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NBA TV is a necessity for hardcore basketball fans, and fortunately, watching a legal live stream of the channel is simple.
Over-the-top streaming services, which allow you to watch a handful of different channels on your computer, phone or other device for a monthly fee, are quickly becoming the best friend for cord-cutters who aren’t yet ready to ditch live TV.
Moreover, with the steady rise of these products, cord-cutters have more options than ever: 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 NBA Vegas Summer League:
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 the first 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 NBA TV, but 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, 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. NBA TV is included in the company’s “Sports Extra” add-on, which is $5 per month when it’s added to the “Sling Orange” ($20 per month) base bundle, and $10 per month when it’s added to that “Sling Blue” ($25 per month) base bundle.
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 theme-specific add-on packages, such as the aforementioned sports pack, to customize the experience just the way you want.
With that in mind, here’s a rundown of “Sling Orange” plus “Sports Extra,” which is the cheapest way to watch NBA TV:
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 one device at once (If you do “Sling Blue” plus “Sports Extra,” which also includes NBA TV, you get three devices at once but its $35 per month); 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. “Sports Extra” is available with either base bundle and will give you NBA TV
4. Enter your payment information. The “Sling Orange” package is $20 per month, while the “Sports Extra” add-on is $5 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 that includes NBA TV, “Go Big”, comes in at $60 per month. That makes it the most expensive option on the list, but it also easily has the most comprehensive list of channels. In other words, if you’re only interest in NBA TV, this probably isn’t your best bet, but if you’re willing to pay a little more for the premier channel lineup, this is certainly the way to go.
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
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. NBA TV is a part of the “Go Big” bundle ($60 per month) or the “Gotta Have It” ($70 per month) bundle
4. Enter your payment information. 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 falls somewhere in between Sling TV and DirecTV Now, as it isn’t as cheap as the former but doesn’t have as many channels as the latter.
However, there are also some important advantages with PS Vue, such as included DVR and the ability for users to watch on five separate devices at once, which is more than any other service. Ultimately, it comes down to how much you’re willing to pay and what features you value more.
Here’s a look at the “Core” bundle, which is the cheapest package with NBA TV:
Total Channels Included: 55-plus, depending on local channels available. You can find the complete channel list here
Price: $44.99 for select markets
Extras: Watch on five different devices at once; cloud DVR (restrictions with certain channels)
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, while the three most expensive include NBA TV
4. Enter your payment information. The “Core” package is the cheapest with NBA TV at $44.99 per month, while there are also $54.99 and $74.99 options. 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
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NBA TV Live Stream: How to Watch Without Cable 2017