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    How to Stream Super Bowl LIX

    Here's how to catch all the action on your big screen even if you’ve cut the cord to cable or satellite TV

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    a laptop with the Super Bowl LIX logo displayed on the screen and a football flying in the air
    This year's Super Bowl will be available free on the ad-supported Tubi streaming service.
    Photo Illustration: Consumer Reports, Getty Images, NFL

    If you’re one of the millions of people who have ditched their cable or satellite TV provider in favor of lower-cost alternatives, you may be scrambling to make sure you can watch Super Bowl LIX. Major U.S. cable TV, telco, and satellite TV companies lost more than 7 million subscribers last year, according to the research firm nScreenMedia. And that trend is expected to continue.

    This year, it’s Fox’s turn to show the game, and the good news for cord-cutters is that you have several ways to watch the action, including several that are free. Fox will again show the big game in 4K with high dynamic range (HDR) on both Fox broadcasts and Tubi, the free streaming service the company owns. HDR can really make the picture more vibrant and lifelike if everything is set up right.

    More on TVs & Streaming Services

    You’ll also be able to catch the game, which takes place at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans at 6:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, Feb. 9, on the Fox Deportes and Telemundo Spanish-language networks. In addition to Fox’s Super Bowl pregame show, a preshow program hosted by Olivia Culpo will air exclusively on Tubi. If you can’t wait until the game, you can tune into the NFL Channel on Tubi to watch “Countdown to the Super Bowl” starting on Jan. 28. It will feature historic Super Bowls, iconic halftime shows, the best of NFL Honors, NFL analysis, and more.

    As in past years, Fox will shoot the game in 1080p HDR and then upscale the video to 4K for its broadcasts. The company will be using the HDR10 HDR format, which is supported by almost all 4K TVs. When done well, HDR enhances the contrast of an image—the difference between the lightest and darkest parts—creating greater detail and a wider, more vibrant range of colors. Fox will also be using some 4K and 8K cameras during the game for “area of interest” replays, the company says.

    The upscaled 4K Fox broadcasts will be available on traditional pay-TV providers that support it, including Altice/Optimum, Charter/Spectrum, Comcast/Infinity, Cox, Dish, DirecTV, and Verizon FiOS. You should contact your TV service provider to see whether the game will be available in 4K HDR in your area and whether you have the right set-top box to watch it.

    Super Bowl LIX will also be available in 4K on live TV streaming services such as DirecTV Stream, Fubo, Sling, and YouTube TV. Some services, such as Sling, don’t carry Fox in all markets, so check your service to make sure the network is available in your area. Somewhat surprisingly, you won’t be able to catch the game at all via the Fox Sports app, though it was available on the app when Fox hosted the game back in 2023.

    As an alternative, you can stream Super Bowl LIX on your phone through the NFL+ app, which costs $7 a month.

    How to Watch the Super Bowl Free

    If you don’t want to pay, there are two ways you may be able to catch the game. One is if you have an antenna and good reception in your area. You can check the Federal Communications Commission TV reception maps to see which stations are available. Just try any antenna well in advance of the game, because the model and the topography where you live can affect reception. Unlike last summer’s Olympics, though, ATSC 3.0 “NextGen TV” over-the-air broadcasts of the Super Bowl won’t include HDR.

    The other option is to use Tubi, Fox’s free ad-supported streaming service. You’ll need to create a Tubi account to watch the game live, and you’ll see the same commercials that air live on Fox. The “Tubi Red Carpet” event that’s hosted by Olivia Culpo—a social media star who’s married to San Francisco 49ers star running back Christian McCaffrey—will air as a second livestream on Tubi at 3:30 p.m. EST as well as on Fox Deportes.

    Another option is to start a free trial on a live TV streaming service, such as DirecTV Stream, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, or YouTube TV, that carries Fox. These services typically cost $60 to $90 per month. Just be aware that these free trials are usually limited to first-time subscribers, and the length of the free trial can vary from days to weeks. You usually need to enter your personal info and credit card number, and you’ll be charged for a month of service if you don’t cancel before the trial expires.

    Showing the Game on Your TV

    The live TV streaming services mentioned above are available on most newer smart TVs. If you have a set that doesn’t support a service or app you want, consider adding a streaming media player.

    You may want to use one even if you have a smart TV. Many people do—including me. These add-on devices don’t cost much. New 4K streaming devices can cost as little as $30, and they might outperform or be easier to use than your television’s own smart platform. Most streaming players, including Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Google TV, and Roku, now support the major live TV streaming services.

    Streaming Devices to Consider

    Below are a few streaming devices that support 4K HDR. You’ll find the complete list on our streaming media device ratings, available to Digital and All Access members.


    James K. Willcox

    James K. Willcox leads Consumer Reports’ coverage of TVs, streaming media services and devices, broadband internet service, and the digital divide. He's also a homeowner covering several home improvement categories, including power washers and decking. A veteran journalist, Willcox has written for Business Week, Cargo, Maxim, Men’s Journal, Popular Science, Rolling Stone, Sound & Vision, and others. At home, he’s often bent over his workbench building guitars or cranking out music on his 7.2-channel home theater sound system.