ESPN3: Watch Live without Cable With These Providers in 2024

I stream a variety of sports through ESPN3, a service owned by ESPN. Since this isn’t a traditional channel, I can’t access it directly through most cable, satellite, or streaming platforms.

In a hurry? Only Sling TV offers ESPN3 as part of its service. And with a price tag of only $45.99/month, it’s hard to beat. Try it today.

Sports on ESPN3

ESPN3 is not a traditional TV channel. It’s actually its own streaming service providing live sports and replays. At peak times, it’s possible to select from a number of sporting events.

The scope of ESPN3 coverage is large but its focus is on NCAA sports. It shows college football and men’s and women’s college basketball games but also less-covered sports like baseball, softball, volleyball, lacrosse, and much more.

It also covers professional and amateur sports from around the world including soccer, tennis, golf, cricket, and more.

ESPN3 doesn’t provide coverage of most of the biggest professional leagues. But for real sports fans, it provides a gold mine of content that you won’t find anywhere else.

ABC Sports on ESPN3

Finally, all ABC Sports events are simulcast on ESPN3. So when ABC aired the Golden State Warriors at the Denver Nuggets in the 2022 NBA playoffs, the game also streamed on ESPN3.

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How to Get ESPN3

ESPN3 offers an eclectic selection of live sporting events. There are more international and college sports than you will find on ESPN and ESPN2. It doesn’t normally air big games but instead offers events you won’t generally see elsewhere.

You can’t purchase a subscription to ESPN3, however. It is only available to cable, satellite, and streaming service subscribers.

There’s a chance you already have access to ESPN3 with the services that you currently use. Here are the four ways to get access to ESPN3: 

1. Cable TV or satellite TV provider
2. Live TV streaming service (FuboTV, Sling TV, etc) 
3. Internet service provider
4. Through an institution like a college or military base.

ESPN3 simulcasts all ABC Sports broadcasts.

It can be confusing to know which streaming services are accepted because they usually do not list ESPN3 in their channel lineups. The good news is that pretty much all of them provide this — but only if your plan includes ESPN.

This is because most providers do not offer ESPN3 in their own apps. Instead, you must use the ESPN app (or ESPN.com) and log onto it using your streaming service account. But this isn’t always the case. Sling TV is the only provider that integrates ESPN3 with its own apps.

We discuss this in more detail below.

Live TV Streaming Services with ESPN3

All of the following streaming services provide access to ESPN3 through the ESPN app. Only Sling TV provides ESPN3 directly.

SlingTV

SlingTV is a low-cost streaming service. The Sling Orange plan is the only service to provide the ESPN3 live stream right in its app so there is no need to change apps to watch ESPN3.

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In addition, you get 29 other channels including AMC, CNN, Disney, HGTV, TBS, and TNT. All of that is available for $45.99/month.

Sling TV also offers a great selection of add-ons that allow you to personalize your TV selection. In particular, for $11/mo you can get the Sports Extra add-on which provides 14 additional channels including MLB Network, NBA TV, and NHL Network.

For more information, see the following:

• Sling TV Review
• Sling TV Packages
• Sling TV Local Channels
• Sling TV Devices.

Or see our guide to a particular sport/event:

• NCAA Baseball (2023)
• NCAA Baseball Schedule (2023)
• NBA Play-In Tournament
• NBA Playoffs
• NBA Conference Semifinals
• NHL Playoffs
• NHL Playoff Schedule
• Stanley Cup Final
• MLB Schedule 2023
• MLB Playoffs 2023

FuboTV

FuboTV is arguably the best streaming service for sports fans. Of the 110+ channels in their base (Pro) plan, over 35 are sports channels including CBS Sports Network, FS1, FS2, NFL Network, and much more.

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They also have great overall channel coverage with local (ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC), entertainment (Bravo, E!, TVLand), and family (Animal Planet, Disney).

There’s a lot more to know about FuboTV:

• FuboTV Review
• FuboTV Packages
• FuboTV Local Channels
• FuboTV Devices.

DIRECTV STREAM

DIRECTV STREAM (formerly AT&T TV) also allows you to stream ESPN3 from the ESPN app. With 75+ total channels for $86.99/month, it is more expensive than its competitors. But it does have its advantages.

Get DIRECTV STREAM Free Trial

DIRECTV STREAM makes transitioning from cable easy by providing its own TV box so you don’t have to worry about dealing with a third party for your devices. And it allows unlimited devices to stream live TV at the same time — a great benefit for large households.

To find out more, see our guides:

• DIRECTV STREAM review
• DIRECTV STREAM packages
• DIRECTV STREAM local channels
• DIRECTV STREAM devices.

Hulu + Live TV

Hulu + Live TV is the most popular live TV streaming service. It offers an excellent base plan designed to appeal to a broad audience. Included with it are ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, ESPNU, and ESPN College Extra. Like FuboTV, it doesn’t include ESPN3 in its channel list but you can get it via the ESPN app.

Get Hulu + Live TV Free

Hulu Live TV offers 85+ channels for $82.99/month in addition to its great on-demand streaming library, ESPN+, and Disney+.

You can find out more about Hulu + Live TV here:

• Hulu + Live TV Review
• Hulu + Live TV Packages
• Hulu + Live TV Local Channels
• Hulu + Live TV Devices

How to Watch ESPN3 With the ESPN App

It is simple to get and use the ESPN app. But it depends on how you have access. If you have Sling TV, just start its app. ESPN3 is in your channel guide.

If you have access to ESPN3 through another streaming service (or cable or satellite company), follow these steps to watch with the ESPN app:

1. In your device’s app store, search for “ESPN app.”
2. Download and install it.
3. Run the app.
4. Go to the Settings menu (usually represented with a gear wheel), select Account Information and then Provider Account. Note, if you already have your streaming service’s app installed, it is likely that you are all set up and can just start watching.

5. Enter the username and password from your streaming service.
6. That’s it! You are ready to watch!

TVs and Streaming Devices for ESPN3

You can watch ESPN3 on the vast majority of smart TVs and other streaming devices.

ESPN App Devices

The ESPN app is compatible with most streaming sticks, mobile devices, and consoles. 

Here’s a quick list of supported devices: 

• Amazon Fire TV
• Android Mobile
• Android TV
• Apple TV
• iOS (iPhone/iPad)
• PlayStation
• Roku
• Samsung Smart TVs
• Xbox One.

You can also cast from mobile devices to your TV using built-in functionality or with a Chromecast device. 

Sling TV

Sling TV supports the same devices as the ESPN app except for PlayStation. It does, however, support other devices like LG smart TVs and the Oculus VR system.

Wrapping It Up

Accessing ESPN3 to watch sports is easy because most of the major streaming services provide it. Sling TV is the most budget-friendly option on our list and also the only one that provides ESPN3 in its own channel guide.

For ESPN3, we recommend Sling TV.

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See Also

• ABC
• ESPN
• ESPN2
• ESPNews
• ESPNU
• ACC Network
• SEC Network

FAQs

Can you watch ESPN3 on ESPN+?

You can’t watch ESPN3 on ESPN+. An ESPN+ subscription does not include access to any of the other ESPN channels. ESPN+ is a separate subscription that offers on-demand matches, live events, and other sports-related media. It’s a great service but to access ESPN3, you need a TV Provider or an affiliated company. 

Can you record ESPN3 content?

At the moment, there’s no way to record ESPN3 content. That’s not just a limitation of the ESPN app. Sling TV comes with a cloud DVR and 50 hours of storage. You can use it to record games on the other ESPN channels. But not ESPN3. 

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Frank Moraes

I am a Senior Content Editor at Hotdog.com, specializing in sports streaming and regional programming issues. With a PhD in Atmospheric Physics from the Oregon Graduate Institute of Science and extensive experience in remote sensing technology, including early video streaming, I bring a unique technical perspective to the streaming industry.

My expertise in sports coverage, particularly for out-of-market games and regional sports networks, stems from years of hands-on experience as an early adopter of streaming services and my work addressing fans' viewing challenges. As a longtime cord-cutter and subscriber to multiple streaming platforms, I combine my technical knowledge with practical user experience, making me a leading expert in the field of sports streaming and entertainment technology.

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