Super Bowl Sunday is here, and NFL fans aren’t the only ones on the edge of their seats. Streaming platforms will be stretched to their very limits this afternoon as millions of people turn to their computers, phones, and connected TVs to watch the big game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the commercials in between, and of course the musical stylings of The Weeknd during the halftime show.
With the acceleration of cord cutting and the shift to over-the-top alternatives over the last year during the coronavirus pandemic, Super Bowl LV could be among the most streamed sporting events in history. So don’t be surprised if your stream occasionally chokes up!
The good news is, streaming it for free or via a subscription-based service has never been easier. The 2021 Super Bowl will take place this evening (Sunday, February 7) with a 6:30 p.m. ET kickoff time. CBS is the official broadcast partner. If you’re a cord cutter who wants to stream it, we’ve rounded up some options below:
Stream it on CBS Sports digital platforms
CBS will make the live stream available for free on the CBS Sports website and via its mobile apps on iOS or Android. (This link will take you directly to the stream on web and mobile browsers.) It’s also streaming for free on the CBS Sports apps for TVs, including Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Vizio TV, and LG TVs.
Stream it on a streaming service
A number of popular subscription-based streaming services include CBS and CBS Sports content in their bundles.
If you live in a market served by Locast, a free nonprofit streaming service for broadcast networks, you might give that platform a try.
Stream it on Yahoo Sports
If you don’t mind watching on your phone, you can stream the Super Bowl for free on the Yahoo Sports app, thanks to an ongoing deal between Verizon and the NFL.
What to stream before the game
Can’t wait for kickoff time? For the first time this year, TikTok will host a pregame special that culminates in a live concert with Miley Cyrus. “TikTok Tailgate, the Ultimate Super Bowl LV Pregame Experience,” will begin at 2:30 p.m. ET If you’re in the United States or Canada, you can stream it on the @NFL TikTok page.
Recognize your brand’s excellence by applying to this year’s Brands That Matter Awards before the early-rate deadline, May 3.
