There are many Philadelphia Eagles fans who do not have access to ESPN but still want to watch their favorite team play. With ESPN being the exclusive broadcaster of Monday Night Football, that leaves fans searching for alternative ways to watch the Eagles on Monday night. The good news is there are multiple options to catch the action without a premium cable subscription. Here are the best ways to watch the Eagles game without ESPN access.
Use an Over-the-Air TV Antenna
One of the easiest and most affordable ways to watch NFL games for free is with an over-the-air (OTA) TV antenna. All Monday Night Football games broadcast on ESPN are also simulcast on a local ABC affiliate in the team’s home market. That means using an antenna can pull in ABC to watch the Eagles game in the Philadelphia area.
An OTA antenna connects to your TV and receives free local broadcast channels like ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox. The quality HD broadcast comes in crystal clear and it only requires a one-time purchase of the antenna hardware. There are no monthly service fees to pay.
Antennas come in all shapes and sizes nowadays from large roof-mounted units to small indoor solutions. A newer flat panel antenna can sit in a window and pull in channels. Check your address online at sites like AntennaWeb.org and TVFool.com to see what stations are available in your area before buying. Get an amplified antenna if you live far from broadcast towers.
Pros of OTA Antennas
- One-time cost for equipment, no monthly fees
- Access to dozens of free channels
- Local sports like Monday Night Football in HD quality
Cons of OTA Antennas
- Placement and setup can be tricky
- Weather may occasionally impact reception
- Only useful if local team plays on Monday night
Watch on Streaming Live TV Services
Live TV streaming services have become extremely popular over the past few years. Platforms like YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, FuboTV, and others let you stream live television on a variety of devices. These services function much like traditional cable or satellite, just delivered over the internet.
Most streaming packages include ESPN to watch Monday Night Football. But there are a couple options that allow Eagles fans to stream games without paying for ESPN access.
Use Locast (Free)
Locast is a completely free streaming service available in over 35 US markets including Philadelphia and Harrisburg, PA. It streams local broadcast stations in HD quality over the internet. Since Monday Night Football airs on ABC, you can use Locast to stream the Eagles game in your area for free on any device.
Locast is able to operate for free due to its status as a nonprofit. But the service accepts donations and interrupt streams periodically asking for contributions.
Pros of Locast
- Totally free access with no fees
- Streams in HD quality
- Available on many devices
Cons of Locast
- Interruptions asking for donations
- Limited to 35 markets across the US
- Only useful if local team plays on Monday night
Subscribe to FuboTV ($70)
FuboTV is a streaming service that offers a package of over 120 sports, news and entertainment channels. The base Fubo Pro plan includes major broadcast networks like ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox. This means you can stream Monday Night Football via ABC without paying for the more expensive packages that include ESPN.
A Fubo Pro subscription starts at $69.99 per month. There’s no annual contract required so you can cancel anytime. Fubo is available on phones, tablets, computers, and streaming devices like Roku, Fire TV and Apple TV.
Pros of FuboTV
- Access to ABC and other sports channels
- No long term contract
- Wide device support
Cons of FuboTV
- More expensive than some alternatives
- No ESPN
- Must subscribe to larger package
Listen on Satellite or Internet Radio
Don’t need the video and just want to listen to the Eagles game live? Both SiriusXM satellite radio and internet radio providers like TuneIn offer play-by-play audio broadcasts of all NFL games.
With SiriusXM, get the SiriusXM Pro Football package that includes access to every NFL game from your car, phone or connected device. Sign up for a 3 or 6-month subscription if you just want Eagles access during the football season.
For internet radio, the TuneIn app and website offer live radio broadcasts of NFL games. Access is free but you’ll need to create an account and listen on a phone, computer or tablet.
Neither option shows game video but it’s a nice way to follow the action and listen to commentary anywhere you go.
Pros of Radio Options
- Listen from anywhere
- Less expensive than full TV access
- No viewing required
Cons of Radio Options
- No video feed of the game
- Commentary only, no visual component
- Satellite radio requires a paid subscription
Go to a Sports Bar
When all else fails, head to your local sports bar to watch the Eagles on Monday Night Football. Almost every sports bar has ESPN access and TVs dedicated to the big Monday night game.
Call ahead to confirm a bar is showing the Eagles game if you want to scout your options. But any lively sports bar with multiple TVs is likely airing Monday Night Football.
Pros of Sports Bars
- No access required – just show up
- Food and drinks available
- Lively football atmosphere
Cons of Sports Bars
- No rewind/replay
- Crowds and noise can be distracting
- Buying food/drinks increases cost
Watch ESPN Free Trial with Streaming Service
If streaming services like FuboTV or Locast aren’t available in your area, there is another online option. Most top streaming platforms offer free trials for first time subscribers.
You can take advantage of a free trial that includes ESPN access to watch the Eagles game. Services like Hulu + Live TV and YouTube TV offer over a week of free streaming.
Just be sure to cancel the trial before you get charged a fee. While not a complete free option, it does provide free Eagles access for one Monday night game.
Pros of Free Trials
- Easy access on mobile devices and TV platforms
- Quality HD streams
- Cancel before being charged any fees
Cons of Free Trials
- Requires canceling before end of trial
- May need to provide credit card info
- Access limited to about one week
Use the ESPN App and Someone Else’s Login
If you know someone who pays for ESPN access, ask to use their TV provider login credentials to watch through the ESPN app. The ESPN app allows streaming if you have a qualifying cable or streaming package with ESPN channels.
Stream the Eagles game live using their username/password login through the app on mobile, TV platforms, and more. Just make sure the person is willing to share their account information first.
Pros of Using Someone Else’s ESPN Login
- Totally free access
- Stream on tons of supported devices
- HD quality feeds
Cons of Using Someone Else’s ESPN Login
- Access depends on their ongoing subscription
- Need to coordinate login details
- They may change password at any time
Conclusion
Die-hard Eagles fans have plenty of ways to watch their team every Monday night even without access to ESPN. Getting an HD antenna or installing Locast provides free streaming access in local markets. FuboTV offers ABC as well in an affordable package. And you always have radio broadcast or sports bar options too.
With a little planning ahead of the Eagles Monday night game, fans can put together a viewing strategy. Now get your green gear on, have some wings ready, and get set to cheer on the Eagles!