How to watch the Miami Heat in the Playoffs: Best options for 2024

What channels are Miami Heat playoffs games on this season?

Most of Miami’s regular season games air on its regional sports partner, Bally Sports Sun. National broadcasts and post-season games air on ESPN, ABC, TNT or NBA TV. Having all these channels will allow you to stream not only the Heat’s regular-season tip-offs but their playoff action, too.

Here’s a look at how the streaming platforms compare in channel offerings: 

How to watch the Miami Heat on DIRECTV STREAM

Miami fans will find a lot to like about DIRECTV STREAM. For one, it carries all the channels you’ll need this season, including ESPN, Bally Sports Sun, TNT, ABC and NBA TV. Moreover, with unlimited recording space, you can record every game you want without worrying about jostling for space in your cloud DVR library. 

To get access to all the action, you’ll need the Choice package. All packages come with a free trial to test out the service before locking in a monthly subscription. 

How to watch the Miami Heat on Fubo

Fubo is another excellent option for Miami fans. Its base package comes with over 190 channels and unlimited Cloud DVR. Note that Fubo also has a regional sports fee of up to $14.99 per month for areas where an RSN is available. Fubo is one of the few streaming platforms offering a seven-day free trial.

Heat fans will love that the service carries Bally Sports Sun, ESPN, ABC and NBA TV. That gives you a ticket to most of the action this year, though you’ll need to upgrade your plan to get NBA TV. The lone downside is Fubo doesn’t have TNT, so you might miss some primetime and playoff games. Overall, this is one of the easiest platforms to use and among the best in channel offerings for Miami fans. 

How to watch the Miami Heat on Hulu + Live TV

Hulu + Live TV gives you the complete package of live streaming and on-demand content. A subscription gives you over 95 channels, unlimited DVR storage, Hulu’s ever-changing library of hit shows and movies, Disney Plus and ESPN Plus.

Unfortunately for Heat fans, there are gaps in coverage. Hulu doesn’t carry Bally Sports Sun. And given many of the games air on that network, it means you’ll need supplemental coverage. Hulu + Live doesn’t offer NBA TV, either.

On the plus side, Hulu + Live TV does have ESPN, TNT and ABC. So, if Miami makes the playoffs, you’ll have access to many of those games. You can also supplement your plan with a subscription to Bally Sports Plus (in-market) or NBA League Pass (out-of-market).

How to watch the Miami Heat on Sling TV

Sling TV comes in three package offerings. The best for Miami fans is Sling Orange, which includes ESPN and TNT and offers 50 hours of DVR storage. You also have the option to add NBA TV to its sports package for an additional monthly fee.

Sling TV doesn’t carry regional sports networks like Bally Sports Sun, nor does it carry ABC in Miami’s TV market. This makes it a better fit if you’re an out-of-market Miami fan who doesn’t mind also having a subscription to NBA League Pass or an in-market fan who can subscribe to Bally Sports Plus. Even with one of these services, you can pay less for Sling TV than many other options.

How to watch the Miami Heat on YouTube TV

YouTube TV has a very easy-to-use interface. The platform comes with over 100 channels and unlimited recording space. Miami fans will enjoy access to NBA TV, ESPN, ABC and TNT. 

However, the platform doesn’t have Bally Sports Sun, meaning you won’t be able to watch many of Miami’s regular season games. If you live out of the market, you’ll be able to add NBA League Pass to your YouTube TV subscription. Yet, if you live in or around Miami, it’s best to go with a package offering Bally Sports Sun or subscribe to Bally Sports Plus. 

How to watch Miami Heat out-of-market games with NBA League Pass

NBA League Pass is a must-have for avid Miami fans who live outside of the Heat’s TV market. It includes live streams of games, replays and much more. The base plan costs $14.99 per month, while the premium plan is $22.99 per month. You can also subscribe to a Heat-only plan for $89.99 a season.

NBA League Pass gives you access to all out-of-market games that aren’t airing on national TV or otherwise blacked out in your area. If you live close to or in Miami, it’s not a good option since many games will black out. You can catch replays of blacked-out games three days after their original air date. 

FAQ

Who carries the Miami Heat?

The majority of Miami Heat games air on Bally Sports Sun, which you can get via Fubo, DIRECTV STREAM or Bally Sports Plus in the Miami TV market. For nationally televised games, you can find the Heat on ABC, ESPN, TNT or NBA TV.

How can I watch Bally Sports Sun?

You can watch Bally Sports Sun with Fubo and DIRECTV STREAM. If you’re an out-of-market fan, you can also catch the action on NBA League Pass without the need for Bally Sports Sun. In the Miami TV market, you can also subscribe to Bally Sports Plus for direct access to Bally Sports Sun programming,

Where can I stream Heat games for free? 

You can buy a digital antenna to watch games airing on ABC for free. Or, you can take advantage of free trials offered by live streaming platforms like Fubo or DIRECTV STREAM.