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Looking to watch a live stream of the 2017 IAAF World Track & Field Championships from London? There are a couple of different options, even if you don’t have a cable subscription.
In the United States, coverage will be on NBC, NBC Sports Network and the Olympic Channel. You can click here for the complete television schedule.
NBC Sports Gold will provide comprehensive live streaming coverage, but that costs $69.99 for a subscription. NBC Sports Live and OlympicChannel.com will also provide live streams of their specific telecasts, but those require you to sign in to a TV provider.
The best–and cheapest–option for cord cutters is likely going to be an over-the-top streaming service, which provides access to an entire package of channels–including NBC (live in certain markets), NBC Sports Network and the Olympic Channel–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 but doesn’t include the Olympic Channel, Fubo TV is the cheapest way to get all three of the aforementioned channels, and 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 Track & Field Worlds:
Cheapest Option: Sling TV
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If you plan on using a streaming service beyond the free trial, and if price is your No. 1 priority, Sling TV is your best option.
The downside compared to other services is that Sling TV doesn’t have the Olympic Channel, but a vast majority of the Track & Field World Championships will be on NBC and NBC Sports Network anyways. Both of those channels (NBC is live in select markets) are available via the “Sling Blue” package, which is just $25 per month and by far the lowest price point.
Here’s a complete rundown of “Sling Blue” package:
2017 IAAF World Championships Channels Included: NBC (live in select markets; you can enter your zip code on this page to see what’s available in your location), NBC Sports Network
Total Channels Included: 35-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)
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” includes 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
Cheapest Option That Includes Olympic Channel: Fubo TV
If you’re intent on a streaming service that includes the Olympic Channel, and if price is also a high priority, Fubo TV is going to be your best option. The service’s base package includes NBC (live in select markets), NBC Sports Network and the Olympic Channel, and it only costs $34.99 per month.
In addition to the low price point, the growing service also has an improving DVR and offers a mostly sports-based channel lineup. It’s biggest drawback is that it’s still missing ESPN, but it does offer NBA TV, 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 in addition to the aforementioned channels.
Here’s the rundown of Fubo TV’s bundle:
2017 IAAF World Championships Channels Included: NBC (live in select markets), NBC Sports Network, Olympic Channel
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; can sign in with Fubo TV credentials on NBC Sports Live or OlympicChannel.com
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 Channels + Roku Offer: DirecTV Now
If you’re just interested in NBC and NBC Sports Network, any bundle with DirecTV Now will work, with the cheapest package “Live a Little” coming in at $35 per month. If you also want the Olympic Channel, you’ll have to upgrade to the “Go Big” bundle, which is $60 per month.
The price point can get steep, but DirecTV does offer some big advantages. First, it has the biggest channel lineup, whether you’re going with the cheapest bundle (60-plus channels) or upgrading to “Go Big” (100-plus channels). 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 that’s coming soon.
Here’s a complete rundown of DirecTV Now’s “Live a Little” bundle:
2017 IAAF World Championships Channels Included: NBC (live in select markets; you can enter your zip code on this page to see what’s available in your location) and NBC Sports Network (Olympic Channel is available in the “Go Big” 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
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. Every bundle includes NBC and NBC Sports Network, while “Go Big” and “Gotta Have It” have the Olympic Channel. 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, “Just Right” is $50 per month, “Go Big” is $60 per month, and “Gotta Have It” is $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
With PlayStation Vue, NBC (live in select markets) and NBC Sports Network are available via the “Access” bundle at $40 per month, while the Olympic Channel is part of the “Core” Bundle ($45 per month) and above.
This service doesn’t have the lowest price point, and it doesn’t have the most channels, but it still does have some compelling features and advantages, such as included DVR and the ability for users to watch on five separate devices at once.
Here’s a look at the “Access” bundle:
2017 IAAF World Championships Channels Included: NBC (live in select markets) and NBC Sports Network (Olympic Channel is available in the “Core” bundle)
Total Channels Included: 45-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) included
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. “Core,” “Elite” and “Ultra” include the Olympic Channel
4. Enter your payment information. “Access” is $39.99, “Core” is $44.99 per month, “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
Other Countries
In the UK, live streaming coverage will be available via BBC.
In Canada and every other country on this list, live streaming will be available for free via the IAAF’s YouTube channel and Facebook page.