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Looking for a live stream of The Basketball Tournament? There are a number of different ways to watch, whether or not you have cable.
The remaining games (the semifinals are on Tuesday starting at 7 p.m. ET, and the championship is Thursday at 7 p.m. ET) will be broadcast on ESPN. If you have a cable subscription, you can watch online via WatchESPN, but if you’ve cut the cable cord, there are still plenty of options in the form of over-the-top streaming services.
Here’s a complete rundown of the ones that offer ESPN:
Cheapest Option: Sling TV
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If price is your No. 1 concern with a streaming service, there’s no doubt that Sling TV is the way to go. ESPN and ESPN 2 are both included in the “Sling Orange” bundle, which comes in at just $20 per month.
Here’s a rundown of “Sling Orange” and how to sign up to watch The Basketball Tournament on ESPN:
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–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 ESPN. 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. Another pro in the DirecTV Now column is that the company is offering a Roku Premiere Streaming Media Player ($69.95 value) if you prepay two months.
Here’s a complete rundown of DirecTV Now’s “Live a Little” bundle and how to sign up to watch ESPN:
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 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
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
PlayStation Vue has the highest price point (its cheapest bundle, “Access,” comes in at $40 per month) and doesn’t have as many channels as DirecTV Now’s equivalent package.
However, there are also some important features, 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 “Access” bundle:
Total Channels Included: 40-plus, depending on local channels available. You can find the complete channel list here
Price: $39.99 per month
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. 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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