Where to watch sport on TV – fixtures, channels & streaming options explained

How to watch sport for free

The most cost-effective way to watch sports is by taking advantage of free-to-air channels and streaming services, though this does limit which sporting events you'll be able to watch.

While more and more sports have shifted to subscription-based services, which can quickly get expensive, there are still a few free-to-air channels and streaming sites where you can catch some live action.

If you want to watch paid-for sports - make sure you don't overpay

There are three main sports broadcasters in the UK right now: Sky Sports, TNT Sports and Amazon Prime. Some of these can come with hefty monthly costs, so if you do want to subscribe, make sure you don't overpay.

If you’re only interested in sports, consider a standalone sports subscription, such as Now Sports (through Now TV) or TNT Sports, rather than paying for a full package of TV channels.

If you want to watch more than just sports, you're probably better off getting a digital TV package, which often includes your broadband connection. The main TV package providers are Sky, Virgin Media, EE TV and TalkTalk.

What's the cheapest way to watch Sky Sports?

Now Sports Saver Membership for £27.99 a month is currently the cheapest way to watch Sky Sports. However, that price only includes standard HD streaming (720p), full HD (1080p) quality costs more.

If you don’t mind committing to a 24‑month contract and want full HD included as standard, Sky Stream Essentials with Sky Sports added works out better value overall, even though the price is likely to rise during the contract.

Want to watch sports all year round? Consider adding it to your digital TV package

The traditional way of accessing paid-for sports – by adding these channels when you sign up for a TV package (or adding them to an existing one) with the likes of Sky or Virgin Media - is generally quite pricey, and locks you into long-term contracts, usually for 24 months. But it might be more cost-effective if you watch sport all year round and you want other channels as well. Try haggling with your TV provider to get a cheap Sky Sports add-on.

But if you only watch one or two sports, many of the seasons only tend to span part of the year, so you end up paying for months you don't watch anything, which is wasteful. So it's best to work out what you want to watch and which months they're shown so you don't overpay.

Don't have or want a TV package? You can get a Sky Sports pass via Now TV

This gives you access to all 12 Sky Sports channels, with the option to sign up on a rolling monthly basis at £34.99 or you can sign up to their 12-month saver for £27.99 a month (£34.99 thereafter). There’s also a 24‑hour pass available if you only want to watch a specific event. While the monthly option offers flexibility – letting you cancel whenever you like – it does come at a higher cost compared with longer‑term deals available elsewhere.

It’s also worth noting that you can’t record on Now TV (though you can pause and rewind live programmes). After an event airs, it’s usually added to the on-demand library, where you can watch highlights or full catch-up content later. However, it may take up to 24 hours for some events to appear in the catch-up section.

For more information on how to watch TV (and movies) online have a look at our guide on free legal streaming.

What's the cheapest way to watch TNT Sports?

What's the cheapest way to watch sport on Amazon Prime?

Where can I watch sport on TV?

Whether it's football, golf or MMA, we've a list below of all of your favourite sports and where you can watch them.