What Is An Out Of Market Nfl Game?

What is an Out of Market NFL Game?

Have you ever wanted to watch your favorite NFL team play, but it wasn’t on your local TV channels? That’s because it was likely an “out of market” game. Let’s break down exactly what that means in simple terms. Imagine the country is divided into different areas, kind of like a pizza sliced into pieces. Each area has its own local TV stations that show the games they think people in that area want to see. When a game is being played that’s not in your specific ‘slice of pizza’, it’s considered an out of market game. It’s like wanting a special kind of pizza topping, but it’s only available in another part of the world. Let’s explore all about how to watch the games that are out of your local area, and how the NFL decides which games are shown where.

Understanding NFL Market Areas

The NFL has a very structured way of dividing the country into different TV market areas. These areas are usually based on where a team is located and the general surrounding regions. These aren’t just random boundaries either. They’re set up to make sure that local fans of each team can see their games on TV. For example, if you live in Green Bay, Wisconsin, you are within the Green Bay Packers’ market area, meaning the Packers’ games are very likely to be shown on your local TV channels, especially if they’re playing a team in their conference, such as the Chicago Bears or Minnesota Vikings. Conversely, a Seattle Seahawks game may be considered out of market in Green Bay, even though it is a national televised game. That’s because Seattle is far away and in a totally different market.

How Are Market Areas Determined?

The process of drawing these market boundaries is pretty precise. The NFL mostly takes into consideration the following:

• Team Location: The most obvious factor is where the team’s stadium is located. The area surrounding the stadium is usually the core of that team’s market.
• Population: Areas with a higher population often get more attention, as networks want to reach as many viewers as possible.
• Geographical Reach: Market areas extend to include nearby towns and cities that are more likely to support a given team.
• Historical Fan Base: Sometimes, long-time fan bases extend the boundaries of a team’s market beyond the direct surrounding area.
• TV Distribution: The distribution network of local TV stations and cable providers plays a crucial role.

These factors together paint a picture that is used to assign different geographic regions to a specific NFL team. This whole process affects which games you will see and which ones you won’t. Therefore, if a game is out of your market, you will need other options to watch the game if you don’t want to miss the action.

Primary and Secondary Markets

It’s important to know that a team can have a primary and secondary markets. The primary market is that team’s home area, the one that gets the most coverage. Secondary markets are usually nearby areas that have some affinity for that team but aren’t quite in their core area. Therefore, you might see that a team’s game is considered ‘in-market’ in a town or city very close to the team’s main area, but that it’s ‘out-of-market’ if you move just a little bit further away from the team’s region.

Why Are Some Games Out of Market?

Now, let’s delve into why some games are out of market. Simply put, it all comes down to TV contracts and market exclusivity. The NFL makes agreements with national TV networks like CBS, FOX, ESPN, and NBC to broadcast the games. However, they also have contracts with local stations in specific areas. These deals grant exclusive rights to show games within their specified markets. So, if the local stations in your area aren’t broadcasting a particular game, it is an out of market game in your region. The whole process is driven by money. The TV networks pay the NFL for the rights to broadcast games and want to get as many viewers as possible. Therefore, they prioritize showing the games that are likely to have the most viewers in a given region, because a large audience leads to bigger profits through advertising.

The concept of in-market and out-of-market games ensures that local markets continue to support their teams by giving them preference. However, it also means fans can sometimes have difficulty watching all the games they want. Another reason for out of market games are the number of games broadcast per week. There are only so many time slots available, and this can be a limiting factor. The NFL usually has games on Thursday, Sunday, and Monday, with many games played on Sunday. Because of this schedule and number of games, it’s impossible to show every single game everywhere. The NFL schedules it so that the most important games to a given market are shown in that market.

How to Watch Out of Market NFL Games

Okay, so your favorite team is playing, but they’re out of your market. Don’t worry; you still have options! Here are a few ways you can catch those out-of-market games:

NFL Sunday Ticket

The first option is the most direct approach – subscribing to NFL Sunday Ticket. This service, offered by a streaming provider, gives you access to pretty much every out of market game during the regular season. It’s specifically made for fans who want to follow a specific team that isn’t their local team. While it may be a subscription service, if your love of football extends past your local team, then it can definitely be worth the money.

• How It Works: You pay an annual subscription fee, and then you can watch any out-of-market game on your TV, computer, or other devices.
• Advantages: It gives you wide access to almost every game, even the games played at the same time of day, especially when you want to watch a specific team.
• Things to Consider: The NFL Sunday Ticket can be costly, so you should compare your options before deciding, and it is only available during the regular season.

Streaming Services

Beyond the Sunday Ticket, there are numerous streaming services that show some out-of-market NFL games. These options can often be more affordable but may not give you access to every single game, and the availability of games can vary depending on the specific service you choose. You will need to look at the channel listing, or check out the service for a free trial to see if the games you want to watch are included. Some of these services also include live TV streaming packages that let you watch local broadcasts. This can also be good if you want to watch the in-market games too.

• Examples: Some examples of streaming services that could carry NFL games include services like Paramount+, ESPN+, Sling TV, Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, and Fubo TV.
• What to Look For: When choosing a service, check which games, channels, and networks are included, along with their prices and any added benefits.

NFL RedZone

NFL RedZone is another great choice, especially if you enjoy the excitement of every game. Instead of showing an entire game from start to finish, NFL RedZone jumps from game to game, whenever a team is near the goal line. The goal is to bring you the most exciting action each week, rather than a full game broadcast. It doesn’t show full games but keeps you updated on all the biggest plays.

• How It Works: It shows live game highlights and scoring opportunities as they happen on the field.
• Best For: This option is good if you love watching the highlights of various games and do not have the time to watch the full broadcast of a game.
• Things to Consider: The service won’t let you watch a specific team or full game all the way through, so it might not be the best choice for very loyal fans. It is also usually an add-on to a cable or streaming package.

Using VPNs (Virtual Private Networks)

A more technical method to get around local broadcasting restrictions is using a VPN. A VPN lets you change the location of your IP address so that it appears as if you’re connecting from another area. By using a VPN, you can access streaming services from different regions that may show the games you want to watch.

• How It Works: Install a VPN app on your devices, select a server location that matches the game’s market, then stream the game.
• Important Note: Some streaming services may have rules against using VPNs, so use them carefully and know the risks involved.

Sports Bars and Restaurants

Don’t forget the classic way to watch a game – going to a sports bar or restaurant. Many of these locations subscribe to special sports packages that have access to out of market games. This way, you can enjoy the game in a fun environment with other football fans.

• Social Aspect: Watching the games at a bar is a great way to meet other football fans.
• Things to Consider: This option can be more costly than watching at home due to paying for drinks and meals.

Understanding Blackouts

Sometimes, even if you live in a market area, a game may be “blacked out,” meaning you can’t watch it on TV. Blackouts usually occur when the stadium hasn’t sold enough tickets for a game. They were more common in past years, but they still happen from time to time. However, it’s becoming less frequent these days.

• Why They Happen: The goal of a blackout is to encourage fans to go to the game in person, boosting attendance and the local economy.
• How They Work: If a game is blacked out, it won’t be shown on local TV. Typically, it will still be available on streaming services, but in a previous time, local TV was the only way to watch.

The Future of Out of Market Games

The way we watch sports is continuously changing. As more and more people get their TV through streaming services, there is a good chance that the traditional way of dividing TV markets might also change. Streaming services are already increasing their reach, and it is possible that in the future, more games will be available on demand, wherever you are. This is likely a good thing for the fans, as it will allow people to watch the game, regardless of their location. The NFL also is constantly looking at new ways to increase viewership and make watching games easier. The future will be interesting to watch as technologies and viewing habits change.

So, the next time you’re frustrated because you can’t watch a game, remember it’s likely an out of market game, and that there are options available for you to watch it. Whether it is NFL Sunday Ticket or just heading down to your favorite sports bar, you can still catch the games you want to see!