Paramount Plus does not carry the Super Bowl
Paramount Plus does not broadcast the Super Bowl. The network that owns Paramount Plus — Paramount Global — does own CBS, and CBS does air the Super Bowl in some years. But Paramount Plus itself does not stream it, even when CBS has the broadcast rights.
The Super Bowl rotates among the major networks each year. CBS, Fox, NBC, and ESPN take turns. When CBS has the game, you can watch it on CBS.com or the CBS app if you have a cable login, but not through Paramount Plus. The same applies to the other networks — each one streams the Super Bowl through its own platform, not through Paramount Plus.
Key Takeaways
- Paramount Plus does not stream the Super Bowl, even in years when CBS (which Paramount owns) has broadcast rights.
- The Super Bowl airs on CBS, Fox, NBC, or ESPN depending on the year, and each network streams it through its own app or website.
- CBS.com and the CBS app require a cable login to stream the Super Bowl when CBS has the game.
- Free streaming options exist through the broadcast network's website if you have a cable subscription, but you cannot watch through Paramount Plus.
Which network has the Super Bowl this year
The Super Bowl broadcast rights rotate on a four-year cycle. CBS aired it in 2024. Fox will have it in 2025. NBC will have it in 2026. ESPN will have it in 2027. After that, the cycle repeats.
You can confirm which network has the current year's game by checking the official Super Bowl website or searching for "Super Bowl [year]" — the network name will appear in the results. Once you know which network has it, you can find the streaming option through that network's app or website.
How to watch the Super Bowl on CBS when CBS has the broadcast
When CBS holds the broadcast rights, you can watch through CBS.com or the CBS app on your phone, tablet, or streaming device. Both require you to sign in with a cable or satellite TV login — the same username and password you use for your cable provider's account.
If you do not have a cable login, CBS sometimes offers a limited free stream, but this varies by year and is not may provide. Check CBS.com closer to the game date to see what options are available. Some cable providers also offer free streaming through their own apps without requiring a Paramount Plus subscription.
Watching the Super Bowl on Fox, NBC, or ESPN
When Fox has the Super Bowl, stream it through Fox.com or the Fox app with a cable login. NBC uses NBC.com or the NBC app. ESPN uses ESPN.com or the ESPN app, also with a cable login.
All three networks occasionally offer limited free streaming options, but these are not may provide and change year to year. Your best approach is to visit the network's website a few days before the game and look for streaming instructions. If you have a cable subscription, you will almost always have access through the network's app or website.
Free or low-cost ways to watch without cable
If you do not have a cable subscription, your options narrow. Some years, one of the networks streams the Super Bowl free to anyone, but this is not standard. Check the official Super Bowl website and the broadcast network's site in the week before the game to see if free streaming is offered.
Sling TV, YouTube TV, Hulu with Live TV, and other live TV streaming services carry the broadcast networks and cost between $40 and $75 per month. If you sign up before the Super Bowl and cancel after, you can watch the game for the price of one month. Some of these services offer a free trial period, though trial lengths vary.
Why Paramount Plus does not have the Super Bowl
Paramount Plus focuses on entertainment, drama, comedy, and movies — content that Paramount produces or owns. The Super Bowl is a live sports event that requires separate broadcast rights. Those rights go to the networks themselves (CBS, Fox, NBC, ESPN), not to their streaming services.
Even though Paramount Global owns both Paramount Plus and CBS, the Super Bowl rights are tied to CBS as a broadcast network, not to Paramount Plus as a streaming platform. This separation is intentional — the NFL sells broadcast rights and streaming rights as separate products, and the broadcast networks have chosen to keep the Super Bowl on their traditional channels and their own apps rather than moving it to subscription services.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I watch the Super Bowl on Paramount Plus if I have a cable login?
No. Paramount Plus does not stream the Super Bowl under any circumstances, even if you have a cable subscription. You must watch through the broadcast network's own app or website — CBS.com, Fox.com, NBC.com, or ESPN.com, depending on which network has the game that year.
Does Paramount Plus ever get Super Bowl streaming rights in the future?
There is no announced plan for Paramount Plus to stream the Super Bowl. The NFL has kept the game on traditional broadcast networks and their apps. If this changes, it would be announced well in advance, so check the official Super Bowl website or Paramount Plus's news section closer to the game date.
What if I have Paramount Plus but no cable subscription?
Paramount Plus alone will not let you watch the Super Bowl. You would need to either get a cable subscription, sign up for a live TV streaming service like Sling TV or YouTube TV, or check whether the broadcast network is offering free streaming that year.
Is there a way to watch the Super Bowl without paying anything?
Some years, the broadcast network streams the game free to anyone, but this is not may provide. Check the network's website and the official Super Bowl site a few days before the game. If free streaming is not available, a one-month subscription to a live TV service is usually the cheapest option.