Here is everything you need to know about watching sporting events on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, including TV and streaming options for games.

DIRECTV is our top pick for watching basketball live for free — its five-day free trial includes ESPN (plus every other channel you’ll need for the NBA season including local channels). When the trial is over, you’ll pay as low as $49.99/month and gain access to over 90 live channels.

The Cleveland Cavaliers head to Madison Square Garden to battle the New York Knicks, kicking off a full slate of NBA games on Christmas Day. Find out how to watch for free.

The Entertainment streaming package includes over 90 channels, like ABC, FOX, CBS, ESPN, NBC, ESPN, FS1, SEC Network, ACC Network, and more for sports fans. Not to mention, Hallmark Channel, AMC, Freeform, and Lifetime are also included for even more entertainment. This deal is only around through Jan. 6 for new customers.

DIRECTV is our top pick for watching basketball live for free — its five-day free trial includes ESPN (plus every other channel you’ll need for the NBA season including local channels). When the trial is over, you’ll pay as low as $49.99/month and gain access to over 90 live channels.

Maybe the best streaming deals are always ad-free. Here are the current best bundles from HBO Max, ESPN, Disney+, and Apple TV+.

Most games in the 2025-26 College Football Playoff are airing on ESPN or ESPN on ABC, but two games are being broadcast by TNT. If you don’t have cable, you’ll want to get a live TV streaming service that carries ESPN, ABC, and TNT to watch College Football Playoff games online.*