What Nfl Games Will Be Broadcast In My Area

What NFL Games Will Be Broadcast in My Area?

Figuring out which NFL games you can watch on TV can feel like solving a puzzle! With so many games happening each week, and different networks showing them, it’s easy to get confused. But don’t worry, we’re here to help you become a pro at finding the games you want to watch. Knowing where to look is half the battle, and we’ll walk you through all the ways you can find out which football games are playing in your area.

Understanding the Basics of NFL Broadcasts

Before we dive into the specifics, let’s cover the basics of how NFL games are broadcast. The NFL has deals with several major television networks, and these networks split the games throughout the week. There are a few key things to understand:

• National vs. Local Broadcasts: Some games are shown nationally on networks like ESPN, NBC, CBS, and FOX. These games can be watched everywhere in the country. Other games are only shown locally, meaning the broadcast will depend on where you live.
• Sunday Day Games: Most Sunday games are divided between CBS and FOX. Which channel airs the game often depends on which conference the home team belongs to. CBS typically has the AFC games, and FOX has the NFC games.
• Sunday Night Football: This game is broadcast nationwide on NBC. It is one of the primetime spots for watching NFL games.
• Monday Night Football: This game is typically shown on ESPN, and like Sunday night, it is another primetime game.
• Thursday Night Football: This game is primarily shown on Amazon Prime Video, though in some cases, local channels might also show the broadcast.

How to Find Your Local NFL Broadcast Schedule

Now, let’s get into how you actually find out what games are being shown in your specific area. Here’s a breakdown of different methods you can use:

Using TV Guides

One of the simplest ways to find out which NFL games are on in your area is to use a TV guide. These guides are available in different forms:

• Printed TV Guides: Many newspapers and magazines still publish TV guides that list the channels and times for programs including NFL games. These guides can be useful if you want a physical list that you can refer to.
• Online TV Guides: Many websites provide free TV listings for different areas. Websites like TV Guide (tvguide.com) or local station sites let you enter your zip code and they will show a full listing of channels including NFL games in your area.
• Cable Provider’s On-Screen Guide: Your cable or satellite provider likely has a built-in on-screen guide. You can easily browse through the channels and see what games are on for the week.

Utilizing NFL’s Official Website

The NFL’s website, nfl.com, is a great place to find game information, including broadcast details. Here’s how to use it:

• Game Schedule: On the official NFL site, you’ll find a full schedule of all NFL games. You can easily check the schedule and see what time they start. When you click on a game, you’ll be able to see which channel is broadcasting it for that particular area.
• TV Map: The NFL website also has a “TV Map” feature, which helps show which games are being shown where.

Exploring Sports Websites and Apps

Many sports news websites and apps also provide broadcast details for NFL games:

• ESPN and Other Sports Outlets: Websites like ESPN.com, CBSsports.com, and FoxSports.com often have detailed game listings, which include broadcasting channels, for every week of the season. Their apps also have this information.
• Dedicated Sports Apps: Apps like theScore or Bleacher Report usually have up-to-date game schedules and broadcast details. These are great if you want easy access to information on your phone or tablet.

Leveraging Streaming Services

Streaming services have become very popular for watching sports, and they also offer ways to watch NFL games:

• Streaming Bundles: Services like YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, and Sling TV carry many of the channels that show NFL games. Depending on the package, you can watch local and national broadcasts. These services often include a TV guide that works very similar to a cable on-screen guide, which you can easily find your NFL games.
• Specific Network Apps: Many networks such as ESPN, CBS, NBC and FOX have their own apps that let you watch their sports broadcasts. Usually you will have to log in with your cable or streaming service credentials to watch them.
• NFL Game Pass (International): Note that outside of the United States, the NFL offers Game Pass, which allows you to watch every game live.

Checking Local Listings

It’s also a good idea to check the websites or social media pages of your local TV stations.

• Local Affiliates: Often the local CBS, NBC and FOX channels will post their TV schedule online. So it is always good to look at their listings to see which NFL games are being shown locally.
• Social Media: Sometimes local stations will also post which games they are showing on their social media accounts like Twitter or Facebook.

Factors Affecting Which Games You See

Several factors can affect which NFL games you see in your area. These factors include:

Your Location and Designated Market

The single biggest influence on which games you get to watch is your location. The NFL divides the country into different markets, and each market is assigned certain channels for local broadcasts. This means that if you are in a different part of the country, your local networks will have different NFL games showing. Here are some examples:

• Home Teams: If you live near an NFL team, your local networks will likely show most of their games, either on CBS or FOX or even locally.
• Market Assignments: Sometimes even if you live in the same state, your market will get different game assignments. So for example, two different cities in the same state, might get different CBS or FOX games.

Network Agreements

The agreements that the NFL has with different networks also affect what games you can see. As we talked about before, networks such as ESPN, CBS, FOX, NBC, Amazon and even YouTube all have their broadcast rights deals, and what games you can see depends on what contracts they have:

• CBS and FOX: CBS and FOX have agreements with the NFL to split most Sunday afternoon games, with CBS usually showing AFC games and FOX showing NFC games.
• Primetime Games: Games on Sunday, Monday, and Thursday night are shown on their specific network, no matter where you live. So, Sunday night games are always on NBC, Monday night on ESPN, and Thursday night mainly on Amazon Prime.

Flex Scheduling

The NFL uses “flex scheduling” which allows them to change the schedule of games later in the season so that primetime slots feature more competitive matchups. This means that games that were initially scheduled for the afternoon, could change to a primetime game. While this change can be good to feature more exciting matchups, this can sometimes mean that your local TV station might show a different game than expected. To stay on top of changes, always check TV guides or sports websites as the games get closer to the schedule date.

The Impact of Streaming

The growth of streaming services has changed how people watch NFL games. Here are some ways that streaming affects your ability to watch:

• Increased Choice: With so many different streaming options, you have more control over how you watch games, such as Amazon Prime, Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, and more. These services often let you watch games on your phone, computer, TV, or tablet.
• Availability: Sometimes, streaming services have exclusive rights to show some games, like Thursday Night Football on Amazon Prime. So, you need to have that service to see those games.

Special Situations

There are some special situations to keep in mind:

• Holiday Games: When the NFL plays on holidays like Thanksgiving or Christmas, the broadcast schedule might be different from a regular Sunday.
• Playoffs: All playoff games are shown nationally, and can usually be watched on the major networks such as CBS, NBC, FOX, and ESPN.

Troubleshooting Broadcast Issues

Sometimes, despite your best efforts, you might run into some problems watching games on TV. Here’s what to do if you encounter issues:

No Signal

If your TV is not showing a signal you should:

• Check connections: Make sure all of your cables are plugged into your TV correctly and that your TV is also plugged into the power.
• Check TV settings: Make sure the correct input is selected on your TV for the correct device like a cable box or an antenna.
• Contact provider: If all connections are correct, then you may need to call your TV or cable provider to see if there are outages in your area.

Blackouts

Sometimes, you might not be able to watch a local game, which is known as a blackout. Usually blackouts are rare, and only happen when games are not sold out, usually this would happen with local NFL games and rarely in nationally televised primetime games.

• What to do: Blackouts can be tricky, and sometimes you can’t do anything about it. The NFL does this so that the stadium has more people attending in person. If a local game is blacked out you may not be able to watch it live on a local channel, and will have to watch at the stadium, or another location that is not blacked out.

Issues with Streaming

Streaming services can have problems from time to time:

• Check your Internet: Make sure your internet is working correctly and that you have a fast enough speed.
• Restart Devices: Sometimes turning off and on your device will solve the issue.
• Contact support: If you still have problems, contact the customer support of your streaming provider.

Tips for Staying Informed

Staying on top of NFL game broadcasts can be easy if you have the right strategy. Here are some final pointers for finding the games you want to watch:

• Plan Ahead: Look at the TV schedule at the start of each week, so you know which games to expect.
• Set Reminders: Use your phone or TV to set reminders so that you will not miss a game.
• Use multiple sources: Don’t just rely on one way to get game information. You should use a TV guide, the internet, and maybe even social media to find out the games you want to watch.
• Keep an eye on changes: The NFL schedule can change, so it’s always good to check again closer to game day, especially if you want to watch a specific game.

Finding out which NFL games are on in your area can be easy once you know where to look. You can use TV guides, online schedules, streaming services and other resources to keep up to date with what football games will be shown near you. By following these suggestions, you can make sure you never miss your favorite football games!