Like many, I am a fan of college sports, especially football and basketball. Unfortunately, I often find myself stuck in the car when my favorite teams are playing, and I’m unable to watch them on television. With the right app, though, your car stereo can become your new game-day companion; the Variety Network app lets you listen to college games on Android Auto or CarPlay. It’s fast becoming one of my best Android Auto apps.
Variety Network is built for fans who love the sound of the game as much as the score. The app offers real-time coverage of college sports for select schools around the U.S. The service also provides pre-game analysis, post-game wrap-ups, access to sports-related podcasts, and specialty shows focused on various conferences and teams.
How to stream college games through your car stereo
And key features
To use Variety Network in your car, start by downloading the app from the App Store or Google Play Store on your smartphone. Next, open the app and create an account using a valid email address and a secure password. From there, select your preferred schools from the list of available options and the sports for those schools that interest you the most. For example, perhaps you like Ohio State, but only want to listen to games involving the football team, not any other sports.
Next, connect your phone to your vehicle using either a wireless connection or a cable, depending on your car’s model, to access Android Auto or Apple CarPlay. Once connected, open the app from your car’s infotainment screen.
Variety Network comes loaded with features designed for hands-free, effortless listening. The app provides you with real-time updates through notifications, which include upcoming game schedules, live scores, and breaking sports news. The interface provides simple navigation between channels, enabling you to access content by day and sport quickly. You can also manually add upcoming games to your alerts so you never miss the next dunk or touchdown.
Where it pulls the content
How it compares to other sports apps
Sidearm Sports, a subsidiary of Learfield, has developed the Varsity Network app. The app draws its content from several key sources, including official team channels and broadcasts, Learfield productions, and Westwood One. Through its partnership with NCAA Postseason, it also provides audio coverage for national tournaments such as March Madness and the College World Series. The service includes additional features, behind-the-scenes content, and exclusive interviews not available elsewhere.
What makes Varsity Network an easy sell is that it cuts through the noise and only provides sports-related content. Better still, it’s absolutely free to use with no limits. While apps like TuneIn Radio and iHeartRadio include some sports stations, their coverage of college events is often limited and can be challenging to find. Although some of the best sports-related apps offer college scores and commentary, many require a subscription or premium access.
There are some drawbacks
It’s not a perfect solution
The Variety Network app has several drawbacks, starting with its content. Unfortunately, not every college is currently covered. For example, my alma mater, Penn State, isn’t listed. A company representative stated that it continually adds new schools, so this limitation for most schools should be resolved at some point.
It’s also annoying that some content is heard from the other side of the aisle. Let’s say, for example, that you’re a Michigan fan. It’s possible the only audio stream that’s available for the upcoming game could come from the opponent’s official team channel. This can be frustrating, especially with games against heated rivals. Can you imagine being a Buckeye fan and having to listen to “The Game” via Michigan’s radio station?
Additionally, Variety Network includes the occasional ad, which may appear through a pop-up or directly via audio. Some of these, especially the pop-ups, can be annoying. The audio ads almost exclusively come from the official team channels, which means you’ll hear them anywhere they air. Both types of ads should be expected from a free product.
Finally, I occasionally experience audio issues while listening to the service in my car. However, the problem might have been related to my cellular connection, rather than the service itself.
Touchdown
The Varsity Network app is a reliable choice for college sports fans seeking to stay connected to their favorite teams on the go. By offering real-time game coverage, pre- and post-game analysis, and exclusive content through Android Auto and CarPlay, it brings the excitement of college sports directly to your car stereo. While it has its limitations, the app’s free access and fan-focused features make it a standout option compared to other sports apps.
Are you looking for a free and legal platform to stream live sports? There’s one of those, too.