(TNT/NBA)
Tonight from 9 – 11 p.m. ET/PT, the first ever NBA Awards will air on TNT, honoring the top athletes in the NBA. Awards will be handed out for Most Valuable Player (MVP), Rookie of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, the Sixth Man Award, Coach of the Year and Most Improved Player. The awards show airs from Basketball City at Pier 36 in New York City, New York. If you’d like to watch the show but are unable to get to a television set or do not have a cable login, we have all the info you need on how to watch the awards show online.
Here’s how you can watch for free, and what you need to know in order to navigate each service:
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Launch a Free Trial With Sling TV or DirecTV Now
Sling and DirecTV Now have monthly fees ranging from $20 to $70 depending on the package you’ve selected. But both services provide a free seven-day trial, so you can watch the show for free on your computer, mobile device or connected TV through either service. You can click here to sign up for Sling TV and click here to sign up for DirecTV Now. Both services will prompt you to download a mobile app if you’re on a mobile device. If you’re on a desktop or laptop computer, you’ll be promoted to download the Sling desktop app if you sign up for Sling. If you sign up for DirecTV Now, you’ll be able to watch programming right in your Internet browser.
The services are extremely similar, and if your main concern is watching the show tonight for free, either will do the trick. If you’re interested in keeping the service after the seven-day trial ends, there are some slight differences worth considering. Which service is best for you depends largely on how many channels you’re looking for and how much money you’re willing to spend.
Here’s a look at what each service has to offer:
Least Expensive Way to Watch TNT Programming: Sling TV
Both Sling and DirecTV Now offer a free seven-day trial, so you can watch the show for free through either service. But if after the trial ends, you’re interested in access to TNT programming but don’t need a whole lot else, Sling is your best option.
Sling’s Orange package, which includes TNT, costs only $20 per month. That’s $15 per month less than DirecTV Now’s Live a Little package, which includes more than 60 channels, but costs $35 per month. Sling’s Blue package, which costs $25 per month, also includes TNT, so you can watch the show through either package. You can also sign up for both packages at a discounted rate of $40 per month after the trial ends.
You can click here here to sign up for Sling and launch the free trial. You’ll need to enter your credit card information when signing up, but if you cancel the subscription before the trial ends, you won’t be charged. If your’e on a desktop of laptop computer, you’ll be prompted to download the Sling desktop app once you sign up. If you’re on a mobile device, you’ll also be prompted to download the app upon signing up.
You can also click here to download the Sling app in the iTunes App Store.
You can click here to download the Sling app in the Google Play Store.
There’s also a Sling app for Roku, Chromecast, Nexus player, ZTE and XBox One. Click here for a full list of compatible devices. If you’re looking to access Sling programming on a connected TV, follow the steps listed above to create an account, then enter your log-in information when launching the app on your connected TV.
More Channels, a Simpler Desktop Experience & Data Preservation for AT&T Customers: DirecTV Now
Among the advantages DirecTV Now has is the ability to watch content right in your Internet browser on a desktop or laptop computer without needing to download an app. Sling, by contrast, requires you to take the extra step of downloading a desktop app. (Both services require you to download an app to watch programming on a mobile device.)
Another advantage: If you have diverse programming needs and you’re willing to pay more for more channels, DirecTV Now’s Go Big package includes more than 100 channels and costs $60 per month after the free trial, while the Gotta Have It package costs $70 per month after the free trial but includes more than 120 channels.
Lastly: If you’re an AT&T wireless customer, you can stream content on your phone anywhere on the AT&T network without using up data.
You can click here to sign up for DirecTV Now and launch a free trial. You’ll need to enter your credit card information when signing up, but if you cancel the subscription before the trial ends, you won’t be charged.
You can click here to download the app from the iTunes App Store.
You can click here to download the app from the Google Play Store.
You can also watch on a connected TV through Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire Stick TV, Apple TV or Chromecast. Click here for a full list of compatible devices.
The app is not yet available for Chromecast, Roku or XBox One.
Recap: Similar Services, Both With a Free Trial
To recap: If you’re just looking to watch tonight’s show, either service will give you what you’re looking for, and your viewing experience will be virtually the same, regardless of which service you choose, and on which device you’re watching.
If you’re interested in keeping one of the two services beyond the game, the differences are mostly a matter of personal preferences and personal circumstances. For instance, if you live in a region where your favorite MLB or NBA team’s games are on a Comcast network, the ability to watch those games may put Sling over the top.
If you’re unsure which service you’d prefer, we recommend launching a free trial for both, and seeing which you like better. You can launch the Sling free trial here and the DirecTV Now free trial here.