How To Watch Big Ten Network Live Without Cable in 2024
By Staff, Deja Harris• Edited by Lisa Holden • Updated Dec 08, 2023
With more than 520,000 active students and nearly 6 million living alumni, the Big Ten Conference is one of the most-watched college sports conferences in the country. And all those Big Ten cord-cutters will be happy to know they can watch Big Ten Network live without cable.
Fortunately, you’ve got a few options for streaming Big Ten Network, including Sling TV, Fubo, and Hulu + Live TV. You can also watch it with DirecTV Stream and its slate of regional sports networks (RSNs), Vidgo, and YouTube TV. So, before it expands to 16 teams, let’s take a deeper look into the ways you can stream Big Ten Network in 2024.
What is Big Ten Network?
Considered one of the “Power Five” conferences, the Big Ten Conference is the oldest Division I conference in American college sports. It started in the Midwest, then expanded to the Atlantic, and will soon reach the Pacific when USC and UCLA join the conference in 2024.
Three of the top 5 most-watched college football programs in the country – Ohio State, Michigan, and Penn State – are Big Ten schools. Combined, those 3 schools get nearly 14 million viewers per week during the season, while the whole conference gets over 30 million.
To serve these viewers, the Big Ten Network was created in 2007 as a joint venture between the Big Ten and Fox Sports. It broadcasts live games, recorded events, commentary and analysis, and other programs related to the schools in the conference.
Previously only available through cable and satellite providers, Big Ten Network announced in 2017 that it would be available on Hulu + Live TV and YouTube TV. Five years later, cord-cutters have many more options to watch it.
Watch Big Ten Network on Sling TV
If you’re looking to stream Big Ten Network without breaking the bank, Sling TV is your best bet.
What are Sling TV’s plans and prices?
Sling TV has 2 main plans to choose from – Sling Orange and Sling Blue. The plans not only have different channels, but their add-ons have different channels as well. Therefore, you need the Sports Extra add-on available with Sling Blue. For an additional fee, you get Big Ten Network and 10+ other channels, including MLB Network, FS2, and Pac 12 Network.
Sling TV is one of, if not the, most affordable way you’ll find to stream Big Ten Network.
The other option is to get Sling Orange & Blue, which gets you all the channels in both plans. The Orange & Blue Sports Extra add-on has 19 sports channels. However, with the additional cost, you may be able to get more from another service.
Both plans come with 50 hours of cloud DVR storage and let you stream on up to 3 devices at once.
Watch Big Ten Network on Fubo
Positioning itself as the industry’s go-to streamer for sports, Fubo has 3 main plans. Fortunately, the cheapest plan gets you Big Ten Network – no add-on needed.
What are Fubo’s plans and prices?
For starters, all Fubo plans include the Big 4 broadcast networks – ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC – as well as Telemundo and Univision.
The Fubo Pro plan comes with 175+ channels, including Big Ten Network, as well as ESPN/ESPN2, FS1/FS2, and CBS Sports Network. You also get the NFL Network and a few NBC Sports RSNs in select markets.
It’s close in cost to what you’ll pay to get Big Ten Network with Sling TV, but you get all the major TV networks and many more channels.
If you want more college sports, the Elite plan includes ESPNU, ACC Network, and Pac-12 Network with its 240+ channels, while Ultimate adds SEC Network and even more Pac-12 channels.
Fubo has on-demand entertainment, including full TV series, although there are better options to consider if that’s a key deciding factor.
Every Fubo plan includes 1,000 hours of cloud DVR and lets you watch up to 10 screens at once on your home network.
Watch Big Ten Network on Hulu+ Live TV
If you’re looking for a good mix of movies and original TV shows to go with your college sports, Hulu+ Live TV is worth consideration.
What are Hulu+ Live TV’s plans and prices?
There are 2 choices with Hulu + Live TV, but they offer the same content. The Hulu (No Ads) + Live TV plan removes commercials from the on-demand library but doesn’t affect live programming. If you mainly plan to watch live TV, you may as well go with the basic Hulu + Live TV plan
Hulu+ Live TV has the 4 major broadcast networks as well as TBS. In addition to Big Ten Network, it includes ACC Network and SEC Network, meaning you’ve got 3 of the Power Five conferences covered. You also get ESPN, FS1, and ESPN+, as well as 5 RSNs from NBC Sports and SportsNet NY.
For non-sports content, Hulu’s on-demand library is one of the best out there, with award-winning original shows and movies. And even better, Disney+ is included.
Both plans come with unlimited cloud DVR, but a rather stingy 2 simultaneous streams. However, that can be upgraded to unlimited screens for an extra cost.
Watch Big Ten Network on DirecTV Stream
DirecTV Stream boasts more RSNs than any other streaming service, but it’s also currently a more expensive way to watch Big Ten Networks without cable.
What are DirecTV Stream’s plans and prices?
DirecTV Stream offers 4 plans to choose from. You’ll need at least the second-tier choice Plan to watch Big Ten Network on DirecTV Stream. It has 105+ channels – including the 4 Big TV networks, as well as TBS, TNT, and PBS.
The Choice plan is also when you get access to DirecTV Stream’s industry-leading selection of RSNs, including Bally Sports. You also get more college sports with ACC Network, SEC Network, and ESPNU.
The Choice plan includes a massive library of 45,000 on-demand shows and movies. All DirecTV Stream plans let you watch on an unlimited number of screens at home and give you unlimited cloud DVR storage.
Watch Big Ten Network on Vidgo
Relative newcomer Vidgo will appeal to cost-conscious cord-cutters as it’s the second-lowest price you’ll pay for Big Ten Network.
What are Vidgo’s plans and prices?
Launched in 2019, Vidgo offers a mix of sports, entertainment and news. It was also the first major streamer to have a standalone Spanish plan. It has 2 English-language plans, with English Plus offering 110+ channels and Premium boasting 150+ channels.
Fortunately, Big Ten Network is in the Plus plan’s channel lineup, which includes ACC Network, SEC Network, and 7 Pac-12 regional channels. In addition to ESPN and FS1, you also get premium sports channels like MLB Network, NFL Network, and NHL Network.
If you need a break from sports, Vidgo also has 14,000 titles in its on-demand library.
Vidgo is similar in cost to Hulu + Live TV and Fubo, but it comes with some downsides. With the Plus plan, you’ll only be able to use cloud DVR with the Plus plan With Premium, you get just 20 hours of DVR time. Also, Vidgo only carries 2 of the major broadcast networks – ABC and FOX.
Watch Big Ten Network on YouTube TV
For an all-around cable replacement, YouTube TV is one of your best bets.
What are YouTube TV’s plans and prices?
YouTube TV’s only English-language option, the Base Plan, includes Big Ten Network, as well as ACC Network, SEC Network, and ESPNU. It also comes with ESPN, FS1, and NBC Sports RSNs in select markets, plus MLB Network, and NBA.TV and NFL Network.
YouTube TV carries all the major TV broadcast networks plus The CW and PBS, as well as Telemundo and Univision. There are also on-demand movies and TV shows, but they’re not in a library you can browse through.
Unlimited cloud DVR comes standard along with 3 simultaneous streams, which can be upgraded to unlimited screens with the 4K Plus plan.
Which streaming service is best for watching Big Ten Network?
In choosing the best streaming service for the Big Ten Network, your ultimate decision hinges on your priorities, whether they revolve around cost, additional sports content, or access to on-demand entertainment. Consider your preferences and needs to make an informed choice that aligns with your viewing habits and budget.
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Douglas Wright • Author
Douglas Wright is a freelance writer based in Japan. A former web designer and technical writer, he left beautiful Vancouver for bustling Tokyo, where he spent a decade recruiting for software and high-tech firms. No longer commuting through the world’s busiest train station, he writes fiction and a wide range of formats for clients around the world. When he gets AFK, he’s either outdoors with his two boys, streaming a show with his wife, or reading a book over a French-pressed, hand-ground coffee.
Lisa Holden • Editor
Lisa Holden is an editor and creative based in Houston, TX. Lisa holds a BA in African-American Studies from Temple University and has spent her career working in news publications and magazines, even founding a magazine herself. When she’s not editing or working on one of her many creative endeavors (whenever that is), she enjoys traveling to new places and biking on sunny days.