Blackout, schmackout: Here’s how Cox viewers in Las Vegas can see Super Bowl 50

By Chris Kudialis

Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2016 | 2 a.m.

With KLAS Channel 8 and Cox Communications still mired in a contract dispute, the possibility of not being able to watch the Super Bowl at home is growing more real by the minute for more than 350,000 Las Vegas Cox customers.

But have no fear, Cox viewers. Even if the cable giant and KLAS parent company Nexstar are unable to reach an agreement by Sunday, there are several other ways to see the game in Las Vegas — including at home.

Here’s a list of ways for blacked-out Cox customers to tune in. The game, in which the Carolina Panthers are favored against the Denver Broncos, starts at 3:30 p.m. Pacific time.

1. Set up an antenna

Although Cox has blacked out KLAS on its system, the station is still broadcasting. Therefore, viewers can pick up the station's over-the-air signal by buying and hooking up a digital antenna. It's a cheap option, with Best Buy selling a range of antennas with prices as low as $10.54 and Walmart offering an even less expensive one, at $8.67. Many antennas are designed to install simply by screwing them into a TV's "F" connector port — a round, threaded nub with a small hole in the end, located on the back of most TV's. For some TVs, however, adapters may be needed, so it's a good idea to take a picture of the ports on the back of a TV before shopping for an antenna. Also, viewers should know that it's often necessary to configure the TV to draw from the antenna port, as opposed to the cable. On most TVs, that can be done by using the remote. Once the antenna is set up, though, don't worry about picture quality. KLAS long ago switched from an analog transmission to a digital one, so the station's over-the-air signal is high-definition.

2. Stream online and connect to your television.

Anyone with an Internet connection can go to CBS’ live Super Bowl player and watch the game for free. With an HDMI cable, which can be used to transmit images from most tablets, smartphones or computer screens onto a television screen, viewers can transfer the CBS stream to their TVs in high-definition.

3. ESPN Deportes

The Spanish-speaking station of the “Worldwide Leader in Sports” will also broadcast the game live, in standard-definition on Cox channel 141 and in high-definition on channel 1141. For those who don’t understand Spanish, there’s always the option of muting your TV and tuning into 100.9-FM, where local affiliate ESPN 1100-AM and 100.9-FM will air audio of the game in English.

4. Switch your television provider

KLAS currently has agreements with cable provider CenturyLink and satellite companies DirecTV and DISH Network. While Cox customers account for 48 percent of the Las Vegas market, there’s no shortage of other television providers in the valley.

5. Go to a sports book or a bar

Las Vegas’ vast sports book and bar scene provides hundreds of places to go, almost all of which will be showing the Super Bowl.