The San Francisco 49ers came into last season thinking they could be set for another Super Bowl appearance. But the injury bug bit them hard and they never recovered. This year, though, could be a different story.
Assuming all the players that got hurt last year stay relatively healthy, and their young players make a leap after being thrust into bigger-than-expected roles, I think the Niners are primed for a big season. ESPN predicted San Francisco will win at least 10 games. That makes sense to me.
If you’re a Niners fan itching to see whether the 49ers can make it back to the Super Bowl in 2025, read on to find out how to follow the team on TV and streaming with my complete watch guide.
What channels show San Francisco 49ers games?
You can watch San Francisco 49ers games on ABC/ESPN, CBS, FOX, NBC, and Amazon Prime Video.
Most matchups in 2025 will air on Sundays on FOX, but these games (and the ones on CBS) only air for in-market viewers. If you live far from Northern California, you’ll need NFL Sunday Ticket for out-of-market access to the FOX and CBS games.
FWIW: NBC Sports Bay Area doesn’t carry any 49ers games but has live pre-game, post-game, and press conference coverage.
2025 San Francisco 49ers TV schedule
The 2025–2026 San Francisco 49ers might have what’s considered the “easiest” schedule in the NFL this season, but that doesn’t mean it’ll be a walk in the park.
Starting Week 5, the Niners play five of seven games on the road. Two games in that stretch are against their NFC West rivals, the Los Angeles Rams. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Houston Texans will also be tough opponents.
Late in the season, fans can watch primetime matchups against the Carolina Panthers in Week 12, the Indianapolis Colts in Week 16, and the Chicago Bears in Week 17. Check out the full Niners TV schedule below.
| Week | Opponent | Day | Time (ET) | Channels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Preseason | Denver Broncos | Saturday, Aug. 9 | 8:30 p.m. | KPIX 5 (CBS) |
| Preseason | At Las Vegas Raiders | Saturday, Aug. 16 | 4:00 p.m. | KPIX 5 (CBS) |
| Preseason | Los Angeles Chargers | Saturday, Aug. 23 | 8:30 p.m. | KPIX 5 (CBS) |
| Week 1 | At Seattle Seahawks | Sunday, Sept. 7 | 4:05 p.m. | FOX |
| Week 2 | At New Orleans Saints | Sunday, Sept. 14 | 1:00 p.m. | FOX |
| Week 3 | Arizona Cardinals | Sunday, Sept. 21 | 4:25 p.m. | FOX |
| Week 4 | Jacksonville Jaguars | Sunday, Sept. 28 | 4:05 p.m. | FOX |
| Week 5 | At Los Angeles Rams | Thursday, Oct. 2 | 8:15 p.m. | Amazon Prime Video |
| Week 6 | At Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Sunday, Oct. 12 | 1:00 p.m. | CBS, Paramount+ |
| Week 7 | Atlanta Falcons | Sunday, Oct. 19 | 8:20 p.m. | NBC, Peacock |
| Week 8 | At Houston Texans | Sunday, Oct. 26 | 1:00 p.m. | FOX |
| Week 9 | At New York Giants | Sunday, Nov. 2 | 1:00 p.m. | CBS, Paramount+ |
| Week 10 | Los Angeles Rams | Sunday, Nov. 9 | 4:25 p.m. | FOX |
| Week 11 | At Arizona Cardinals | Sunday, Nov. 16 | 4:05 p.m. | FOX |
| Week 12 | Carolina Panthers | Monday, Nov. 24 | 8:15 p.m. | ESPN |
| Week 13 | At Cleveland Browns | Sunday, Nov. 30 | 1:00 p.m. | CBS, Paramount+ |
| Week 14 | Bye Week | — | — | — |
| Week 15 | Tennessee Titans | Sunday, Dec. 14 | 4:25 p.m. | FOX |
| Week 16 | At Indianapolis Colts | Monday, Dec. 22 | 8:15 p.m. | ESPN |
| Week 17 | Chicago Bears | Sunday, Dec. 28 | 8:20 p.m. | NBC, Peacock |
| Week 18 | Seattle Seahawks | TBD | TBD | TBD |
Data effective as of post date.
Best TV plans to watch the San Francisco 49ers
With the combination of broadcast channels and ESPN, I think the best bet for 49ers fans is using YouTube TV to watch the most games. I’ll get into why I love YouTube TV shortly.
If watching every single Niners game is important to you—and if you’re on this page, I think it is—you’ll need Amazon Prime Video to catch their Week 5 game against the Los Angeles Rams. Luckily, the service offers a 30-day free trial.
YouTube TV ($82.99/mo.)
What’s cool about YouTube TV is how easy it is to navigate. The interface has clear labeling on game days, making it easy to switch from game to game if that catches your fancy. Because it’s a live TV streaming service, 49ers fans will have access to their local broadcast channels like FOX, CBS, and NBC. The service’s base plan also includes ESPN.
For those on a time crunch, you’ll love the unlimited DVR space YouTube TV offers. It’s my favorite feature. To top it off, YouTube TV also provides a tapestry of content like news, movies, TV shows, and more.
Any TV provider with the “Big Four” TV networks (ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC) will get you most 49ers games, depending on your location. ESPN is also a must-have for the 2025 regular season because of its two Monday Night Football games featuring San Francisco.
Here’s an outline of 13 popular TV providers and whether they offer the core NFL channels.
Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
How can I watch the San Francisco 49ers for free?
You can watch many San Francisco 49ers games for free using an over-the-air (OTA) antenna and live TV streaming trial. The antenna route works well if you live near ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC stations—especially within the Niners’ TV market. That’s why we recommend entering your zip code on the FCC’s Reception Map Tool to verify your local channel options.
A free live TV streaming trial is handy if you’re in a hurry to watch a certain game. We like Fubo because it offers a seven-day free trial with every core NFL channel—including NFL Network.
How to watch the San Francisco 49ers FAQ
How can I watch San Francisco 49ers preseason games?
In 2025, the 49ers’ three preseason games will air locally on CBS (KPIX-TV 5) and stream elsewhere on NFL+.
Can I watch the San Francisco 49ers on Parmaount+?
Yes, at least three San Francisco 49ers games will stream live on Paramount+ during the 2025 regular season. But you’ll need to be within the Niners’ designated TV market to watch those matchups.
Are the San Francisco 49ers on Amazon Prime?
Yes, you can watch the 49ers on Amazon Prime Video on Thursday, October 2, at 8:15 p.m. That Thursday Night Football matchup sees the Niners face the Los Angeles Rams on the road.
How can I watch out-of-market San Francisco 49ers games?
If you live out of the market, San Francisco 49ers fans can catch games using NFL Sunday Ticket. The service is available through YouTube TV and YouTube Primetime Channels.
Why you should trust us
Our CableTV.com sports editor, Taylor Kujawa, researched the channels and streaming services showing San Francisco 49ers games using this season’s official TV schedule. With those details, he compiled a list of TV providers that carry the most Niners games. He then selected his viewing recommendations based on channel availability, pricing, and ease of use.
Check out our How We Rank page to learn more about our methods.
