Sports fans want access to their sports no matter where they are. Whether it’s at home, at a restaurant, at the neighborhood pub, or even while commuting by train to the office. Sometimes the newspaper is okay, but it’s always hours-old and compared to carrying a smartphone feels almost burdensome by today’s standards.Apps for TV Sports Fans

Here’s a look at some great apps for sports fans ranging from news sites, audio programs, and access to televised events.

TuneIn Radio

Available for iPhone and Android devices, TuneIn Radio offers sports fans the opportunity to tune into their favorite sports radio station anywhere in the country. Tired of relying on local sports radio to occasionally talk about your favorite out-of-market teams? Want to get the local perspective on the Philadelphia Eagles but you live in San Diego? Just launch your TuneIn Radio app and tune in to the local sports radio station in Philly.

TuneIn Radio boasts access to more than 50,000 radio stations and lets you save your choices for instant access.

MLB.com At Bat 12

For the avid baseball fan needing instant access to current news, rosters, schedules, and standings, the official smartphone app from Major League Baseball is just the ticket. Available for nearly every mobile OS, MLB.com At Bat 12 gives you complete access to Major League Baseball and includes up-to-the-minute scores and several video clips from the day.

Fans can choose to upgrade to the $15 version to gain access to game-day audio and live video feeds.

ScoreMobile for Android

This free app might just be the ultimate in portable sports information. Not only does it provide a huge range of news, scores, stats, and other timely sports information, it includes access to every major sport, collegiate conferences, professional golf, and NASCAR. In an instant you’ll have access to all the sports news you’ll ever need!

Fox Sports Mobile

With Fox Sports Mobile for Android, there’s no longer a need to download apps for each specific sport. Fox Sports gives you complete access to everything from the National Football League to Mixed Martial Arts. Get news and exclusive sports analysis from the best in the game. You can also personalize this app to provide you instant access to your favorite teams, players, and sports, including “FOX Flash” hourly updates on all the top stories across every major league, division, and sport.

ESPN ScoreCenter

If keeping up on all the scores across your favorite league or conference is important to you, this free app from ESPN will satisfy your every need. You can personalize your own scoreboard to bring you up to the current situation for all your favorite teams. You can also stay on top of every major development with The Lead, which brings you the latest news and clips from the entire world of sports.

WatchESPN

For the ultimate free app from the worldwide leader in sports coverage and analysis, WatchESPN for Android is the cream of the crop. Get live instant access to ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, and ESPNU. This includes regular season basketball games, live MLB games, top major golf events, soccer from around the world, and of course ESPN’s top rated shows like “SportsCenter,” “Pardon the Interruption,” and “Baseball Tonight.”

SPEED Channel App

If you always feel the need for speed, then the SPEED Channel app delivers the goods. From NASCAR to Formula 1 racing, the SPEED channel has you covered. Get the latest in breaking news, featured stories, race results, standings, and upcoming events for NASCAR, Formula 1, Indy Car Series, motorcycle racing, and dozens of audio podcasts. All free from the leader in racing, SPEED!

SportsTap

Billed as the ultimate sports portal, SportsTap from ScoreMobile really does deliver the goods. In addition to scores, news, stats, and standings from every major sports league in North America, SportsTap also provides up-to-date information from Indy Car Series, LPGA, the CFL, and more. Also included is news, information, and scores from all the top soccer leagues in England, Italy, Germany, Brazil, and Mexico. Regional sports fans can automatically get information for every league and event within a 50-, 100-, or 200-mile range.

Scores Widget

For something a little lighter but still powerful, the Scores Widget gives you instant access to scores and news from all your favorite teams and leagues. Simply install the widget on your Android phone and all the information you want will be waiting for you on your home page. It constantly updates information, ensuring you’ll be on top of all the news and info about your favorite teams. Setup is easy and once done you’ll have complete access to all the news from the teams you follow. For $1.99, it’s well worth it.

SportCaster

Smartphone users won’t believe this app is free. In addition to all the news, scores, stats, and standings you’d expect to find in any sports app worth its salt, SportCaster gives you play-by-play analysis of every game currently being played in real time! Click on any game in the SportCaster scoreboard and you’re instantly part of the action with streaming comments from the top writers, analysts, and bloggers covering that particular game.

Whether you just need access to scores, or like to read news and information about your favorite teams and players, or like listening to non-stop sports talk from radio stations around the country, or prefer watching streaming video from your smartphone, there’s an app out there with your name on it, sure to please your inner fan.

Author Bio: When he’s not on the rugby pitch or skiing in the mountains, Greg Buckskin loves commenting on the techie side of sports.