Keeping up with tennis can seem like a full-time job online. Availability for video is higher than ever, but streaming services can cause a lot of headaches since there are so many of them. Not only that, but people are always looking for the best value so that they see what they want.
What are the 10 best streaming services for watching tennis? All the streaming services have more positives the negatives, which is a great start.
Some of them lack channel flexibility, but they’re still worth exploring to see if they are worth it as part of a set of options to turn to when following the ATP and WTA tours, as well as the Grand Slams.
1. Sling TV
A lot of people look at Sling TV as the most affordable option for those who want to stream live tennis. It’s part of the Dish Network, and is only available in the United States. Sling has a few different packages to choose from, as well as add-on packages to expand coverage.
Sling Orange is the best option for tennis fans, as this one includes ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPN3. NBC Sports also has live tennis, but that comes at an extra $10 per month. Some people, don’t want to add that on and only use it sparingly.
For total sports fans, they will start to feel like they are getting itemized a little bit with Sling TV. It seems like every sport and its specific channel has an additional fee. Tennis fans only might find Sling TV worth it, but for those adding several different options, they’ll start to see the price jump up.
2. Hulu Live
Hulu Live is another streaming service option for those who want to have plenty of channels besides just for tennis. The base is about 65 live channels, plus the streaming library from Hulu itself.
What a lot of people like about Hulu is that it’s very easy to set up and use to watch live TV just about anywhere. There are also bundling options that make it a lot more affordable than people might think.
As for drawbacks, this won’t be one way to get the Tennis Channel on demand. Hulu live has NBC and ESPN, but the Tennis Channel will need to be a separate purchase to get anything from there. Juggling between at least two apps might not be the most enjoyable thing in the world for people.
3. YouTube TV
Having a good variety of options from YouTube TV is the reason why people spent a little bit more money on this service compared to others.
There are roughly 85 television channels included, and there’s plenty of on-demand content as well. For tennis fans, getting ESPN, NBC, and Tennis Channel all in one package is nice.
Customization automatically comes with YouTube TV. People can put together exactly what channel they want so they aren’t jumping around or searching anywhere else.
It’s free to try and see if it’s worth it, but most end up sticking with it for the most part. Get past the higher monthly fee, and it’s great to have more in one spot instead of using multiple apps all the time.
4. FuboTV
Having a specific focus on sports streaming is what FuboTV is all about. Yes, soccer is the main sport here, but tennis fans aren’t left out in the dark. It offers NBC, NBC Sports Network, and the Tennis Channel. However, FuboTV does not have an option for ESPN networks, which can be pretty limiting for tennis fans.
Soccer fans who might occasionally watch tennis would probably like this package best. It’s catered more towards those fans than anyone else. It’s not a bad option, but better ones do exist for tennis only. Having to not spend any additional money while still having some tennis solutions helps.
5. ESPN Plus
The specific streaming service for ESPN, known as ESPN Plus, is one of the most affordable ways to watch tennis consistently online.
They have live streams for three of the four majors, as well as some other tournaments as well. For just $70 per year for a subscription, it’s easy to stay plugged in for most of the year.
The downside of ESPN Plus is that it’s not going to have anything from the French Open. Not only that, but most tennis fans will find that they need to have something else to supplement the setup.
It’s not a terrible solution, but it might not be able to survive by itself. For as cheap as it is, a lot of tennis fans go ahead and get a yearly subscription.
6. Peacock
The French Open has a deal with the NBC streaming service that makes it tricky for fans. It’s a bit of a bit inconvenient to have to pay attention to Peacock after ignoring it for a year, but it’s easy to set up and watch in seconds.
Once the French Open is over, fans of tennis only will find a way to get out of it and not pay monthly again until the following year. It’s more of an inconvenience than anything, but the good news is that it’s priced pretty affordable.
7. DIRECTV Stream
Getting the DIRECTV Stream service is a solid way to watch tennis online. What a stream from DIRECTV provides is basically the same thing as the standard cable package. That means there are live channels galore, including all the major ones for tennis fans.
DIRECTV is always running promos, so it’s worth looking into seeing how much it costs per month. For most, it’s going to range from about $70-$80. It’s not the cheapest way to watch tennis, but it at least provides everything in one spot. It also easily transitions back home to watch more traditionally.
8. Over The Air Antenna
The only channels to cover tennis over the air in the United States are NBC and ABC. Both of them focus mostly on matches at the Grand Slam level towards the end of the tournament. It’s going to be pretty limited with coverage, but it’s better than nothing.
Another positive to getting an antenna is that it provides additional entertainment during the rest of the year. What people don’t realize is just how much free programming is available in big cities just by looking at the antenna options.
9. Vidgo
Vidgo is an option for people who just want ESPN without cable. It’s fairly pricey, but can be perfect for those who only care about sports.
ESPN does a lot of coverage for tennis right now, and they have a long-term contract to keep it going as well. There’s a total of 150 channels on Vidgo, but that’s a bit misleading since some of the channels are very, very niche.
Keep in mind that this is mostly sports-based, so there is a lot of paying for additional unused options.
10. Grand Slam Apps
Finally, all four Grand Slam Apps offer live streaming for their event during the two weeks. In fact, they will even do some live streaming for the week leading up to the tournament as qualifiers go on.
They’re only allowed to show certain courts due to licensing with media companies. That means you won’t be tuning into the final of a Grand Slam and watching it through their app.
The good news is that those in charge of Grand Slams aren’t trying to charge too much for what they offer. While some of them try to charge a fee at first, now it’s offered for free. It’s a way for fans to stay engaged at all times.
Why Tennis Streaming Is So Important
Staying plugged into tennis throughout the year is very difficult without streaming services. The season lasts a long time, and it is scattered all over the world. Traditional media isn’t going to provide full coverage like streaming services can.
The smaller the tournament, the less likely it is to find it on a major network. The same can be said for early-round coverage. Video streams allow for all matches to be shown for those who want to tune in.
Perhaps the best thing to do for the average person is to try all the top streaming services out and see which one works best for them. Everyone has different needs, so it’s not always about getting the cheapest option or the one with the most selection.
Even rabid tennis fans have other interests, so finding a streaming service that satisfies all needs is crucial. Too many people end up getting the wrong choices, then feel obligated to get 3-4 streaming services to watch everything they want. It becomes more expensive than just getting a more all-inclusive solution.
The good news is that all the streaming services can be used at home or on the go. Having that level of flexibility is beneficial for those who have a busy schedule. Between the different time zones and tournaments going on all the time, it seems like tennis is being played 24 hours a day.