Live sports events you can watch for free on over-the-air TV

Watching live sporting events is a simple way to enjoy some excitement and bond with friends and family members. With so many different sports played around the world and new ones cropping up all the time, there is always something to watch.

But what if you don't have cable and don't want to subscribe for paid streaming services?

You might be pleasantly surprised to discover how many sports events, games and tournaments you can view with an over-the-air (OTA) antenna connected to your TV. Whether your favorite pastime is watching a ball game, taking in a race or catching top athletes as they go for the gold, you can make plans to spend some quality time on the couch enjoying top sports events for free on OTA TV.

The first Daytona 500 race took place on Feb. 25, 1959. The 500-mile-long NASCAR Cup Series motor race has opened the NASCAR season every February since 1982 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. The speedway is 2.5 miles long and the race that requires 200 laps to complete.

How to watch on OTA TV: The Daytona 500 takes place every February. In 2022, the race was broadcast on Fox.

Also known as the Indy 500, the Indianapolis 500 is a 200-lap, 500-mile race with 33 drivers at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana. Although it has had a few different titles in the past, the race first took place in 1911, when driver Ray Harroun won in 6 hours, 42 minutes and 8 seconds. Winners receive the Borg-Warner Trophy and traditionally drink milk in Victory Lane as an homage to three-time winner Louis Meyer who drank buttermilk as a habit.

How to watch on OTA TV: Watch the race on Sunday, May 29, 2022, at 11 a.m. ET on NBC.

This annual horse race held every spring in Louisville, Kentucky, caps the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. Three-year-old thoroughbreds compete in the 1.25-mile race at Churchill Downs, which is brimming with traditions. The Kentucky Derby is the first leg of the American Triple Crown and has taken place continuously since 1875.

How to watch on OTA TV: Coverage of the 2022 Kentucky Derby will begin on NBC on Saturday, May 7, 2022, beginning at 5 p.m. ET; post time is set at approximately 6:45 p.m. ET.

Also known as the Midsummer Classic, the Major League Baseball All-Star Game is an annual game played by all-star players from the American League and National League. The first game took place on July 6, 1933, at Chicago's Comiskey Park and was designed to boost baseball's reputation during the Great Depression. Although it was initially touted as the Game of the Century, it became a permanent and favorite part of the sport.

How to watch on OTA TV: If all goes according to schedule this year, catch the game on Tuesday, July 19, 2022, at 7:30 p.m. ET on Fox.

Starting in 1903, the World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball played between the champion teams of the American League and the National League. The winning team is determined through a best-of-seven playoff. Along with a title, the winners receive the Commissioner's Trophy.

How to watch on OTA TV: Although the date and time of the World Series have yet to be determined, it typically begins in October and will be broadcast on Fox.

The playoffs for the National Basketball Association are a best-of-seven elimination tournament held annually following the regular season.

How to watch on OTA TV: The NBA Playoffs in 2022 begin on April 16 and ABC will air some games. Check local listings for dates and times.

This international multi-sport event is held in different cities worldwide. In 2022, the Winter Olympic Games were held in February in Beijing, China.

How to watch on OTA TV: NBC is currently contracted to air the Olympics through the 2032 games. The next games we can catch on NBC will be the Summer Olympics in July 2024.

This elimination tournament in the National Hockey League consists of four rounds of best-of-seven series. Eight teams from each conference qualify for the playoffs based on point totals during the regular season. The Stanley Cup trophy is awarded to the league champion.

How to watch on OTA TV: The Stanley Cup Playoffs are scheduled to begin on Monday, May 2, 2022. Some games will be televised on NBC. Check local listings for dates and times.

In 2023, Super Bowl 57 will be played at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, home to the Arizona Cardinals. It is not yet known which NFL teams will play or which performers will hit the stage at halftime. The Super Bowl has served as the championship game for the National Football League since 1966.

How to watch on OTA TV: You can view the Super Bowl on Sunday, Feb. 12, 2023, on CBS.

Formally known as the Roland-Garros Tournament, the French Open is held over two weeks every year, beginning in late May. The tournament, which takes place at the Stade Roland-Garros in Paris, France, has men's, women's and mixed events.

How to watch on OTA TV: In 2022, the French Open is set to begin on Sunday, May 22, and conclude on Sunday, June 5. The schedule has not yet been announced, but you can watch matches on NBC.

This international, multi-sport event features sports not played in the Olympic Games, such as orienteering, casting and floorball. Usually held every four years, the World Games are played over 11 days. The 11th edition of The World Games will take place in Birmingham, Alabama.

How to watch on OTA TV: CBS will broadcast two one-hour highlight shows. Although dates and times have not yet been announced, the games will occur between July 7-17, 2022.

The Tour de France is an annual men's multiple-stage bicycle race. While it primarily takes place in France, cyclists also travel through neighboring countries for some legs of the race. The Grand Tour event consists of 21 stages and 2,000 miles over 23 days.

How to watch on OTA TV: The Tour de France will take place from Friday, July 1, through Sunday, Jul. 24, 2022, and extended highlights will be broadcast on NBC.

Once you have installed a quality OTA antenna and scanned for channels in your area, you can enjoy all of your favorite sporting events without paying for extra services.

By Tricia Goss.

Watching free, over-the-air TV with an antenna is simpler than you may think. In many cases, you can take an antenna out of the box, connect the cable to your TV, run a channel scan and voila! You have dozens of local channels to surf.

The number of channels you can access and how clearly they come in is based on a number of factors, including your distance from the point of broadcast towers, the type of antenna you have and where it’s located in your home.

Not sure what kind of antenna you need? Take our simple quiz to help narrow down the options. You can also find a general list of recommended antennas here.

Did you know you can use an antenna similarly to how you watch cable? Ditch the costly subscription fees, but keep the cable capabilities (record, pause, rewind and fast forward) with an OTA DVR device. Here are the products we recommend: