NESN is currently available to watch through DirecTV Stream and Fubo without cable, and there is also the option to just sign up to the standalone NESN 360 service.
With access to New England sports, including the Boston Red Sox and Boston Bruins, NESN is a popular option. However, with consumers increasingly choosing to move away from traditional cable and satellite packages, the options to tune in to NESN have become fewer over time.
Neither Hulu Live TV nor Sling TV currently provide access to NESN. Making matter worse, YouTube TV has not offered NESN since dropping the network at the end of October 2020.
As a result, the current options for a live TV streaming service with access to NESN come down to Fubo and DirecTV Stream.
Cheapest live TV plan with NESN
The cheapest live TV streaming plan with access to NESN is Fubo‘s Pro plan. While Pro starts at $75 per month, Fubo does charge an RSN fee in many locations. For those looking for access to New England sports, this will result in the actual monthly price increasing to $88.98 each month.
$85-95/mo
- 215-299 channels
- 10 streams
- Unlimited DVR
Deal: Save up to $25.
Speaking of which, subscribers will only be able to access the New England Sports Network if they are in the NESN home television territory.
If signing up to Fubo outside of this designated area, the subscriber will gain access to a different selection of local channels and regional sports networks.
Other ways to watch NESN
Besides, Fubo, the only other real option for watching NESN without cable is DirecTV Stream. DirecTV recently increased the price of its plans with the cheapest Entertainment package now costing a minimum of $74.99 per month. However, the Entertainment plan does not include NESN.
Similar to Fubo, DirecTV Stream will only be an option for NESN for those based in NESN’s home television territory area. Again, trying to subscribe to DirecTV Stream outside of this area will result in access to different local channels and sports networks.
Those looking to sign up to DirecTV Stream will need to go with the service’s Choice package, as this is the cheapest option that includes access to regional sports networks. At $99.99 per month this is a more expensive option compared to FuboTV, but some homes may find that the overall channel lineup suits their needs more.
$35-170/mo
- 25-185 channels
- Unlimited streams
- Unlimited DVR
Deal: Save up to $75
Watching directly through NESN
For those less interested in a full live TV plan and only wanting access to NESN, then it might be worth considering an NESN 360 subscription. This is New England’s direct streaming service and offers a way to watch Boston Red Sox and Boston Bruins games without a live TV package.
For those interested in this standalone subscription service, the cost of a subscription is currently $29.99 per month, which works out to be around $1 per day. There is also an annual plan available, priced at $329.99 per year.
For reference, those that are signed up to a live TV plan do also have the option to stream directly through various network websites and apps. This includes NESN with both the website and app offering the option to watch live after signing in with a supported live TV provider and plan.
DirecTV Stream and Fubo both offer TV Everywhere support for NESN, so subscribers to either service can log in with their account details and start streaming.
How to watch NESN without cable: summary
Since YouTube TV removed NESN from its channel lineup, the live TV options to watch NESN have been reduced even more. Right now, DirecTV Stream and Fubo are the only two real options for watching NESN through a live TV streaming service.
Of the two, Fubo is the cheapest option, albeit only slightly once factoring in the regional sports fee. While DirecTV Stream is more expensive, the Choice plan channel lineup may prove to be a better overall option for some homes.
For those not really in need of all the additional channels, the NESN 360 standalone subscription costs $29.99 per month and is a way to watch New England sports, including the Boston Red Sox and Boston Bruins, without an actual live TV plan.
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