Even among sports leagues, the NFL is notorious for making it extremely difficult to legally stream its coveted content live. Nonetheless, CBS Sports has managed to expand its free coverage to fans, even without a cable or satellite package. The NFL ON CBS will now live stream two regular season games, as well as Super Bowl 50, the network announced Tuesday. To ice the cake, four playoff games will also be available for free live streaming — which might just be the biggest coup of all.
NFL ON CBS coverage will be free, with no authentication required. Fans can simply visit CBSSports.com using laptops, desktops, and tablets to enjoy the live games. Alternately, they can use connected TV devices, including XBox One, Apple TV, Chromecast, and Roku streaming boxes or TVs, to watch on the big screen. Verizon customers also have the option of tuning in via NFL Mobile.
“We’re very excited to offer more NFL ON CBS streaming coverage across more digital platforms than ever before,” said Jeffrey Gerttula, CBS Sports Digital’s Senior Vice President and General Manager.
First up for the service will be a broadcast of the New York Jets taking on the Miami Dolphins in London on Oct. 4 at 9:30 a.m. ET. The following month, CBS Sports will stream Thanksgiving’s meeting of the Carolina Panthers and Dallas Cowboys when it airs at 4:30 p.m. ET on Nov. 26. That will be it for the regular season, but NFL ON CBS will later bring us some of the playoff action.
Sadly for NFC fans, as with last year’s coverage, NFL ON CBS will only offer AFC playoff games. The Thanksgiving match-up, which features two NFC teams, and the “Golden Super Bowl” will have to serve as consolation. The real consolation, though, is the fact that the NFL seems to be moving in a direction that makes games more accessible, without making fans resort to the sketchy world of illegal streaming.
