How to Watch Wimbledon 2018 Live on Apple TV without Cable

By Leanne Hays Updated 05/15/2018

The 2018 Wimbledon Championships begin on Monday, July 2 and end on Sunday, July 15 at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in London, England. Wimbledon is the oldest tennis tournament in the world, and the only major played on grass. The BBC owns broadcasting rights to Wimbledon through the 2020 tournament, so if you live in Great Britain, you can enjoy the all the matches. For those of us who can't access live BBC just by flipping on the television, there are other alternatives. Let's get started learning how to live-stream Wimbledon to our Apple TVs without cable, so we can catch all the matches we've been waiting for!

Live Streaming Wimbledon 2018

ESPN took over the US broadcasting rights for Wimbledon in 2012, and since then has broken up coverage of the tournament between ESPN and ESPN 2. This means, of course, that we'll need to find a live streaming option that carries both of these channels so we can catch all the matches! Remember, even if you can't catch every match live, the beauty of many of the streaming services we'll learn about is their ability to archive content to watch another time. This is perfect if you have work or other obligations, or if you'd just like to record a favorite player in action so you can watch again later.

Photo Courtesy: wimbledon.com

Watch Wimbledon on ESPN+

Compatibility: iPhone, iPad, Apple TV 4th generation.

Cost: Seven-day free trial, then $4.99 a month.

Pros: Very inexpensive, offers a variety of content.

Cons: Only offers select matches.

The long-awaited ESPN+ app offers select Wimbledon matches at a very reasonable price. If you're not determined to watch all the Wimbledon coverage and would just like a sampling of the tournament, this is a great choice.

Catch the Wimbledon Tournament on DirecTV Now

Compatibility: 4th-generation Apple TV.

Cost: $35 per month for the lowest cost package.

Pros: Seven-day, free-trial period. Streaming included for AT&T Wireless Customers.

Cons: Coverage varies by region.

DirecTV Now is DirecTV's streaming offering, and I've learned that the first tier, $35 a month plan includes ESPN and ESPN2. This means that you can watch every Wimbledon match with this one streaming service. Check with DirecTV Now to see which channels are streaming in your area. If you decide to go with this option, here's a tutorial on how to set up DirecTV Now on your Apple TV.

Watch Wimbledon Live with Sling TV

Compatibility: 4th-generation Apple TV.

Cost: Sling TV Orange Plan, $20 per month; Blue Plan, $25 per month; Orange and Blue, $40 per month.

Pros: Seven-day, free-trial period with no commitment.

Con: Channel availability varies by region.

Sling TV is an à la carte, streaming tv service that allows viewers to pay far less than a traditional cable subscription would cost. Customers can choose Sling Orange, Sling Blue, or both. As an added bonus, Sling offers a Cloud DVR option for $5 a month. This way you can record Wimbledon matches and watch them later if you have work or family plans to accommodate. If you live in the right area, Sling offers ESPN and ESPN2 when you purchase the Orange package for $20 a month. Once again, offerings vary from region to region; make sure both ESPN and ESPN2 are available in your area before signing up.

Here's a step-by-step guide to help you find and install the Sling TV app on your Apple TV.

Stream Wimbledon 2018 Live on Apple TV with PlayStation Vue

Compatability: 4th-generation Apple TV running tvOS 10.0 and up.

Cost: $39.99 per month.

Pros: Stream on up to five devices at once.

Cons: Some channels are restricted outside of your home network, not all matches are available to view on your iPhone.

You don't need a PlayStation to subscribe to PlayStation Vue, a live-streaming TV service that includes cloud DVR and the ability to stream on five devices at once. The $39.99 a month Access package includes ESPN, ESPN 2, as well as BBC America in my area. This means all the Wimbledon matches, plus the possibility of some extra features and coverage on BBC America. Check with PlayStation Vue to see which channels you can access from your area to make sure you can catch the entire tournament.

Click here to start a PlayStation Vue account before setting up the app on your Apple TV.

Watch Wimbledon 2018 with Hulu Live on your Apple TV

Compatibility: 4th-generation Apple TV.

Cost: seven-day, free trial, then $39.99 a month.

Pros: Watch on two devices at once.

Cons: Beta version.

Hulu makes the jump and joins the live-streaming tv game with their Hulu Live offering, which includes access to the entire Hulu streaming library. If you live in the right area, $39.99 a month will get you ESPN and ESPN2. A few cautions, though; Hulu warns right up front that this is a beta version and therefore subject to bugs and hiccups, so if you want to ensure the smoothest possible streaming of Wimbledon 2018, this could be slightly risky. As well, Hulu customers have complained about commercials with adult themes before, during, and after family and sports content, so if you're watching the tournament with kids, Hulu might not be the best choice for your family.

If you live in an area where Hulu Live includes ESPN and ESPN2, you can learn how to set it up on your Apple TV here.

View the Wimbledon Stream with the WatchESPN App

Compatibility: iPhone, iPad, iPod touch.

Cost: Free.

Pros: Use AirPlay to stream content to your Apple TV, or catch

Cons: You must have a subscription to a streaming provider that offers TNT or ESPN to watch those network's games.

The WatchESPN app offers free streaming from ESPN, ESPN2, and every other channel under the ESPN umbrella if you're subscribed to a streaming provider that offers ESPN. You'll be able to catch not only live sports but also highlights and sports news. This is a great option for catching stats, highlights, and analysis about the tournament on your iPhone or iPad as you watch the matches on your Apple TV.

I hope that one of these options will help you live stream all the Wimbledon matches you'd like to see on your Apple TV!

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