The Super Bowl is not on Apple TV — it airs on CBS, NBC, or Fox depending on the year
Apple TV does not carry the Super Bowl. The game broadcasts on one of three networks: CBS, NBC, or Fox, rotating each year. You can watch it on the network's app or website if you have a cable subscription, or through a live TV streaming service that includes that network.
The network changes annually. In 2025, the Super Bowl airs on CBS. In 2026, it moves to NBC. In 2027, it goes to Fox. Each network owns the broadcast rights for that specific year, so there is no single streaming home for the game across multiple years.
Key Takeaways
- The Super Bowl rotates between CBS, NBC, and Fox each year, and Apple TV does not hold the rights to broadcast it.
- You can stream the game through the network's own app (CBS, NBC, or Fox) if you have a cable login or a live TV streaming subscription.
- Live TV streaming services like YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, and Sling TV carry the network airing that year's Super Bowl.
- The network's free streaming option may be available on game day, though some networks restrict it to cable subscribers.
How to watch through the network's app or website
Each network that broadcasts the Super Bowl offers its own app and website. CBS uses the CBS app and Paramount+. NBC uses the NBC app and Peacock. Fox uses the Fox app and Fox Now. On game day, you can open the app, find the Super Bowl broadcast, and stream it live.
Most networks require a cable login to watch live. You enter your cable provider name and account details, and the app confirms your subscription. Some networks offer a free stream on game day without a login, but this varies by year and network. Check the network's website a few days before the game to see what they require.
Using a live TV streaming service
A live TV streaming service is a subscription that includes cable channels, including whichever network is broadcasting that year's Super Bowl. YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, and Sling TV all carry CBS, NBC, and Fox. You subscribe to the service, log in on game day, and watch the broadcast live through their app or website.
These services cost between $55 and $85 per month, depending on which channels you choose. Most offer a free trial period — usually five to seven days — so you can watch the Super Bowl without paying if you sign up shortly before the game and cancel after. Check the current trial length on each service's website, as it changes.
What Apple TV+ offers instead
Apple TV+ is Apple's subscription streaming service, separate from the Apple TV app. It carries original shows and films, not live sports or broadcast television. The Super Bowl will not appear on Apple TV+ because Apple does not hold the broadcast rights.
The Apple TV app itself is different — it is a hub that can display content from other services you subscribe to, including live TV apps. If you add the CBS, NBC, or Fox app to your Apple TV device, you can watch the Super Bowl through those apps on your TV. But the game itself comes from the network, not from Apple.
Watching on your TV, phone, or computer
You can watch the Super Bowl on any device that has the network's app or a live TV streaming service. On a smart TV, read the CBS, NBC, or Fox app from your TV's app store, or read YouTube TV or Hulu + Live TV. On a phone or tablet, use the same apps. On a computer, go to the network's website or the streaming service's website and log in.
If you have an Apple TV device (the small box that connects to your TV), you can read the network's app or a live TV service app and watch on your television. The Apple TV device itself does not broadcast the Super Bowl, but it can run the apps that do.
Free options and restrictions
Some years, the network broadcasting the Super Bowl offers a free stream without a cable login. This is not may provide — it depends on the network's decision that year. CBS has offered free streaming in the past. NBC and Fox have been more restrictive, requiring a cable login or a paid subscription to Peacock or Fox Now.
Check the network's website about a week before the game to see whether they are offering a free stream. If they are not, your cheapest option is usually a live TV streaming service's free trial, which you can cancel after the game.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I watch the Super Bowl on Apple TV+ without a cable subscription?
No. Apple TV+ does not carry the Super Bowl. You need either a cable subscription to the network airing the game, a live TV streaming service, or access to a free stream if the network offers one that year.
Which network is broadcasting the Super Bowl this year?
In 2025, CBS broadcasts the Super Bowl. In 2026, NBC airs it. In 2027, Fox carries it. The network rotates each year, so check the current year to know where to watch.
Can I use a VPN to watch the Super Bowl if I don't have a cable subscription?
No. Networks and streaming services block VPNs, and using one to bypass their restrictions violates their terms of service. Your account can be suspended or cancelled if detected.
Will the Super Bowl be on any free streaming service?
The network airing that year's game may offer a free stream on game day, but it is not may provide. YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV sometimes offer free trials that cover the Super Bowl, though trial lengths change. Check each service's current offer before signing up.
Can I watch the Super Bowl on the Apple TV app?
The Apple TV app can display the network's app if you read it, but the game itself streams through CBS, NBC, or Fox — not through Apple TV. You need the network's app or a live TV service app running on your Apple TV device.