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Looking to watch a live stream of the 2017 Open Championship? There are a number of different ways to do so, even if you don’t have cable.
In the United States, the Golf Channel will have Thursday and Friday coverage, while the Golf Channel and NBC will split coverage on Saturday and Sunday. You can click here for the complete schedule.
While NBC Sports Live Extra allows you to watch live streams of the telecasts if you sign in to a TV provider, cord cutters who are looking to completely replace cable–or have already gotten rid of it–can watch the Golf Channel and NBC via an over-the-top streaming service, which provides access to an entire package of channels for a monthly fee.
And with the steady rise of these services, cable-cutters have plenty of different options to choose from: 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 start watching the 2017 Open Championship:
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 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 all of the Open Championship, but the growing service also has an improving DVR that may prove vital since the Open is played at such early times in the United States. It also 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, 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: 62 (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, Sling TV is the way to go. NBC (live in certain markets. You can click here to see if it’s available in your area) is in the “Sling Blue” bundle at $25 per month, while the Golf Channel is part of the “Sports Extra” add-on at $10 per month.
At $35 per month, that’s the same as Fubo TV’s normal price, but Sling TV provides more customization for you to ultimately lower the price after the Open Championship if you want.
For now, though, here’s a rundown of “Sling Blue” plus the “Sports Extra” add-on:
Total Channels Included: 45-plus, depending on local channels available. You can find the complete channel list right here
Price: $35 per month
Extras: Watch on three devices at once; 50 hours of cloud DVR is $5 per month extra (restrictions with certain channels); can sign in with Sling TV credentials on NBC Sports app
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” will give you access to NBC (live in select markets), while the “Sports Extra” add-on gets you Golf Channel
4. Enter your payment information. The “Sling Blue” package is $25 per month, and the “Sports Extra” add-on is $10 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 or mobile device 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, Most Markets: DirecTV Now
DirecTV Now’s cheapest bundle that includes NBC and Golf Channel is “Go Big”, which comes in at $60 per month. If you’re willing to pay a little extra, there are some advantages.
First, NBC is live in more markets (you can go here to see what’s available in your area). Second, you’re getting a larger channel package, as “Go Big” provides access to more than 100 total channels. And finally, they are offering a Roku Premiere Streaming Media Player ($69.95 value) if you prepay two months.
Here’s a complete rundown of DirecTV Now’s “Go Big” bundle:
Total Channels Included: 100-plus, depending on local channels available. You can find the complete channel list right here
Price: $60 per month
Extras: Watch on two different devices at the same time; No DVR; can sign in with DirecTV Now credentials on NBC Sports app; free Roku Premiere Streaming Media Player if you prepay two months
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, while “Go Big” gets you the Golf Channel. You can add the Roku on the next step if you want
4. Enter your payment information. The “Go Big” package costs $60 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 is somewhere in the middle on the price vs. quantity of channels spectrum, as its cheapest package with NBC (live in select markets) and the Golf Channel is more expensive than Sling TV and Fubo TV ($44.99 per month), but it doesn’t have as many channels as DirecTV Now.
Still, it does have some compelling advantages, as DVR is included and users can watch on five separate devices at once.
Here’s a look at the “Core” bundle:
Total Channels Included: 60-plus, depending on local channels available. You can find the complete channel list here
Price: $44.99
Extras: Watch on five different devices at once; cloud DVR (restrictions with certain channels); can sign in with PlayStation Vue credentials on NBC Sports app
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. “Core,” “Elite” and “Ultra” include both NBC (live in select markets) and the Golf Channel
4. Enter your payment information. “Core” is $44.99 per month, while “Elite” is $54.99 per month and “Ultra” is $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