Will the Kansas City Chiefs become the first NFL team to win three consecutive Super Bowls? Or can the Philadelphia Eagles soar back from their 2023 Super Bowl loss to the Chiefs and secure another title? We’re about to find out.
Super Bowl LIX promises drama, high stakes, and unforgettable moments. And watching the game on Sunday, Feb. 9 will be easy to do without paying for an expensive cable bundle.
The game kicks off at 6:30 PM Eastern Time at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, with pre-game coverage starting at 2:00 PM ET. Fox has the rights to broadcast the game this year, and you can watch it in upscaled 4K UHD on multiple platforms.
The game will be available in 4K on Fox’s cable and satellite channels through participating TV providers, as well as via the Fox Sports app. Additionally, Fox’s free streaming service, Tubi, will offer the game in 4K for the first time.
Whether you prefer traditional TV or streaming, we’ll show you how to watch all the action—plus those iconic commercials and the halftime show, starring Kendrick Lamar—even if you don’t have a cable- or satellite-TV subscription.
Option 1: Stream Super Bown LIX for free on Tubi
Tubi
Fox-owned Tubi is a free, ad-supported streaming service. No subscription or credit card is required—simply create a free Tubi account, then get ready for some Super Bowl action.
Even better, Tubi will be presenting Super Bowl LIX in 4K, provided you’re streaming on an Android TV, Apple TV, Fire TV, or Roku streaming player.
While Tubi doesn’t require a paid plan, its broadcast will include commercials during the game, just like live TV.
Option 2: Stream the Super Bowl with a TV-streaming service
Signing up for a streaming service is another way to tune into the big game, although it’s not the cheapest–unless you sign up for a free trial and cancel your subscription sometime after the game.
These are our top picks in streaming TV services
DirecTV Stream
Pros
- Powerful grid guide
- DVR has no ad-skipping restrictions
Cons
- Limited channel selection for the price
- DVR limits both recording space and storage time
- No personalized viewing recommendations
- Software suffers from bugs and sluggish performance
DirectTV Stream isn’t one of our favorite streaming services, but it does offer Fox in its Entertainment package for $86.99 a month.
Fubo
Pros
- Unique lineup of sports channels that are much pricier in other bundles
- Well-designed TV apps make sporting events easy to find
- Live streams have much lower latency than other bundles
Cons
- Included DVR storage is skimpier than other bundles
- Inconsistent 60 fps support on sports channels
Fubo is the most sports-centric streaming service in our roundup. You’ll need the Essentails package at $84.99 a month to access it. Fubo is currently offering $25 off the first month after a 7-day free trial.
Hulu + Live TV
Pros
- Excellent value for Disney bundle subscribers
- Expansive on-demand catalog
- Recommendations and staff picks make the app fun to explore
Cons
- Live TV can be inefficient to navigate
- Hard to figure out which Hulu programs allow ad skipping
- Can’t watch on TV devices while traveling
Hulu’s live TV streaming service also gets you Fox. As with other streaming services, geographical restrictions apply, but you can check availability in your area here.
Now that Disney has complete control over Hulu, a subscription includes Hulu + Live TV, Disney+, and ESPN+ (all with ads) for $82.99 per month. Hulu also offers an $95.99-per-month subscription that nixes the ads from its Hulu channel (but not live TV) and Disney+; ESPN+ still has ads at this level.
YouTube TV
Pros
- Solid mix of channels for the money
- Includes DVR with no storage limits
- Easy-to-understand app design
Cons
- Not available in some markets
- Ad-riddled on-demand videos can override DVR
- Some channels don’t support 60-frames-per-second video yet
YouTubeTV includes Fox among more than 100 channels in its $82.99-per-month base package ($72.99 per month for the first six months). To watch the game in 4K, you’ll need the 4K Plus add-on, which costs an additional $9.99 a month. You can try the service for free for two weeks.
Option 3: Tune into the Super Bowl with an over-the-air antenna
If you’re old enough, the thought of using an antenna probably conjures memories of temperamental “rabbit ears” and staticky images. Thanks to modern broadcast technology and over-the-air antennas, you can get a high-quality image that can, in many cases, be better than what you’d get with a subscription.
If you live close enough to a broadcast tower, you might be able to use a paper-thin indoor model, such as our top pick, the Channel Master Flatenna 35. The 35 indicates the manufacturer’s promise of 35-mile range. A Flatenna 50 model promising—you guessed it—50 miles of range is also available for $49. We’re also fans of the Televes Bexia amplified indoor antenna ($99.95 street).
If you’re more distant than that, you might be better off with an antenna that mounts to your roof or on a freestanding mast. The Televes Dat Boss Mix LR (model 149884) is our favorite in that category. Another alternative is to mount an antenna like the Winegard Elite 7550 in your attic. Whichever way you go, all you need to do is plug the antenna into the tuner that’s a fixture of most modern TVs.
Before you purchase an antenna, though, go to a site like Rabbit Ears and see which networks are available from your local broadcasters. Just enter your address to get a report of all the broadcast signals in your area, ranked from strongest to weakest. Once you determine which broadcaster is furthest from your home, you’ll know what range antenna to buy. A website such as Antennaweb will show you the Fox channels closest to your zip code.
Enter your zip code at Antennaweb’s website and you’ll get a channel guide to the over-the-air programming available in your area. You can also enter “Super Bowl” in the search box to see a schedule of all the TV programming related to the game.
Antennaweb
These are our top picks in TV antennas
Winegard FlatWave Amped u002du002d Best flexible amplified indoor TV antenna
Pros
- Strong reception, clear picture quality
- Amplifier contributes to good range
- Amplifier can be powered by a wall wart or your TV’s USB port
Cons
- Not the best-looking thing to have on your wall or window
- Excess cable can get messy quick
The FlatWave Amped impressed us with its ability to pull in more broadcast channels than the competition. Further, those it did receive were a little stronger than from our runner-up, which should make for happier TV viewing.
Televes Dat Boss Mix LR (model 149884) u002du002d Best roof-mount TV antenna
Pros
- Strong, sensitive reception
- Built-in 5G filter
- Built-in amplifier and indoor distribution amp
Cons
- Large physical size
- Assembly can be confusing
- Not designed to tune in low-VHF signals
The Televes Dat Boss Mix LR (model 149884) is the best outdoor TV antenna we’ve tested. It delivered an excellent performance, pulling in strong signals from local and distant TV towers. It’s a great choice in areas with medium to low reception levels, and it comes with a built-in amplifier and in-home distribution amplifier, plus a 5G filter to eliminate interference from cellphone signals.
Winegard Elite 7550 u002du002d Best attic-mount TV antenna
Pros
- Good reception of strong to medium level signals on UHF and VHF-High
- Inline amplifier helps boost signals
- Suitable for attic or outdoor mounting
Cons
- Plastic mounting bracket feels a little cheap
The Winegard Elite 7550 immediately impressed with its ability to pick up more broadcast channels than the competition at higher signal levels. It has a built-in amplifier and performed well on both VHF-High and UHF broadcast bands. Because of its size you’ll want this one in the attic or outside of your house.
Get your gridiron on
Whichever options you choose, you’re guaranteed to have a front-row seat when the NFL’s best team hoists the Lombardi Trophy in New Orleans.
Author: Michael Ansaldo, Contributor, TechHive
Michael Ansaldo is veteran consumer and business technology journalist. He’s been a contributor to TechHive since 2013, covering robot vacuums, home security cameras, and other smart devices. He previously served as PCWorld’s Small Business Editor, and his tech coverage has appeared in Wired, Macworld, Mac|Life, Mobile Magazine, Enterprise.Nxt, Executive Travel, and other publications.