What Nfl Games Shown In My Area

What NFL Games Are Shown in My Area?

Ever wondered why you can see some football games on TV, but not others? It can feel like a mystery! The truth is, a lot goes into deciding which NFL games get shown in your local area. It’s not random; there’s a system at play, involving TV networks, agreements, and even the location of teams. Let’s dive in and figure out what’s going on behind the scenes so you can get the most out of football season.

Understanding NFL Broadcast Rights

Before we talk about your area specifically, it’s helpful to understand who actually decides which games you see. The NFL sells the rights to broadcast their games to different TV networks. These networks pay a lot of money for this privilege! The main players are:

• CBS: Often shows games from the American Football Conference (AFC).
• Fox: Often shows games from the National Football Conference (NFC).
• NBC: Usually has the rights to “Sunday Night Football”.
• ESPN: Primarily features “Monday Night Football,” along with some other games.
• NFL Network: Carries some exclusive games and replays throughout the week.
• Amazon Prime Video: Has exclusive rights to “Thursday Night Football”.

Each of these networks makes deals with the NFL for the rights to certain packages of games. These packages usually include regular season games, and sometimes even playoff games. It is also important to note that the games that are shown locally are not the same as the games shown nationally.

The Importance of “Home Market” Games

The most important factor in which games are on your local channels is your “home market.” This means which team is considered your closest, local team. If you live near a team, the local channels (like your local CBS, Fox, or NBC affiliate) will usually show their games. For example, if you are in the greater Dallas area, the Dallas Cowboys games will generally be shown on local networks. This is to ensure local fans can always easily view their team.

How Home Market is Determined

Determining a home market isn’t always as simple as looking at a map. Here’s what often matters:

• Geographic Proximity: This is the primary factor, the closer you are to a team’s stadium, the more likely that team’s games are your home market.
• Designated Market Area (DMA): Television markets aren’t based on city limits, but on areas designated by Nielsen. Your DMA dictates the local channels you receive and the games that are considered ‘local’ in your viewing area.
• Team Popularity: In some cases, the popularity of a team may expand its reach beyond its immediate geographical proximity, impacting where their games are shown.

Sometimes, two teams may share the same DMA or have overlapping areas, this means you might have a choice about which games are available in your area.

What About Games Outside of My Home Market?

Okay, so you get to see your local team play on your local channel, but what if you want to see other teams from other areas? This is where things can get a bit more complex. Here’s how you can watch games that aren’t in your home market:

National Broadcasts and Primetime Games

Some games are considered “national broadcasts.” These games are shown across the entire country and don’t depend on location. They are the primetime games you often see on:

• Sunday Night Football (NBC): This is always a nationwide game.
• Monday Night Football (ESPN): Similarly, these games are shown nationally.
• Thursday Night Football (Amazon Prime Video): This is also available across the country.

National broadcasts provide a way to see teams from other areas without any extra effort. These are typically some of the most watched games of the week.

NFL Sunday Ticket

If you’re a serious fan and want to see a lot of games outside your local area, you might want to consider NFL Sunday Ticket. This is a special package offered (usually by DirecTV) that gives you access to every out-of-market game. This is the ultimate way to see all the NFL action.

Streaming Services

Many streaming services now carry some NFL games, or allow access to out-of-market games through add-on packages. These options have given fans more ways to watch the games they care about. Many streaming services also include some local channels so that you can still watch your local team when they are on. It’s important to check the offerings of your streaming service to see what NFL games they have.

Other Considerations

Besides national broadcasts and Sunday Ticket, there are a few other things that can impact what games you see:

• Flex Scheduling: The NFL can “flex” or change the games shown on Sunday Night Football, even late in the season. They do this to show the most exciting games.
• Holiday Games: Sometimes, special games are played on holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas. These are often shown nationally.
• Local Blackouts: In the past, local games that didn’t sell out were sometimes blacked out. The NFL has largely moved away from this practice in most circumstances.

Checking Your Local Listings

The best way to know exactly what games are on in your area each week is to check your local TV listings. You can do this in many ways:

• TV Guide: Traditional TV guides, either in print or online, show the local channels and times for games.
• Your TV Provider’s Website or App: Most cable or satellite companies have websites or apps that show your local listings.
• Online TV Guides: There are many online TV guides that let you enter your location to see which games are on your local channels.
• NFL Website and Apps: The official NFL website and app can also sometimes show you local listings depending on your location.

By regularly checking the listings, you can avoid missing any of the football action. It’s good to check weekly as schedules are always subject to changes.

Using Online Tools to Find Games

Technology can help a lot in finding out which games are available in your area. Many websites and apps offer tools to search for games based on your location. Some of these tools are:

• NFL Game Finder Tools: Some sports sites offer a tool that will tell you which game will be shown in your area, based on your location.
• Sports News Apps: Many sports apps will include information about TV listings with their scores and news.
• Social Media: Sometimes, dedicated fan accounts on platforms like X(formally known as Twitter) can provide updates on game availability.

These online tools are great resources for fans, and they can make finding games a much easier task.

Key Terms to Know

Let’s take a moment to understand some key terms that you’ll often hear when discussing which games are available on television:

• Home Market: The geographic area that considers one particular team as it’s local team.
• Out-of-Market: Any team and area that is not considered in your home market.
• National Broadcast: Games that are broadcast throughout the whole country.
• Local Affiliate: Your local TV channel that carries broadcasts from a major network (e.g., your local CBS station).
• DMA (Designated Market Area): The area that Nielsen uses to determine which TV stations viewers receive.
• Flex Scheduling: The NFL’s practice of changing the schedule for some games to show more exciting match-ups.
• Blackout: A game that is not broadcast in its local area because it hasn’t sold out (this happens less nowadays).

Knowing these terms will help you better understand what games will be available in your specific area.

Why Does the System Work This Way?

You might wonder, why is it so complicated? Why can’t I just watch any game I want? The structure of the NFL broadcast system is set up for several reasons:

• Protect Local Teams: The system focuses on showing local teams to ensure that their fans can easily follow them each week.
• Balance Viewership: By having games shown across different networks, the NFL can reach a wider audience.
• Increase Revenue: Selling broadcast rights helps the NFL generate huge amounts of money, which helps support the teams and the league.
• Create Exclusivity: Making some games exclusive to specific networks and services creates more viewers for them, and provides an incentive for fans to subscribe to additional packages.

While it may seem complicated, the system is made to benefit the NFL and to provide as many viewing options as possible to the fans.

Tips for Finding Your Games

Here are some tips for getting ready for the NFL season:

• Identify Your Home Market: Know which team is your local team.
• Check Your Local Listings Weekly: Use TV guides or online tools to see which games are available in your area.
• Consider NFL Sunday Ticket or Streaming: If you want to see a lot of games out-of-market, these may be for you.
• Stay Updated on Schedule Changes: The NFL can change their schedules, so always check close to game day.
• Use Online Tools and Apps: Use online tools that can help you quickly see which games are available.

Following these tips will ensure you don’t miss out on watching your favorite NFL teams.

Finding out what NFL games are shown in your area doesn’t have to be confusing. By understanding how broadcast rights work, your home market, and all of the available viewing options, you can be sure that you are watching the most games possible. Take some time to explore the local and national broadcasts available, and you’ll be all set for another exciting football season. Happy watching!