How To Watch ESPN Without Cable - AntennaJunkies.com

If you’re someone who wants to ditch cable, and go with an IPTV service instead, you might be concerned about how you’ll watch the news or sports. Sure, streaming services have tons of movies and binge worthy shows, but can you really watch channels like ESPN without cable?

Cable television has been around for years, but at the end of the day, it’s just not the best way to watch TV anymore. As we approach 2020, you’re probably starting to notice a shift in the way we watch TV.

Luckily, if this is something you’re concerned about, you’re in the right place. If you’re looking to watch ESPN without cable, please pay close attention, because you’re about to find out exactly how.

The time to ditch the cable box has arrived, and there is no time like the present. When it comes to making the switch, you need to know where to go.

So for today, we’ll be going over popular IPTV services like:

So sit back, relax, and get ready to have your mind blown. Plus, believe it or not, most of the services we’ll be going over also include popular channels like Fox, CBS, NFL Network, and many more.

That’s just the beginning.

Sling TV

Sling TV is one of the best places to go if you’re a sports fan. They have plenty of great package options, and really know how to get you the content you need. Sling TV is one of the best options out there if you want to watch ESPN without cable. They make it easy to leave cable in the past, and you definitely won’t be disappointed. So let’s take a look at some of the great features that Sling TV brings to the table.

Honorable mentions

Before we get into the meat and potatoes, you’ll want to hear about a few special features Sling TV offers. Sling TV is unique, because they’ll be rolling out some free content for those of you that have Android boxes like the Amazon Firestick. Also, if you have an OTA antenna, Sling TV features some additional benefits as well. Sling TV is always rolling out new features, options, and updates, so make sure you keep up with what’s current.

Does Sling TV include more than just ESPN?

If you’re looking to get a truly all in one service, you’ll find it hard to beat Sling TV. Plus depending on the package you choose, you can get up to 75+ channels (this number may vary based on your location). Keep in mind, that you can only achieve that amount if you combine both packages, and some channels differ depending on your area.

Some of the channels Sling TV offers are as follows:

ESPN
Pac 12 college sports
AMC
CNN
NFL Network
USA
FX
TBS
Food Network
Comedy Central
IFC

Unfortunately, when it comes to Sling TV, everything comes down to the package you go with. So let’s take a quick look at both packages.

Sling TV Blue

Sling TV Blue is a great package, but if you’re looking to watch ESPN without cable, you might want to go with the Orange package or combine the two. Sling TV Blue costs $25 per month, which is a bit of an increase from the previous cost of $20 per month. Overall, the Blue package is geared towards traditional live TV, and has less of an emphasis on sports. The good news is that the Blue package includes over 45 channels.

Sling TV Orange

If you’re looking to watch ESPN without cable, then Sling TV Orange is the perfect package for you. Just like the Blue package, it only costs $25 per month. With Sling TV Orange, you’ll have no shortage of college sports, professional sports, and ESPN. While the channel selection is limited, and only offers 30+ channels, the Orange package makes up for this lack of content with an emphasis on sports related television.

Can I combine them?

If you’re looking to get the most bang for your buck, you’ll want to combine both packages. Plus, if you combine both, you’ll only have to pay $40 per month. You’ll be able to watch ESPN without cable, and you’ll also have access to the regular TV that you know and love. With a combination of both packages, you definitely won’t be disappointed by the 50+ base channels you’ll be exposed to.

Are there add-ons?

The add-ons are a bit more limited compared to the other services on this list, but you can still customize your experience. For an additional $5 per month, you’ll be able to record up to 100 hours of DVR content. Plus, believe it or not, Sling TV has plenty of on demand movies you can rent between $3 and $5 a piece from popular networks like Starz.

If you’re looking to ditch cable altogether, or just want to watch ESPN without cable in general, you can’t go wrong with Sling TV.

Sling TV also offers a free no commitment 7-day trial, so you really have nothing to lose. Take a look… you might be surprised by this exceptional service.

Hulu + Live TV

You’ve probably seen the commercials, you know, the ones with Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield throwing money around. The ad campaign is a bit extra, but the good news is that their new live TV channels are extraordinarily. Hulu + Live TV is a great option, and you definitely won’t be disappointed if you’re looking to watch ESPN without cable.

How many channels does Hulu + Live TV offer?

Hulu + Live TV is a great choice, because they offer plenty of great channels. You’ll find plenty of additional local networks, depending on where you’re located, and you’ll have plenty of access to sports and news.

Here are some of the channels that you’ll find with Hulu + Live TV:

Cartoon network
Disney Channel
Fox Sports 1 and 2
Fox News
CNN
ESPN 1 and 2
Food Network
National Geographic
TNT
TBS
Syfy

Keep in mind, that these are only a few of the 51 national television channels that Hulu + Live TV provides and doesn’t include the local channels you may have access to. Check out the Hulu website for a complete and comprehensive channel list.

How much ESPN do you get with Hulu + Live TV?

While having ESPN on its own is a great thing, if you’re a sports enthusiast, you’ll probably want more. Hulu understands that. You’ll be pleased to hear that you’ll have access to ESPN SEC channels, ESPN news channels, and even ESPNU. In other words, you’ll definitely have plenty of ESPN to watch, and you don’t need to worry about missing out.

How much does Hulu Live + TV cost?

Now that’s a lot of content that Hulu offers right? That might make you nervous when you start to think about the price, but let me ease your mind. You can actually get the basic Hulu + Live TV package for only $39.99 per month. When you factor that against the cost of cable, that’s pretty impressive and competitive.

Are there any special packages?

Now that you know you can watch ESPN without cable using Hulu + Live TV, you’ll probably want to know if you can supplement your on demand channels as well. Luckily, depending on the channel, you can add on special on demand channels for as little as $4.99 during the first 6 months.

So let’s take a look at what you can add to your package:

Showtime ($8.99 per month)
HBO ($4.99 for the first 6 months, and $14.99 for every month after)
Cinemax ($9.99 per month)

So while Hulu + Live TV gives you the ability to watch ESPN without cable, you’ll also have plenty of other options to satisfy your live TV needs as well.

Not bad right?

AT&T TV Now

AT&T TV Now is a new player in the game, but that doesn’t mean they don’t know what they’re doing. Plus, believe it or not, AT&T TV Now actually used to be DirectTV Now (if you already have the app installed, you’ll notice the change right away).

The two services are much different, and if you’re familiar with DirectTV NOW, you’ll be happy to hear that AT&T TV NOW is much better. Following the re-branding, AT&T TV Now offers plenty of channels, and is a great way to watch ESPN without cable.

What do I get with AT&T TV Now

With AT&T TV Now you get much more than ESPN, and you’ll be pleased to hear that you instantly gain access to plenty of channels. Plus, believe it or not, AT&T TV Now is cross platform compatible and can be streamed from 3 separate devices at the same time. For a modern streaming service, that’s pretty hard to beat. AT&T TV Now also features a DVR service, so you can record live TV to your heart’s desire.

Not bad right?

So let’s take a look at some of the channels that AT&T TV Now has to offer:

ESPN
Fox sports
Nickelodeon
TBS
TNT
Lifetime
MSNBC
ESPN
E!
AMC
Bravo

Please keep in mind that these are only a handful of the channels offered. In total, AT&T TV Now offers 23 of the most popular live channels with about 45 channels altogether.

Plus, depending on the package you go with, you can get even more. Oh and one more thing, this list doesn’t include local channels. So depending on your area, you might find yourself surprised by how many channels you get. Visit their website for a complete channel listing.

What do the AT&T TV Now packages look like, and do all of them include ESPN?

The “Plus” Plan

AT&T TV Now comes in two different packages, and they vary in price by $20. The basic package, the Plus Plan, will cost you $50 per month. While this plan is a bit more limited, you’ll still be able to happily watch ESPN without cable.

Aside from ESPN, you’ll also be happy to hear that the basic package includes HBO for no additional cost. This is unique to AT&T TV Now, and you definitely won’t find HBO included with any other service.

What about the “Max” Plan?

The Max Plan also allows you to watch ESPN without cable, among other sports networks, and comes with even more content. For $70 per month, you’ll have access to additional channels such as:

ESPNU
FS2
Golf
The Olympic channel
BTN

So if you’re really looking to get the most ESPN content, of more channels in general, you’ll need to go with the Max plan. Luckily, you won’t be disappointed by the Max Plan’s 60+ live channels. Check out the AT&T TV Now website for a complete channel listing.

Are there any additional options?

A common denominator between a lot of these services is the ability to access plenty of additional on demand channels. Plus, if you’re going to ditch cable completely, you’ll want to at least have the option to get HBO and more.

With AT&T TV Now you’ll find additional channels like:

Showtime ($11 per month)
Starz ($11 per month)
epix ($6 per month)
Cinemax ($11 per month)

If you’re looking to leave cable behind, but you still want to watch your favorite sports channels, AT&T TV NOW is a great option.

How to Watch ESPN Without Cable – Recap

We went over 3 of the best services out there if you’re looking to watch ESPN without cable. In addition to being able to stream ESPN, you’ll find that each of these services come packed with unique packages and options to tinker with.

When it comes to finding the perfect way to ditch cable, a lot of it comes down to personal preference and your taste in channels.

For that very reason, you’ll find plenty of positive and negative reviews about each of these services. Plus, at the end of the day, each service is unique in their own way. One thing that’s definitely fact and not opinion, is that you’ll have no problem with any of these services when it comes time to watch ESPN without cable.

Now that you know the facts, do some extra digging, and truly figure out which service is right for you.All 3 are great, and if you really want to go the extra mile, who said you can’t subscribe to more than 1?