How to Watch the Super Bowl 2021
We researched dozens of TV providers to find you the best (and cheapest) ways to watch Super Bowl LV.
How to watch the Super Bowl 2021
There’s a reason the Super Bowl is the most-watched sporting event in the US: it’s always on a local broadcast channel (this year it’s on CBS), which makes it easy to catch inexpensively or even for free.
The NFL may eventually move the Super Bowl to a paid platform (Monday Night Football spent 35 years on ABC before it moved to ESPN), but it still costs little to nothing to watch . . . for now.
So, how to watch the Super Bowl is relatively easy (get CBS), but what’s the best way to watch it for you? Glad you asked, because we have options.
Top TV packages for the Super Bowl
- Cable—Xfinity Extra plan ($49.99/mo.)*
- Satellite—DIRECTV Entertainment plan ($64.99/mo.)**
- Livestreaming—YouTube TV ($64.99/mo.)
- Streaming app—CBS All Access ($5.99–$9.99/mo.)
* For the first 12 mos. w/a 1-year agreement.
** Plus taxes. For 12 mos. w/24-mo. agmt. Autopay & Paperless bill req’d. Pay $45/mo. plus taxes until discount starts. $93/mo. in mos. 13-24 (subject to change).
What channel is the Super Bowl on in 2021?
In 2021, Super Bowl LV will be broadcast by CBS on Sunday, February 7, live from Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. Lead-up coverage and post-game analysis will be featured more heavily on the CBS cable outlet CBS Sports Network.
Local channels carrying CBS are available on almost every cable, satellite, and livestreaming TV service in the US (as well as through an antenna), as is CBS Sports Network. Below, we’ve rounded up some of the cheapest ways to watch Super Bowl LV live.
What time does the Super Bowl start?
Super Bowl LV will start at 6:30 p.m. eastern standard time (EST). That translates to 5:30 p.m. central daylight time (CDT), 4:30 p.m. mountain standard time (MST), and 3:30 p.m. Pacific daylight time (PDT).
Best cable providers for the Super Bowl
| Provider | Price | Channels (including CBS) | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xfinity | $49.99–$89.49/mo. | 140–220 | View plans |
| Spectrum | $44.99–$94.99/mo. | 125–200 | View plans |
| Cox | $25.00–$69.99/mo. | 75–250 | View plans |
| RCN | $59.99–$69.99/mo. | 62–371 | View plans |
| Optimum | $74.99–$124.99/mo. | 220–420 | View plans |
Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
Best satellite providers for the Super Bowl
| Provider | Price | Channels (including CBS) | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIRECTV | $64.99–$74.99/mo. | 160–250 | View plans |
| DISH Network | $59.99–$94.99/mo. | 190–290 | View plans |
Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
Xfinity and Spectrum have the biggest cable reach in the US, trailed by Cox. We’re recommending their cable plans because they’re the most likely to be available in your area. Xfinity’s Extra and Spectrum’s TV Select plans are similar in pricing and channel lineup, while Cox’s $25 a month Starter TV is as cheap as it gets in cable.
Satellite providers DIRECTV and DISH can operate wherever there’s sky, so they’re easier to get than most cable services. DIRECTV is the better of the two for overall sports coverage, should you want something to watch after the Super Bowl is over.
Unless there’s a local coverage dispute between the network and the provider (it happens, and events like the Super Bowl are sometimes used as leverage), a local station carrying CBS is easily found on any cable or satellite provider.
Here are CableTV.com’s Super Bowl cable picks, based on price and availability:
* For the first 12 mos. w/a 1-year agreement.
Here are CableTV.com’s Super Bowl satellite picks, based on price and availability:
* For the first 12 mos.
** For 24 mos. Everyday price $67.99/mo.
Best streaming services for the Super Bowl
| Service | Price | Channels (including CBS) | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| YouTube TV | $64.99/mo. | 85 | View plans |
| Hulu + Live TV | $64.99–$70.99/mo. | 70 | View plans |
| fubo TV | $64.99–$79.99/mo. | 109–156 | View plans |
| AT&T TV NOW | $55.00–$183.00/mo. | 45–60 | View plans |
| Sling TV | $30.00–$45.00/mo. | 30–50 (CBS via antenna) | View plans |
Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
It used to be that livestreaming TV services were cheaper than cable or satellite providers, while still carrying all the channels you want (including locals like CBS). That’s changed recently, as leading streaming services YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV have raised their base monthly rate to $64.99—so, not exactly less expensive than cable and satellite anymore.
But livestreaming services still have one advantage over cable and satellite: they don’t lock you into annual contracts. Cable and satellite TV, in most cases, make you commit to one or two years of service; livestreaming TV can be canceled at any time with no early termination fees (ETFs).
YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV are CableTV.com’s top overall and value picks for livestreaming TV , so we recommend them along with fuboTV, our sports leader. Sling TV is the cheapest livestreaming TV service, but, like Orby TV mentioned above, it receives local channels like CBS through a secondary antenna, not over the internet.
Here are CableTV.com’s Super Bowl livestreaming picks, based on price and availability:
Best streaming apps for the Super Bowl
| App | Price | Live stream | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| CBS All Access | $5.99–$9.99/mo. | ✓ | View plans |
| CBS Sports app | Free | ✓ | View app |
Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
The CBS All Access streaming app carries live and local feeds of CBS stations, which includes sports and Super Bowl coverage, with no cable or satellite login required. It also includes CBS Sports HQ and a combination of select CBS Sports, CBSSports.com, 247Sports, SportsLine, CBS Sports Fantasy and MaxPreps programming.
Unfortunately, the CBS All Access live feed isn’t available in every market, and the “commercial free” tier still includes ads on live programming. Not that you probably want your Super Bowl devoid of commercials, because they’re half of the experience.
You can also stream the Super Bowl for free through the CBS Sports app which, like CBS All Access, is available on Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, and iOS and Android devices.
Here are CableTV.com’s Super Bowl streaming app picks:
Final take: Super Bowl LV is live!
You’d almost have to actively avoid Super Bowl LV to miss it, as it’ll be available wherever CBS reaches, which is pretty much everywhere. Whichever team you’re rooting for, you won’t have to miss the big game (or, admit it, the Puppy Bowl).
You don’t even have to subscribe to a cable, satellite, or livestreaming TV service to watch the Super Bowl: all you really need is a digital over-the-air antenna to get a local CBS station. TV for the masses—it’s a good thing.
Here are our cable picks for watching the Super Bowl, based on price and availability:
* For the first 12 mos. w/a 1-year agreement.
Here are our satellite picks for watching the Super Bowl, based on price and availability:
* For the first 12 mos.
** For 24 mos. Everyday price $67.99/mo.
Here are our livestreaming picks for watching the Super Bowl, based on price and availability:
Here are our standalone streaming app picks for watching the Super Bowl:
How to watch Super Bowl FAQ
Can I stream the Super Bowl for free?
The Super Bowl can be streamed for free through the CBS Sports app, which is available on Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, and iOS and Android devices. A free livestream is also accessible through the CBS Sports app and CBSSports.com.
Can I watch the Super Bowl without cable?
Without cable or satellite, you can watch the Super Bowl on any paid livestreaming TV service that carries CBS in its channel lineup. YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, fuboTV, and AT&T TV NOW all have CBS in their live channel lineups.
You can also stream the Super Bowl through CBS All Access and the CBS Sports app, as well as through CBSSports.com (internet connection required, of course).
If there’s a CBS broadcast affiliate station in your area, you can even watch the Super Bowl with just a digital HD antenna.
Will the Super Bowl be on Amazon Prime Video?
Though Amazon Prime Video does carry Thursday Night Football NFL games live throughout the season, it won’t be livestreaming the Super Bowl.
