This post was written in partnership with DISH.
Currently sitting in the middle of the Western Conference standings, the Sacramento Kings are angling for a spot in this year’s NBA Playoffs. And with players like De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis, it looks to be an exciting finish to the season.
Still, with about a month left in the regular season, the squad faces some tough match-ups in the coming weeks as they take on some of basketball’s hottest teams, including the Milwaukee Bucks and Boston Celtics. If you’re a Kings fan hoping to catch all of the action, here’s how to do it – with or without a cable subscription.
All of Sacramento's home games will air on NBC Sports California this season. Along with this, you’ll need a streaming platform carrying ESPN, TNT, ABC and NBA TV. This gives you access to some of the Kings’ bigger showdowns and any playoff contests if they make the postseason again.
With this in mind, here is a look at how each of the top streaming platforms compare in sports channel offerings:
DISH | DIRECTV STREAM | Fubo | Hulu + Live TV | Sling TV | YouTube TV | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NBC Sports California |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
||
ESPN |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
ABC |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
✔* |
✔ |
TNT |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
|
NBA TV |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
✔** |
✔ |
|
*local channels available only in select locations **available only in an add-on or upgraded package |
Priced at $84.99 per month, DISH Network’s base package comes with 190+ channels, including ESPN, ABC and TNT. You can also tune into NBA TV by upgrading to a higher-tier DISH Network plan, which include 240+ channels and cost $104.99+ per month.
As a subscriber, you’ll also get access to the DISH Anywhere app. With it, you can watch live games and programs, as well as on-demand content and DVR recordings from your compatible device. DISH Network offers several DVR options, including the Hopper 3, which lets you record up to 16 shows at once.
DISH Network doesn’t carry NBC Sports California, so you won’t be able to watch every single Kings game if you’re a Sacramento-based fan. However, if you live in another market, you can sign up for NBA League Pass to watch the team’s games.
Kings fans will find that DIRECTV STREAM is satisfying since it carries NBC Sports California, ESPN, ABC, TNT and NBA TV. This means you’ll have the ability to stream every game live, barring any blackout restrictions. You’ll want to select the Choice package, starting from $108.99 per month, as it includes all regional sports networks like NBC Sports California.
Moreover, DIRECTV STREAM offers unlimited recordings. And you can house other apps through its platforms. So, if you’re an avid NBA fan and have an NBA League Pass subscription, you can access it from this service. Overall, DIRECTV STREAM is one of the best options for Sacramento fans since it has all the channels you need.
Fubo also gives Kings fans a way to stream many games live. Its base plan comes with over 100 channels, 1,000 hours of cloud DVR and the ability to stream from 10 devices at the same time for $79.99 per month. You can also get a seven-day free trial of Fubo.
Kings fans will love the fact that the platform carries NBC Sports California, ESPN, ABC and NBA TV. However, you’ll need to sign up for one of Fubo’s add-ons (for an additional $7.99+ per month) to get access to NBA TV. If you live outside of the California capital, you can get an NBA League Pass subscription ($14.99 per month) to watch Kings games.
The only downside is that Fubo doesn’t have TNT. This means you might miss a few primetime and playoff games. Overall, this is a good service if you don’t mind missing a few live games.Hulu + Live TV offers over 95 live TV channels and unlimited recording space for $76.99 per month. Kings fans will find the streaming platform favorable, as it has ESPN, NBC Sports California, ABC and TNT.
The service doesn’t have NBA TV, but you can always get this with a standalone subscription to NBA League Pass. (You can’t purchase or watch NBA League Pass through Hulu + Live TV.)Ultimately, this is a great service if you want to combine the thrill of streaming the Kings live while also having access to Hulu’s awesome library of on-demand content.
Sling TV gives Kings fans a way to stream games affordably. Packages start from $40 per month and include 50 hours of DVR and optional add-ons for entertainment, sports and news viewers. For Kings fans, you’ll need the Sling Orange package, as it contains ESPN and TNT.
For more coverage, you can add the Sports Extra package. For $11 per month, you’ll gain access to 10 sports channels, including NBA TV. Not only that, you'll have access to beIN SPORTS, MLB Network, the Golf Channel, and so many more.
Meanwhile, the platform doesn’t carry NBC Sports California, which means you’ll miss practically every home game. For this reason alone, the platform makes sense if you’re an out-of-market fan and plan to supplement it with an NBA League Pass subscription.
YouTube TV is one of the best streaming platforms for sports fans. You gain access to over 100 channels and unlimited recordings for $72.99 plus taxes.
Kings fans will find the service offers everything you need. The platform carries NBC Sports California, ESPN, TNT, ABC and NBA TV. NBA TV is great because you can keep up to date with all league news, watch riveting documentaries and catch replays of your favorite Kings games. Along with DIRECTV STREAM, YouTube TV is among the best options for Kings fans.
If you don’t live near Sacramento and want access to all Kings games, then NBA League Pass is a wise option to consider. It allows you to stream out-of-market games live, catch full game archives and much more.
The base plan is $14.99 per month and allows you to stream up to four games at once from one device. NBA League Pass Premium is $22.99 per month, gives you access to stream from three devices, and you can watch in-arena content when the broadcast goes to commercial breaks.
Several streaming services (including DIRECTV STREAM, Fubo and Sling TV) air Sacramento Kings games. Subscriptions start as low as $40 per month.
There are multiple ways to watch NBC Sports California – with or without cable. The easiest way is to stream the channel through a platform like Fubo, Hulu + Live TV or YouTube TV.
No, NBC Sports California isn’t on Peacock. However, you can tune in through streaming services like DIRECTV STREAM and Hulu + Live TV.