Super Bowl streaming 2018: What are the ways to watch online?

Super Bowl 52 between the New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles will be airing on NBC, but in this day and age, sports fans don’t even need to be in front of their TVs to catch the big game. Thanks to the explosion of legal streaming avenues, there are more options than ever to watch sports live, without the hassle of cable or satellite providers.

First off, let’s go over the top two ways to watch the Super Bowl online, and then dip into the many alternatives.

If you have a cable or satellite subscription, NBC’s website or app is the easiest way to stream. Simply punch in your account information and the game is available right there on your computer or streaming device.

iPhone | Android

In past years, watching NFL games on mobile devices was restricted only to Verizon customers. That’s finally changing in 2018, with Yahoo streaming every playoff game on its mobile app, including the Super Bowl.

If the above options don’t work for you, or if you’re a cord-cutter who still needs a sports fix, then don’t worry. The rise of over-the-top services has created a robust market for streaming content, and viewers have plenty of options to choose from.

Let’s go over just a few of the major services that carry NBC, and by extension will be streaming the Super Bowl. If you just want to watch the game and are not interested in paying up front, every site has a free trial to take advantage of.

Seven-day free trial

Originally conceived as a soccer-centric streaming site (hence the name), FuboTV has since branched out into other sports and general-interest channels. They started carrying NFL RedZone in 2017 and have most football games through NBC/FOX/CBS. The biggest drawback is that they don’t have a contract with Disney/ABC, so none of the ESPN channels are available on here. Like most of the services listed here, the broadcast affiliates are only in select markets.

Seven-day free trial

YouTube joined the over-the-top game last year with its own service, offering a diverse mix of broadcast channels, the ESPN networks, and some premium content. Perhaps the biggest selling point is free unlimited DVR, which is way more than what the competition offers (most of these services charge extra for DVR and/or have an hours limit).

Right now, YouTube TV is restricted to certain markets, so users outside those areas aren’t able to sign up. The good news is that every eligible market has the local NBC affiliate. Check your availability here.

And since this is a Google joint, the only way to watch on your computer is through the Chrome browser (Firefox fans will have to grin and bear it), though it’s also available on Chromecast, Android TV, and the mobile app.

Seven-day free trial

Hulu also broke into the streaming market last year with its version of live TV. The channels are limited right now, but NBC is there if you’re in the right market. It tends to be on the more expensive side at $39.99 a month, but that’s also a package deal with the entire Hulu streaming library included. So if you already have Hulu and want some live channels to go with it, this is worth considering.

Seven-day free trial

One of the earliest streaming services, Sling bills itself as a true alternative to cable with “a la carte” packages. The sports package includes all the ESPN channels and NFL RedZone, giving it an advantage over FuboTV on the former and YouTube TV on the latter. That said, it’s still a bit behind the competition in carrying local channels — NBC is only in limited markets, and if you’re not in those they stick you with the on-demand app rather than the live TV feed.

Five-day free trial

Despite what the name suggests, you don’t need a PlayStation console to use this — a regular PSN account will suffice. It has more broadcast availability than Sling and YouTube, with NBC open to nearly all the major markets. It’s also one of the most expensive of the lot, with basic tiers starting at $39.99 compared to $20 for Sling and $35 for YouTube (fuboTV at least has a one-month discount before jumping to $39.99).

Nevertheless, it carries every ESPN channel and RedZone is available on a sports tier. There are also a ton of premium options for users who don’t mind paying the extra money.

Seven-day free trial

This is essentially a stripped-down version of DirecTV’s satellite service, open to all customers regardless of location (if you’ve ever wanted DirecTV but can’t get a satellite dish at your residence, here you go).

The upper tiers can get pricey, and the local broadcasts are more restrictive — like Sling, customers are stuck with the NBC on-demand if they don’t live in an eligible market for live TV.