How to watch ESPN: Live stream the sports network online

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ESPN is a must-have channel for sports fans in the US, but gaining access to the network has become an increasingly difficult prospect. Fortunately, there are several ways to watch the channel without cable, which we've outlined for you today. Keep reading to learn how to watch ESPN and why you might be having trouble finding it on your TV right now.

DirecTV (one of the biggest cable television providers) and Disney recently failed to reach a new licensing agreement, making ESPN, some ABC stations, and other Disney-owned channels unavailable on DirecTV offerings in early September. This left many viewers without access to ESPN right in the middle of the US Open and the start of college football season, just over a week before Monday Night Football kicks off for the NFL season. 

Fortunately, you can get the ESPN channel through several live TV streaming packages, including Sling TV and Fubo. The services vary in price and functionality, with certain options serving as true cable alternatives and others offering select coverage for missing channels. In addition to live streaming, both of these options allow you to record ESPN and watch it later.

We'll break down the very best options for US viewers below and explain when ESPN+ might be handy. If you're looking to live stream even more sports, our best sports streaming services guide has everything you might need to know about watching your favorite teams without cable. 

Sling TV

Your cheapest option for total ESPN live coverage today will be Sling TV, which is a great option if you're a cord-cutter only interested in certain channels or you're just looking for something to complement your existing cable package. Sling's Orange plan carries ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPN3 live. The plan also offers 31 other live channels, including key sports networks like TNT and TBS.

Sling Orange costs $40 a month, but the streaming service is almost always running a promo that will knock about half off the cost of your first month. You can also add on the Sling Blue plan for the Sling Orange + Blue combo, which offers 46 live channels for $55 a month, including local channels (like ABC) in select regions.

Fubo TV

We routinely recommend Fubo as one of the best cable alternatives you can get your hands on. The streaming service is sports-centric, but it carries almost everything found in a basic cable package (with a few notable exceptions). A base plan offers live coverage of ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNews, and ESPN Deportes, in addition to over 180 other channels.

You can also watch ESPN3 by logging into the ESPN website/app using your Fubo credentials. Fubo also has comprehensive local channel coverage, so you should be able to live stream ABC and other networks here. Subscriptions cost $80 a month, but first-time customers can get a one-week free trial.

ESPN+

ESPN+ is a cheap but selective option. Contrary to what many think because of its name, ESPN+ doesn't carry the ESPN channel live. Instead, it offers live coverage of select events across ESPN channels and ABC. This can be a great option if you're looking to watch UFC (and pay an extra PPV price) or tune into certain college football games, but we don't recommend this for people who are hoping for general access to ESPN, since it doesn't carry a true live stream of the network.

At $11 a month, it's definitely an affordable option, but you should check the ESPN+ website to see if what you're hoping to watch is actually available through the app before signing up.