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The 2017 Tour de France is underway, and there are a number of different ways to watch a legal live stream in the United States.
The 104th edition of the famed cycling race, which starts on July 1 and concludes on July 23, will be broadcast in the United States daily on NBC Sports Network (you can click here for the complete schedule). If you don’t have cable or can’t get to a television, you can still watch every broadcast via an over-the-top streaming service, which allows you to stream a handful of channels live on your computer, phone or other device 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 Tour de France:
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 Tour de France, but the growing service also has an improving DVR in case you want to watch each stage later, 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, 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 certain markets. You can click here to see if it’s available in your area) and NBC Sports Network are both included in the “Sling Blue” bundle, which comes in at just $25 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 add-on bundles (“Sports Extra”, for example, gives you NBA TV, SEC Network, ESPN U, ESPN News and other channels) for just $5 or $10 extra per month.
With that in mind, here’s a rundown of “Sling Blue”:
Total Channels Included: 40-plus, depending on local channels available. You can find the complete channel list right here
Price: $25 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 and NBC Sports Network
4. Enter your payment information. The “Sling Blue” package is $25 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: DirecTV Now
DirecTV Now’s cheapest bundle, “Live a Little”, comes in at $35 per month, but if you’re more concerned with a larger channel lineup and are willing to pay a little extra, this is certainly the way to go.
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; can sign in with DirecTV Now credentials on NBC Sports app
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 and NBC Sports Network, while “Live a Little” is cheapest
4. Enter your payment information. The “Live a Little” package costs $35 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
If you’re in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, Dallas, San Francisco or Miami, the price point for PlayStation Vue may not be worth it, as the cheapest bundle for those markets is “Access,” which costs $40 per month. Those in other markets, however, can sign up for “Access Slim,” which is a more reasonable $30 per month.
Moreover, PlayStation Vue does have some important advantages, as DVR is included and users can watch on five separate devices at once.
Here’s a look at the “Access Slim” bundle:
Total Channels Included: 40-plus, depending on local channels available. You can find the complete channel list here
Price: $29.99 per month ($39.99 for select markets)
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, all of which include NBC and NBC Sports Network
4. Enter your payment information. The “Access” package is the cheapest of the four packages at $29.99 per month, but it is $39.99 per month in select markets. 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