Can’t Afford the Trip to Vegas? 7 Cheapest Ways To Watch the Super Bowl in 2024
The celebrity who’s dominating the headlines in the run-up to Super Bowl 58 isn’t a player who will take the field, but a pop star who will be watching from the stands. But with a net worth that Forbes estimates at $1.1 billion, Taylor Swift should have no problem shelling out the roughly $10,000 that StubHub says the average fan will pay to watch the Kansas City Chiefs take on the San Francisco 49ers on Feb. 11 in Las Vegas.
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If that — along with airfare, accommodations, food, gear, parking and the rest — is beyond your budget, you’ll be joining the multitudes in yelling at the refs from the comfort of your couch.
You’re already saving money by watching from home. Here’s how to save even more by finding the least expensive way to tune in.
A Good Old-Fashioned (but Modern) Antenna
According to The New York Times, 100 million people are expected to tune into the broadcast on CBS. Most will watch through their cable or streaming subscriptions, but they might be better off with a modern version of an old-school antenna — and the updated models aren’t the rabbit ears of old.
The Times writes, “For roughly $20 and with minimal setup, you can enjoy a great picture at a speed no streamer can match.”
It recommends the Best Buy Essentials Thin Indoor HDTV Antenna. A one-time purchase buys you not just access to the big game, but years of free TV through networks like ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox, as well as many local channels and subchannels. Even better, there’s almost no lag time — or latency — which plagues all live TV transmissions. During the 2023 Super Bowl, streaming networks lagged by between 23 and 76 seconds — an eternity in live sports, where every text or glance at a tablet can bring a spoiler. With an antenna, latency is just 10 seconds or less.
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Paramount+
Paramount+ is CBS’s combined live shows plus video-on-demand streaming service, and it offers the cheapest way to stream the game. It’s $5.99 per month, so after you watch the gridiron action, you can check out all the network has to offer for 30 days and then cancel before the billing cycle ends — all for just six bucks.
According to PCMag, new subscribers who choose an $11.99 monthly subscription to Paramount+ with Showtime can get one month free by using the promo code “SUPERBOWL” at checkout.
Basic Cable
According to CableTV.com, most advertised cable plans start at about $60 per month, but basic cable — which most cable providers usually don’t advertise on their websites — costs between $20-$60 per month. That buys you access to CBS, the other networks and free local channels and subchannels, but since an antenna gets you just as much access with a one-time purchase that’s usually less than a single month of basic cable, the site’s experts recommend that as the preferred option.
YouTube TV
YouTube’s live TV streaming service costs $72.99 per month and includes network coverage of the Super Bowl. Currently, YouTube TV is running a special for $62.99 for the first two months of the base plan.
Hulu + Live TV
Hulu’s live TV offerings include bundles with Disney+ and ESPN that run up to $89.99 per month, depending on how willing you are to tolerate ads. Its basic live TV package, which gives you CBS, costs $75.99 per month.
DirecTV Stream
The always-shapeshifting DirecTV Stream — formerly AT&T TV, AT&T TV Now and DirecTV Now — offers three price tiers that go up to $120 per month, although the two most expensive options come with cheaper two-month promotional pricing for new customers. But even the cheapest version — the $79.99 a month Entertainment plan — gives you all the networks including CBS.
FuboTV
Known for comprehensive sports coverage, FuboTV offers three price tiers between $79.99 and $99.99 per month, plus a Latino package for $32.99. Even the most affordable option gives you CBS and your armchair ticket to Super Bowl 58.
Also keep in mind that a few of these streaming options, including FuboTV, offer free-trial periods that may allow you to watch the game and cancel the subscription before paying any money at all (though you will have to enter your credit card information at signup).
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Can’t Afford the Trip to Vegas? 7 Cheapest Ways To Watch the Super Bowl in 2024
