Streameast, the world’s largest illegal live sports streaming operation, was shut down on Wednesday, ending a long run of global “service” to a streaming ecosystem that continues to expand in options (and price). Among the top options offering the full scale of live TV, including sports, are FuboTV, DirecTV and SlingTV.
So, what’s out there for streamers who are now free agents trying to access NFL and college football games on the up and up? Let’s review the best bets, what they offer, what they might lack, and which services have free trials for those looking to perhaps kick a longer-term streaming decision down the road.
Start with the big three streaming alternatives to cable, all of whom offer discounts and/or freebies. All three streamers also have packages withaccess to NFL Red Zone:
FuboTV (free trial) - FuboTV scores high marks for viewer experience with a huge library of live sports; length of the free trial varies; the monthly rate after trial starts at $54.99 with a current $30 off promotional offer.
DirecTV (free trial) - DirecTV has the longest free trial in streaming with five days to try before you buy; first month after the free trial starts as low as $54.99 with current $35 off promotion.
SlingTV (low intro rate) - Sling’s half-price offer is perfect for those in the market for 1+ month of TV;.monthly plans start at just $29.99 with the introductory rate. A comparison of plans, including daily and weekly passes, can be found here.
And here’s where the real fun begins, with the “niche” streaming services that offer content that ranges from expansive to more narrow scopes of sports streams from services such as Peacock and Paramount+.
Consider them an “a la carte” option for streaming one channel, team, sport, game, etc., generally at a much lower initial and monthly cost to subscribe. Locally, that means accessing the Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers and Penn State Nittany Lions, among others.
More options to live stream NFL and college football, Major League Baseball, and more:
ESPN Unlimited ($29.99/mo.) - ESPN has a new, standalone package that includes ABC broadcasts, all of ESPN’s sports channels, and access to ESPN+. For a limited time, ESPN can be bundled with Disney Plus and Hulu for $29.99 per month.
ESPN+ ($11.99/mo.) - Though ESPN+ now comes with the ESPN Unlimited plan ($29.99/mo.), it remains a standalone option with a deep library of live sports content for $11.99 per month.
Peacock ($10.99+/mo.) - Peacock’s library is growing and features exclusive NFL and college football games, all in addition to sporting events on NBC, movies, TV series, and more.
Paramount+ (free trial) - Paramount+ is an option for most sports on the CBS family of networks with NFL, college football and Champions League among the service’s best offerings.
Prime Video (free trial) - Prime’s top contribution to sports streaming is “Thursday Night Football,” while also offering access to NASCAR, MLB, AEW Wrestling, and more.
So, what’s the best play for streaming NFL and college football, specifically?
For the fan who wants total immersion and all options, FuboTV, DirecTV and SlingTV all have base packages and/or add-ons to access most, if not all, televised football games, regional blackouts notwithstanding. All three services allow you to set it, forget it, and just sit down and watch virtually any game you want.
Next up would be ESPN Unlimited at $29.99, simply because the volume of games (and other live sports) you get in comparison to the price tag is absurd.
The flaws, of course, are that you won’t want ALL those games, and that sporting events on NBC, CBS, FOX, etc., will not be accessible with an ESPN plan. At least one more service will be required to catch other desired games, but there are worse options than having ABC/ESPN/ESPN2 as a base and adding as you go.
The bottom line
All of which is to say, for Streameast loyalists, free trials are available on a solid number of streaming services and can at least buy a few days, a week, multiple weeks, before having to pay much, if anything, to make the rest of the season. Loopholes and tricks may or may not be discoverable to extend that time, but this week is a good reminder to keep it legal.
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