World Surf League is globally recognised and can be watched through a variety of official platforms, which makes it widely accessible. The most direct way is by streaming through WSL’s official website and App, which is live and free. The stream is accompanied by expert commentary, heat analysis, and behind-the-scenes features, hence attracting a viewership of over 10 million views for significant events like WSL finals.
WSL fans have exciting things to watch in real time. Iconic breaks like Pipeline and J-Bay to Championship Tour Finals, every wave, score, and upset matters.
In this guide, NXTbets gives you official streaming options, regional broadcasters, and supported devices that allow you to choose the best setup for you. We will also cover subscription costs, free access opportunities, and common pitfalls.
Right now, the easiest way to watch the World Surf League (WSL) is by streaming live on the official website or App on your phone, tablet, or smart TV. Both options give you direct access to every competition in real-time, complete with live commentary, heat replays, highlights, and exclusive behind-the-scenes content. WSL also partners with regional broadcasters such as ESPN in the US, Globo in Brazil, and Fox in Australia, with the rights of local networks within your area. Therefore, you can watch the world’s best surfers whether you’re at home, travelling, or on the go.
Official Streaming Hubs
You can stream World Surf League on the official website and the WSL App, which will allow you to follow every game and highlight. The WSL App is available on iOS, Android, and desktop, where you can get free access to live event coverage.
Free vs Paid Access
Free Access
The World Surf League offers several free streaming options that make it easy for you to stay connected to the tour. You can stream live events through the WSL Website and Official App, where you will have free access to highlights, replays, podcasts, and athlete profiles.
There is also live coverage across social platforms like YouTube, Facebook Live, and TikTok Live, where behind-the-scenes and highlights are being aired.
Paid Access
In some regions, full access to the WSL requires a subscription when they reach the decisive stages. In the US, earlier stages are available for free on WSL, while quarter-finals onward, coverage shifts exclusively to ESPN+, which sits behind a paywall.
In Australia and New Zealand, broadcasters like Foxtel, Fox Sports, Kayo Sports, and BINGE air complete live coverage.
Globo and Globo Play provide live broadcasts in Brazil, but later transition to Globo Play and the WSL platform, which requires a login or subscription.
Paid networks such as Eurosport, Discovery+, Sport TV, Sky Sports, and BT Sport, with Discovery+ broadcast live in Europe. Meanwhile, Disney+ is a paid streaming platform in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Live vs On-Demand vs Highlights
Live Streams
The WSL website and App stream complete event windows, meaning the coverage runs from the first heat of the day through to the last. You can also enjoy multi-heat switching, which allows you to jump between different heats if multiple competition areas are running at the same time.
Alternate audio options, such as localized commentary for some regions, technical analysis, or even fun-focused streams that make the stream more accessible.
Full Replays and Condensed Replays
The WSL makes it easier for you to catch up with both full replays and condensed replays.
Full replays are uploaded to the WSL website and App shortly after the competition ends, giving you a chance to re-watch every heat entirely.
Condensed replays are usually available within hours after the live stream, and highlights may appear soon on WSL’s YouTube and social channels.
Spoiler-free viewing modes are provided where results and headlines are hidden until you choose to view them.
Highlights and Social Clips
Highlights and social clips are delivered on a fast and consistent cadence to keep you updated, even if you cannot watch full events. Event highlights are published within hours of the competition, starting with daily recaps, then event-long summaries.
These are found on the WSL website, the WSL App, and the YouTube channel.
Devices and How to Watch on Your TV
Mobile and Tablet
You can easily watch WSL on your mobile phone or tablet through the WSL App, available both for iOS (Apple App Store) and Android (Google Play Store). You can also stream directly from the WSL Website using your mobile phone or tablet browser.
Smart TVs and Streaming Sticks
You can also watch the WSL on Smart TVs and streaming sticks, making it easy to watch on a big screen. Most Smart TVs and devices like Apple TV, Amazon Fire Stick, Roku, Chromecast, and Android TV boxes support the WSL App, which gives you access to direct live streaming.
AirPlay (iPhone/iPad/Mac to Apple TV or AirPlay-2 TV)
Connect the phone/tablet/Mac and the TV/Apple TV to the same Wi-Fi.
Open the WSL App or website (or a regional partner app like ESPN+ & 7Plus). Then start the video.
Tap the AirPlay icon in the player (or on iOS: Control Center to Screen Mirroring to pick your TV.)
Select your TV/Apple TV to playback, moves to the big screen.
Chromecast/Google Cast (Android/Chrome to Chromecast, Google TV, Chromecast-built-in TVS)
Put the phone/laptop and TV/Chromecast on the same Wi-Fi.
In the WSL App or supported partner app, tap the Cast icon to choose your TV.
From a laptop in Chrome: three-dot menu, cast, pick device, choose Cast Tab.
Hit play; controls stay on your phone or laptop.
Native in-app Casting
If the video player shows a Cast (Google Cast) or AirPlay icon, use that first; it’s more reliable than full-screen mirroring and usually streams in higher quality.
Desktop/Laptop
You can watch the WSL on your Desktop or Laptop through the website, which works best on websites like Chrome, Safari, Edge, and Firefox.
The WSL player relies on ad-supported streams. Ad-blockers, VPNs, or privacy extensions may block the video from loading or mute audio.
The HDMI gives the most stable, lag-free way to watch WSL on a big screen, while casting (AirPlay/Chromecast) is more flexible.
WSL App & Platform Features
Event Hubs and Start Lists
Event hub acts as the leading portal where you can follow every competition in real time. These hubs are available on the WSL website and App, bringing together every aspect of a specific contest, event schedule, location details, live scores, news replays, and highlights.
The start List lays out the official match opening rounds. It shows which surfers are participating in which heats, injury replacement, and updates as the event continues.
Multi-View and Heat Switching
Multi-view and Heat Switching give you more control over how you experience events.
Multi-heat switching lets you pick the heat you want to focus on, rather than being locked into a single broadcast feed.
Multi-view layout allows you to watch two heats side by side, track live scoring, and follow your favourite surfers even if they are not in the main broadcast window.
Notification and Personalization
The WSL website and App have notification and personalization tools that help you experience their interest.
You can follow your favourite surfers and get notified when they are about to paddle out, when their heats start, or when results are posted.
Personalization lets you customize what happens or appears in your feed, rankings, highlights, and content recommendations can be filtered towards the athletes, regions, or tours you care about the most.
Broadcast & Streaming Partners by Region
United States and Canada
ESPN+ is the primary streaming partner in the WSL via the ESPN App or Website. It is only for streaming and not tied to cable or satellite simulcasts.
There is no specific Spanish-language coverage for the WSL events on ESPN+ or ESPN2 at the moment; content is in English only.
UK and Ireland
The main broadcasters are:
Sky Sports holds 90% rights to WSL fixtures each season.
BBC covers around 21-22 matches per season, offering live coverage and weekly highlight shows.
WSL YouTube Channel streams all remaining matches not covered by Sky Sports and BBC, accessible for free globally.
On-Demand and Catch-Up Windows;
Sky Sports/Sky Go airs live matches and then on demand via Sky Go, included with Sky Sports subscriptions and Now TV access.
BBC iPlayer televises all matches that are available on BBC on-demand via iPlayer.
WSL YouTube Channel streams all non-broadcast matches live, and they remain available for replay after airing.
Europe (Major Markets)
On EU-wide streamers, you can watch on Discovery+, Eurosport 1 & 2, Sport TV (Portugal: Channels 1,2,3, Premiere 5), Sky Sports 1-4 (Germany), and BT Sport (UK). While on market-specific deals are;
Portugal: Sport TV (Channel 1,2,3) and Premiere 5 offer localized coverage.
Germany: Sky Sport Germany (Sky Deutschland) provides domestic access to WSL content.
France, Spain, Italy, Nordics: The official listing does not specify dedicated local market broadcasters for these markets, suggesting they may rely on Eurosport/Discovery+, RedBull TV, or WSL’s platforms.
Australia and New Zealand
There are free-to-air broadcasters, such as the Seven Network (7) and 7plus, that offer on-demand replay access to all broadcast events and highlight content available after live broadcast.
Subscription services include Foxtel, Fox Sports Australia, Kayo Sports, and BINGE.
Sky NZ holds the rights to broadcast WSL events in New Zealand.
Latin America
You can watch on Disney+ in Latin America and the Caribbean, excluding Brazil, El Salvador, and Costa Rica. Disney+ provides English-language live coverage of the WSL Championship Tour, without confirmed Spanish/Portuguese audio options.
WSL platforms (App, site, YouTube, social) are the most flexible option, offering Spanish or Portuguese commentary and global access.
Mobile devices offer the best user experience, convenience, alerts, choice of language, and fallback flexibility.
Asia (Japan, Indonesia, and Southeast Asia), India.
You can watch on Astro Supersport 1 & 2, Eclat, PCCW, TrueVisions, Polynesia One, Eurosport 1 & 2, MIO Sports 1 & 2, Now Sports, SpoTV 1 & 2 (plus SpoTV OTT), and Truesports 1,2,3.
The commentary languages are Malay/English on Astro, Korean/English via Eclat, and Thai via TrueVisions.
Sony Sports leads in India, but the WSL app and YouTube are better alternatives.
Across all regions, mobile-first viewing with adaptive quality settings gives you smoother streaming, especially for those with limited bandwidth or data caps.
Africa and the Middle East
In these regions, you can watch the WSL via Supersport, Starz Play MENA, beIN Sports Turkey, and Channel One Israel.
There is no confirmed Arabic language commentary for WSL events via regional broadcasters in Africa or the Middle East.
Traveling Abroad
WSL sells broadcast rights market by market because some regions are geo-locked and can not stream live events. You are not able to watch the WSL on the app or website when you are in a country where the local broadcaster has exclusive rights.
If you have an account on the WSL app, your login works abroad, but live content is subject to local restrictions. Within the European Union region, a digital subscription bought in one country must remain portable across the EU (per EU cross-border portability rules).
Costs, Free Streams & Promotions
Free Tiers and Trials
WSL App and Website: Always free for live streams of Championship Tours events.
YouTube and Red Bull TV: Often simulcast early rounds or entire events for free.
Regional Broadcasters: Some offer free ad-supported tiers where live heats or replays are unlocked.
Trials: Pay TV/OTT partners may give 7-30 days of free trials. Trials give you full access, but revert to paid if not cancelled before the billing date.
Special Cases: Early rounds at select stops may be streamed free globally to boost the audience.
Paid Plans
Monthly subscriptions are flexible, and you can cancel anytime. Best for casual viewers who only want a single event. While a seasonal subscription is discounted, it provides full access for the whole Championship Tour season and sometimes the Challenger series.
Cancellation notes are allowed via account settings. Access continues until the end of the paid period, while subscriptions auto-renew unless cancelled before the billing date.
WSL App/Website has no simultaneous stream limits. Whale Broadcaster Apps usually stream 1-2 streams per account, or a premium may raise this to 3-4.
Student/Bundle Deals
You can access a 20% off student discount on every subscription and be able to stream on Hulu, Disney+, ESPN+ Bundles ($16.99/month) for the WSL event, and a YouTube free trial.
Troubleshooting and Stream Quality
HD (720-1080p) 5-8Mbps steady connection.
Full HD / 1080p 10Mbps+ recommended.
4K 20-25 Mbps minimum for smooth playback.
Mobile data needs at least 3-5 Mbps to hold 720p without stutter.
WSL App and Website Player have an in-player settings icon where you can select Auto (adaptive bitrate) or lock into a manual resolution (360p, 720p, 1080p).
Mobile apps often default to Auto to save data, but you can force a lower resolution (480/720) to reduce buffering.
Lag Behind Live
The official WSL App and Website are usually 20-45 seconds behind live due to encoding and delivery.
OTT partners (ESPN+, DAZN, Kayo) are often 30-60 seconds behind cable/satellite feeds.
YouTube/Redbull TV simulcasts are slightly longer, lag 45-75 seconds.
Linear TV (cable/satellite) still has the lowest delay, often under 10 seconds from live.
To reduce delay, watch through the official WSL app or website, use a wired or 5GHz Wi-Fi connection, and close background apps to free bandwidth. In player settings, pick low latency or fastest stream where available and avoid casting/HDMI connections, which add extra delay. Refresh the stream before key heats can also pull you closer to the live edge.
Audio/Commentary Issues
On the WSL app/website, use the audio or commentary toggle in the player to pick English, Spanish, or Portuguese.
To Desync Fixes, refresh or restart the stream first. Clear cache or switch browser; on mobile/TV apps, force close and relaunch.
Schedule & Time Zones
Waiting Periods and “On Call” Starts
Each Championship Tour event has a multi-day window (7-12 days) waiting period. It allows organizers to choose the best days with perfect waves.
Heats do not always begin on the published day; instead, surfers and fans get an on-call update each morning. Officials check the swell tide and wind before deciding whether to call it ON or OFF.
Local vs UTC vs Viewer Time
WSL events list times in the local event zone and often in UTC as a global reference, but the WSL app and website automatically adjust schedules to your device’s local time. To avoid confusion, enable push notifications in the app or add events to your Google/Apple calendar, which auto convert to your zone and send reminders when competition is called ON.
Event Calendar Overview
The Championship Tour runs from late January to September, with one major stop per month across iconic surf spots worldwide. After the first five events, the mid-season cut reduces the field, with only the top-ranked surfers continuing through the back half of the tour towards the finals.
Below the Championship Tour, the Challenger Series runs from May to October, offering rising surfers a pathway into the elite ranks for the following season.
Watching Safely and Legally
Geo-Restrictions and Rights
Broadcast rights are sold to different partners in each country or region, hence subjecting WSL streams to geo-restrictions. If you are in the US, you may watch on the WSL app or ESPN+, and when you are in Australia, you’ll watch on Kayo/Foxtel, and when in some region, you get the event free on YouTube.
To confirm what’s official where you are, check the WSL “Where to Watch” page.
VPN Considerations
Using a VPN for the WSL streams can be legitimate for privacy, security on public WiFi, or maintaining access to your home account while traveling abroad. On the other hand, using a VPN to bypass geo-restrictions may breach the platform’s terms and conditions, and in some regions, you could conflict with local broadcast laws.
Avoiding Piracy
Watching the WSL events through pirated streams is risky because many illegal sites inject malware, phishing links, or intrusive ads that can damage your device. You’ll experience low quality, unstable, or laggy live, leaving you with a poor viewing experience. Piracy also undermines the surfers, events, and broadcasters who rely on rights revenue to fund the sport.
Follow Every Heat Like a Pro
Multi-Screen Tips
For the best viewing setup, use a TV or big screen for the main live broadcast while keeping your phone or tablet open on the WSL app or website for heat scores, priority tracker, and live stats. This way, you enjoy the actions in full size while never missing real-time details like wave counts, scoring breakdowns, or priority shifts.
Live Data and Heat Analyzer
You can track live data and replays directly in the WSL app or website under each event’s hub. During heats, the Heat Analyzer shows:
Wave scores: Updated in real-time as each ride is judged.
Heat Clock: Countdown of time remaining in the heat.
Priority Tracker: Indicates which surfer controls the next wave choice.
Judging Notes: Insight into scoring emphasis.
Social and On-site Content
The official social channels post behind-the-scenes clips, athletes’ interviews, and travel moments that you won’t see in the live broadcast. On-site WSL crews share warm-ups, lay day activities, and line-up conditions in real time. Athlete social accounts are the best source of POV clips, training routines, board setups, and personal reactions straight from the lineup or beach.
Your World Surf League Viewing Game Plan with NXTbets
Your WSL viewing game plan starts with knowing the official streams: WSL app/website plus regional partners for live and on-demand coverage. Solve common issues, lower the quality to fix buffering, and refresh if audio drifts. Plan by converting local vs UTC times, and set device reminders so you never miss a call-on.
Subscribe to our newsletter for timely viewing tips, plus our data-driven match-up insights so you never miss a heat.
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Where to Watch World Surf League (WSL)
Table of Contents
World Surf League is globally recognised and can be watched through a variety of official platforms, which makes it widely accessible. The most direct way is by streaming through WSL’s official website and App, which is live and free. The stream is accompanied by expert commentary, heat analysis, and behind-the-scenes features, hence attracting a viewership of over 10 million views for significant events like WSL finals.
WSL fans have exciting things to watch in real time. Iconic breaks like Pipeline and J-Bay to Championship Tour Finals, every wave, score, and upset matters.
In this guide, NXTbets gives you official streaming options, regional broadcasters, and supported devices that allow you to choose the best setup for you. We will also cover subscription costs, free access opportunities, and common pitfalls.
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How to Watch World Surf League Right Now
Right now, the easiest way to watch the World Surf League (WSL) is by streaming live on the official website or App on your phone, tablet, or smart TV. Both options give you direct access to every competition in real-time, complete with live commentary, heat replays, highlights, and exclusive behind-the-scenes content. WSL also partners with regional broadcasters such as ESPN in the US, Globo in Brazil, and Fox in Australia, with the rights of local networks within your area. Therefore, you can watch the world’s best surfers whether you’re at home, travelling, or on the go.
Official Streaming Hubs
You can stream World Surf League on the official website and the WSL App, which will allow you to follow every game and highlight. The WSL App is available on iOS, Android, and desktop, where you can get free access to live event coverage.
Free vs Paid Access
Free Access
The World Surf League offers several free streaming options that make it easy for you to stay connected to the tour. You can stream live events through the WSL Website and Official App, where you will have free access to highlights, replays, podcasts, and athlete profiles.
There is also live coverage across social platforms like YouTube, Facebook Live, and TikTok Live, where behind-the-scenes and highlights are being aired.
Paid Access
In some regions, full access to the WSL requires a subscription when they reach the decisive stages. In the US, earlier stages are available for free on WSL, while quarter-finals onward, coverage shifts exclusively to ESPN+, which sits behind a paywall.
In Australia and New Zealand, broadcasters like Foxtel, Fox Sports, Kayo Sports, and BINGE air complete live coverage.
Globo and Globo Play provide live broadcasts in Brazil, but later transition to Globo Play and the WSL platform, which requires a login or subscription.
Paid networks such as Eurosport, Discovery+, Sport TV, Sky Sports, and BT Sport, with Discovery+ broadcast live in Europe. Meanwhile, Disney+ is a paid streaming platform in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Live vs On-Demand vs Highlights
Live Streams
The WSL website and App stream complete event windows, meaning the coverage runs from the first heat of the day through to the last. You can also enjoy multi-heat switching, which allows you to jump between different heats if multiple competition areas are running at the same time.
Alternate audio options, such as localized commentary for some regions, technical analysis, or even fun-focused streams that make the stream more accessible.
Full Replays and Condensed Replays
The WSL makes it easier for you to catch up with both full replays and condensed replays.
Full replays are uploaded to the WSL website and App shortly after the competition ends, giving you a chance to re-watch every heat entirely.
Condensed replays are usually available within hours after the live stream, and highlights may appear soon on WSL’s YouTube and social channels.
Spoiler-free viewing modes are provided where results and headlines are hidden until you choose to view them.
Highlights and Social Clips
Highlights and social clips are delivered on a fast and consistent cadence to keep you updated, even if you cannot watch full events. Event highlights are published within hours of the competition, starting with daily recaps, then event-long summaries.
These are found on the WSL website, the WSL App, and the YouTube channel.
Devices and How to Watch on Your TV
Mobile and Tablet
You can easily watch WSL on your mobile phone or tablet through the WSL App, available both for iOS (Apple App Store) and Android (Google Play Store). You can also stream directly from the WSL Website using your mobile phone or tablet browser.
Smart TVs and Streaming Sticks
You can also watch the WSL on Smart TVs and streaming sticks, making it easy to watch on a big screen. Most Smart TVs and devices like Apple TV, Amazon Fire Stick, Roku, Chromecast, and Android TV boxes support the WSL App, which gives you access to direct live streaming.
AirPlay (iPhone/iPad/Mac to Apple TV or AirPlay-2 TV)
Chromecast/Google Cast (Android/Chrome to Chromecast, Google TV, Chromecast-built-in TVS)
Native in-app Casting
If the video player shows a Cast (Google Cast) or AirPlay icon, use that first; it’s more reliable than full-screen mirroring and usually streams in higher quality.
Desktop/Laptop
You can watch the WSL on your Desktop or Laptop through the website, which works best on websites like Chrome, Safari, Edge, and Firefox.
The WSL player relies on ad-supported streams. Ad-blockers, VPNs, or privacy extensions may block the video from loading or mute audio.
The HDMI gives the most stable, lag-free way to watch WSL on a big screen, while casting (AirPlay/Chromecast) is more flexible.
WSL App & Platform Features
Event Hubs and Start Lists
Event hub acts as the leading portal where you can follow every competition in real time. These hubs are available on the WSL website and App, bringing together every aspect of a specific contest, event schedule, location details, live scores, news replays, and highlights.
The start List lays out the official match opening rounds. It shows which surfers are participating in which heats, injury replacement, and updates as the event continues.
Multi-View and Heat Switching
Multi-view and Heat Switching give you more control over how you experience events.
Multi-heat switching lets you pick the heat you want to focus on, rather than being locked into a single broadcast feed.
Multi-view layout allows you to watch two heats side by side, track live scoring, and follow your favourite surfers even if they are not in the main broadcast window.
Notification and Personalization
The WSL website and App have notification and personalization tools that help you experience their interest.
You can follow your favourite surfers and get notified when they are about to paddle out, when their heats start, or when results are posted.
Personalization lets you customize what happens or appears in your feed, rankings, highlights, and content recommendations can be filtered towards the athletes, regions, or tours you care about the most.
Broadcast & Streaming Partners by Region
United States and Canada
ESPN+ is the primary streaming partner in the WSL via the ESPN App or Website. It is only for streaming and not tied to cable or satellite simulcasts.
There is no specific Spanish-language coverage for the WSL events on ESPN+ or ESPN2 at the moment; content is in English only.
UK and Ireland
The main broadcasters are:
On-Demand and Catch-Up Windows;
Europe (Major Markets)
On EU-wide streamers, you can watch on Discovery+, Eurosport 1 & 2, Sport TV (Portugal: Channels 1,2,3, Premiere 5), Sky Sports 1-4 (Germany), and BT Sport (UK). While on market-specific deals are;
Portugal: Sport TV (Channel 1,2,3) and Premiere 5 offer localized coverage.
Germany: Sky Sport Germany (Sky Deutschland) provides domestic access to WSL content.
France, Spain, Italy, Nordics: The official listing does not specify dedicated local market broadcasters for these markets, suggesting they may rely on Eurosport/Discovery+, RedBull TV, or WSL’s platforms.
Australia and New Zealand
There are free-to-air broadcasters, such as the Seven Network (7) and 7plus, that offer on-demand replay access to all broadcast events and highlight content available after live broadcast.
Subscription services include Foxtel, Fox Sports Australia, Kayo Sports, and BINGE.
Sky NZ holds the rights to broadcast WSL events in New Zealand.
Latin America
You can watch on Disney+ in Latin America and the Caribbean, excluding Brazil, El Salvador, and Costa Rica. Disney+ provides English-language live coverage of the WSL Championship Tour, without confirmed Spanish/Portuguese audio options.
WSL platforms (App, site, YouTube, social) are the most flexible option, offering Spanish or Portuguese commentary and global access.
Mobile devices offer the best user experience, convenience, alerts, choice of language, and fallback flexibility.
Asia (Japan, Indonesia, and Southeast Asia), India.
You can watch on Astro Supersport 1 & 2, Eclat, PCCW, TrueVisions, Polynesia One, Eurosport 1 & 2, MIO Sports 1 & 2, Now Sports, SpoTV 1 & 2 (plus SpoTV OTT), and Truesports 1,2,3.
The commentary languages are Malay/English on Astro, Korean/English via Eclat, and Thai via TrueVisions.
Sony Sports leads in India, but the WSL app and YouTube are better alternatives.
Across all regions, mobile-first viewing with adaptive quality settings gives you smoother streaming, especially for those with limited bandwidth or data caps.
Africa and the Middle East
In these regions, you can watch the WSL via Supersport, Starz Play MENA, beIN Sports Turkey, and Channel One Israel.
There is no confirmed Arabic language commentary for WSL events via regional broadcasters in Africa or the Middle East.
Traveling Abroad
WSL sells broadcast rights market by market because some regions are geo-locked and can not stream live events. You are not able to watch the WSL on the app or website when you are in a country where the local broadcaster has exclusive rights.
If you have an account on the WSL app, your login works abroad, but live content is subject to local restrictions. Within the European Union region, a digital subscription bought in one country must remain portable across the EU (per EU cross-border portability rules).
Costs, Free Streams & Promotions
Free Tiers and Trials
WSL App and Website: Always free for live streams of Championship Tours events.
YouTube and Red Bull TV: Often simulcast early rounds or entire events for free.
Regional Broadcasters: Some offer free ad-supported tiers where live heats or replays are unlocked.
Trials: Pay TV/OTT partners may give 7-30 days of free trials. Trials give you full access, but revert to paid if not cancelled before the billing date.
Special Cases: Early rounds at select stops may be streamed free globally to boost the audience.
Paid Plans
Monthly subscriptions are flexible, and you can cancel anytime. Best for casual viewers who only want a single event. While a seasonal subscription is discounted, it provides full access for the whole Championship Tour season and sometimes the Challenger series.
Cancellation notes are allowed via account settings. Access continues until the end of the paid period, while subscriptions auto-renew unless cancelled before the billing date.
WSL App/Website has no simultaneous stream limits. Whale Broadcaster Apps usually stream 1-2 streams per account, or a premium may raise this to 3-4.
Student/Bundle Deals
You can access a 20% off student discount on every subscription and be able to stream on Hulu, Disney+, ESPN+ Bundles ($16.99/month) for the WSL event, and a YouTube free trial.
Troubleshooting and Stream Quality
WSL App and Website Player have an in-player settings icon where you can select Auto (adaptive bitrate) or lock into a manual resolution (360p, 720p, 1080p).
Mobile apps often default to Auto to save data, but you can force a lower resolution (480/720) to reduce buffering.
Lag Behind Live
To reduce delay, watch through the official WSL app or website, use a wired or 5GHz Wi-Fi connection, and close background apps to free bandwidth. In player settings, pick low latency or fastest stream where available and avoid casting/HDMI connections, which add extra delay. Refresh the stream before key heats can also pull you closer to the live edge.
Audio/Commentary Issues
On the WSL app/website, use the audio or commentary toggle in the player to pick English, Spanish, or Portuguese.
To Desync Fixes, refresh or restart the stream first. Clear cache or switch browser; on mobile/TV apps, force close and relaunch.
Schedule & Time Zones
Waiting Periods and “On Call” Starts
Each Championship Tour event has a multi-day window (7-12 days) waiting period. It allows organizers to choose the best days with perfect waves.
Heats do not always begin on the published day; instead, surfers and fans get an on-call update each morning. Officials check the swell tide and wind before deciding whether to call it ON or OFF.
Local vs UTC vs Viewer Time
WSL events list times in the local event zone and often in UTC as a global reference, but the WSL app and website automatically adjust schedules to your device’s local time. To avoid confusion, enable push notifications in the app or add events to your Google/Apple calendar, which auto convert to your zone and send reminders when competition is called ON.
Event Calendar Overview
The Championship Tour runs from late January to September, with one major stop per month across iconic surf spots worldwide. After the first five events, the mid-season cut reduces the field, with only the top-ranked surfers continuing through the back half of the tour towards the finals.
Below the Championship Tour, the Challenger Series runs from May to October, offering rising surfers a pathway into the elite ranks for the following season.
Watching Safely and Legally
Geo-Restrictions and Rights
Broadcast rights are sold to different partners in each country or region, hence subjecting WSL streams to geo-restrictions. If you are in the US, you may watch on the WSL app or ESPN+, and when you are in Australia, you’ll watch on Kayo/Foxtel, and when in some region, you get the event free on YouTube.
To confirm what’s official where you are, check the WSL “Where to Watch” page.
VPN Considerations
Using a VPN for the WSL streams can be legitimate for privacy, security on public WiFi, or maintaining access to your home account while traveling abroad. On the other hand, using a VPN to bypass geo-restrictions may breach the platform’s terms and conditions, and in some regions, you could conflict with local broadcast laws.
Avoiding Piracy
Watching the WSL events through pirated streams is risky because many illegal sites inject malware, phishing links, or intrusive ads that can damage your device. You’ll experience low quality, unstable, or laggy live, leaving you with a poor viewing experience. Piracy also undermines the surfers, events, and broadcasters who rely on rights revenue to fund the sport.
Follow Every Heat Like a Pro
Multi-Screen Tips
For the best viewing setup, use a TV or big screen for the main live broadcast while keeping your phone or tablet open on the WSL app or website for heat scores, priority tracker, and live stats. This way, you enjoy the actions in full size while never missing real-time details like wave counts, scoring breakdowns, or priority shifts.
Live Data and Heat Analyzer
You can track live data and replays directly in the WSL app or website under each event’s hub. During heats, the Heat Analyzer shows:
Wave scores: Updated in real-time as each ride is judged.
Heat Clock: Countdown of time remaining in the heat.
Priority Tracker: Indicates which surfer controls the next wave choice.
Judging Notes: Insight into scoring emphasis.
Social and On-site Content
The official social channels post behind-the-scenes clips, athletes’ interviews, and travel moments that you won’t see in the live broadcast. On-site WSL crews share warm-ups, lay day activities, and line-up conditions in real time. Athlete social accounts are the best source of POV clips, training routines, board setups, and personal reactions straight from the lineup or beach.
Your World Surf League Viewing Game Plan with NXTbets
Your WSL viewing game plan starts with knowing the official streams: WSL app/website plus regional partners for live and on-demand coverage. Solve common issues, lower the quality to fix buffering, and refresh if audio drifts. Plan by converting local vs UTC times, and set device reminders so you never miss a call-on.
Subscribe to our newsletter for timely viewing tips, plus our data-driven match-up insights so you never miss a heat.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The app is free to download, with select live rounds free. Full coverage may require a subscription in some regions.
Early rounds and highlights are often free; finals and full live coverage may sit behind paid tiers.
VPNs work for privacy/travel, but bypassing geo-blocks may breach platform rules. Check your provider's policy first.
Event hubs list both UTC and local times. Use device settings or app reminders for auto-conversion.
Yes, use the Heat Analyzer or replay library for full heats, highlights, and wave-by-wave breakdowns.
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