You're looking for grit. You're looking for that specific brand of adrenaline that only comes when a thousand-pound beast tries to launch a human being into the rafters of an arena. Tracking down exactly where to watch Last Cowboy Standing has become a bit of a moving target lately because the landscape of sports broadcasting—specifically Western sports—is shifting faster than a bull out of the chute.
It’s frustrating. One minute a show is on a major network, the next it’s tucked behind a niche streaming paywall you’ve never heard of. If you’re trying to catch the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) flagship event where the "last man standing" takes home the massive check and the ultimate bragging rights, you need a roadmap.
The Current Streaming Home for PBR Action
Right now, the most consistent place to find Last Cowboy Standing and the broader PBR Unleash The Beast tour is RidePass on Pluto TV.
Wait, let's clarify that.
For a long time, RidePass was a standalone subscription service. It cost money. People grumbled. Then, in a move that actually favored the fans, PBR partnered with Pluto TV to integrate RidePass as a free, ad-supported linear channel. You can literally just download the Pluto TV app on your smart TV or phone, search for the RidePass channel, and start watching.
But there is a catch. You aren't always getting the live feed of the premier series.
For the high-stakes Last Cowboy Standing rounds, CBS Sports Network is usually the primary broadcaster for live coverage. This is the "old school" way, but it's still the most reliable if you want to see the dirt flying in real-time. If you’ve cut the cord, you’ll need a live TV streaming service like FuboTV, Hulu + Live TV, or YouTube TV that carries CBS Sports Network.
Honestly, the "free" versions often feature delayed broadcasts or highlight reels, which is fine if you don't mind staying off social media to avoid spoilers. But if you want the live tension? You're going to need a subscription that includes CBS Sports.
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Why This Specific Event is Different
Last Cowboy Standing isn't just another stop on the tour. It's a progressive elimination format.
In a standard PBR event, riders get two rounds and then a championship round. This is different. In the Last Cowboy Standing format, if you don't stay on for the full eight seconds, you are out. Gone. Pack your gear and go home.
This creates a level of desperation you don't see in the regular season standings. Because of that intensity, the broadcast rights are tighter. Paramount+ has also started dipping its toes into the water here. Since CBS and Paramount are under the same corporate umbrella, you can often find the "Game of the Week" or major majors like Last Cowboy Standing simulcast on Paramount+.
Make sure you have the "Premium" or "Essential + Showtime" tier of Paramount+ if you're trying to watch the local CBS feed live. The cheaper tiers sometimes lock you out of live sports.
Navigating the Merit Network and International Feeds
If you are outside the United States, things get weird.
In Brazil, where bull riding is practically a national religion thanks to legends like José Vitor Leme and Silvano Alves, the broadcasting rights are often handled by local sports networks like SporTV.
For fans in Canada or Australia, the PBR's own digital platform often remains the best bet. They’ve been known to offer "International Passes" that bypass the blackout restrictions we deal with in the States.
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A Note on YouTube and Social Media
Don't bother looking for the full event on YouTube. You'll find three-minute clips. You'll find "Best Wrecks" compilations. But the PBR is very protective of their intellectual property. If you see a "Live Stream" link in a YouTube comment or a sketchy Facebook group claiming to show where to watch Last Cowboy Standing, stay away. They are almost always phishing scams or "click farms" designed to get your credit card info.
Stick to the verified apps:
- Pluto TV (For the RidePass channel/archived events)
- CBS Sports App (Requires a cable login)
- Paramount+ (For live CBS broadcasts)
- YouTube TV / Fubo / Hulu (For live cable channel access)
Breaking Down the Schedule
The timing of Last Cowboy Standing usually anchors the summer run. It’s often held in iconic venues like Cheyenne Frontier Days or major casinos in Las Vegas.
Because it’s a "Major," it gets the "A-Team" broadcast crew. You’re going to hear Craig Hummer providing the play-by-play and Ty Murray—the undisputed king of rodeo—breaking down the mechanics of the ride.
If you miss the live window, the PBR usually uploads the full rounds to RidePass on Pluto TV about 24 to 48 hours after the event concludes. It's a test of patience, but it's free.
The Evolution of the Broadcast
There was a time when you had to have a massive satellite dish to find this stuff. Then it moved to TNN, then Versus, then NBC Sports. It’s been a journey.
The current era is all about fragmentation. The PBR is trying to reach a younger audience, which is why the move to Pluto TV was so calculated. They know that Gen Z isn't buying $150-a-month cable packages. They want to flick on an app and see a man trying to survive a rank bull named "Bushwacker" or "Woopaa."
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However, the "prestige" of the event still demands a traditional TV presence. That’s why the CBS partnership remains the "gold standard" for the production. The camera angles are better, the slow-motion replays are crisper, and the sound design makes you feel the weight of the bull hitting the dirt.
What to Watch For Next
If you’re setting up your streaming Saturday, check your local listings first. If you have an over-the-air antenna, sometimes the "main" CBS channel will carry the final round on Sunday afternoon. This is the holy grail of sports viewing—free, high-definition, and no lag.
If you are a hardcore fan, consider the PBR's own "PBR+." As of 2024 and 2025, they’ve been testing a more robust internal streaming service to consolidate all these moving parts. It’s essentially the "Netflix of Bull Riding."
Steps to Get Started Right Now
- Check Pluto TV first. It’s free. Search for "RidePass." If they are running a marathon of previous years, you know the live event hasn't started yet.
- Verify your CBS Sports Network access. If your current provider doesn't have it, most streaming services like FuboTV offer a 7-day free trial. Time it perfectly with the event weekend.
- Download the PBR App. They provide "Live Scoring." Sometimes the stream lags, but the scores are updated in the arena in real-time. It’s the best way to keep track of the leaderboard when the "Last Cowboy Standing" format starts knocking people out rapidly.
- Sync your Paramount+ account. If you’re already paying for it for Yellowstone or 1883, check the "Live TV" section. You might already have access to the event without paying an extra dime.
Bull riding is a sport of inches and seconds. Missing the broadcast because you're fumbling with a login screen is the worst. Get your apps authenticated at least an hour before the first chute opens. The dirt is waiting.
Actionable Next Steps
To ensure you don't miss a single second of the action, your immediate next step should be to download the Pluto TV app and favorite the RidePass channel. This costs nothing and serves as your fallback if the main network broadcast is blacked out in your area. Simultaneously, check your Paramount+ subscription level; if you have the "Premium" tier, you are likely already set for the live CBS broadcast. Finally, keep the PBR.com official schedule bookmarked to confirm the exact "out" times, as western sports schedules can shift slightly due to live event pacing.