From its humble origins as a championship game in 1967, the Super Bowl has come to be one of the most-watched events of the year, every year. Even if you're not into sports, the Super Bowl is a big social event. Super Bowl 50 falls on February 7 this year, and however you plan to enjoy the game, it's good to have multiple ways to watch, in case you encounter technical difficulties. So let's talk about all the ways you can watch the big game without a cable or satellite subscription.
Use a dedicated streaming device
If you already have an Apple TV, a Roku, a Chromecast, or an Xbox One and you're familiar with how to use it, it will arguably be the most accessible method for watching the Super Bowl. Just search the device's app store for the official CBS Sports app, install it, and wait for the Super Bowl to happen. (CBS Sports and Download.com are published by CBS Interactive, a unit of CBS.) In fact, it's a safe bet that all these devices will promote the app during the lead-up to Super Bowl Sunday, so you won't even need to hunt for it.
If you don't have one of those devices but are interested in trying one, the Chromecast has the lowest cost to entry at $35. The Roku Streaming Stick "$50" is the next best option, in price-to-features ratio. You plug the Chromecast into an HDMI port in the back or side of your flat-panel TV, and another cable connects the Chromecast to a power outlet "or to a USB port on your TV", if available. You switch your TV's input to the Chromecast and connect the device to your home wireless network. This requires a wireless network router, which your Internet provider may have installed when it set up your service. You'll also need your wireless network's password.
To find your Wi-Fi password in Windows 7, press the Windows key and type "manage wireless networks without the quotes. Left-click on the network that you're connected to, then right-click on it and select Properties. Click on the Security tab and check the box next to Show characters.
Windows 10 does not provide as direct of a route. We must tap the Windows key, type "network and sharing center," click on Change Adapter Settings on the left-hand side, right-click on our network, select Status, then click on the Security tab and check the box that reveals the password.
PlayStation Vue
The PlayStation 3 and 4 game consoles won't be streaming the game through a CBS Sports app this year, though you can try PlayStation Vue, a cable-like TV service that streams live broadcasts over your Internet connection. This service is available only in a few test markets, however: the San Francisco Bay Area, New York City, Dallas, Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami, and Philadelphia. The minimum tier is $50 a month, but you can get a 7-day trial for free. The Amazon Fire TV and Fire Stick also just started carrying PlayStation Vue, so that's four more platforms beyond the NFL's officially supported ones, nearly doubling your options.
Stream to a PC connected to a TV
If you don't have one of the aforementioned gadgets, the game will also be streamed at CBSSports.com and through the CBS Sports app in Windows 10. You could move your PC near your TV and connect the two with an HDMI cable to watch the game on your big screen. Laptops have HDMI connectors on the side, while most recent desktop towers have an HDMI connector in the back. It may be mini-HDMI to save space, in which case you need an adapter cable, which costs less than $10. Mini connectors are common with laptops, where you can also find downsized versions of DisplayPort. Mini-DisplayPort can also be connected to an HDMI device with the right adapter. You may have an older PC that has DVI instead of HDMI. Once again, there's an adapter for that. Some office PCs have DisplayPort but no HDMI, in which case you need a DisplayPort-HDMI adapter.
Once you've connected the PC and the TV, just switch the TV's or receiver's input to your PC to display your desktop on the big screen. Then navigate to CBSSports.com to watch the game, using the TV as a computer monitor. If you don't have a wireless mouse or keyboard, you may want one when using a desktop PC like this. We recommendthe Logitech MK270 combo (about $20).
Over-the-air antenna
Before cable, TV viewers used antennas connected to their TVs to tune in. Signals are still broadcast from towers today, just like radio and cell phone transmissions. In fact, you can usually watch network TV in high-def -- sometimes with better image quality than from your local cable provider.Of course, you have to buy your own antenna these days, since modern flat-panel TVs don't come with them anymore. And you may have to move the antenna around the house before you get a strong signal. (Use a website like AntennaPoint to determine where the tower is in relation to your home.) If a tower's not in your line of sight, you may not get a good signal no matter how powerful or well-placed your antenna is.
Still, antennas don't require Wi-Fi, passwords, or complicated setup, so they're a simple solution. Just plug one into your TV, switch the input to the antenna, and let it scan for broadcasts. Also, because of how the signal is transmitted, there's no possibility of it getting overloaded with too many users, and the maturity of the technology makes it less prone to glitches or breakdowns. This is arguably the most reliable way to watch the game -- if you can get good reception. You don't even need an Internet connection.
You can pick up an indoor antenna for $20 online or at big-box stores. Go for the one with the longest range. This flat type gets taped to a window that faces the broadcast tower, and the coaxial cable plugs directly into the back of your TV. Your home theater receiver may also have a coaxial connection. Measure the distance that you need now, and buy extra RG6 coaxial cable if the one that comes with the antenna isn't long enough. The extension cable will need an extension adapter. You can get those at most home-improvement stores.
A word on antenna amplifiers: These are frequently bundled, but you may not need one. If the signal is already coming through strongly without it, the amplifier may actually worsen your picture quality by adding noise.
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