Here's How to Watch the Olympics No Matter Which Way You Get Your TV

By Chelsea Adelaine Hassler
POPSUGAR Photography | Emily Faulstitch
POPSUGAR Photography | Emily Faulstitch

The 2016 Olympic Games are just getting underway, but plenty has already happened. Team USA is winning gold medals, we're learning about circular bruises, and we're seeing a whole lot of hot shirtless male athletes. If you're not watching the show in Rio, we highly recommend you tune in. No matter how you get your TV (hello, fellow cord cutters!), there are many ways to get access to up-to-the-minute coverage. It's not always easy to figure out what to do, so we've broken down five options to watch the rest of the games.

  1. PlayStation Vue (free one week trial, then $30-$45 per month):
    Don't have a PlayStation? No problem — all you need to access Vue is a Roku, Chromecast, or Amazon Fire device. Just sign up for a PlayStation Network account and you're set. Bonus: the company is giving away free trials right now! Once signed up, you'll be able to watch all the events in real-time via the channels or the NBC Sports app on your device. You can also watch the day's events later on in the evening — an option not every service allows.
  2. Sling Blue (free one-week trial, then $25 per month):
    Not feeling the Vue experience or price? Sling Blue offers a very similar service to the PlayStation option, as you can watch it on all your devices. However, Sling is compatible with Microsoft's Xbox but not the PlayStation. Keep in mind as well that Sling only allows you to watch live — not events you may have missed.
  3. Old-Fashioned Antenna ($10-$150):
    If you're really not into all the apps, devices, and subscriptions, there is another option: take it old school and get yourself an antenna to watch TV over the airwaves — free of charge. Key point to remember: this option is completely contingent on the reception you can get wherever you're planning to watch the games. If you're willing to take a risk for the cheapest option, this is the way to go!
  4. Bars/Restaurants (price based on what you eat or drink):
    Never underestimate the power of a good Google search! Many bars and restaurants across the country are actively advertising which events they'll be showing and it's a great way to meet new people or gather with old friends.
  5. NBC (price varies based on cable provider):
    If you're still among the corded, you can watch on one of the 11 NBC-owned channels, stream on the NBC website, or stream through the NBC Sports app on your smartphone, tablet, Apple TV, Roku, Fire TV, or Chromecast. The biggest selling point here is that it's the only way that you can access the Olympic feeds in 4K definition and VR via Oculus Rift, if you're into that type of experience.