The BNP Paribas Open is happening right now in Indian Wells, and if you’re not already glued to a screen watching Alcaraz, Sinner, and Sabalenka duke it out, you’re missing some genuinely spectacular tennis. The good news? There are more ways to watch this than ever before, whether you’re in the US, UK, Philippines, or somewhere completely different.
The bad news? Figuring out which option actually works for you can feel like navigating a maze of subscription services and regional restrictions.
Let’s break down what’s actually available so you can stop scrolling and start watching.
Tennis Channel Dominates US Coverage
If you’re in the States, the Tennis Channel is basically your only legitimate option, which sounds limiting until you realize how many ways you can actually access it. The channel itself costs $12 a month if you subscribe directly, but honestly, most people already have it bundled into something else.
Fubo offers the Tennis Channel through its Sports + News plan for $56 a month, though you can snag $10 off your first month after a five-day trial. If you want both Tennis Channel and Tennis Channel 2 (you know, for maximum tennis immersion), you’ll need the Elite plan at $84 monthly, which is more expensive but comes with over 200 channels you’ll probably never watch.
DirecTV has it locked into the Choice, Ultimate, and Premier tiers, starting at $95 a month. They’ll give you $10 off for three months if you’re new, but don’t be shocked when regional sports fees show up on your bill like unwelcome party guests.
Then there’s Sling TV, which plays the underdog here. You get the Tennis Channel through the Sports Extra add-on ($11 monthly) tacked onto Sling Orange ($46 monthly), bringing your total to $57. The real charm of Sling? They offer single-day passes for $5 if you just want to catch one match without committing to a full month. That’s honestly kind of brilliant if you’ve got a specific player you want to follow.
International Options That Actually Work
Over in the UK, Sky Sports has the tournament, but if you’d rather not commit to their plans, NOW Sports offers single-day passes for 15 quid. That’s refreshingly straightforward.
The Philippines gets a genuinely interesting deal. Blast TV streams Indian Wells completely free, and the platform apparently prioritizes matches featuring Alex Eala, which is thoughtful programming. You’ll need to create a free account to watch, and if you’re traveling outside the country, a VPN gets you access. It’s worth noting that the platform has been consistent with coverage throughout the tournament, so there’s a decent chance it’ll stick around through the finals.
The VPN Workaround for Travelers
Here’s where it gets interesting. If you’re traveling abroad but want your home country’s coverage, a VPN essentially tricks your device into thinking you’re somewhere else. It’s useful, it’s legal in most places, and it works.
NordVPN is the go-to option for most people. It’s got solid global servers, a 30-day money-back guarantee, and they’re currently offering Amazon gift cards with certain plans. The company’s been doing this long enough that it’s basically a household name in the technology space.
That said, VPN legality varies by country, and using them to bypass regional restrictions can technically violate a streaming service’s terms of use. So just know what you’re getting into before you set it up.
The Real Problem Nobody Talks About
What’s wild about all this is that we’ve somehow created a system where watching live sports requires either cable nostalgia, subscription juggling, or geographic workarounds. The BNP Paribas Open is one of tennis’s biggest events, yet accessing it cleanly still depends on where your credit card was registered.
The business of sports streaming has fragmented so thoroughly that casual fans probably just give up and find illegal streams instead. Which, you know, defeats the entire purpose of having legitimate options.
If you’re actually committed to watching the tournament properly, Sling Orange with the Sports Extra add-on probably gives you the most flexibility for the price. You’re not locked into a contract, you can grab single-day passes if you just want highlights, and you’ll get both Tennis Channels for the round of 16 matches happening today.
Whether the streaming service you choose delivers a better experience than actually being courtside in the California desert is another question entirely.
