Watching Live Sports in Florida on TV and Streaming

Florida has a lot going for it. No income tax, great weather, beautiful beaches, and, of course, a ton of sports. Three NFL teams, two MLB teams, two NBA teams, two MLS teams, and two NHL teams call Florida home, not to mention the long list of major college programs. From Miami to Tampa Bay, Orlando to Jacksonville, there are plenty of high-profile teams to choose from.

The problem is that there are so many different channels, both regional and national, to wrap your head around if you want to follow them through a season. So, our team has been digging into all things Floridian TV and has prepared this guide so that you know exactly how to watch Florida’s major sports teams on TV or online. If you are trying to figure out how to watch Miami Dolphins games without cable in Florida or how to stream Tampa Bay Rays games in Tampa, you’re in the right place.

Regional TV channels and streaming services in Florida

Regional Sports Networks:

FanDuel Sports Network Florida & FanDuel Sports Network Sun

The primary Regional Sports Networks (RSNs) servicing the state of Florida are FanDuel Sports Network Florida and FanDuel Sports Network Sun. If these names sound unfamiliar to you, that’s because they used to be called Fox Sports Florida/Sun and Bally Sports Florida/Sun. We have a full breakdown of which teams are on each channel later in this guide.

While NFL action is reserved for the national broadcasting channels, these two RSNs are home to plenty of games featuring the NBA’s Miami Heat and Orlando Magic, and the MLB’s Tampa Bay Rays and Miami Marlins. In other words, if you are a fan of multiple sports in Florida, then you’ll want access to these channels, with each also covering content from some of the major college programs, such as the Florida Gators and Florida State Seminoles.

Unfortunately, the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning are no longer featured in that list of teams covered by both RSNs. They have both cut ties with Bally Sports over the last couple of seasons. The good news is that their NHL games are now available on free over-the-air broadcasts via an agreement with Scripps Sports. This is great news for all hockey fans, as this should considerably increase accessibility.

Both of the Florida-based RSNs are available by direct streaming subscriptions via the FanDuel Sports Network App. This allows people to stream in-market games without cable, on the move. 

 

National Networks & Streaming Providers:

With so many high-profile teams in the state, Florida fans are probably already aware that their teams will regularly be featured on national networks. NFL games air on CBS, FOX, NBC, and ESPN, in addition to other streaming sites such as Amazon Prime and Apple TV+. Similarly, those same major national broadcasters will be featuring select high-profile games for most teams from other leagues throughout the season, meaning for at least a few games, you will want access to those major channels, depending on your team’s schedule.

Fortunately, all of those major broadcasters feature in the vast majority of cable, satellite, and streaming provider’s packages, meaning you can quite easily find a package that will get you access to all nationally broadcast games, alongside a wide array of other sports, entertainment, and news channels.

Apple TV+ has made significant steps into the world of sports streaming, not only showcasing select NFL games, but also hosting MLS Season Pass, which makes it the official home of Major League Soccer. This makes it an essential subscription for any fans of Orlando City and Inter Miami.

 

Other Local Sports Channels:

It’s not just national broadcasters that are joining in the fun though. Many college games appear on conference networks such as SEC Network (Florida Gators), or ACC Network (for Florida State and Miami). 

 

How to Watch Every Florida Sports Team on TV and Streaming

Each major American sports league has its own unique arrangement with both national and regional broadcasters. In this segment, we will break down each sport and the corresponding channels for each team.

NFL: Life is easiest for NFL fans in Florida. There is no need to worry about regional sports networks or channels, as all games are carried on major networks, such as CBS, FOX, NBC, or ESPN. The Miami Dolphins and Jacksonville Jaguars, being AFC teams, are primarily on CBS, whereas the NFC-based Tampa Bay Buccaneers are primarily featured on Fox, however, these conference splits are far less prominent between the two broadcasters now.

The highest profile games each week are split across NBC for Sunday Night Football and ESPN for Monday Night Football, with Amazon Prime getting Thursday Nights. This means fans will need to get access to these channels if they want to see their teams in Prime Time. In the case of Amazon Prime’s Thursday games, an additional subscription will be needed, on top of whichever TV or streaming provider you opt for.

  • Miami Dolphins: Games primarily air on CBS and occasionally Fox. They are also due to appear twice on Prime Video in the 2025 season, and once on NFL Network, as part of the International Series. See our full Miami Dolphins TV Guide here.
  • Jacksonville Jaguars: Also in the AFC, the majority of Jacksonville Jaguars games are broadcast on CBS, but some will feature on Fox. Sunday Night Football in Week 5 will require ESPN, and fans will need NFL Network for their London game in Week 7. Click here for the full Jacksonville Jaguars TV Guide.
  • Tampa Bay Buccaneers: As an NFC team, the majority of Bucs games air on FOX, with some games featuring on NBC. Prime Time action kicks off in Week 2 on Monday Night Football against the Texans, so ESPN will be needed, along with NBC and Prime Video later in the year. View the full Tampa Bay Buccaneers TV Guide here.

 

NBA: Transitioning into the NBA schedule is when Florida’s Regional Sports Networks come into play. The majority of Miami Heat and Orlando Magic games air on FanDuel Sports Network Florida or FanDuel Sports Network Sun, while high-profile matchups appear nationally on ESPN, TNT, or ABC.

 

MLB: Baseball loyalty in Florida is split between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Miami Marlins. Both team’s regular season clashes are televised on the regional sports networks in the state. Nationally televised games are shown on ESPN on some Sundays, and Saturdays on FOX, as well as some special broadcasts on FS1 and MLB Network.

 

MLS: Major League Soccer mixed things up significantly a couple of years ago, culminating in all MLS games featuring on Apple TV’s MLS Season Pass. This includes Orlando City SC and Inter Miami CF, with the added bonus of no blackout restrictions to worry about. Select MLS games do feature on FOX or FS1 each week as well, but you will still be able to view these on MLS Season pass.

  • Orlando City SC: All Orlando City matches are streamed live and on-demand on MLS Season Pass. View the full Orlando City SC TV Guide here.
  • Inter Miami CF: Lionel Messi’s presence on this roster means that Inter Miami do feature more frequently on FOX Sports than many other teams, but, don’t worry, you can still catch every single game live and on-demand on MLS League Pass. For more information, check out the full Inter Miami TV Guide here.

 

NHL: We differentiate from normal operating procedure again here for NHL action. Both major teams in Florida have divorced from the RSNs, instead striking new deals with Scripps Sports, which makes life far easier and cheaper for fans. Outside of regional broadcasts, national outlets such as ESPN, ABC, TNT, or NHL Network will be responsible for broadcasting the biggest games each week.

 

College Sports: There are some huge collegiate powerhouses based in the state of Florida, so for fans hoping to keep an eye on the up-and-coming talent, it’s important to know where to look. Some games will be featured on national outlets, but the majority of games will be hosted on conference-specific networks. Let’s break them down, team by team:

  • Florida Gators: SEC Network, CBS (SEC Game of the Week), ESPN
  • Florida State Seminoles: ACC Network, ABC, ESPN
  • Miami Hurricanes: ACC Network, ABC, ESPN
  • UCF Knights: ESPN, FOX, FS1, FS2

 

Best Cable TV and Streaming Provider for Florida Sports Fans

As we have pointed out in this guide, there are a lot of channels to keep an eye on if you want to be watching as much Floridian sport as possible. In our opinion, the best TV package for Florida Sports fans is DIRECTV (and DIRECTV STREAM), due to its extensive collection of Regional Sports Networks. The Choice Package features FanDuel Sports Network Florida and FanDuel Sports Network Sun, as well as the SEC Network, ACC Network, and all the major national broadcasters (CBS, FOX, NBC, and ESPN), for those high-profile games.

The cost of the Choice Package is $89.99 per month, but there are options for more expensive and extensive packages as well. All offer a vast array of sports, movies, TV shows, and more within their channel portfolio.

*Prices shown are accurate at the time of writing. Always verify with the provider for the latest offers.

 

FAQ: Watching Florida Sports on TV and Online

What is the best streaming service to watch Florida sports teams on?

DIRECTV Stream is the best for Florida sports fans because it includes FanDuel Sports Network Florida and Sun, as well as ACC and SEC Network.

 

How many major sports teams are there in Florida?

Florida has 11 major pro sports teams across the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, and MLS:

NFL:

  • Miami Dolphins
  • Tampa Bay Buccaneers
  • Jacksonville Jaguars

NBA:

  • Miami Heat
  • Orlando Magic

MLB:

  • Miami Marlins
  • Tampa Bay Rays

NHL:

  • Florida Panthers
  • Tampa Bay Lightning

MLS:

  • Orlando City SC
  • Inter Miami CF

 

Why can’t I find Bally Sports Florida?

Bally Sports Florida was rebranded as FanDuel Sports Network Florida in 2024.

 

How can I watch Miami Dolphins games in Florida without cable?

Watch Dolphins games on local CBS and FOX affiliates using an antenna or our recommended streaming service DIRECTV Stream. Alternatively, consider YouTube TV, Fubo TV, or, Hulu Live.

 

What is the best Cable TV provider for watching Miami Heat or Orlando Magic games?

DirecTV cable provides reliable access to FanDuel Sports Network, which carries most Heat and Magic games.