Getty
The world’s top players are at Wimbledon competing for the year’s third Grand Slam, and watching a legal live stream without cable has never been easier.
This year’s tournament starts Monday, July 3, and concludes with the men’s final on Sunday, July 16. In the United States, live coverage will be on ESPN and ESPN 2 daily, while the Tennis Channel will also provide replays later in the day (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: Sling TV is my recommendation due to its price point, but DirecTV Now and PlayStation Vue also offer different pros and cons.
ESPN3 will have coverage of individual courts, but those aren’t the actual ESPN broadcasts and still require you to sign in to a specific internet provider. Here’s a rundown of how to watch the actual broadcasts, even if you don’t cable:
Cheapest Option: Sling TV
(Getty)
If price is your No. 1 concern with a streaming service, there’s no doubt that Sling TV is the way to go. ESPN, ESPN 2 and ESPN 3 are all included in the “Sling Orange” bundle, which come in at just $20 per month.
Another pro for Sling TV is the ability to customize your package. While other services offer more channels in their base bundles, Sling has a variety of different add-ons (“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 Orange”:
Total Channels Included: 25-plus, depending on local channels available. You can find the complete channel list right here
Price: $20 per month
Extras: Watch on one different device at once (with Sling Orange+Blue–$40 per month, also includes ESPN channels–you can watch on four different devices at once); 50 hours of cloud DVR is $5 per month extra; can sign in with Sling TV credentials on WatchESPN 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 Orange” includes ESPN and ESPN 2
4. Enter your payment information. The “Sling Orange” package costs $20 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
The Tennis Package: 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.
Moreover, if you’re willing to pay a little extra and move up to the “Just Right” bundle ($50 per month), you’ll also get the Tennis Channel. DirecTV Now is the only streaming service with access to the Tennis Channel, so if you’re a die-hard fan of the sport, this is definitely your best option.
That said, we’re just focused on the ESPN channels right now, so here’s a look at 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 WatchESPN 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 ESPN and ESPN 2, while “Live a Little” is cheapest. “Just Right” ($50 per month) gets you access to the Tennis Channel
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 WatchESPN 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 ESPN and ESPN 2
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