Also: Why next year’s Super Bowl ads will be written by ChatGPT Come Sunday, February 12, we’ll see who wins it all. The best way to watch the game is, of course, to see it live. But, when the Super Bowl ticket prices range from not quite $5,000 to an eye-watering $40,000, most of us will be watching it from our living rooms. Also: Best live TV streaming services So, unless you watch the game, which is being broadcast by Fox and, in Spanish, on Fox Deportes, over the air (OTA) with an antenna, the best and cheapest way to watch the Super Bowl will be with one of the streaming services listed below. Unlike last year, the game will also be available in 4K OTA and on a few streaming networks.
DirecTV Stream
DirecTV Stream has gone through a number of name changes. In the past, it’s been AT&T TV, AT&T TV Now, and DirecTV Now. Whatever you call it, you’ll get Fox on even its cheapest package: The $69.99 Entertainment package. Of course, $70 for all practical purposes a month still isn’t cheap. It does, however, include Fox Deportes. Also: The best movies and shows to stream right now DirecTV’s other packages offer additional channels, with prices from $90 to $150 per month. Unfortunately, DirecTV does not offer 4K streaming at this time. On the plus side, DirecTV Stream now comes with generous unlimited Cloud DVR storage. At home, you can watch the game, or any other show, on up to two streaming devices at once. Away from home, you can share your stream with three other devices.
FuboTV
Like the name says, FuboTV is all about sports. But it’s not just sports. It’s also a full-fledged streaming service with all the usual networks, including the one that matters for the game, Fox. Its starter plan, Pro, has over 100 channels and comes with 1,000 hours of cloud DVR storage. You can stream to up to three screens at once for $74.99 a month. It also includes Fox Deportes. One huge plus for FuboTV is that it offers 4K streaming on its Elite or Premier plans. Also: Want to search across all of your search channels? These two apps can help This service also encourages new users to sign up for the big game with a free seven-day trial. FuboTV is convinced that once you’ve tried its service, you’ll stick.
Hulu with Live TV
Hulu with Live TV’s combination of on-demand video and live TV is nice, and it also comes with Disney+ and ESPN+ bundled. For $82.99 a month, that’s a good deal. For that, you can also stream two sessions at once. You can also watch Fox Deportes on it. For another $10 a month, you can play as many streams at once at home. But you’re still limited to three screens when you’re away from home. Also: 6 techy ways to throw an unforgettable Super Bowl Party Another nice plus is you can store an unlimited number of videos in your cloud DVR archive for up to nine months. One thing you can’t do, however, is watch or store the Super Bowl in 4K. While you can watch many Hulu shows, such as Only Murders in the Building, Kindred, and Reboot, in 4K, live TV shows, including the Super Bowl, aren’t available.
Sling TV
Sling TV’s à la carte approach to channels that separates it from its competitors. While the others tend to offer only two to four packages, Sling TV offers two basic packages – Blue and Orange – and a wide variety of packages bundling up to a dozen-related channels. For the Super Bowl, you need Blue, which includes Fox. This comes with 41 channels for $40 a month, and you can stream it on up to three devices. You can get half off your first month. It also includes 50 hours of DVR storage. The better deal, if you want to keep using Sling, is to combine it with Orange. This kicks you up to over 47 channels for $55 and half off your first month. However, if your primary language is Spanish, you should be aware that Sling TV does not currently provide Fox Deportes. Another down check is that Sling TV doesn’t support 4K.
YouTube TV
With over 100 channels, YouTube TV offers more of the most popular channels than its competitors. It also enables you to watch your local ABC, CBS, Fox, PBS, and NBC channels in most areas. By CNET’s count, out of the top 100 networks, YouTube TV offers the most – 79 – of any streaming service. With the Spanish Plan, you can watch Fox Deportes. Also: Did your TV streaming bill just go up again? Here’s why I chose YouTubeTV YouTubeTV also has unlimited cloud storage. And you get six accounts to share with your household. For this, you’ll pay $54.99 for your first three months and then $64.99 monthly. You can use this service on three screens at once. For Super Bowl watchers, you can also watch the game in 4K, but to get that resolution, you must pay an additional $20 for 4K Plus Enjoy the game, my friends!
Specs Comparison
Your choices include DirecTV Stream, FuboTV, Hulu with Live TV, Sling TV, and YouTube TV. Regardless of how you watch the game, you’ll need at least an 8Mbps or better internet connection. Faster is always better. If your service provides it in 4K, you’ll want a speedy 16 Mbps or faster connection. Finally, make sure your streaming service supports your local Fox station. Before putting your money down, make certain that the service will deliver the game. Sure, 99% of the time, you’ll be fine, but you don’t want to explain to your buddies that they can’t watch the game after all, if you’re one of the unfortunate few who can’t stream a local Fox station.