While the 2021 Super Bowl won't be quite like any other we've seen before, Chiefs vs Bucs is still likely to be one to remember – and not only because Mahomes vs Brady is a match-up for the ages. So if you've got a Roku media player, we can help you understand the options for getting a Super Bowl live stream in the comfort of your own home.
Thankfully, most of the streaming options for watching the Super Bowl on Roku are available, but there are a couple of oddities you might want to be aware of. So, below we've outlined all the possibilities, including getting a stream without any subscription and how watch the game if you're outside the US today. Just keep scrolling to find out.
- For all your devices, check out how to get a NFL live stream to learn more
Watching the Super Bowl on your Roku in the US
Broadcast rights for the Super Bowl alternate between CBS, Fox, and NBC, and this year it’s the turn of CBS. CBS will inevitably be broadcasting Super Bowl LV on its website and app, but more interestingly for you, the CBS Sports app is available for download on both Roku and Roku TV.
That means if you already subscribe to a streaming service with live TV, you should be able to watch the Super Bowl through your existing plan on Roku, as long as it includes CBS. You'll also have the option of connecting an antenna to your Roku device and picking up CBS that way.
Cable cutters have nothing to fear either. Plenty of services such as Hulu, YouTube, and fuboTV that include CBS have apps for Roku and Roku TV. Spectrum and Xfinity subscribers can also download the corresponding Roku apps for access to CBS.
Watching the Super Bowl on Roku from outside the US
International Super Bowl broadcasters
If you're in that cross section of people who: a) own a Roku, b) are American football mad, and c) aren't in the US then your options vary.
Some countries are better catered than others. In the UK for example, there are Roku apps for BBC iPlayer and Now TV, both of which are showing the Super Bowl. But there's no Sky Go app, so Sky subscribers will need to look elsewhere. We recommend going with the BBC if you haven't got a paid option, thanks to the fact it's totally free!
However, things are looking harder if you're in Canada or in Australia, for example, as none of the prime Super Bowl showing channels appear to have Roku apps.
DAZN has one, but CTV and TSN are all without Roku apps North of the border. And Down Under none of Kayo, Foxtel and Channel 7/7Plus will be showing it, but none have Kayo apps.
Using a VPN
If you're dead set on watching the Super Bowl on your Roku but either there's no useful app available or you're abroad with your Roku and just want to watch your usual domestic coverage, then you could consider another option.
A VPN is a service that allows users to connect to the internet through a remote private server, hiding the user’s true location and encrypting the network connection. VPNs serve a lot of different purposes and are a must-have for online privacy. So effectively, you could fool your Roku into thinking it's in another country altogether - one where there's an app that's showing the Super Bowl (like BBC iPlayer in the UK, for example).
Our number one VPN of choice right now is ExpressVPN - it just ticks all the boxes. It's fast, gives load of server choices, is a doddle to use and can unblock pretty much any streaming service going... handy for accessing geo-restricted streams.
But even then, things aren't easy. Roku doesn’t natively support VPNs, so you’d need to install the VPN on your router to be able to connect to it via Roku - clearly that's not going to happen if you're in a hotel somewhere! Head to the ExpressVPN website to find out more with its step-by-step guide (it also has excellent 24/7 live chat support) and have comfort that you can cancel your subscription within 30 days for a full refund if required.
What is Roku?
We're guessing that if you've landed on this page you'll probably have a pretty decent idea already, but let us fill in the blanks for the uninitiated. Roku is a media player that enables you to stream on-demand content by downloading apps for popular streaming services. It’s available in the form of a USB stick that can be connected to your TV or as a standalone television set called Roku TV.
Users don’t need a subscription to access Roku. However, you’d still need to be subscribed to individual streaming providers, such as Netflix or Hulu, to stream their content through it. Roku doesn’t produce any original content and is merely an efficient way to stream content from other streaming services on your TV.
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