NFL streaming access depends on the game’s broadcast window and your location—not just which team you follow or which service you subscribe to. In the U.S., local Sunday afternoon games are generally carried by CBS or FOX, national and exclusive games are assigned to a range of broadcasters and streaming services, and out-of-market Sunday afternoon games are the main use for NFL Sunday Ticket. NFL+ does not include Sunday Ticket.
Start with the game window and your location
“Local” means a game available on television in your market, not simply a game featuring your favorite team. That distinction matters most on Sunday afternoons: a nearby team’s game may be available on a local station, while a fan following a team from another region may need an out-of-market option.
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For a specific matchup, use the NFL’s Ways to Watch guide. Enter your ZIP code and select the services you actually have. The guide customizes listings to location and, when selected, a TV-provider subscription. Weekly assignments and local availability can change, so check the listing for the game and date rather than relying on a season-wide assumption.
Which service carries which kind of NFL game?
| Game window or type | Typical U.S. broadcast route | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Local Sunday afternoon | CBS or FOX, depending on the market and matchup | Check the ZIP-code listing for the station carrying the game. |
| Sunday Night Football | NBC | Confirm the current weekly listing and available service. |
| Monday Night Football | ESPN and ABC listings | Check the matchup’s listing; an eligible provider login may be required for some streams. |
| Thursday Night Football and the Black Friday game | Amazon Prime Video, according to the NFL’s current support guide | Check the current season’s schedule and listing. |
| Week 1 São Paulo game | YouTube, according to the NFL’s current support guide | This is a season-specific assignment; verify the current listing. |
| Exclusive Christmas Day games | Netflix, according to the NFL’s current support guide | Check the current season’s assignment. |
| Select NFL Network games | NFL Network, including certain international and Saturday matchups | Confirm the game, channel, and provider access for that week. |
| Out-of-market Sunday afternoon | NFL Sunday Ticket through YouTube or YouTube TV | Sunday Ticket is separate from NFL+. |
The NFL’s media-rights explanation describes CBS as holding the AFC Sunday afternoon package and FOX the NFC Sunday afternoon package, alongside the national windows. That does not mean every viewer gets every AFC game on CBS or every NFC game on FOX: local-market selection and the week’s schedule determine what appears on a given station.
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Why a national game can also appear locally
A national broadcast and a local station listing are not necessarily competing options. The NFL says Monday Night Football and Thursday Night Football are contractually required to be carried on over-the-air broadcast stations in the cities of the participating teams. This does not identify the station for every matchup; the weekly listing remains the practical check.
The NFL describes itself as the only sports league that delivers all its regular-season and playoff games on free, over-the-air television. That institutional statement does not mean every game is available to every viewer on one local channel: market, broadcast window, and the assigned service still matter.
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What NFL+ does—and does not—unlock
NFL+ provides live local and nationally televised games on phones and tablets, with mobile-web access also described in NFL support materials. Its regular-season live offering does not include out-of-market Sunday afternoon games. NFL+ Premium adds features such as NFL RedZone and replays, but it does not add Sunday Ticket. Consult the NFL’s Sunday Ticket and NFL+ support page and regular-season live-game policy for current terms and access details.
How to find the right way to watch a matchup
- Open the NFL Ways to Watch guide. Find the game and date, enter your ZIP code, and select the services or TV provider you actually use.
- For a local Sunday afternoon CBS or FOX game, use the listed local station or an authorized service that carries it. A TV antenna may receive local over-the-air broadcasts if signal and location conditions allow, but reception of a particular station is not guaranteed.
- For a national or exclusive game, follow the service shown for that matchup. Do not assume NFL+ or Sunday Ticket includes every nationally distributed or streaming-exclusive broadcast.
- For an out-of-market Sunday afternoon game, check NFL Sunday Ticket through YouTube or YouTube TV. It is not included with NFL+ or NFL+ Premium.
- Check the device and login rules. NFL+ live local and primetime viewing is mobile-focused. Some eligible live games may also be available through participating TV-provider credentials on supported devices.
When a TV-provider login helps
Participating TV-provider credentials can enable eligible live games on NFL-supported devices, including NFL Network and local CBS, FOX, and NBC stations. NFL support also describes third-party authentication for Paramount+ and Peacock subscribers. Access depends on the provider’s subscription, the service’s eligibility rules, and the device; a login does not automatically unlock every NFL game. The NFL’s TV-provider account guide explains this route.
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When selecting a TV provider in the NFL guide, the schedule assumes access to channels including FOX, CBS, NBC, ABC, ESPN, and NFL Network, then customizes based on the actual provider subscription. If the listing does not match what you can watch, confirm that the correct provider and services were selected.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Outside the United States
This guide concerns U.S. viewing. NFL support says NFL+ is U.S.-only and directs viewers outside the United States to DAZN’s NFL Game Pass International. Availability and rights vary by country; the U.S. local-market and service map above should not be applied internationally.
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