skip to main content

Optimum Sports Packages

Our experts highlight Optimum’s best sports coverage options, including channels, programming deals, and league-specific packages.

Best for local sports coverage
Optimum
Pro
Contract-free TV service
Pro
Large channel counts
Con
High prices
Con
Low DVR storage compared to competitors
Pro
Contract-free TV service
Pro
Large channel counts
Con
High prices
Con
Low DVR storage compared to competitors

*Offer for new residential customers. Plus taxes, fees and other charges. Includes Auto Pay and Paperless Billing.

Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

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.

Find the best TV provider in your area

Still not convinced about Optimum? Enter your zip code below to see which other TV providers are available for your home.

Optimum sports packages

Optimum keeps things simple with one Sports Package add-on, which you can add during checkout. The Sports Package features 24 channels, including 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. Entertainment fans can also add HBO, STARZ, Paramount+ with 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.
  • 24 additional channels


  • Includes NFL Network, NBA TV, and more
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.

Premium channels on Optimum

Want Paramount+ with SHOWTIME® or STARZ® for added excitement? You can add premium cable channels to your Optimum plan during checkout or upgrade to Premier TV to get them all at once.

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.

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 are available on channels 222 and 225 on Optimum.

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.

Don't miss an update

Stay updated on the latest products and services anytime anywhere.