If you’re a major sports fan, you probably watch sports on ESPN and catch up on scores, stats, and controversies through ESPNews. And if you’re familiar with traditional cable, you already know: ESPN’s library of channels are not cheap to purchase. However, the cord-cutting revolution means you can not get ESPNews without cable through low-cost internet TV services.
Let’s explore your options to cut the cord on cable and get ESPNews without having to pay an arm and a leg.
Low-Cost Options to Get ESPNews Without Cable
ESPN’s network of channels is among the most popular for sports fans. As such, it should come as no surprise that most cord-cutting internet TV services now offer ESPN’s most popular channels through their packages. If you’re hoping to get ESPNews (and other ESPN channels), your go-to options include:
These services are all designed to work independently of any extra technology, so you won’t need a cable box or need to buy any extra equipment beyond what you already own.
However, most of these services have apps for popular TV streaming devices, like the Roku, Apple TV, and Amazon Fire TV, and apps for iOS and Android devices. Some, like Sling TV, even have dedicated apps for some smart TVs and game consoles like the Xbox One.
The best part is that all of these services will give you ESPNews and multiple ESPN channels for less than $60/month. In fact, your lowest cost option comes in at just $25/month with 30+ channels, including ESPNews and ESPN. Let’s explore your 6 best options to get ESPNews without cable.
Sling TV
If you want a cheap way to ESPNews, Sling TV is exactly what you need. You’ll be able to get ESPNews as well as ESPN and many other popular networks for under $30/month.
Channels and pricing
Sling TV offers three channel packages for new subscribers: Sling Orange, Sling Blue, and Sling Blue + Orange
Your best option if you want to save money is the $25/month Sling Orange package. This package doesn’t offer ESPNews directly but as part of the Sports Extra package, which costs an additional $5/month. By itself, Sling Orange comes with several other ESPN channels, including ESPN2 and ESPN3. With that combination, you’ll be able to get your entire ESPN fix without having to pay the kind of rates you’ll get with traditional cable.
Sling Orange also comes with other must-have networks, like Disney Channel for the kids, ACC Network for college sports, and many entertainment networks like History Channel, Comedy Central, AMC, A&E, and more.
Sling Blue, on the other hand, puts Fox networks in the forefront, so you’ll get Fox Sports through that option, but no ESPN. If you want both Fox Sports and ESPN, you can combine Sling Blue and Sling Orange for $40/month.
Features
Sling TV’s features are good but with some room for improvement, especially for those opting for Sling Orange.
You won’t get a DVR included with any of Sling TV’s packages. Instead, you need to purchase a $5/month add-on that gives you 50 hours of unlimited DVR recording.
Additionally, Sling TV offers simultaneous streaming options, but not through Sling Orange. Sling Orange only offers 1 device stream per account, so you won’t be able to easily share your streams with others in your household.
That said, you can use your Sling TV subscription to log into the WatchESPN app. That’ll let you watch live and on-demand ESPN content without using your Sling TV device stream. That way, someone else in your house can watch another channel while you enjoy ESPN.
Sling TV works on a large number of apps, including iOS and Android devices, Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire TV. You can also stream on some smart TVs, Xbox consoles, and most web browsers.
You can give Sling TV a free trial run for 7 days.
Hulu with Live TV
Hulu provides one of the best user experiences for anyone hoping to get ESPNews without cable and has some unique features. A recent price hike makes it more expensive than in the past, but it also has more features and benefits than most other options on our list.
Channels and pricing
For all intents and purposes, Hulu with Live TV only provides one channel package. As of February 2019, You can get Hulu with Live TV for $44.99/month. That package includes over 60 channels and comes with ESPNews, multiple other ESPN channels, and a huge selection of other popular sports, entertainment, and news networks.
Features
One of the biggest draws to Hulu with Live TV is what is offers alongside live TV.
Every subscriber gets an included 50-hour cloud DVR, as well as the option to stream on 2 devices at the same time. You’ll also be able to stream on a large number of devices, including iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, some smart TVs, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and most web browsers.
Hulu with Live TV also comes with Hulu’s entire on-demand content library, including its award-winning original content, like The Handmaid’s Tale. You don’t pay extra for the on-demand library, although if you want the on-demand option without ads through Hulu with Live TV, you’ll need to pay $50.99/month instead.
Hulu with Live TV offers a number of add-on options, including add-on channels. But if you want a boost to your features, you can upgrade your cloud DVR to 200 hours for $10/month, and boost your simultaneous streaming to 3 devices outside of your home network, and an unlimited number of devices connected to your home WiFi (also for $10/month extra). You can combine these packages for $15/month.
Interested? Hulu has a 7-day free trial.
YouTube TV
Google entered the cord-cutting ring in 2017 with its YouTube TV service. After around 2 years, it’s now one of the fastest-growing options on the block and has among the best available features.
Channels and pricing
YouTube TV keeps things simple when it comes to channels and pricing. Through YouTube TV, you’ll get 60+ channels for $40/month. That option includes ESPNews, multiple other ESPN channels, and a large selection of entertainment, news, and other sports networks.
Features
While YouTube TV has pretty god channels, The biggest draw for YouTube TV is all of the features included with the price.
If you’re in the market for a well-rounded service, YouTube TV is an easy sell. Not only do you get 60+ channels for a low price you can also get a rather hefty set of features.
YouTube TV offers 3 device streams per account, which is more generous than the industry average of just 2.
Additionally, this service allows you to create up to 6 individual user profiles per account. Each account user gets their own settings and, importantly, their own DVR. YouTube TV’s DVR option is also among the best you’ll get, with 9 months of unlimited DVR storage offered to each user. That makes YouTube TV one of the best options for sharing with others.
You can stream YouTube TV directly on dedicated apps for most devices, or on most web browsers. The only exception is that there’s no dedicated app for Amazon Fire TV devices due to an ongoing conflict between Google and Amazon.
YouTube TV is now available in over 90 percent of the US and has a 7-day free trial for new users.
PlayStation Vue
Although it’s called “PlayStation Vue”, you don’t need a PlayStation to use this high-quality service. In fact, if you’re considering YouTube TV or Hulu With Live TV, PlayStation Vue should also be on your shortlist.
Channels and pricing
PlayStation Vue takes a different approach than the other options on our list by splitting its channel package options into 4:
- Access: 45+ channels, $45/month
- Core: 60+ channels, $49.99/month
- Elite: 80+ channels, $59.99/month
- Ultra: All Elite channels plus HBO/Showtime, $79.99/month
You can get ESPNews without cable through PlayStation Vue’s “Core” package. At $49.99/month, it’s definitely on the pricier end of things compared to the other options on our list. However, you get a large number of popular and must-have networks alongside ESPNews, as well as plenty of great features.
Features
For those who want to share an account, PlayStation Vue is your best option. Through PS Vue, you’ll get 5 simultaneous streams per account, and the option to create up to 10 individual user profiles. That’s far more than any other service on our list without paying extra.
PlayStation Vue also offers a 28-day cloud DVR, which is admittedly small. However, you can record an unlimited number of video hours during that time period. That offer extends to every profile user, as well, so each profile user gets 28-day unlimited DVR.
Naturally, PlayStation Vue is available as an app for PlayStation 3 and 4 consoles. You can also download apps on iOS and Android smartphones or tablets, and TV streaming devices like the Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, and Roku. And, of course, you can stream directly from your web browser on Mac and Windows computers.
If PlayStation Vue sounds interesting, Sony offers a 5-day free trial.
DirecTV Now
DirecTV Now is one of the largest and most-used options on the list, but it’s also been struggling to retain customers lately due to lackluster features. Still, you can get ESPNews without cable through DirecTV Now
Channels and pricing
In a similar fashion to PlayStation Vue, DirecTV Now offers 4 channel packages:
- Live A Little: 65+ channels, $40/month
- Just Right: 85+ channels, $55/month
- Go Big: 105+ channels, $65/month
- Gotta Have It: 125+ channels, $75/month
If you want ESPNews through this option, you’ll need to opt for the “Just Right” package. That comes with over 85 channels, including ESPNews, ESPN, and most popular sports and entertainment networks. But it’s also rather pricey at $55/month, making it the most expensive way to get ESPNews without cable.
Features
DirecTV Now has fairly poor features compared to the competition and has not taken many steps to improve them.
You can get a fairly standard 2 simultaneous streams per account through DirecTV Now. You can also stream on a large number of devices, with every popular device you can think of covered by the service.
DirecTV Now also has a 72-hour rewind feature that lets you watch shows from many of their channels within 72-hours without having to use your DVR storage. Which is good, since DirecTV Now’s DVR is woefully small and restrictive.
Through DirecTV Now, you’ll get just 20 hours of DVR storage. To add insult to injury, you can only keep your recordings for 30 days. That gives DirecTV Now one of the most restrictive DVR options on the market.
If this is an option you want to consider, you can give DirecTV Now a try for 7 days free.
HDHomeRun Premium TV is comparatively new on the market, and there is not much data about it. But at $34.99 per month, it’s an interesting option, particularly coming from a service popular for its over-the-air TV devices, which can record live local channels and more.
Channels and pricing
This service keeps is simple with just one subscription package. For $34.99/month, you’ll get ESPNews as well as ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPNU. You’ll also get some rather popular networks alongside those, such as FX, CNBC, TBS, Comedy Central, The Weather Channel, History Channel, Disney Channel, and more.
Features
HDHomeRun has interesting features, but it’s unfortunately only designed to work with the company’s hardware. So you can get up 2 or 4 simultaneous streams per account, for example, but you need HDHomeRun tuners to get that. Without that, you’re stuck with 1 device stream.
Additionally, you need an HDHomeRun DVR recorder to record anything. Without one, you won’t have DVR at all with this service.
That said, HDHomeRun Premium TV comes with a 2-week free trial and works on a large number of popular devices with dedicated apps. It’s worth a shot if you already have an HDHomeRun device – otherwise, we’d recommend one of the other services we listed.
