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If you’re in the United States and looking to watch a live stream of Formula One racing, there are a handful of different options, even if you don’t have a cable subscription.
During the 2017 season, races in the USA are broadcast on NBC family of networks: NBC, NBC Sports Network or CNBC. You can click here for the complete schedule.
NBC Sports Live Extra, but for those who don’t have a cable subscription, you can still easily watch via over-the-top streaming services, which allow you to stream a handful of channels for a monthly fee.
Moreover, with the steady rise of these products, cord-cutters have more options than ever: Fubo TV is my Summer recommendation due to a sale that goes through the end of July, but Sling TV is the cheapest option for the long-term, while DirecTV Now and PlayStation Vue also offer different pros and cons.
Here’s a rundown of what these live streaming services provide, and how to sign up to watch each F1 race in 2017:
Summer Sale: Fubo TV
While Fubo TV is typically $35 per month, it is currently offering a deal that allows users to sign up for $19.99 per month for the first two months. You can sign up for the deal anytime before July 31.
Not only does this make Fubo TV the cheapest current option for watching F1 races, but the growing service also has an improving DVR, it has a “Look Back” feature that allows you to watch any sports event 72 hours after it airs even if you don’t DVR it, and it offers a mostly sports-based channel lineup.
It’s biggest drawback is that it’s still missing ESPN, but it does offer NBA TV, NBC (live in select markets), NBC Sports, CNBC, Fox Sports 1 and 2, Golf Channel, Big Ten Network, Fox Soccer Plus, all 10 of the beIN Sports networks, Football Report TV and Eleven Sports.
Here’s the rundown of Fubo TV’s bundle:
Total Channels Included: 58 (You can find the complete channel list here)
Price: $19.99 per month for first two months if you sign up before July 31; $34.99 per month after that
Extras: Watch on two different devices at once; 10 DVR spots for free
Free Trial: 7 days
How to Sign Up & Watch:
1. Click here to sign up and launch your free trial. You’ll need to enter your credit card information when signing up, but if you cancel your subscription before the trial ends, you won’t be charged.
2. If you’re on a computer, you can start watching TV right away in your Internet browser without having to download a desktop app. If you’re on a mobile device, download the Fubo app.
Click here to download the app in the iTunes App Store
Click here to download the app in the Google Play Store
Full list of compatible devices can be found here
Cheapest Long-Term Option: Sling TV
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Fubo TV’s current deal may make it the cheapest option for the next couple of months, but if you plan on using a streaming service beyond that, and if price is your No. 1 concern, there’s no doubt that Sling TV is the way to go. NBC (live in select markets) and NBC Sports Network are both included in the “Sling Blue” bundle, which at $25 per month remains the lowest price-point (excluding sales) for a streaming service, while CNBC is available in the “News Extra” add-on for $5 per month.
Another pro for Sling TV is the ability for more customization. While other services offer more channels in their base bundles, Sling has a variety of different theme-specific add-on packages, such as the aforementioned news pack, to customize the experience just the way you want.
With that in mind, here’s a rundown of “Sling Blue” plus “News Extra”:
Total Channels Included: 50-plus, depending on local channels available. You can find the complete channel list right here
Price: $30 per month
Extras: Watch on three devices at once; 50 hours of cloud DVR is $5 per month extra (restrictions with certain channels)
Free Trial: 7 days
How to Sign Up & Watch:
1. Click here to go to the Sling TV website
2. Click on “Watch Now 7 Days Free” and then create an account
3. Select the channel package you want. “Sling Blue” gets you NBC (live in select markets) and NBC Sports Network, while the “News Extra” add-on gets you CNBC
4. Enter your payment information. The “Sling Blue” bundle is $25 per month, and the “News Extra” add-on is $5 per month. If you cancel your subscription within seven days of signing up, you will not be charged
5. Download the Sling app on your computer and begin watching TV. If you’re interested in watching Sling TV on a mobile or streaming device, you can do so via their app, which is free to download. You can click here for a full list of compatible devices
Most Channels: DirecTV Now
If you’re more concerned with a larger channel lineup, DirecTV Now is the way to go. The company’s “Live a Little” bundle comes in at $35 per month, but if you’re intent on the full F1 experience (NBC, NBC Sports Network and CNBC), you’ll only pay $5 more than Sling TV and you’ll get more channels
Here’s a complete rundown of DirecTV Now’s “Live a Little” bundle:
Total Channels Included: 60-plus, depending on local channels available. You can find the complete channel list right here
Price: $35 per month
Extras: Watch on two different devices at the same time; No DVR
Free Trial: 7 days
How to Sign Up & Watch:
1. Click here to go to the DirecTV Now website
2. Click on “Start your free trial now” and then create an account
3. Select the channel package you want. All bundles include NBC (live in select markets), NBC Sports Network and CNBC
4. Enter your payment information. The “Live a Little” package is the cheapest at $35 per month, while there are other options with more channels at $50, $60 or $70 per month. If you cancel your subscription within seven days of signing up, you will not be charged
5. Return to the DirecTV Now website to start watching on your desktop. You can also watch via the DirecTV Now, which is available via a handful of different mobile or streaming devices. You can click here for the complete list of compatible devices
Most Streams At Once: PlayStation Vue
PlayStation Vue has the highest price point (its cheapest bundle, “Access,” comes in at $40 per month) and doesn’t have as many channels as DirecTV Now’s equivalent package.
However, there are also some important advantages, such as included DVR and the ability for users to watch on five separate devices at once, which is more than any other service. Ultimately, it comes down to how much you’re willing to pay and what features you value more.
Here’s a look at the “Access” bundle:
Total Channels Included: 40-plus, depending on local channels available. You can find the complete channel list here
Price: $39.99 per month
Extras: Watch on five different devices at once; cloud DVR (restrictions with certain channels)
Free Trial: 5 days
How to Sign Up & Watch:
1. Click here to go to the PlayStation Vue website
2. Click on “Start Free Trial” and then create an account
3. Select the channel package you want. There are four different options, all of which include NBC (live in select markets), NBC Sports Network and CNBC
4. Enter your payment information. The “Access” package is the cheapest at $39.99 per month, while there are other options with more channels at $44.99, $54.99 or $74.99 per month. If you cancel your subscription within five days of signing up, you will not be charged
5. Return to the PlayStation Vue website to start watching on your desktop. You can also watch via the PlayStation Vue app, which is available via a handful of different mobile or streaming devices. You can click here for the complete list of compatible devices