Super Bowl LVIII is just around the corner, and the average ticket price is currently over $12,000, according to data from SeatGeek and Time Magazine. But you don’t need to spend a dime to catch all the action from your living room, even if you don’t have a cable subscription. Here’s everything you need to know about how to stream the Super Bowl in 4K on your TV, streaming device, smartphone, and computer.
Whether you plan on hosting a Super Bowl party this year, or you just want to upgrade your home theater, HelloTech can help. With thousands of technicians across the country, we can send an expert to your home as soon as today to set up the home theater of your dreams.
What Time Does Super Bowl LVIII Start?
Super Bowl 58 will take place on Sunday, February 11, at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada. This year, CBS will air the game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers, with the kickoff scheduled for 6:30 PM ET (3:30 PM PT).
The Apple Halftime Show will start around 8:00 PM ET (5:00 PM PT). Usher will headline the event, which usually lasts from 20 to 30 minutes in total.
How To Watch Super Bowl LVIII on a TV for Free
To watch Super Bowl LVIII live, all you need to do is tune in to your local CBS channel with any cable or satellite service. If you don’t have a cable or satellite subscription, you can use an over-the-air antenna to watch CBS on your TV for free.
Over-the-air antennas can pick up your local CBS affiliate station if you are within range of a broadcast tower. You can enter your zip code in the FCC’s Reception Maps to see how strong the CBS signal is in your area.
How To Stream the Super Bowl on Any Device
Since CBS has the broadcasting rights to the Super Bowl in 2024, you can stream the game live using the Paramount+ app on your smart TV, streaming device, smartphone, tablet, computer, game console, and many other supported devices.
You’ll need to sign up for a subscription to watch the Super Bowl on Paramount+, but you can take advantage of the 7-day free trial and cancel after the game airs. At only $6 a month, Paramount+ is one of the cheapest streaming services to watch the game anyway.
If you already have a cable subscription, you can also watch a family-friendly version of the Super Bowl live on Nickelodeon. This is the first time the Super Bowl will be broadcast in two different formats, and the Nick-ified version will feature commentary by SpongeBob SquarePants, slime graphics, and kid-friendly ads.
“We’ve figured out a way to bring the Nickelodeon vibe of messiness and silliness and our characters to football without changing the game,” said Ashley Kaplan, EVP of Unscripted and Digital Franchise Studios for Nickelodeon. “Parents are not inclined to change the channel because it’s still very much a football game, but it’s more enjoyable for kids to watch.”
If you don’t have a cable subscription, there are lots of other streaming services you can use to stream the Super Bowl by signing up for a free trial. Just make sure the app gives you access to CBS. Then, all you need to do is download the app and tune in to CBS to watch the game live, just like you would with a regular cable TV.
Read More: The best streaming services for football
How To Stream the Super Bowl in 4K
For the first time, CBS will stream Super Bowl LVIII in 4K and HDR, but you’ll need the right setup to watch the game in a higher resolution. This year, the safest streaming services to watch the Super Bowl in 4K are YouTube TV, FuboTV, and DirecTV Stream.
Read More: What is HDR?
Even though CBS is airing the game, the network recently told TV Answer Man it will only stream the game in high-definition (1080p) on Paramount+. However, this should still look a lot better than the traditional affiliate broadcasts (which are usually aired at 720p or 1080i).
You can also watch the game in 4K on CBS with certain cable providers, including Comcast Xfinity, Dish Network, Optimum, and DirecTV, but you might need a 4K cable box.
YouTube TV
Starting this season, YouTube TV has become the best streaming service for watching football games. Not only is it the new home of the NFL Sunday Ticket, but YouTube TV also allows you to stream on 3 supported devices at once and record any show with unlimited DVR space.
YouTube TV streamed the last Super Bowl in 4K, so it is highly likely you can stream the Super Bowl in 4K this year. However, you will need to get the 4K Plus add-on to stream the game in ultra-high definition, which costs $10 a month on top of the regular $73 monthly subscription fee.
While it is one of the most expensive streaming services, YouTube TV also offers a 7-day free trial, so you can always cancel after the game airs.
Sign Up: YouTube TV
DirecTV Stream
DirecTV used to be the home of the NFL Sunday Ticket until YouTube TV took over last year, so you know the streaming service will handle Super Bowl night right. In fact, the streaming service confirmed it will air the game in 4K on channel 105.
DirecTV claims to have the most sports in 4K, and the streaming service offers lots of other features for sports fans, including unlimited DVR storage, over 30 regional sports channels, and you can stream on an unlimited number of supported devices, as long as they are all connected to your home network.
Unlike YouTube TV, you can stream the Super Bowl in 4K with DirecTV’s cheapest plan, the Entertainment package, which starts at $80 a month right now. Then, you can use the app for 5 days under the free trial before you decide whether you want to pay for it.
Sign Up: DirecTV Stream
FuboTV
FuboTV is a streaming service made for sports, so it is easy to add your favorite teams, check stats during the game, and much more. Fubo has confirmed it will stream the Super Bowl in 4K, but you will need to sign up for a FuboTV Elite plan, which starts at $90 a month.
FuboTV offers a free 7-day trial to new users, and your card will automatically be charged if you don’t cancel before the free trial ends.
Sign Up: FuboTV
You can also stream the Super Bowl with a free trial by downloading Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, and many other apps, but the game might only be available in HD with these distributors.
Most streaming services also work on smart TVs, streaming devices, smartphones, tablets, and even game consoles. So, you can download these apps on most devices to stream the Super Bowl for free. Just remember to cancel your subscription before the free trial period ends.
What Do You Need to Stream the Super Bowl?
In order to stream the Super Bowl on your devices, you will need to have a strong, reliable WiFi signal. To stream in high-definition (HD) resolution, you will only need a download speed of at least 5 Mbps (megabits per second). If you want to stream in 4K, you will need at least 25 Mbps.
Read More: How to test your WiFi speed and what the results mean
If you are having problems with your streaming device, or you don’t know where to start, HelloTech can help. Our vetted technicians can set up your streaming device, troubleshoot any issues, and answer any questions you have.