Getty
Looking to watch a live stream of the Dallas Cowboys vs. Arizona Cardinals 2017 Hall of Fame Game on Thursday night? There are a handful of different options, even if you don’t have a cable subscription.
The game is scheduled to kickoff at 8 p.m. ET and will be broadcast in the United States on NBC. While NBC Sports Live allows you to watch a live stream 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 NBC live in select markets 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: Sling TV is the cheapest option, DirecTV Now offers the most channels, and both Fubo TV 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 the Cowboys vs. Cardinals:
Cheapest Option: Sling TV
(Getty)
If you plan on using a streaming service beyond the free trial, and if price is your No. 1 concern, there’s no doubt that Sling TV is the way to go. NBC is 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.
Note that NBC and other local channels are live only in select markets, and you can enter your zip code on this page to see what’s available in your location.
With that in mind, here’s a complete 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
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 + Roku Offer: DirecTV Now
While DirecTV Now’s cheapest package, “Live a Little”, comes in at $35 per month, the company does have some important advantages.
First is a larger channel package, as even the smallest bundle provides access to more than 60 channels. And second, they are offering a Roku Premiere Streaming Media Player ($69.95 value) if you prepay two months. The biggest drawback is the lack of a DVR, but if you’re not concerned about that, there’s a lot to like here.
Note that NBC and other local channels are live only in select markets, and you can enter your zip code on this page to see what’s available in your location.
With that in mind, 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 Roku Premiere Streaming Media Player if you prepay two months; 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. Whatever base bundle you pick will include NBC. You can add the Roku on the next step if you want
4. Enter your payment information. The “Live a Little” package is the cheapest at $35 per month, while there are other options 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
International Sports Package: Fubo TV
Fubo TV costs $34.99 per month, and it’s biggest drawback is that it doesn’t include ESPN. But if you’re not concerned about that, you’re getting a channel lineup that is mostly built around sports.
In addition to NBC (live in select markets), you’ll get NBA TV, NBC Sports Network, 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. Throw in included DVR, and this growing service has a lot to offer.
Here’s the rundown of Fubo TV’s bundle:
Total Channels Included: 62 (You can find the complete channel list here)
Price: $34.99 per month
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
Most Streams At Once: PlayStation Vue
PlayStation Vue comes in with the highest price point, as its cheapest bundle, “Access,” is $39.99, making it a more expensive base package than Sling TV, DirecTV Now and Fubo TV.
Still, it does have some compelling advantages, as DVR is included and users can watch on five separate devices at once, which is more than any other service.
Note that NBC is live in select markets, and you can enter your zip code on this page to see what local channels are available in your area.
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
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
4. Enter your payment information. The “Access” package is the cheapest at $39.99 per month, while there are other options at $44.99, $54.99 or $74.99 per month. If you cancel your subscription within seven 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