Optimum Sports Packages
Our experts highlight Optimum’s best sports coverage options, including channels, programming deals, and league-specific packages.
Looking forward to Yankees games on the YES Network? Can’t wait to follow the Knicks in the NBA playoffs? Whether you’re following baseball, basketball, or soccer, you’ll get your money’s worth with Optimum’s sports coverage on its cable TV plans. Keep reading to find more about watching sports on Optimum.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Contract-free TV service
- Large channel counts
Cons
- High prices
- Low DVR storage compared to competitors
Optimum sports packages
Optimum keeps things simple with one Sports Package add-on, which you can add during checkout. The Sports Package includes 24 channels like NFL RedZone, beIN Sports, and ESPNU.
Pricing varies depending on your Optimum cable TV plan: Sports Package costs an additional $15 monthly if you have Core TV, but it goes down to $10 for Select TV subscribers and $5 for Premier TV users. Boxing or MMA fans can also add HBO, STARZ, SHOWTIME, and other premium cable channels à la carte to their Optimum cable TV package.
| Package | Price | Features | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sports Package | $5.00–$15.00/mo. |
|
View plan |
Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. Blackout restrictions and other conditions apply to all sports programming.
Optimum sports channels
Optimum’s Core TV and Select TV offer substantial value for most TV customers, while Premier TV features a full lineup of basic and premium cable channels. (Basic TV includes only local networks like ABC and FOX, so we’ve excluded it from this list. We’ve also omitted channels like TNT that show sports alongside regular programming.)
| Sports channel | Channel number | Core TV | Select TV | Premier TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACC Network | 248 | — | ✔ | ✔ |
| beIN Sports | 230 | — | — | ✔ |
| Big Ten Network (BTN) | 247 | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| CBS Sports Network | 215 | — | — | ✔ |
| ESPN | 210 | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| ESPN2 | 211 | — | ✔ | ✔ |
| ESPNews | 216 | — | — | ✔ |
| ESPNU | 217 | — | — | ✔ |
| FOX Sports 1 (FS1) | 213 | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| FOX Sports 2 (FS2) | 214 | — | ✔ | ✔ |
| Golf Channel | 224 | — | ✔ | ✔ |
| MLB Network | 222 | — | ✔ | ✔ |
| MOTORTREND | 150 | — | ✔ | ✔ |
| NBA TV | 221 | — | ✔ | ✔ |
| NFL Network | 219 | — | ✔ | ✔ |
| Outdoor Channel | 91 | — | ✔ | ✔ |
| SEC Network | 246 | — | ✔ | ✔ |
| Sportsman Channel | 242 | — | — | ✔ |
| Tennis Channel | 226 | — | ✔ | ✔ |
| TUDN | 229 | — | ✔ | ✔ |
Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
Regional sports networks on Optimum
Yankees, Knicks, and Rangers fans will be set with Optimum, which offers regional sports networks (RSNs) like YES Network and the MSG Network. Thanks to Optimum’s merger with Suddenlink, you’ll also find RSNs from providers like Bally Sports and NBC Sports outside of the New York tri-state Area.
| Channel | Channel number | Core TV | Select TV | Premier TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bally Sports South | 57/857 | — | ✔ | ✔ |
| Bally Sports Southeast | 59/859 | — | ✔ | ✔ |
| MSG | 71/203 | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| NBC Sports Bay Area | 222 | — | ✔ | ✔ |
| NBC Sports California | 225 | — | ✔ | ✔ |
| SportsNet New York (SNY) | 60/202 | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| YES Network | 70/201 | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
Is Optimum worth it for sports fans?
Optimum is a solid overall option for sports fans who want live TV coverage. While it slides a few more channels behind its higher-end tiers than we’d like to see, you’ll still get great RSN coverage, 4K picture quality, and solid TV equipment options.
Why you should trust us
Our TV experts spent a week researching Optimum’s sports channels and package plans. We cross-referenced Optimum’s channel lineups across more than 40 cities to confirm network and RSN availability across the U.S. compared to competing TV service providers.
Check out our How We Rank page to learn more about our methods.
Optimum sports packages FAQ
What channel is Fox Sports on Optimum?
For most Optimum customers, Fox Sports 1 is on channel 213, and Fox Sports 2 is on channel 214.
What channel is CBS Sports on Optimum?
CBS Sports Network is available on channel 215 for Optimum customers.
What channel is NBC Sports on Optimum?
NBC Sports Bay Area and California is available on channels 222 and 225 on Optimum.
