By Leanne Hays updated on 01/10/2019
Super Bowl 53 is just a few weeks away, and many football fans are wondering, "where is the Super Bowl this year? What channel is the Super Bowl on? How can I find a Super Bowl live stream and when does the Super Bowl stream start?" Luckily, the answers to all these questions and more are available so that we can all prepare for the big game. Super Bowl 2019 will be played on Sunday, February 3, at 6:30 p.m. ET in the Mercedez-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. Broadcast rights for the Super Bowl are rotated between CBS, NBC, ABC, and Fox, so the method for live streaming the Super Bowl can change from year to year, depending on the channels included in live streaming services. Fortunately, most live streaming services don't have long-term contracts, so it's a simple matter to switch providers if your current choice won't be broadcasting Super Bowl LIII. CBS has broadcasting rights this year. So how do we live stream the Super Bowl and surrounding hullabaloo with Apple TV? Let's check out some free and cheap live streaming options for Super Bowl 2019!
Related: Apple TV: Your Complete Guide to Setting Up & Streaming On-Demand Content
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Watch the Super Bowl for Free on Your Smartphone
If your cell phone service provider is Verizon, you're in luck. Verizon will live stream the game for smartphone users via the Yahoo Sports app. It's likely that AirPlay wireless streaming will be blocked, though, so while you can catch the game with these options, you won't be able to watch it on your Apple TV. So what options do we have for watching the Super Bowl on Apple TV this year?
Watch the Super Bowl Live Stream Free on Your Apple TV
All of the streaming services below offer a free trial period, so if you're not yet a subscriber and time your trial period correctly, you should be able to stream the Super Bowl for free.
Super Bowl Live Stream on CBS All Access
Compatibility: Second, third, fourth, and fifth-generation Apple TV
Cost: $5.99 per month with limited commercials, or $9.99 per month for commercial-free
Pros: Seven-day free trial period
Con: Not available in all areas
It's almost too good to be true! If you're not already a CBS All Access subscriber, you can catch the Super Bowl for free if you time your free trial period correctly. Of course, even if you're already a subscriber, you're paying $9.99 per month maximum. Click here for information about how to get CBS All Access streaming on your Apple TV.
Super Bowl Live with Hulu
Compatibility: Fourth and fifth-generation Apple TV running tvOS 11 and up
Pros: Watch on two devices at once
Cons: CBS not broadcast in all areas
Hulu maked the jump and joined the live-streaming TV game with its Hulu Live offering, which includes access to the entire Hulu streaming library. If you live in the right area, CBS, and therefore the Super Bowl, is included in your live-streaming package. If you live in an area where Hulu Live provides CBS, learn how to set it up on your Apple TV here.
Super Bowl Stream on DirecTV Now
Compatibility: Fourth and fifth-generation Apple TV
Cost: $40 per month
Pros: Seven-day free trial period, streaming included for AT&T Wireless Customers
Cons: CBS live not available in all areas
DirecTV Now is DirecTV's streaming offering, and I was super excited to find that its lowest cost plan includes CBS! Then I looked at the small print to the right of each channel and noticed small boxes indicating "Live," "Vod," or both. Live is pretty obvious, live streaming is available, but "vod?" That stands for video on demand, and if only vod is offered, you won't be able to live stream games from that network. Check with DirecTV Now to make sure that live, not vod CBS is included in your area. If you decide to go with this option, here's a tutorial on how to set up DirecTV Now on your Apple TV.
Live Stream Super Bowl 53 with PlayStation Vue
Compatability: Fourth or fifth-generation Apple TV running tvOS 11.0 and up
Cost: Five-day free trial, then $44.99 per month
Cons: Some channels are restricted outside of your home network, not all games are available to view on your iPhone
You don't need a PlayStation to subscribe to PlayStation Vue, a live-streaming TV service that includes cloud DVR and the ability to stream on five devices at once. CBS, and therefore the Super Bowl, is available if you live in the right service area—check with PlayStation Vue to be sure the live CBS feed is broadcast to your location.
Click here to learn all about setting PlayStation Vue up on your Apple TV.
A Cheap, Long-Term Option for Free TV
Super Bowl Live with OTA TV
OTA stands for over the air, in other words, an antenna! Yes, it's true, you can legally pick up locally broadcasted channels and stream them to your Apple TV with an antenna. While you might be envisioning the old-fashioned version that looks like a laundry rack attached to your roof, there are now lots of OTA options that stay right inside your house. Some can boost signals, as well, which is really helpful if you live in a rural area. There are lots of choices, so look into whether CBS is broadcast in your area, or could be picked up with an antenna that features signal boosting. Remember to find out which other networks are broadcast, because you could pick up lots of different shows, events, and sports throughout the year if you live in the right area, and that antenna will quickly pay for itself. Some options include AirTV, HD HomeRun, and Mohu, but there are lots more out there!
Live Stream Super Bowl 2019 to Your Apple TV—Which Method Will You Choose?
I hope that one of these options will help you live stream the Super Bowl to your Apple TV, and that you have a great game day, with all your favorite snacks! Let me know in the comments which option worked for you, or if you found another method you'd like to share.
Top image credit: Jai Agnish / Shutterstock.com
