Tag Archives: Sports & Recreation

Apple will bring MLS games to its normal TV subscription

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Apple is retiring its Major League Soccer Season Pass and including the next season of MLS as part of its normal Apple TV subscription. Details of a new partnership agreement between Apple and MLS were first reported by The Athletic. The arrangement appears to be similar to the one the company made in October to bring F1 races to all subscribers.

Starting in 2026, all MLS games will be available to Apple TV subscribers. That includes regular season matches, and annual events like the Leagues Cup tournament, the MLS All-Star Game, the Campeones Cup and the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs.

First announced in 2022, the MLS Season Pass remains one of Apple's most significant forays into sports programming to date. As part of its original agreement with MLS, Apple became the exclusive way soccer fans streamed MLS games globally, eliminating any kind of regional blackout as long as Apple TV was accessible. That level of access will now continue, without the need to pay $15 a month for MLS Season Pass. You just need an Apple TV subscription to keep up with your favorite team.

"We're thrilled to bring MLS to more fans around the world next season on Apple TV," Eddy Cue, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Services, shared in the announcement. "Every match, all in one place, alongside incredible Apple Originals — it's a win for fans everywhere."

The new agreement reportedly also comes with some wrinkles for Apple. Sportico writes that the company will not only pay more, but the partnership will also now end in 2029 rather than 2032. MLS will reportedly be paid $200 million for the 2026 season, $175 million for a shorter 2027 “sprint campaign” and then $275 million for both the 2027-2028 and 2028-2029 seasons. Afterward, MLS will be able to shop around its licensing rights to other streamers, or renew with Apple.

While Apple hasn't succeeded in locking down NBA or NFL games like its competitors Amazon and Google, the company has been slowly growing its sports ambitions. Apple's Friday Night Baseball streams now seem modest in comparison to what it's doing with the MLS and F1. The company's five-year F1 deal includes every Grand Prix race, along with practice, qualifying and sprint sessions. With the FIFA World Cup on the way in 2026, the company's new MLS deal is also impeccably timed.

Update, November 14, 5:08PM ET: Added new financial details of the MLS deal from a Sportico report.

Update, November 13, 5:03PM ET: Added details and a quote from Apple’s official announcement.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/apple-will-bring-mls-games-to-its-normal-tv-subscription-200831479.html?src=rss

Gran Turismo 7’s Power Pack DLC unlocks 24-hour racing on December 4

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Sony and Polyphony Digital are rolling out a huge update for Gran Turismo 7 on December 4 in the form of a paid add-on. The Power Pack DLC for the PlayStation 5 will unlock 50 new races across 20 theme categories, including 24-hour endurance events that Le Mans fans could sink their teeth into. In previous games, the endurance events really took 24 hours to finish, though you could pause and, eventually, save mid-race, allowing you to pick up where you left off. You can also experience full-race seasons, from practicing for them to qualifying for the main events.

The DLC includes access to Gran Turismo Sophy 3.0, as well, which Sony says will provide “realistic AI behavior” and enable “intense, tail-to-nose battles that push your limits.” Sophy 2.0 was launched as an update back in 2023, offering you “a stimulating opponent that can accelerate and elevate [your] techniques and creativity to the next level.” Finally, the DLC will give you 5 million in in-game Credits. The companies have yet to reveal how much the Power Pack DLC will cost, but it will be available for download from the PlayStation Store.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/gran-turismo-7s-power-pack-dlc-unlocks-24-hour-racing-on-december-4-045454411.html?src=rss

Form brings better, AI-enabled swim coaching to its smart goggles

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Back in 2019, Form made — and you’re going to have to forgive me for the most inevitable pun in history — a big splash with its first smart swimming goggles. The company has released several upgrades since, and it just announced the latest version of its HeadCoach software, which is designed to deliver personalized swim coaching using AI.

Available through Form Premium, HeadCoach 2.0 effectively functions like a virtual coach, analyzing each swim and providing immediate feedback in the Form app. It’ll highlight both your strengths and areas of improvement, reminding you what to focus on via the goggles’ augmented reality display.

HeadCoach 2.0 analyzes metrics like distance per stroke (DPS), stroke rate, pace and heart rate, as well as your personal Form Score and existing app data. Insights can be tailored to an objective you set, such as improving your technique or preparing for a race, with HeadCoach zoning in on what you should be trying to achieve in your next session to achieve your goals.

HeadCoach 2.0’s insights are based on data from millions of swims, with input from professional coaches and Olympic swimmers. The idea appears to be data-led virtual guidance informed by humans, so you can trust the feedback you get in the app.

HeadCoach 2.0 is available now to all Form Premium subscribers, which costs $10 per month after a free one-month trial.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/wearables/form-brings-better-ai-enabled-swim-coaching-to-its-smart-goggles-140655591.html?src=rss

DAZN is available through Amazon Prime Video in the US and UK

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DAZN, a sports streaming service that covers everything from MMA to golf, is now available as an add-on subscription through Amazon Prime Video in the US and UK. The streaming service was previously available in France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Japan and Canada.

Subscribing to DAZN requires an additional $30 a month subscription on top of what users already pay for Prime Video ($9 a month for a standalone plan or the cost of an Amazon Prime subscription). The service includes access to a mixture of live sports coverage including "more than 185 fight nights per year" and "over 300 live soccer games from Italy's Lega Series A," according to Amazon. 

While it costs extra, the service makes for a nice complement to the sports content that's already available through Prime Video for no additional fee, like Thursday Night Football, select NBA games, the NASCAR Cup Series and the Masters golf tournament in 2026.

Access to live games is increasingly the defining feature of most video streaming platforms. Amazon has its carveouts, YouTube TV has NFL Sunday Ticket and Apple continues to hold down MLS and now, F1 racing.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/dazn-is-available-through-amazon-prime-video-in-the-us-and-uk-195348836.html?src=rss

Xbox Game Pass is adding COD: Black Ops 7 and ten other titles in November

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Microsoft has announced its latest batch of games coming to Xbox Game Pass in November. Monthly subscribers have a lot to look forward to, including Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 on day one of its release.

Kicking off the release slate is Dead Static Drive on November 5. This indie survival-horror game takes players on a 1980s-style road trip across the country. Dead Static Drive will share its date with Sniper Elite: Resistance, a tactical third-person combat game with rich sniper mechanics that sports a co-op campaign for playing with friends.

The very next day will feature the real star of this month's Game Pass releases, and no, I don't mean COD. I'm talking about Egging On, the platformer where you play as a literal egg trying to escape your hen house. You'll have to traverse harrowing obstacles and terrifying heights armed with little more than your fragile shell. Whiskerwood, a strategy and worldbuilding game where mice must build and manage colonies at the behest of a feline overlord, will be available on the same day.

The games keep coming over the following days with Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris and Pigeon Simulator available on November 11. Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 drops on November 14 and will feature 16 6v6 maps and two 20v20 maps at launch.

Microsoft recently raised the price on the highest tier of the Xbox Game Pass subscription to $30 per month from $20 per month. That made Game Pass Ultimate 50 percent more expensive than previously. The tiers also underwent some rebranding as well, but the big thing to note is that you’ll need that $30/month Ultimate tier to play games on release day. This came after price increases in 2024 as well.

See the full list of Xbox Game Pass additions below, as well as a list of games leaving on November 15. The list also specifies which tier of Game Pass you'll need for each title.

November 5

  • Dead Static Drive— Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

  • Sniper Elite: Resistance — Game Pass Premium

  • Egging On — Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

  • Whiskerwood — Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

  • Voidtrain — Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Game Pass Premium

  • Great God Grove — Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Game Pass Premium

  • Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris — Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Game Pass Premium

  • Pigeon Simulator — Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

  • Relic Hunters Legend — Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Game Pass Premium

  • Winter Burrow — Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

  • Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 — Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

  • Blacksmith Master (Game Preview)

  • Football Manager 2024

  • Football Manager 2024 Console Edition

  • Frostpunk

  • Spirittea

  • S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 Heart of Chernobyl

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/xbox/xbox-game-pass-is-adding-cod-black-ops-7-and-ten-other-titles-in-november-193151259.html?src=rss

The best live TV streaming services to cut cable in 2025

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We tested all the major live TV streaming services and, after comparing the features and costs, we still think they are a better deal than paying for cable or satellite — but the gulf between the options is narrowing. Now that most subscriptions go for more than $80 per month, live TV streaming is not the amazing deal it once was.

Still, there’s no contract, the pricing is simpler and you don’t need any special equipment beyond a smart TV and an internet connection. Now that football season is in full swing, live TV streaming is still the best way to catch all possible live matchups, as well as other major and minor sports leagues, linear cable-style channels and local networks. We also tried out a number of free, ad-supported live TV services (FAST) and included our impressions below. Here are the best live TV streaming services according to our tests.

Editor’s note: Disney’s channels (which include ESPN, ABC and more) are currently dark on YouTube TV. Google’s streaming service has been in similar situations this year, when contract disputes with Paramount, followed by NBCUniversal threatened to remove those respective channels from the service. Eleventh hour negotiations with both companies prevented any interruptions, but this time subscribers to YouTube TV are unable to watch any Disney property. We have suggestions on how to watch the missing stations, as well as what steps to follow to get the $20 credit YouTube TV is offering current subscribers.

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The rights to air regular-season NFL games belong to a number of networks. Around 200 games are scheduled to appear Sundays on CBS/Paramount+ and Fox/Fox One. NBC/Peacock will host one Sunday night competition each week while Prime Video will air Thursday night contests (except for Thanksgiving week) and ABC/ESPN will show Monday night matchups. A few games will be exclusive to the NFL Network and Christmas-day games will air live on Netflix. YouTube aired a single week-one game. You can see the complete 2025 NFL schedule here (the airing network appears just below the game time on the list).

On many Sundays, multiple games are scheduled to air at the same time by the same broadcaster. That means Fox and CBS will broadcast regional games through the associated local affiliate station. Select national games will air through Fox One and Paramount+. To see all Sunday (daytime) matchups, you’ll need the NFL Sunday Ticket that’s now exclusive to YouTube TV and costs between $35 and $115 per month depending on the type of subscription you choose (YouTube recently announced monthly options for the Sunday Ticket). Note that the subscription doesn’t include Sunday night games — for that, you’ll need Peacock and/or local NBC station access through YouTube TV or elsewhere.

Most of the paid live TV streaming services we recommend here include the stations you’ll need to see most of the games. YouTube TV, Fubo TV (including the new, cheaper Fubo Sports package), Hulu + Live TV and DirecTV (Signature packages and MySports Genre packs) offer local Fox, CBS, ABC and NBC stations in most (but not all areas). They also carry sports-focused channels from those networks, like Fox Sports, CBS Sports and ESPN. Sling’s Orange plan includes access to a few local channels (varying by area), and also carries ESPN, but you’ll need the combined Orange and Blue plan to also get the Fox Sports channel — but neither plan carries CBS Sports.

If you have a digital antenna hooked up to your TV, you can grab games that are broadcast over the airways for your region by tuning into your local CBS, Fox, NBC and ABC stations. You can buy a digital antenna for between $20 and $60. Of course, that won’t get you the games that are exclusive to the NFL Network, Prime Video or Netflix, and you won’t be able to watch games broadcast outside your area.

Nearly all paid live TV streaming services are currently offering free trials ranging from a few days to a week. You could hop from service to service, catching a few games before cancelling and not pay anything, but with 18 weeks in the regular season, you’ll obviously not be able to watch all games for free.

Alternatively, you can check out your local sports bar and watch a game for the price of a soda and maybe some nachos. As it turns out, bars and restaurants that provide those games to customers have to pay a ton of cash to do so, so you may as well take advantage of the opportunity.

Yes. Paramount owns CBS, which has historically held the rights to air many NFL games each season. This year, NFL on CBS includes more than 100 regular-season games, most of them Sunday matchups. You can see which NFL games will air on CBS/Paramount + here. Note that to watch your local CBS station you need Paramount+ Premium (formerly Paramount+ with Showtime) for $13 per month.

September 5, 2025 marked the first time YouTube was an official live NFL broadcaster when it aired a Friday night, week-one game of the 2025 NFL season from São Paulo, Brazil. It pit the Los Angeles Chargers against the Kansas City Chiefs (LA won 21-27) and aired worldwide on YouTube for free as well as for subscribers to YouTube TV.

There are no other plans for YouTube to air live NFL games for the 2025 season for free, but paid YouTube TV customers will be able to watch many live matchups on their local CBS, Fox, NBC and ABC stations as part of their subscription. Both YouTube TV subscribers and anyone with the YouTube app can subscribe to the NFL Sunday Ticket add-on for $35 to $60 monthly, depending on promotions. Through the YouTube app, you can also purchase access to other Primetime Channels including Paramount+, but it costs the same as paying for those accounts directly.

There are loads of ways to get free TV these days. To start, many standard streaming apps have added live components to their lineups — even Netflix. Peacock Premium Plus subscriptions include regional NBC stations. Paramount+ Premium subscribers can watch on-air CBS programming. The new Fox One service includes multiple live Fox stations. True, if you’re already paying for a service it’s not technically “free” but at least the live content isn’t extra.

The smart TV operating system (OS) you use likely provides free live content too: Amazon’s Fire TV, Google/Android TV, Roku’s built-in Roku Channel and Samsung’s TV Plus all have hundreds of live channels and original programming. Some of the paid services we recommend above have a free version — namely Sling Freestream, Fubo Free (available after you cancel) and DirecTV’s MyFree. But if you’re looking for more, here are the best free ad-supported TV (FAST) apps with live TV that we tried:

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Streaming live TV is a lot like using Netflix. You get access through apps on your phone, tablet, smart TV or streaming device and the signal arrives over the internet. A faster and more stable connection tends to give you a better experience. Most live TV apps require you to sign up and pay via a web browser. After that, you can activate the app on all of your devices.

When I started testing these cord-cutting alternatives, I was struck by the price difference between live TV and a standard video streaming app. Where the latter cost between $5 and $20 per month, most live TV services hit the $80 mark and can go higher than $200 with additional perks, channel packages and premium extras. The higher starting price is mostly due to the cost of providing multiple networks — particularly sports and local stations. And, in the past year or so, every service has raised base plan prices.

Only two of the services I tried don’t include full local channel coverage for subscribers and one of those makes no effort to carry sports at all. That would be Philo and, as you might guess, it’s the cheapest. The next most affordable option, Sling, only carries three local stations — and only in larger markets — but it still manages to include some of the top sports channels.

When you sign up with any provider that handles local TV, you’ll enter your zip code, ensuring you get your area’s broadcast affiliates for ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC. Of course, you can also get those stations for free. Nearly all modern television sets support a radio frequency (RF) connection, also known as the coaxial port, which means if you buy an HD antenna, you’ll receive locally broadcast stations like ABC, CBS, PBS, FOX and NBC. And since the signal is digital, reception is much improved over the staticky rabbit-ears era.

But local channel access is another area where traditional streaming services, like Netflix, are bleeding into broadcast territory. For example, you can watch your local NBC station with a Peacock subscription and you can tune into your area’s CBS station through your Paramount+ subscription. Netflix is even getting into the mix with a recently announced deal with one of France’s broadcast companies, TF1. The streaming service will now air TF1's live TV channels and on-demand content inside the Netflix app. No word if the concept will expand to other regions, but it’s an interesting move to anyone interested in the future of streaming.

One reality that spun my head was the sheer number and iterations of sports networks in existence. Trying to figure out which network will carry the match-up you want to see can be tricky. I found that Google makes it a little easier for sports fans by listing out upcoming games (just swap in NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL and so on in the search bar). When you click an event, the “TV & streaming” button will tell you which network is covering it.

That just leaves figuring out if your chosen service carries the RSNs (regional sports networks) you want. Unfortunately, even with add-ons and extra packages, some providers simply don’t have certain channels in their lineups. It would take a lawyer to understand the ins and outs of streaming rights negotiations, and networks leave and return to live TV carriers all the time. That said, most major sporting events in the US are covered by ESPN, Fox Sports, TNT, USA and local affiliates.

I should also point out that traditional streaming services have started adding live sports to their lineups. Peacock carries live Premier League matches, Sunday Night Football games and aired the 2024 Olympic Games from Paris. Thursday Night Football as well as NBA and WNBA games are on Amazon Prime and Christmas Day Football airs on Netflix. HBO Max (formerly, er, HBO Max) now airs select, regular season games from the NHL, MLB, NCAA and NBA with a $10-per-month add-on. 

You can watch MLS games with an add-on through the Apple TV app, and Apple TV+ (now just called Apple TV) includes some MLB games. Roku users can watch the just-added free sports channel and those who subscribe to Paramount Plus can see many of the matches aired on CBS Sports, including live NFL games. In 2025, January's Super Bowl was live-streamed for free on Tubi. While all of these alternatives may not cover as much ground as live TV streamers, they could end up being cheaper avenues to the sports you want.

And if sports is all you’re after, there are sports-only plans that are a touch cheaper, too. The promised sports streaming service from ESPN, Fox and Warner Bros. called Venu was cancelled early this year. But on August 21, ESPN launched its own streaming service that includes all ESPN channels and costs $30 per month. Fubo Sports is $56 monthly and includes local broadcast stations from ABC, CBS and FOX plus a slew of sports networks (CBS Sport and FS1 among them) as well as all networks included with ESPN Unlimited.  

Fox launched its own standalone service in August as well and it includes Fox Sports and all other Fox properties (News, Business, Weather) for $20 monthly. DirecTV also has a $70-per-month, sports-only streaming package called MySports and Comcast has a sports and news bundle for that same price (as long as you're an Xfinity customer with auto-pay, otherwise it's more expensive).

Traditional cable networks

Dozens of linear programming networks were once only available with cable TV, like Bravo, BET, Food Network, HGTV, CNN, Lifetime, SYFY and MTV. If you only subscribe to, say, Netflix or Apple TV+, you won’t have access to those. But as with sports, standard streamers are starting to incorporate this content into their offerings. After the Warner Bros. merger, Max incorporated some content from HGTV, Discovery and TLC. Peacock has Bravo and Hallmark shows, and Paramount+ has material from Nickelodeon, MTV and Comedy Central.

Other entertainment channels like AMC+ have stand-alone apps. The Discovery+ app gives you 15 channels ad-free for $10 per month (or with ads for $6 monthly). And a service called Frndly TV starts at a mere $7 per month and streams A&E, Lifetime, Game Show Network, Outdoor Channel and about 35 others. Of course, most live TV streaming options will deliver more sizable lists of cable networks, but just note that you may already be paying for some of them — and if all you need is a certain channel, you could get it cheaper by subscribing directly.

Most live TV subscriptions include access to a selection of video-on-demand (VOD) content, like you would get with a traditional streaming service. Much of this content is made up of the movies and TV series that have recently aired on your subscribed networks. This typically doesn’t cover live events and news programming, but I was able to watch specific episodes of ongoing shows like Top Chef or BET’s Diarra from Detroit. Just search the on-demand library for the program, pick an episode and hit play.

Partnerships, like Hulu’s relationship with Disney, and add-ons, such as bundling Max with your YouTube TV subscription or Starz with your Sling plan, will let you watch even larger libraries of on-demand content. But again, if VOD is all you’re after, paying for those networks directly instead of through a live TV plan will be far cheaper.

Every option I tried offers some cloud DVR storage without needing a separate physical device. You’ll either get unlimited storage for recordings that expires after nine months or a year, or you’ll get a set number of hours (between 50 and 1,000) that you can keep indefinitely. Typically, all you need to do is designate what ongoing TV series you want to record and the DVR component will do all the hard work of saving subsequent episodes for you to watch later. You can do the same thing with sports events.

Aside from being able to watch whenever it’s most convenient, you can also fast-forward through commercials in recorded content. In contrast, you can’t skip them on live TV or VOD.

Each plan gives you a certain number of simultaneous streams, aka how many screens can play content at the same time. And while most providers will let you travel with your subscription, there are usually location restrictions that require you to sign in from your home IP address periodically. Stream allowances range from one at a time to unlimited screens (or as many as your ISP’s bandwidth can handle). Some plans require add-ons to get more screens.

Most services also let you set up a few profiles so I was able to give different people in my family the ability to build their own watch histories and libraries, set their favorite channels and get individual recommendations.

Picture-in-picture (PiP) usually refers to shrinking a video window on a mobile device or computer browser so you can watch it while using other apps. Sling, YouTube TV, FuboTV, Philo, DirecTV Stream and Hulu + Live TV all have PiP modes on computers and mobile devices. 

Another feature, multiview, lets you view multiple (usually four) sports matches or other live content at once on your TV screen. YouTube TV, FuboTV and now DirecTV all let you do this. With YouTube TV, you can select up to four views from a few preset selection of streams. FuboTV offers the same feature, but only if you're using an Apple TV or Roku streaming device. DirecTV lets you do so through “mixes” which include sports, news, business and kids variants with a set four channels in each mix.

Right now, just FuboTV, YouTube TV and DirecTV Stream offer 4K live streams — but with caveats. YouTube TV requires a $20-per-month add-on, after which you’ll only be able to watch certain live content in 4K. DirecTV Stream has three channels that show live 4K content — one with shows and original series, and two with occasional sporting events. You don’t have to pay extra for these but you do need to have either DirecTV’s Gemini receiver, or a device from Fire TV, Apple TV or Roku. You’ll need those same streaming devices to watch the select 4K programming on Sling as well. FuboTV shows certain live events in 4K but access is limited to the Elite and Premier packages, not the base-level Pro plan.

Of course, watching any 4K content also requires equipment that can handle it: a 4K smart TV or 4K streaming device paired with a cord and screen that can handle 4K resolution.

Comparing price-to-offering ratios is a task for a spreadsheet. I… made three. The base plans range from $28 to $85 per month. From there, you can add packages, which are usually groups of live TV channels bundled by themes like news, sports, entertainment or international content. Premium VOD extras like Max, AMC+ and Starz are also available. Add-ons cost an extra $5 to $20 each per month and simply show up in the guide where you find the rest of your live TV. This is where streaming can quickly get expensive, pushing an $80 subscription to $200 monthly, depending on what you choose.

I also downloaded and tried out a few apps that offer free ad-supported TV (FAST) including Freevee, Tubi, PlutoTV and Sling Freestream. These let you drop in and watch a more limited selection of live networks at zero cost. Most don’t even require an email address, let alone a credit card. And if you have a Roku device, an Amazon Fire TV or Stick, a Samsung TV, a Chromecast device or a Google TV, you already have access to hundreds of live channels via the Roku Channel, the live tab in Fire TV, through the Samsung TV Plus app or through Google TV.

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When I begin testing for a guide, I research the most popular and well-reviewed players in the category and narrow down which are worth trying. For the paid plans, just six services dominate so I tried them all. There are considerably more free live TV contenders so I tested the four most popular. After getting accounts set up using my laptop, I downloaded the apps on a Samsung smart TV running the latest version of Tizen OS. I counted the local stations and regional sports coverage, and noted how many of the top cable networks were available. I then weighed the prices, base packages and available add-ons.

I then looked at how the programming was organized in each app’s UI and judged how easy everything was to navigate, from the top navigation to the settings. To test the search function, I searched for the same few TV shows on BET, Food Network, HGTV and Comedy Central, since all six providers carry those channels. I noted how helpful the searches were and how quickly they got me to season 6, episode 13 of Home Town.

I used DVR to record entire series and single movies and watched VOD shows, making sure to test the pause and scan functions. On each service with sports, I searched for the same four upcoming NHL, NBA, MLS and NCAA basketball matches and used the record option to save the games and play them back a day or two later. Finally, I noted any extra perks or irritating quirks.

All live TV streaming services we’ve tested:

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Streaming simply refers to video content that is delivered to your screen over the internet. Live streaming can be split into two categories: linear programming and simultaneous transmission. That first one is similar to what you get with cable or broadcast TV, with channels that play a constant flow of movies and shows (sort of what TV looked like before Netflix). Simultaneous streaming lets you watch live events (like a basketball game) or a program (like the evening news) as they happen.

Standard streaming, the most popular example being Netflix, lets you pick what you want to watch from a menu of choices. It’s also referred to as “video on demand.” Live streaming refers to sports and news events that you can stream as they happen in real time. It also refers to channels that show a continuous, linear flow of programming.

FuboTV does the best job of letting you organize live channels to help you find just what you want to watch. The interface is uncluttered and when you search for something, the UI clearly tells you whether something is live now or on-demand. YouTube TV also does a good job making that info clear. Both have just over 100 live channels on offer.

Free TV streaming services like PlutoTV, Plex, Tubi and FreeVee show plenty of ad-supported TV shows and movies without charging you anything. Of course, they won’t have the same channels or content that more premium subscriptions have. Ultimately it depends on what you want to watch and finding the service that can supply that to you in the most streamlined form so you’re not paying for stuff you don’t need.

A basic cable package used to be more expensive than the base-level live TV streaming service. But now that nearly all major providers have raised their prices to over $75 per month, that’s no longer the case. And with add-ons and other premiums, you can easily pay over $200 a month for either cable or a live TV streaming service. But those who want to cut the cord will appreciate that streaming services don't have contracts. 

No service that we tested had every available channel. Hulu + Live TV and DirecTV Stream carry the the highest number of the top rated channels, according to Neilsen. Hulu’s service also gets you Disney+ fare, which you can’t get elsewhere. FuboTV has the most sports channels and YouTube TV gives you the widest selection of add-ons.

YouTube TV has the most paying customers. According to 2024's letter from the CEO, the service has over eight million subscribers. Disney’s 2024 third quarter earnings put the Hulu + Live TV viewer count at 4.6 million. Sling’s customer count dipped from two million to about 1.9 million in 2024 and FuboTV grew its subscriber list to 1.6 million.

You may have heard certain sites that provide free content can be dangerous, leading to stolen info and/or exposing you to malware. That’s likely in reference to certain peer-to-peer (P2P) networks and file-sharing sites that let people download free movies and series — which can come bundled with malicious code.

But if you’re talking about the free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) services listed here, from providers like PlutoTV, Tubi and Plex, they are just as safe as any other streaming service. Since you sometimes don’t even have to provide your email address or credit card info, they can even be more anonymous for cord cutters than apps that require login credentials.

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October 2025: Added information about the upcoming price increases for Hulu+ Live TV and Philo.

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This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/best-live-tv-streaming-service-133000410.html?src=rss

The YouTube TV Disney blackout continues: How to watch NCAA football this weekend

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YouTube TV is currently not carrying any Disney-owned channels.
Engadget

We're about to enter our third week of what feels like a never-ending contract dispute between Disney and YouTube TV that has left YouTube TV customers without access to over 20 Disney-owned channels. Reports estimate that Disney is losing $4.3 million per day during the blackout, you you would think they'd like to resolve the situation quickly, but Disney CFO Hugh Johnston stated ominously earlier this week, "We’re ready to go as long as they want to." On the up side, YouTube TV has finally started issuing $20 credits to customers as consolation for their troubles, but will that be enough to keep their base from jumping ship and finding a new streaming service? As a reminder of how we got here, the Walt Disney Co. pulled its channels from YouTube TV on Oct. 30 after the two companies failed to reach new terms on their latest carriage agreement, and YouTube TV subscribers have gone without NFL, NBA and NCAA games on ABC and ESPN's suite of channels for two full weeks. With no agreement in sight, YouTube TV subscribers will be left in the dark for this weekend's NCAA football games, and possibly Monday Night Football, too.

With huge conference matchups like Texas vs. Georgia and Oklahoma vs. Alabama on ABC and Florida vs. Ole Miss on ESPN this Saturday,, you'll need to seek out alternative viewing methods if you rely on YouTube TV for those channels. And unfortunately for YouTube TV's negotiating position, there are plenty of options. 

One of the cheapest ways to watch ESPN is with a Sling Day Pass — for just $5/day, you can tune into any and all ESPN programming with no other commitments. If you want a full switch from YouTube TV, there's Hulu + Live TV, DirecTV, or Fubo, where you can watch all the Disney-owned channels. (Remember, unlike a lot of cable plans, you can easily pause or cancel YouTube TV or any of these alternatives, so long as you have month-to-month subscriptions.) Below, we've outlined some of your best options to watch ESPN, the Disney Channel, ABC and more, all pulled from our list of best live TV streaming services to cut cable, as well as a comprehensive list of which channels have been affected, and the biggest sporting events of the week that won't be available to YouTube TV subscribers.

If you're wondering what games you might miss as a result of the YouTube TV/Disney blackout, here's a list of some upcoming sports you may not want to miss:

5:30 p.m. | South Carolina State at North Carolina Central | ESPN2
7:30 p.m. | Clemson at No. 20 Louisville | ESPN

12 p.m. | South Carolina at No. 3 Texas A&M | ESPN
12 p.m. | No. 9 Notre Dame at No. 22 Pitt | ABC
12 p.m. | Kansas State at Oklahoma State | ESPNU
12 p.m. | No. 24 South Florida at Navy | ESPN2
12:45 p.m. | Arkansas at LSU | SEC Network
1:30 p.m. | Tennessee Tech at Kentucky| SEC Network +
3:30 p.m. | No. 11 Oklahoma at No. 4 Alabama | ABC
3:30 p.m. | No. 19 Virginia at Duke | ESPN2
3:30 p.m. | No. 16 Georgia Tech at Boston College | ACC Network
3:30 p.m. | NC State at No. 15 Miami (Fla.) | ESPN
4 p.m. | Memphis at East Carolina | ESPNU
4:15 p.m. | New Mexico State at No. 23 Tennessee | SEC Network
7 p.m. | Florida at No. 7 Ole Miss | ESPN
7 p.m. | No. 13 Utah at Baylor | ESPN2
7:30 p.m. | No. 10 Texas at No. 5 Georgia | ABC
7:30 p.m. | Virginia Tech at Florida State | ACC Network
7:45 p.m. | Mississippi State at Missouri | SEC Network
8 p.m. | Kennesaw State at Jacksonville State | ESPNU
10:15 p.m. | TCU at No. 12 BYU | ESPN
10:30 p.m. | UC Davis at Montana State | ESPN2

3 p.m. | NWSL Semifinal: Orlando Pride vs. Gotham FC | ABC

8 p.m. | MNF: Dallas Cowboys vs. Las Vegas Raiders | ESPN

Get Hulu + Live TV at a great price

You may have heard that Sling offers day, weekend and week passes to its streaming programming for as little as $5 per day. That is an option if you're looking for just some of the ESPN channels (the Sling Orange tier), but ABC isn't included. (If you're just looking to catch one of this week's big games, like Monday Night Football on ESPN, it's a great short-term solution.) If you want a longer-term solution, you can get both ESPN and ABC with Sling's Orange and Blue package ($30 a month to start, $61 thereafter), but you'll need to add on the Sports Extra package for ESPNU, which requires an additional charge. 

Need your local ABC programming? Your station may have its own free local streaming news channel (many do), you can see if The Roku Channel carries your local station's news, or download your local news station app if it's a Nexstar channel. 

The other alternative — if you're within the broadcast radius of a local ABC affiliate — is to get an over-the-air antenna. You can plug in your ZIP code at antennaweb.org to see what channels are in your area. This off-brand unit has worked very well in our initial testing — it's under $30, and the channels are truly free. 

Every channel that's owned by The Walt Disney Company is currently blacked out on YouTube TV. Those channels are:

  • ABC

  • ABC News Live

  • ACC Network

  • Disney Channel

  • Disney Junior

  • Disney XD

  • ESPN

  • ESPNews

  • ESPN2

  • ESPNU

  • Freeform

  • FX

  • FXM

  • FXX

  • Localish

  • Nat Geo

  • Nat Geo Wild

  • SEC Network

  • ESPN Deportes

  • Baby TV Español

  • Nat Geo Mundo

Update Nov. 14 2025 4:21PM ET: This story has been updated to include viewing info for weekend college football games, as well as the next Monday Night Football.

Update Nov. 10 2025, 4:43PM ET: This story has been updated to include news on the $20 rebate for YouTube TV subscribers, as well as to update the list of upcoming football games for the week.

Update Nov. 6 2025, 4:38PM ET: This story has been updated to include viewing info for weekend college football games, as well as the next Monday Night Football.

Update Nov. 5 2025, 12:32PM ET: This story has been updated to include detailed info on tonight's ESPN NBA games.

Update Nov. 3 2025, 6:36PM ET: This story has been updated to include YouTube TV's latest response to Disney's request to restore its channels for just 24 hours.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/the-youtube-tv-disney-blackout-continues-how-to-watch-ncaa-football-this-weekend-173330533.html?src=rss

The IOC and Saudi Arabia call it quits on their Olympic esports partnership

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The esports partnership between the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Saudi Arabia is no more. On Thursday, the IOC said that it and the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee (SOPC) have "mutually agreed" to part ways. The breakup comes weeks after Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund and other investors bought EA for $55 billion.

The IOC and SOPC agreed on a 12-year esports partnership in 2024. At the time, the IOC was reportedly in talks with publishers of Rocket League, Street Fighter and League of Legends. The two sides discussed holding the Olympic Esports Games every two years. (The first games were initially scheduled for this year, but were pushed back to 2027.) Potential hosts for later installments were said to include South Korea and the US.

Instead, the two sides are now "committed to pursuing their own esports ambitions on separate paths," according to the IOC. The organization now plans to "spread the opportunities presented by the Olympic Esports Games more widely." It still wants the inaugural games to happen "as soon as possible."

The AP notes that the dissolution comes seven months into Kristy Coventry's IOC presidency. We don't know the details of how the deal came apart. However, the IOC wants to connect with younger fans through esports, but in a way that "Olympic values are respected." Saudi Arabia's Esports World Cup features MOBAs, shooters and fighting games.

If the IOC wants to project a squeaky-clean image while connecting with young gamers, it may have an uphill battle. (For the record, games don't lead to violence.)

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/the-ioc-and-saudi-arabia-call-it-quits-on-their-olympic-esports-partnership-163148341.html?src=rss

Dodgers vs. Blue Jays, Game 7 tonight: How to watch the 2025 MLB World Series without cable

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The World Series is headed to a Game 7 after the Los Angeles Dodgers tied up the series against the Toronto Blue Jays last night, 3-3. The Fall Classic remains on Toronto's home turf for Game 7 tonight — Saturday, Nov. 1 — at 8PM ET/5PM PT. The World Series odds still favor the Dodgers. The final 2025 MLB World Series game will air on Fox and Fox Deportes. 

Of course, Fox is a "free" over-the-air channel, so any affordable digital antenna will pull in the game if you live close enough to a local affiliate. But if that's not an option, here's a full rundown of how to watch the Dodgers vs. Blue Jays World Series, even without cable.

You can stream Fox on any live TV streaming service that airs Fox local stations, including DirecTV, Fubo and Hulu + Live TV. MLB World Series games will also be available on Fox's new streaming platform, Fox One.

Game 7 of the Dodgers vs. Blue Jays World Series is tonight, Nov. 1 at 8PM ET/5PM PT. 

The 2025 World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Toronto Blue Jays, will air on Fox and Fox Deportes.

Game 7 of the World Series between the Dodgers and Blue Jays is scheduled for Nov. 1, 2025.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/dodgers-vs-blue-jays-game-7-tonight-how-to-watch-the-2025-mlb-world-series-without-cable-102530975.html?src=rss

Dodgers vs. Blue Jays, Game 5 tonight: How to watch the 2025 MLB World Series without cable

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The 2025 Fall Classic is tied up again after Game 4 between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Toronto Blue Jays saw Toronto dominate to win 6-2. The World Series continues with one more game in Los Angeles tonight — Wednesday, Oct. 29 — at 8PM ET/5PM PT. The World Series odds favor the Dodgers ahead of tonight's game. Every 2025 MLB World Series game will air on Fox and Fox Deportes. 

Of course, Fox is a "free" over-the-air channel, so any affordable digital antenna will pull in the game if you live close enough to a local affiliate. But if that's not an option, here's a full rundown of how to watch the Dodgers vs. Blue Jays World Series, even without cable.

You can stream Fox on any live TV streaming service that airs Fox local stations, including DirecTV, Fubo and Hulu + Live TV. MLB World Series games will also be available on Fox's new streaming platform, Fox One.

Game 5 of the Dodgers vs. Blue Jays World Series is tonight, Oct. 29 at 8PM ET/5PM PT. 

Every game in the 2025 World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Toronto Blue Jays, will air on Fox and Fox Deportes.

Game 5 of the World Series between the Dodgers and Blue Jays is scheduled for Oct. 29, 2025.

All times Eastern. Series tied-2-2.

  • Game 5: Wednesday, Oct. 29, 8PM ET

  • Game 6: Friday, Oct. 31, 8PM ET

  • Game 7*: Saturday, Nov. 1, 8PM ET

*if necessary

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/dodgers-vs-blue-jays-game-5-tonight-how-to-watch-the-2025-mlb-world-series-without-cable-173501690.html?src=rss