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How to watch Super Bowl 50 on your Mac, iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV

Last updated

It's Super Bowl weekend, and for cord cutters that usually means a visit to a bar or friend's house — but not this year, as NFL broadcast partner CBS has made the game available almost everywhere you look.

TL;DR: Download the official CBS Sports app or watch at CBSSports.com. They'll even have the same commercials!

If you're in America

Truthfully, it couldn't be simpler to watch Super Bowl 50 — roman numerals are out for this year, because "L" doesn't look good on a t-shirt — if you're inside the United States.

On your Apple TV, snag the official CBS Sports tvOS app that's currently featured in the App Store. If you don't see it on the front page, navigate to Search and look for "CBS Sports."

On your Mac, you can load up CBS's live stream in your web browser of choice. You can even shoot it to your television using AirPlay if you've got an Apple TV 2 or later and a Mac made after mid-2011.

On your iPhone or iPad, grab the CBS Sports app from the App Store if you're a Verizon Wireless customer — mobile streaming is exclusive to Verizon thanks to a sponsorship deal. Otherwise, much like the Mac, you should be able to access the stream through Safari and AirPlay the video to your favorite Apple TV-equipped set.

If you're somewhere else

If you're out of the country, the NFL has an official — if expensive — option for you. NFL GamePass will cost you $25 for the Super Bowl, but you'll also get access to footage of every game played between 2009 and 2014 until Feb. 17.

Watch the Latest from AppleInsider TV

If you'd rather go the free route via CBS, you'll need a VPN or smart DNS provider that can make CBS think you're in the U.S. There are a number of great options, but Unblock-Us and Unotelly are two of the most popular.

7 Comments

isilver 18 Years · 15 comments

Or fire up Periscope when the game has started!

icoco3 14 Years · 1474 comments

CBS Sports app will not stream on a phone per the description in the App Store.  Guess you can go the website route if you don't have an iPad or AppleTV.

supadav03 11 Years · 503 comments

No steaming on the phone unless you have Verizon. They have exclusive rights. If you do have Verizon, you can stream through the NFL app, not the CBS Sports app. 

crosslad 12 Years · 527 comments

I'll just watch it free on the BBC iplayer app in the uk. 

muppetry 14 Years · 3319 comments

One of those old-fashioned antenna thingies on the roof works pretty well too. And less compressed than the satellite and cable feeds.