How-To Watch the Kentucky Derby

Published May 5, 2018 · Updated May 6, 2020

Cord Cutters can watch Live TV! Here is how-to watch the Kentucky Derby.

Twenty horses will race in the 144th running of the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 5, 2018.

Kentucky Derby coverage begins at 2:30 PM ET. The Kentucky Derby post time is 6:34 PM ET. The Kentucky Derby race time will start at 6:46 PM ET. Don’t be late! The race only lasts a few minutes!

The twenty horses racing are: Firenze Fire, Free Drop Billy, Promises Fulfilled, Flameaway, Audible, Good Magic, Justify, Lone Sailor, Hofburg, My Boy Jack, Bolt d’Oro, Enticed, Bravazo, Mendelssohn, Instilled Regard, Magnum Moon, Solomini, Vino Rosso, Noble Indy, and Combatant (alternate entry – Blended Citizen).

How-To Watch the Kentucky Derby 2018

The Kentucky Derby will be televised on NBC and NBCSN (NBC Sports Network).

Stream Live TV

Sling TV Blue: NBC (Select Markets – Check to see if NBC is available in your area.)
HULU Live TV: NBC (Select Markets – Enter your ZIP code to see the Live TV channels available in your area.)
DIRECTV NOW – Just Right Package: NBC (Select Markets – Check the DIRECTV NOW Channel Lookup page to see if NBC is available in your area.)
fuboTV: NBC (Select Markets – Check to see if NBC is available in your area: What local stations does fuboTV carry? )
YouTube TV: NBC (Select Markets)

Indoor or Outdoor TV Antenna

The easiest and cheapest way to NBC is by using an over-the-air (OTA) TV antenna. A TV antenna can receive FREE High-Definition digital broadcast signals from your local stations like ABC, NBC, CBS, CW, FOX, PBS, and more. However, with an antenna, you can’t get cable TV channels like HGTV, AMC, A&E, Hallmark, CNN, etc. If cable TV channels are important, you may need more than an antenna.

Check to see what stations are available in your area: Find out what FREE local HDTV channels are available in your area.

Here are several types and brands of indoor and outdoor TV antennas.

Use a DVR With a TV Antenna

Get the most out of your TV antenna with a DVR. Record Live TV from your TV antenna and watch shows later. TiVo and Tablo both have DVR models designed specifically for Cord Cutters with TV antennas. TiVo and Tablo DVRs are very popular with Cord Cutters because they are easy to set-up and use.

How-To Watch Live TV 2018

Live TV Streaming Subscriber Numbers

There is lots of evidence that the number of subscribers to streaming services is large and growing. Here is a breakout of the subscriber totals from the largest streaming TV entertainment and content providers.

Netflix – 56.7 Million Subscribers (125 Million Worldwide)
Hulu (Non-Live & Live) – 20 Million Subscribers
Sling TV – 2.2 Million subscribers
DIRECTV NOW – 1.2 Million subscribers
Playstation Vue (PS Vue) – 450,000 to 670,000 subscribers
Hulu Live TV (Only Live TV) – 450,000 subscribers
YouTube TV – 300,000 subscribers
fuboTV – 100,000 subscribers
Philo – 50,000 subscribers

Note: All subscription numbers are either unofficial or estimated. Hulu Live TV and YouTube TV estimates are courtesy of CNBC. Playstation Vue estimate of 670,000 subscribers courtesy of Ben Bajarin. Philo subscriber estimate from Wikipedia. DIRECTV NOW, fuboTV, Hulu, and Sling TV self-disclosed their subscriber estimates.

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