESPN Plus is one of the best there is, and I will rate it 4/5 stars.
2. Peacock
NBC Universal is also a streaming service that has jumped on board of the streaming wars, and it has released its own streaming service, under the name of Peacock back in 2020.
NBC also has a very popular sports division, known as NBC Sports, and that comes included in Peacock’s streaming service, making it one of the better sports streaming services present in the market right now.
Peacock was supposed to debut big with the 2020 Olympics streaming on its platforms, thanks to NBC Sports having the rights to it, however, we all know how 2020 was, and things didn’t go as planned for them.
Still, there is a lot more to talk about Peacock, so without wasting any more time, let’s get to it.
Price – Peacock offers two different tiers. It has an ad-supported tier that costs $4.99/month and an ad-free tier that costs $9.99/month.
Best for – Peacock is best used for its overall content that was produced by NBC and its Original content that is being produced by NBC.
Platforms – Peacock is available on all major viewing platforms, such as Android, IOS, Google TV, Firestick, Roku, etc.
If you are not able to access Peacock TV. Then we have listed the best peacock tv alternatives.
| Pros | Cons |
| ✅Live sports ✅Inexpensive ad-supported pricing | ❌Limited original content |
Key features of Peacock
- Available in many countries
- 4K content
- Ad-supported cheaper plan
- Live sports
Who is the right user for Peacock?
Peacock is a streaming service that is designed for people who like to enjoy shows such as Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Parks and Recreational, and other shows produced by Peacock.
It has its own sports division and that is a major plus point that gives Peacock a little edge over all of its other competitors.
Why we picked it? Overall rating & review
Peacock is also one of the far and few streaming services that have live sports available on it, in which you don’t have to pay cable-tv subscription prices to enjoy it.
As a streaming service, Peacock has been growing a lot lately, and its content is also quite appreciated by a lot of people.
It is a streaming service with some great live sports channels as well, and that’s a big plus point on their side. I will rate Peacock 3.5/5 stars.
3. Hulu Plus Live TV
Hulu is also a streaming service that you can try out if you are looking to watch live sports on it. It should be noted that over at Hulu, it doesn’t follow the same formula as Peacock does.
By that, I mean since Peacock has NBC Sports associated with it, it has the power to stream live sports through NBC Sports on it.
That is not the case here. If you want to watch live sports on Hulu, you need to have a different subscription to Hulu, which has live tv in it.
The pricing of this version is different to regular Hulu, and there is much more to discuss about this version of Hulu, so let’s get into it.
Price – Regular Hulu has a subscription price of $7.99/month. However, if you want to watch Hulu with Live TV, then you need to pay $69.99/month, and that includes Disney Plus and ESPN Plus with ads as well.
Best for – Hulu with Live TV is best suited for people who really like the overall content that is provided with the Disney Bundle pack.
Hulu vs Hulu Plus: What are the major differences
Platforms – Hulu with Live TV is available on all popular platforms, such as Firestick, Google TV, Android, IOS, etc.
How many screens can I watch Hulu simultaneously?
| Pros | Cons |
| ✅A lot of content available ✅Tons of Original content | ❌Quite expensive ❌Ad-supported plan |
Key features of Hulu with Live TV
- See content from Disney Plus, ESPN Plus, Hulu and Live TV
- 4K content
- Available in different parts of the countries
Who is the right user for Hulu with Live TV?
Hulu with Live TV is an option for someone who is looking for everything entertainment and doesn’t want to pay any more for a particular type of streaming service.
If you look at it, for $69.99/month, you get everything that is available on Hulu, Disney Plus, ESPN Plus, and live TV channels.
That is a lot of content that is available for anybody or a family of four people, and if you are someone who is looking for a one-stop place for all your entertainment, this could be a good option for you.
Why we picked it? Overall rating & review
Hulu with Live TV asks for a lot of money compared to any other streaming service, but that is what I was mentioning above when I said that most of the services that provide live-tv end up costing like your cable tv connections.
The difference over here is that you get to access a lot of content for the same amount. You need to know whether you like the overall content of Disney Plus, ESPN Plus or Hulu; then only this option would end up making sense for you.
If that is not the case, then chances are that you are actually wasting a bit of your money rather than getting the most out of it.
It is still a pretty good option, and I will rate Hulu with Live TV 3.5/5 stars.
4. Sling TV
Sling TV is also an option that you can try out if you are looking to watch live tv sports channels but don’t want to spend so much to get those channels.
Over at Sling TV, you get the option of selecting 35 live tv channels or more, and they are differentiated in two different categories, and the overall cost of Sling TV is pretty less compared to other live tv streaming services.
There is a lot more to discuss about this, so without wasting any more time, let’s get into it.
Price – Sling TV has two different categories, an orange pack and a blue pack; both the packs cost $40/month, with the option of combining both of them for $70/month.
Best for – Sling TV is best used for people who are looking to continue their cable tv subscriptions by watching live tv content without having to pay too much for it.
Platforms – Sling TV, just like the rest of streaming services, is available on major platforms, such as Firestick, Google Tv, Android, IOS, etc.
| Pros | Cons |
| ✅Cheaper, inexpensive pricing plans ✅Good list of overall content | ❌Not available everywhere ❌Limited customization |
Key features of Sling TV
- Premium Live TV channels
- Premium add-ons like HBO Max
- Attractive pricing point
- Multiple viewing options
- DVR
Who is the right user for Sling TV?
Sling TV, as I mentioned above, is a streaming service that is dedicated to a group of people who still want to watch live tv channels and are not so interested in the world of Original content produced by most of the streaming companies.
There are plenty of channels available on Sling TV, and you can easily change any of the plans you would like to watch for the month, giving you a wide variety of different channels as well.
Why we picked it? Overall rating & review
Sling TV is a really good option for a lot of people who want the flexibility of streaming but want to continue watching live tv channels rather than streaming content.
The overall list of channels that are available on Sling TV is pretty good and should be sufficient for a lot of people.
The overall pricing of Sling TV is also quite inexpensive compared to other live tv streaming options, and it is a great option for people who are looking to watch live sports on their devices.
I will rate Sling TV 4/5 stars.
Also read: Top best Sling TV alternatives
5. Jio Cinema
Jio Cinema is a streaming service that is available in India and other neighbour countries, and it is currently owned and operated by Viacom 18 under Jio. Jio Cinema has been streaming movies and tv shows for a couple of years.
However, over the last year or two, they have started to get back into the games of sports, and they started out big by getting the rights to FIFA 2022 in India.
They have gained quite a lot of success while streaming sports and even this year’s IPL is going to stream exclusively on Jio Cinema as well.
There is quite a lot to talk about Jio Cinema, so without wasting any more time, let’s get into it.
Price – Jio Cinema is available for free of cost, and it is totally legal to use this service.
Best for – Jio Cinema is best designed for people who like to watch different movies and tv shows, along with popular live sporting events, as well.
Platforms – Jio Cinema is available on multiple platforms, such as FireStick, Jio STB, Android, IOS, etc.
| Pros | Cons |
| ✅Free of cost ✅Lots of content | ❌Poor UI ❌Not available worldwide |
Key features of Jio Cinema
- Live sports channels
- Good list of TV shows and movies
- Free of cost
Who is the right user for Jio Cinema?
Jio Cinema is designed for someone who already has a Jio phone number or a connection to the Jio network because, even though, it is free of cost, you do have to fill up an OTP that will be provided on your Jio number.
It is also a really good option for people who want to try out different types of Indian content from different streaming services, and movies and tv shows, that are available on Jio Cinema, along with some live tv shows, as well.
Why we picked it? Overall rating & review
Jio’s business model genuinely baffles me because of how much they are offering to their overall customers, in return for the money they are asking, or lack thereof.
That being said, if you look closely there are some parts where they have cut corners, such as stereo audio, limited number of sporting events, etc.
You can’t expect to watch all the sporting events in Jio Cinema, because they have just started to get in the world of sports streaming, and so far, they are only targeting popular and big sporting events.
You won’t be seeing some niche games streaming on Jio Cinema. Still, for free of cost, users where able to watch FIFA 2022 Finale live, and that is something that many sports broadcasting companies would have charged a lot!
It is a good option to check out sports for free, and if you have a Jio connection, you are in for a treat.
I will rate Jio Cinema 4/5 stars.
6. Disney Plus Hotstar
Disney Plus Hotstar is a streaming service that is quite popular in India and its neighbouring countries because of all the content that is available on this streaming service.
As you can tell by its name, this service provides you with everything that is available on Disney Plus, Hotstar, and more.
Over here, you have the option of checking out some popular sporting events, such as the Premier League etc. and much more.
There is a lot to discuss about Disney Plus Hotstar, so without wasting any more time, let’s get into it.
Price – Disney Plus Hotstar comes at an attractive rate of $8 Dollars/month.
Best for – This service is best used and designed for the overall content that is available on this service, along with live sports as well.
Platforms – Disney Plus Hotstar is available on all major viewing platforms, such as Firestick, Google TV, Android, IOS, etc.
| Pros | Cons |
| ✅Great list of content ✅Dolby 5.1 and Atmos content Great UI | ❌Not available worldwide |
Key features of Disney Plus Hotstar
- 4K content
- Live sports
- Tons of Original content
Who is the right user for Disney Plus Hotstar?
Disney Plus Hotstar is a streaming service that is basically targeted towards a family of four people, as it likes to encompass different types of content for different family members.
You can expect to see everything that Disney releases on their platform, Disney Plus; along with it, you can also see some content from Hulu, Hotstar, live sports, etc.
So, it really is a service for a family.
Why we picked it? Overall rating & review
Disney Plus Hotstar, as I mentioned above, is a streaming service that encompasses a lot of content, and it is quite great for its customers.
The overall service has seen a growth over the years. However, within the last few months, it has started to lose some of its popular IP, such as all the HBO shows, IPL 2023, F1 races, etc.
So, that is something to look into while you are deciding to whether you want to use this service or not.
For those reasons and more, I will rate Disney Plus Hotstar 3.5/5 stars.
7. YouTube TV
YouTube TV is a pretty popular streaming service that is available in the US as you are able to watch live television on it. YouTube TV offers users with a number of popular live tv channels to watch and it is also priced quite competitively.
Along with that, you are able to get some incredible features, such as unlimited DVR space, and other tools, that are quite popular for any cable network connection.
You also find yourself watching a number of premium sports channels, so you can access all the sporting events that are happening around the world.
Price – If you want to subscribe to YouTube TV, then you will have to shell out $72.99/month.
Best for – YouTube TV is best suited for people who like the overall service that is provided by YouTube and also would love to watch live tv on it, as well. It should be noted, that YouTube Premium has a different subscription, and it is not covered with the price of YouTube TV.
Platforms – YouTube TV is available on all major viewing devices.
| Pros | Cons |
| ✅Loads of channels ✅Incredible features and tools | ❌Not available for everyone around the world |
Key features of YouTube TV
- Premium channels
- Unlimited DVR space
- Competitive pricing plans
- Available on multiple deices
Who is the right user for YouTube TV?
YouTube TV is a streaming service that is designed for people who are looking to watch live channels but are ready to ditch their cable connection because of their over pricing models.
While YouTube TV is not quite as a cheap as other streaming services, when compared to the cost of a cable tv connection, it works out cheaper.
Why we picked it? Overall rating & review
YouTube TV is one of many options that are available nowadays for watching Live tv on your streaming device, and YouTube has been on this game for some while now, as well.
It is recommended to use by a lot of people and this is because of its great service and the overall list of channels that are available to watch on it. The service is available to view on multiple devices, and you get some other great features, as well. And for that reason, I will rate YouTube TV 4/5 stars.
FAQs
Let’s discuss some of the frequently asked questions regarding this topic.
Which is the best streaming service for live sports?
If you have to ask me, then my choice will have to go with ESPN Plus. ESPN Plus, as I mentioned above, is a streaming service that is mostly dedicated to sports and nothing else.
Over there, you will find an abundance of sports-related content, and you really wouldn’t get bored by it, if that is all that you are looking for.
That being said, the service of ESPN Plus is currently restricted to only certain countries, so you need to check that out, before jumping on to its service.
What is the cheapest way to stream live sports?
The cheapest way to stream live sports is to get Jio Cinema. Jio Cinema doesn’t require any additional subscription cost and you can enjoy great and popular sporting events, such as FIFA and IPL.
That being said, Jio Cinema doesn’t have all the rights to all the popular sporting events, so you have to do your research on the sporting events it does get rights to stream.
Otherwise, you will be left watching some lacklustre movies and tv shows on a poor UI on Jio Cinema.
Can I stream all sports?
As I mentioned above, sport broadcasting rights are a bit complicated and they are all not shared with just one particular company. Different countries have their own sports broadcasting channels that bid for such popular sporting events.
The company that wins the bid end up taking the rights to stream the sports on their channel. So, depending on the company that you end up subscribing to, only those live events you will be able to watch to which it has the rights to.
How much does FuboTV cost per month?
Fubo TV is also another really good option that you can try out for streaming live tv channels on various devices of yours.
The reason that I have not mentioned it in this article is that it is a bit too expensive compared to all the other options that I have mentioned on this list.
Fubo TV offers more than 80 different live tv channels, and its starting price is from $75/month or so, and that doesn’t include most of the sports-related options.
So, you have to pay a heavy sum if you are looking to get a subscription to Fubo TV.
Also read:
Best Cricket Streaming Websites
Conclusion
Well, there you have it. An article discussing about some of the best sports streaming services and options that are currently available at your disposal right now.
There must be a lot more that I have not mentioned in this article, and that’s where you get into play. The above-mentioned six options are my choice of the best sports streaming services presented.
If you know some other services that I may have missed out on, which offer a good range of sports at an affordable price range, do let us know about them, in the comments section down below!
