I'm looking for a streaming subscription to watch Cal Football for the season. I don't have cable and don't want any other channels. What's the go-to option? Needs to work on Apple TV box or a LG Smart TV.

So far I'm at Sling. It's $275 for 5 months; offers ESPN etc, FS1 etc, and PAC-12: https://www.sling.com/#offers

That's $23/game. Feels like a lot. Is there anything better?

CalAlumnus13 said:

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I'm looking for a streaming subscription to watch Cal Football for the season. I don't have cable and don't want any other channels. What's the go-to option? Needs to work on Apple TV box or a LG Smart TV.

So far I'm at Sling. It's $275 for 5 months; offers ESPN etc, FS1 etc, and PAC-12: https://www.sling.com/#offers

That's $23/game. Feels like a lot. Is there anything better?

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Sling is the cheapest option I have found. Cheapest legal option. Sometimes there are random streams for free on the internet, but of course unreliable.

Sing is not very expensive. It's $70/month for sling blue + orange + sports pack which includes Pac12 networks. First month is half off. A great deal in my opinion. Includes everything, even ACC network to scout next year's foes. If you really only want to watch Cal football and nothing else at all on television, it may be cheaper just go to the games in person. Lol. But if you want great content and all of the cal action, get the combo pack and hold it through April. You're going to want to see Madsen's bears this year, too.

I didn't see ESPNU on sling's channel list? I'm doing a 21 day trial for YouTube TV to get today's game. P12 football games are almost never on ESPNU, while North Texas is AAC, so that's on their contract.

Then you could do sling to get p12net, and go for 2-3 months, not 5.

ESPNU is part of the Sports Extra pack.

You can add the Sports Extra pack to the Orange, Blue or Orange+Blue plans, but you only get ESPNU if you add the Sports Extra pack to an Orange or an Orange+Blue subscription.

If you JUST want to watch Cal today, and whenever they're on ESPN channels of any kind, or Pac12 networks, just sign up for the Orange plan and add the Sports Extra pack to it.

Cal IS playing in at least one game on FS1 this year, though. If you want to see any FS1 games, you need the Blue pack, but if you just get the Blue pack, you don't get ESPN and the Sports Extra pack doesn't add ESPNU to just the Blue plan.

Get the YouTubetv trial.

oskiswifeshusband said:

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Get the YouTubetv trial.

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Would that work just for North Texas or also other games?

I prefer FuboTV to Sling - I think the app works better and also gives you access to PAC12 network and ESPN

Sling is less expensive has PAC 12 but no local channels (if watching ABC, NBC, FOX, and CBS is important to you for regional NFL broadcast say). Great current offer with Orange/Blue, and Sports Extra.

YouTubeTV is an amazing interface with more channels and local channels and a built in unlimited DVR (can pause live TV like a TIVO). Also has the option to add NFL Sunday ticket for out of market games. But no PAC 12.

It comes down to PAC 12 vs local channels. Sling slightly better on price. YouTube better on technology and user experience and breadth of options.

I have Apple TV. Does that YouTube TV trial get the Cal vs NTexas game?

Really want to watch this game.

glb78 said:

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I have Apple TV. Does that YouTube TV trial get the Cal vs NTexas game?

Really want to watch this game.

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Yes it does. I am on the free trial now and it is amazing.

blungld said:

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glb78 said:

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I have Apple TV. Does that YouTube TV trial get the Cal vs NTexas game?

Really want to watch this game.

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Yes it does. I am on the free trial now and it is amazing.

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Appreciate it! Gonna dive in when I get home in 20.

Welp, I'm now a huge fan of YouTube Tv. Cancelling my directv "live a little" package for the Youtube tv for a little less $ and a lot more content. I dig that 4 games on one screen and being able to click on a certain game and it's instant. Way better quality picture than the directv app as well.

Appreciate it! Go Bears!

I clicked on the YouTube TV free 20 minute option just before the game and it gave me the entire game for free without interrupting and asking me for my credit card number.

Umunhum said:

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I clicked on the YouTube TV free 20 minute option just before the game and it gave me the entire game for free without interrupting and asking me for my credit card number.

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Score!

Whew. Thanks for suggesting You Tube TV at the last minute. I was all set here in So Cal with Spectrum Sports package, which didn't have ESPNU and required another $ package, and then was thusly removed to work this morning! I navigated the iphone to TV sign up and managed to watch the game without a hitch. I don't see Cal being on ESPNU again for football? Although it might be too early to forecast? i have P12North, Fox, and ESPN and feel I am okay. Wish I could make some home games!

The following is a YouTubeTV link to save $15 off sign up referral discount. Go bears!

https://tv.youtube.com/referral/r0sf41djy9ent2

blungld said:

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Sling is less expensive has PAC 12 but no local channels (if watching ABC, NBC, FOX, and CBS is important to you for regional NFL broadcast say). Great current offer with Orange/Blue, and Sports Extra.

YouTubeTV is an amazing interface with more channels and local channels and a built in unlimited DVR (can pause live TV like a TIVO). Also has the option to add NFL Sunday ticket for out of market games. But no PAC 12.

It comes down to PAC 12 vs local channels. Sling slightly better on price. YouTube better on technology and user experience and breadth of options.

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If you play the VPN game, you can trick YouTubeTV into thinking you are in whatever city you want and get those local stations.

Let's say you miss your Manhattan stations from Maine, just setup YouTubeTV telling it your home city is NYC and with a VPN set there, you'll be good to go.

Mind you, they don't let you edit your home city back and forth.

If you forget to turn on your VPN, it would think you're traveling and automatically give you the local Maine ABC/CBS/NBC feeds.

This works from Europe, too, as YouTubeTV only works in US, per licensing.

My usage of VPNs is minimal. My understanding is that some gets sniffed out and then it doesn't work. Better VPN's apparently shift the URL regularly to maintain the appearance of not being a sneaky VPN URL. Not sure how this battle field functions.

Anyone?

concordtom said:

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blungld said:

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Sling is less expensive has PAC 12 but no local channels (if watching ABC, NBC, FOX, and CBS is important to you for regional NFL broadcast say). Great current offer with Orange/Blue, and Sports Extra.

YouTubeTV is an amazing interface with more channels and local channels and a built in unlimited DVR (can pause live TV like a TIVO). Also has the option to add NFL Sunday ticket for out of market games. But no PAC 12.

It comes down to PAC 12 vs local channels. Sling slightly better on price. YouTube better on technology and user experience and breadth of options.

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If you play the VPN game, you can trick YouTubeTV into thinking you are in whatever city you want and get those local stations.

Let's say you miss your Manhattan stations from Maine, just setup YouTubeTV telling it your home city is NYC and with a VPN set there, you'll be good to go.

Mind you, they don't let you edit your home city back and forth.

If you forget to turn on your VPN, it would think you're traveling and automatically give you the local Maine ABC/CBS/NBC feeds.

This works from Europe, too, as YouTubeTV only works in US, per licensing.

My usage of VPNs is minimal. My understanding is that some gets sniffed out and then it doesn't work. Better VPN's apparently shift the URL regularly to maintain the appearance of not being a sneaky VPN URL. Not sure how this battle field functions.

Anyone?

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That VPN "solution" doesn't work with some services such as Sling. It depends on what VPN you use and what service you're trying to spoof.

I know that Express does not work with Sling as an example.

If a vpn is working with YouTube, I'd be interested to know which VPN is being used. Only a few are reliable. And never expect a free VPN to work well. There will be a tradeoff of access vs. security.

TomBear said:

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concordtom said:

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blungld said:

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Sling is less expensive has PAC 12 but no local channels (if watching ABC, NBC, FOX, and CBS is important to you for regional NFL broadcast say). Great current offer with Orange/Blue, and Sports Extra.

YouTubeTV is an amazing interface with more channels and local channels and a built in unlimited DVR (can pause live TV like a TIVO). Also has the option to add NFL Sunday ticket for out of market games. But no PAC 12.

It comes down to PAC 12 vs local channels. Sling slightly better on price. YouTube better on technology and user experience and breadth of options.

---

If you play the VPN game, you can trick YouTubeTV into thinking you are in whatever city you want and get those local stations.

Let's say you miss your Manhattan stations from Maine, just setup YouTubeTV telling it your home city is NYC and with a VPN set there, you'll be good to go.

Mind you, they don't let you edit your home city back and forth.

If you forget to turn on your VPN, it would think you're traveling and automatically give you the local Maine ABC/CBS/NBC feeds.

This works from Europe, too, as YouTubeTV only works in US, per licensing.

My usage of VPNs is minimal. My understanding is that some gets sniffed out and then it doesn't work. Better VPN's apparently shift the URL regularly to maintain the appearance of not being a sneaky VPN URL. Not sure how this battle field functions.

Anyone?

---

That VPN "solution" doesn't work with some services such as Sling. It depends on what VPN you use and what service you're trying to spoof.

I know that Express does not work with Sling as an example.

If a vpn is working with YouTube, I'd be interested to know which VPN is being used. Only a few are reliable. And never expect a free VPN to work well. There will be a tradeoff of access vs. security.

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My brother in law setup Private Internet Access VPN in Spain and it worked.

I read articles that, as you say, some won't work - as I said.
A user going this route just needs to be aware, but I imagine once one masters it, you're golden!

I had initially thought a VPN was equipment based. No, just sign up online and go.
I read that NordVPN works well.

We watched via laptop broadcasting to TV.
I want to know how to use with a Roku stick.