Get ready for kickoff
The 2024 NFL season kicks off on September 5, and YouTube TV with NFL Sunday Ticket is the best way to watch the most live games. But you’ll also need Amazon Prime Video, ESPN+, Netflix, and Peacock to get every live NFL game this season.
Our guide outlines the league’s six core broadcasters, including every NFL channel and service. Each section also includes provider recommendations based on viewing habits.
So lace up your shoulder pads and apply your eye black because football is almost here, and CableTV.com is taking you to the gridiron.
Catch every moment of the 2024 NFL season!
The 2024 NFL season is here, bringing 18 weeks of electrifying football action to TV screens nationwide. Whether you’re rooting for your hometown team or following the gridiron’s biggest stars, every game has the potential for heart-stopping moments and unforgettable excitement.
Head to our 2024 NFL viewing guide so you don’t miss a single play this season. You can also tap the following drop-down menu to check out our watch guides for all 32 NFL teams.
Best ways to watch NFL games
NFL games are scattered across a wide range of channels and services. But not everyone needs the most extensive TV plan to tune in this season. After all, a simple OTA antenna can get you many marquee matchups that air on local channels.
For hard-core NFL fans, we recommend YouTube TV with NFL Sunday Ticket. It offers every NFL game except the ones on Amazon Prime Video, ESPN+, Netflix, and Peacock. You can even upgrade your plan to get NFL RedZone for the best Sunday afternoon coverage.
If you don’t need out-of-market coverage, most cable, satellite, and live TV streaming providers carry the essential NFL channels. Sling TV is our favorite cost-saving option for streaming, but you’ll need that OTA antenna to get complete local coverage. Luckily, if you go an extra yard and prepay for three months, you can get a free antenna and an AirTV DVR device to record locally televised games. We highlight that offer and more on our Sling TV Deals page.
In-market games: CBS and FOX
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Most NFL matchups take place on Sunday afternoons on either CBS or FOX. Typically, games with an AFC road team are broadcast on CBS, while NFC road team games air on FOX.
Because many NFL games happen at once on Sunday afternoons, you’ll be able to see only the ones selected for your location. Several factors determine the in-market games for your area. But usually, you’ll get every game featuring your nearest team and any games with playoff implications for that club.
CBS and FOX are easily accessible through most TV providers. But if you live within range of your local CBS and FOX affiliates, you can catch every in-market NFL game with an over-the-air (OTA) antenna.
A good antenna usually costs between $20 and $60. The best part is that it’s a one-time payment that will give you access to many live sports for years to come. We like the Mohu Leaf 50 because of its 60-mile range and 4K capabilities, but there are many antenna options to consider.
Pro tip: You can verify which channels you’ll pick up with an OTA antenna by entering your zip code on the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Reception Map Tool.
Out-of-market games: NFL Sunday Ticket
Data effective as of post date. Plus $72.99/mo recurring for YouTube TV. Compatible device and internet connection required. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
NFL Sunday Ticket is the go-to TV plan for anyone who supports a non-local team or wants the most live NFL games. This season, the out-of-market sports package moved from DIRECTV to YouTube TV and YouTube Primetime Channels.
Getting NFL Sunday Ticket through YouTube TV is the best route for cord-cutters because you’ll also have NFL channels like CBS, ESPN, FOX, NBC, and NFL Network. That’ll get you almost every game this season, all in one place. (You’ll miss only the non-local Thursday Night Football games on Amazon Prime Video and any exclusives streaming on ESPN+, Netflix, and Peacock.)
While NFL Sunday Ticket with YouTube TV is ideal for any football superfan, its cost is as daunting as playing a one-on-one tackling drill against Ray Lewis. Fortunately, you won’t have the contract and equipment requirements that came with DIRECTV. But you may want to explore NFL+ for an inexpensive way to watch out-of-market NFL games on demand.
Pro tip: Since NFL Sunday Ticket left DIRECTV, there are more ways to access out-of-market NFL games. We highlight these options in our How To Get NFL Sunday Ticket Without DIRECTV guide.
What channels have NFL games?
NFL action airs across multiple networks and services, including marquee NFL broadcasters like Amazon Prime Video, CBS, ESPN, FOX, NBC, and NFL Network.
Because the NFL regular season includes 272 games across 18 weeks, you’ll need access to in-market and out-of-market viewing options to receive the most game coverage. Below is a list of every major NFL channel and service for watching live games.
- Amazon Prime Video
- CBS
- ESPN
- ESPN+
- FOX
- Netflix
- NBC
- Peacock
- NFL Network
- NFL Sunday Ticket
Pro tip: Paramount+ subscribers can stream live NFL on CBS games, while Peacock Premium subscribers get access to live NBC games. Both services also have their fair share of football movies available for streaming.
Additional NFL simulcasts and alternate broadcasts air on channels like ABC, ESPN2, and Nickelodeon. You can also catch extra NFL coverage on NFL RedZone. The channel operates only on Sundays during the regular season, but it provides live coverage of every Sunday afternoon game regardless of regional blackouts.
NFL schedule: key events and channels
It’s never too early to plan your next NFL watch party. Head over to our NFL Schedule This Week to view upcoming NFL matchups, including kickoff times and channel listings.
We’ve also outlined the most significant NFL events to keep an eye on in the table below.
| Event | Start date | Channels |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 Hall of Fame Game | August 1, 2024 | ABC, ESPN |
| NFL Playoffs | January 11, 2025 | CBS, ESPN/ABC, FOX, NBC |
| NFL Pro Bowl Games | February 2, 2025 | ABC, ESPN |
| NFL Honors | February 6, 2025 | NBC, Peacock, NFL Network |
| Super Bowl LIX | February 9, 2025 | CBS, Paramount+ |
| NFL Scouting Combine | February 24, 2025 | NFL Network, NFL+ |
| 2025 NFL Draft | April 24, 2025 | ABC, ESPN, NFL Network |
Data effective as of post date.
Thursday Night Football
Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
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Amazon Prime Video is home to Thursday Night Football, and the streaming service has 16 matchups in 2024. Not every Thursday night game streams on Prime Video—games in Weeks 1 and 13 air on NBC. But Prime Video will continue with its NFL Black Friday game this season, a logical move since Amazon is the world’s largest online storefront.
If you’re interested in Prime Video for only its NFL games, we recommend checking out the Thursday Night Football schedule. That’ll help you determine when your favorite teams are playing and whether you need Prime Video for the entire season.
Sunday Night Football
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Mike Tirico, Cris Collinsworth, and Melissa Stark are back for Sunday Night Football, airing on NBC and streaming on Peacock. The 2024 NFL season features 18 Sunday Night Football games and a Peacock-exclusive match in Week 1. Three other matchups round out NBC’s regular-season coverage: its annual NFL Kickoff game in Week 1, a Thanksgiving night fixture, and a Saturday game in Week 16.
You can watch Sunday Night Football on NBC through most TV providers. But you can also pick up the channel with an OTA antenna if you live near an NBC affiliate.
Another cheap option for watching Sunday Night Football is Peacock. The streaming service’s premium plans start at $5.99 a month and give you complete access to every Sunday Night Football game and NBC playoff match.
Monday Night Football
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ESPN presents 23 Monday Night Football games during the 2024 NFL season, including three games airing solely on ABC. Key matchups included the New York Jets at the San Francisco 49ers in Week 1 and the Baltimore Ravens at the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 12.
Joe Buck and Troy Aikman occupy the broadcast booth for Monday Night Football. But don’t worry; you can still catch Monday Night Football with Peyton and Eli on ESPN2 and ESPN+. The Manning brothers will host eleven alternate telecasts (or Manningcasts) during the 2024 campaign, and you can expect many fun guests to show up.
ESPN is available through every major TV provider, with Sling TV’s Orange plan being the cheapest way to get the channel. But you don’t need a TV plan to watch every Monday Night Football game because of those select games on ABC, which you can access with an OTA antenna.
Other options for watching NFL games
Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
For U.S.-based viewers, NFL+ (formerly NFL Game Pass) is an inexpensive way to watch NFL games. The hitch is that live regular season and playoff games are viewable only on phones and tablets. But you can watch every NFL game on a wider range of devices through NFL+ Premium ($14.99 a month) if you wait until after the game ends. The premium plan also includes NFL Network and NFL RedZone without device limitations—an excellent feature for fantasy football fans.
Nothing compares to live sports on a big-screen TV. But saving money and watching games on your own time isn’t so bad. Plus, there are no commercials when you watch archived games on NFL+, and you can use its spoiler-free feature to help keep final scores a secret.
How to watch NFL games for free
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You can watch free NFL games by connecting an over-the-air (OTA) antenna to your TV. If you’re near a local ABC, CBS, FOX, or NBC station, you’ll have free access to many NFL games—including playoff fixtures and the Super Bowl. The FCC’s Reception Map Tool is a great place to verify which channels are available in your area.
Of course, an antenna isn’t free. But an easy one-time purchase will ensure you have NFL coverage for many seasons. You’ll also get access to UFL gridiron action, plus NBA, NHL, and MLB games. We recommend the Mohu Leaf 50 because of its wide range and picture quality.
Unfortunately, if an antenna doesn’t work for your location, there’s no easy way to watch live NFL games for free online. But you can always try signing up for a free trial to a live TV streaming service. Our Best Streaming Services for Sports page closely examines streaming providers dedicated to sports.
