So, you’re a cord-cutter and a race fan, but how exactly were you planning on watching one of the world’s greatest open-wheel races?
The Indianapolis 500 is one of the year’s most significant motorsport events. Like most motorsports events, it’s getting tougher to watch if you’re a cord-cutter. We’re here to help you with that. Here’s how to watch the Indy 500 today.
The first thing you have to know if you’re planning on getting your Indy on is when you actually need to sit down and watch it. The 500 will begin at 12:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, May 26. The 500 is named for the length of the race in miles, which works out to around 200 laps around the famed Brickyard.
The easiest way for you to tune in online is if you have a cable subscription already, then it’s just a matter of signing onto NBC’swebsite with your login information and you’re all set. The odds are good though that if you’re reading this, you don’t have a cable subscription. So what can you do?
STREAMINGOPTIONS FOR THE INDY 500
| Service | Starting monthly cost (USD) | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Hulu Live | $44.99 at Hulu | Access to hundreds of shows and movies including original programming from Hulu plus all the live TV channels you probably want anyway |
| YouTube TV | $49.99 at YouTube | A huge variety of live TV channels plus the ability to add on more premium channels like Sundance and Showtime |
| FuboTV | $54.99 at FuboTV | One of the largest selections of live streaming channels, but you have to pay extra for things like DVR storage |
| DirecTV Now | $50 or $70 at DirecTVNow | Huge variety of live channels, including HBO and the DVR storage is included |
| Sling TV | $25 at SlingTV | At just $25 for all of Slings available channels, this is easily the most affordable streaming service here, but make sure NBC is available in your area |
| IMS Stream | Free | You can see what’s going on at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and that’s it |
One of the best ways to get live TV without a subscription is with the Hulu Live package. It’s not cheap at $44.99 per month, but it is an option. The other bonus of this program is that it includes a chunk of DVR space so if you want to prolong the magic, you can record the 500 and watch it again, like a weirdo. It also includes a subscription to regular ol’ Hulu, which has been pumping out some great original programming lately.
The next choice is with YouTube TV. This costs around $49.99 per month, and the NBC Sports package is included with your monthly fee. The catch is that the NBC Sports deal isn’t available everywhere, so you’ll want to double-check and make sure that you can get it where you live. Like Hulu, you can also DVR shows for later.
You can also choose to go with something like FuboTV. It’s another monthly subscription, this time it’s $54.99, but you get access to a bunch of channels, and it’s got a free trial offer that some people (not us, obviously) would be able to take advantage of to maybe see some hot wheel-to-wheel racing.
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Another pricey option, but one that gives you a lot of other TV-watching opportunities (including HBO) is DirecTV Now. Its standard package offers you 45 channels for $50 per month. There’s an upgraded package with more sports and movies for $70 per month, too. The cool thing about DirecTV Now is that you don’t need to have a DirecTV satellite package. It’s available as a standalone online subscription.
Sling TVÂ is another monthly option, but unlike the others, it’s got a sub-$30 cost, and that is awesome. Again you get a bunch of channels, and your game console probably has an app for it that you can download. The downside is that, once again, NBC Sports is only available in some markets. Double-check before you commit.
Finally, those with naught but lint in their pockets and a dream in their hearts can tune into the Indianapolis Motor Speedway livestream. It’s free, it’s streamable pretty much anywhere, and we’re betting the coverage will be OK at the very least.
Honorable mention goes to the HDHomeRun by Silicon Dust. This little gizmo allows you to watch live TV on your Apple TV or the like. The downside is that they start at around $70 and you need to buy a separate digital TV antenna.
Still, it’s not subscription-based, so you can enjoy all the broadcast TV you want, indefinitely. You can also install Silicon Dust’s app on your phone or your computer to stream live TV to those devices as long as you have their hardware set up and receiving in your home.
Finally, if you want to truly be a baller, go to the race. General admission is only $35, and you get the bonus of experiencing one of the world’s great motorsports events in person. You’ll have to figure out how to get to Indianapolis, but that can be another website’s problem.
