The viewing playbook · Plan comparisons
Compare sports streaming plans: cost & coverage checklist
Start with the games you want to watch and the access you already have. Then compare the full cost of new plans against the channels actually announced for those games.
Screen Lineup is free. Some linked viewing guides include links labeled “Paid link”; we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. The comparison uses viewing routes and prices, rather than affiliate commission rates.
01 · Choose what matters
Compare your games, not just a channel count
A package with more channels may still miss the event you want. Start with the sports schedule for the next seven days. Find your teams or sport, then note the exact announced channel or streaming service for each game.
For a focused comparison, open a sport schedule and choose Compare viewing plans. The comparison starts with that league selected. Keep “Only NFL listings” or the equivalent league limit checked to avoid mixing another league into the result. Uncheck it when you want to compare the broader sport.
Screen Lineup compares observed listings in the next seven days. This is a short-term planning tool, not proof of complete season coverage. An empty day or a missing game does not establish that nothing is scheduled.
02 · Start with what you pay for
Check existing access before adding a subscription
On the personal daily lineup, use Personalize your lineup to select the packages and services you already use. Correct the channel selections to match your actual plan. These choices stay on the device where you save them; they do not connect to your provider account or verify your subscription.
A provider name alone is not enough. Your exact package, ZIP code, activation steps and device can affect access. For example, the ESPN guide distinguishes channel access, ESPN Select and Unlimited, and explains why you should check an eligible provider's included access first.
If the game is assigned to a local broadcast station, the sports antenna guide helps you check reception and optional recording. Antenna equipment costs are separate from a streaming subscription comparison.
03 · Use your own lineup
Run the seven-day comparison
- Open the personal daily lineup and choose Compare viewing options & costs.
- Choose followed teams, sports, or both. Review “Plans you already have” so a current subscription is not treated as a new purchase.
- Read the listing count and oldest source-fetch time. Open Your upcoming games & viewing gaps to inspect which games contributed to the result.
- Expand Compare other viewing options & full costs when you want to inspect alternatives instead of choosing the first combination.
The count describes listings captured by Screen Lineup. Announced sources can change, and different feeds can describe a game differently. Confirm the event itself before making a purchase.
04 · Understand the number
Read the full monthly subscription cost
The “Lowest verified monthly combination” is the lowest full subscription total among the tracked, freshly priced monthly options for the selected listings. It is not a claim to the cheapest offer available anywhere.
Current subscriptions are excluded from the new-plan total. The result does not calculate an upgrade credit, prorated bill or cancellation refund. If a new package would replace one you already pay for, compare that change against your actual bill yourself.
Check taxes, regional fees, required add-ons, trial expiration, renewal prices and cancellation terms at checkout. Annual plans, bundles, promotions and services without verified prices may be cheaper for your situation. A plan suitable for one week may be poor value for a whole season.
Use the provider's viewing guide to understand the plan and activation requirements, then verify the total with the provider before subscribing.
05 · Resolve the uncertainty
Check local access and unresolved games
An explicit route means the captured listing has a route covered by the plan model. It still needs the provider's availability and access checks. A local-market check means the result is conditional on local coverage. An unresolved listing means the priced options have not established a route; buying the suggested combination does not resolve that gap.
If a broadcaster is TBA, check the event's official schedule again closer to game time. If an out-of-market product is involved, check its territorial and blackout rules. The MLB.TV guide explains why a league subscription and local game access are different questions.
Before you subscribe: match the teams, date and exact broadcaster; check your existing plan; resolve local or blackout restrictions; and read the full checkout total. Keep unresolved games on your checklist.