Is NFL SUNDAY TICKET worth it?
NFL SUNDAY TICKET gets you every out-of-market NFL game—that’s around 150 games total. We think every NFL fan would love that kind of coverage, but the cost might scare a few away.
That said, NFL SUNDAY TICKET will run you $293.94 a season.* While we know that’s a lot up front, it might be the best way to get all the games—especially if your NFL team is far away because your team will probably be classified as out of market.
Basically, if you’re obsessed with an NFL team far from home, or just pro football in general, then NFL SUNDAY TICKET is a dream come true. But if you’re a local NFL fan, you might consider passing it up.
*Price is for 2020 NFL Season and is subject to change.
What’s an out-of-market game?
An out-of-market game is any game not covered by local TV networks, like FOX and CBS, because a team falls outside of your designated TV market (as determined by Nielsen ratings).
So if you live in Baltimore, you’ll get Ravens home games on CBS and FOX. But if you’re a 49ers fan, you won’t get many Niners games because you don’t live anywhere near San Francisco.
NFL SUNDAY TICKET deals and promotions
If you sign up for DIRECTV CHOICE™ or any higher package, DIRECTV will include NFL SUNDAY TICKET for the first year at no extra cost.
Just remember you’ll be paying full price during the second year of your contract. And if you want to cancel, you’ll have to pay $20 for every month left on your contract.
NFL SUNDAY TICKET packages and prices
| Package | Price |
|---|---|
| NFL SUNDAY TICKET | $293.94/season |
| NFL SUNDAY TICKET MAX | $395.94/season |
| DIRECTV (CHOICE package or above) | $59.99–$110/mo.* |
| SUNDAY TICKET TV | $293.96/season |
| SUNDAY TICKET TV U (university student) | $99.96/season |
*/mo. for 12 mos. plus taxes and RSN fee.
You can pretty much only get NFL SUNDAY TICKET from DIRECTV (with two exceptions, but we’ll talk about those later). If you sign up for a basic DIRECTV package or already have a DIRECTV package, you can add NFL SUNDAY TICKET for $293.94 a season.
While this will get you all the NFL games you can handle, you should consider upgrading to a DIRECTV CHOICE package or higher. With these packages, you’ll get NFL SUNDAY TICKET included free for the first year. Even with the package’s price increase, you’ll save money over the course of your two-year contract.
Pro tip: NFL SUNDAY TICKET price too high? Check out our article “Best Ways to Watch NFL Games” to see other options.
Be warned: DIRECTV, like other satellite and cable companies, does have little fees that start to add up. For example, there is a $19.95 activation fee and a $8.00 monthly regional sports fee. Those aren’t big expenses on their own, but keep an eye on them so they don’t run away with you.
And then there’s NFL SUNDAY TICKET MAX. For about $100 more per month you’ll get all of NFL SUNDAY TICKET plus extra channels like NFL RedZone and DIRECTV FANTASY ZONE. If you’re into fantasy football or obsessive about seeing every score, MAX might be right for you.
NFL SUNDAY TICKET streaming
You can stream NFL SUNDAY TICKET on one device at a time (seriously?) by using the NFL SUNDAY TICKET app. All you need is a DIRECTV plan, an NFL SUNDAY TICKET subscription, and a supported device like a smartphone or gaming system.
Like we said earlier, if you qualify, you can also stream NFL SUNDAY TICKET without a DIRECTV subscription.
NFL SUNDAY TICKET specs and features
Game Mix
NFL SUNDAY TICKET is all about getting you as much football as possible, and with the Game Mix viewing feature, you can watch four to eight games simultaneously. Now try and tell us that’s not enough football!
Short Cuts
We also love the Short Cuts feature that shortens every game to as little as 30 minutes. Skipping the commercials and timeouts, you get all the big moments with none of the waiting. You’ll never miss a big story again.
NFL SUNDAY TICKET app
Plus, the NFL SUNDAY TICKET app lets you watch the game from a ton of devices. But be warned—you can still stream on only one device at a time, so this isn’t a service for sharing with old college buddies living across country.
Player Tracker
Finally, if fantasy football is your game, then you’ll love the Player Tracker feature. Keep up-to-date on your players’ performances and be ready with all the trash talk you need when your team claims victory.
Final take
NFL SUNDAY TICKET is pretty awesome at covering all your out-of-market-game needs, but the service will cost you a lot. Sign up or upgrade to the CHOICE package if you want to save yourself the first-year price tag of around 300 bucks.
We say, if you’re obsessed with the entire NFL, or if you live far away from your team, then go for it. Otherwise, you might try a streaming service, like Sling TV, that offers good NFL coverage for cheap.
NFL SUNDAY TICKET FAQ
Can you cancel NFL SUNDAY TICKET?
You can cancel NFL SUNDAY TICKET before the season starts, but as soon as Week 1 kicks off, you won’t be refunded anything. You can still upgrade at any point, moving from regular NFL SUNDAY TICKET to NFL SUNDAY TICKET MAX.
Can you get the NFL SUNDAY TICKET without DIRECTV?
For a rare few, yes. If you’re a college student at certain schools or live in certain areas without access to DIRECTV, you can stream NFL SUNDAY TICKET at your house. Check your eligibility to see if you can sign up.
Does NFL SUNDAY TICKET come with RedZone?
No, traditional NFL SUNDAY TICKET doesn’t include NFL RedZone, but if you upgrade to NFL SUNDAY TICKET MAX, you’ll get the channel. MAX will cost you another $100 a season.
What is NFL RedZone?
NFL RedZone takes you from red zone to red zone to show you every team inside the opponent’s 20-yard line with a chance to score.
Basically, it’s the lazy football fan’s dream—you get all the best moments without scrambling to find the right channel or being shutout because you’re out of market.
Does DIRECTV NOW have NFL SUNDAY TICKET?
No. DIRECTV used to offer NFL SUNDAY TICKET with its now-defunct streaming service DIRECTV NOW in some areas, but it no longer does. (DIRECTV NOW has rebranded to AT&T TV NOW, which might have something to do with the change).
Is the first week of NFL SUNDAY TICKET free?
No, there is no free trial of NFL SUNDAY TICKET. You have to sign up for the whole season or not at all.
What is NFL Game Pass?
NFL Game Pass is a service that allows you to watch every single NFL game after it airs. Miss the NFL in the off season? NFL Game Pass is free until July 31, 2020.
Mike Strayer, PhD, has written and edited TV, internet, and tech content across the interwebs for over five years. Now as Managing Editor of CableTV.com, he nerds out about dissecting labyrinthian channel lineups and jargony DVR specs. Off the clock, catch him on his couch deep in The Twilight Zone or wandering The Lost World.
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