Q&A: Web, TV give football fans lots of ways to catch games

                                             

Offseason advances in mobile video have set up the 2012 season as one in which fans have unprecedented access to live video and other content. With more than half of U.S. consumers cradling a smartphone and nearly one-third with tablets, the NFL, TV networks, pay-TV services, wireless providers and colleges are scrambling to cater to football fans wherever they huddle.

Folks with Web-enabled "smart" TVs — about 10% of U.S. homes, Nielsen says — use sports apps about 25 times a month, reports the Diffusion Group. "That's almost once a day," says Colin Dixon, an analyst at the market strategy firm. "Sports is a big driver. They are among the most popular applications."

With college football starting tonight and the NFL kicking off next week, some answers to how to track your teams:

Q: Where can I watch NFL games other than on broadcast networks, ESPN and the NFL Network?

A: The big kahuna is the NFL Sunday Ticket package from DirecTV, which lets its subscribers watch every Sunday game — except those in your market — for $199.95. They can also watch eight at one time on NFL Mix, a DirecTV channel.

Subscribers can take their Sunday Ticket mobile by opting for the NFL Sunday Ticket Max package ($299.95), which lets you stream the live games to a computer and to Apple iOS and Android tablets and smartphones.

Often, fans have a game on their big screen with another flowing to a tablet or smartphone. "We always try to put ourselves in the shoes of the NFL fan," says Tom Brady, director of production and programming for NFL Digital Media.

Q: Does the NFL offer any other pay-per-view or online/mobile subscription for live games?

A: Those who cannot get DirecTV service can subscribe to the Sunday Ticket from DirecTV and get it via the PlayStation Network on Sony's PlayStation 3 ($299.95). For customers outside the U.S., NFL also sells live games online, called NFL Game Pass.

Monday Night Football can also be viewed on WatchESPN.com and on tablets using the WatchESPN app. The site and app require a subscription to Time Warner Cable, Bright House Networks, Verizon FiOS TV or Comcast Xfinity TV.

NBC will stream NFL Sunday Night Football games on NBCSports.com.

Q: Are there options for watching highlights and key parts of games?

A: NFL Network offers NFL RedZone, which shows every touchdown on Sunday afternoons. ESPN's Goal Line channel broadcasts live look-ins and highlights of college games. These are available only on some cable providers.

Q: Is there a way to watch NFL games after they've been played?

A: NFL's Game Rewind, available online and on a mobile app, lets you watch replays of games on your computer or tablet (starts at $34.99 for the season). Sunday games are available after the Sunday Night Football game telecast. The Monday Night Footballgames are available 24 hours after telecasts.

Q: What are some streaming options for live college football games?

A: CBSSports.com and the CBS Sports mobile app (only on Apple devices, for now) offer free streams of Saturday games, including this week's Navy-Notre Dame matchup, weekly SEC games and the SEC Championship.

ABC and the ESPN networks have more than 450 games on the schedule this year, many of which can be streamed live on WatchESPN.com and through the WatchESPN app.

The ESPN 3 network, available on WatchESPN.com, the WatchESPN app and Xbox Live, will have more than 350 games. ESPN 3 is available to Xbox Live Gold members with participating Internet service providers and to cable subscribers whose plans include ESPN. WatchESPN also includes ESPN's Goal Line's live video updates and analyses of college games in progress.

Q: Is it true that some NCAA athletic conferences are working on their own streaming services?

A: Yes. The new Pac-12 Networks channel rolled out its Pac-12 Now iPad app on Wednesday. But only the subscribers of Bright House, Cox and Time Warner (and soon, Comcast) can watch the national channel and six regional ones on the Web and through the new app. "I think it's the first time a network has launched on television with the ability to watch on the iPad and the Web at the same time," says David Aufhauser, Pac-12 Digital vice president.

The BTN2Go app (for iOS and Android) from the Big Ten Network provides live games and archived videos to pay-TV subscribers.

The Southeastern Conference will make all SEC teams' home games available on its site — secdigitalnetwork.com — 24 hours after they've been played. The condensed games will cut out commercials and halftime features.

Q: Is there a way to watch my alma mater's games?

A: Most schools don't offer live streaming. But Notre Dame games are streamed live on NBCSports.com, as well as on its app launching next month. The Longhorn Networkstreams University of Texas games via computer for Verizon FiOS and Grande Communications customers.

Brigham Young University is expanding its digital playing field this year at BYUtvsports.com by streaming live any games that are not on ESPN and offering archived games. Fans also can upload their own tailgate videos and earn fan rankings on the site.

BYUtv also has an iOS app, and its content also can be accessed using the Roku streaming-video device.