You can find which NFL games will be broadcast in your area by checking local listings provided by your cable provider, satellite service, or using online TV guides.
Figuring out which NFL games will be broadcast in my area can sometimes feel like a challenge. The schedules shift, and different networks carry different games. It’s a common question for many fans eager to catch their favorite teams on Sunday.
We will guide you on how to easily access this information, ensuring you never miss a crucial play. There are simple and reliable ways to know what’s available in your local market every week. Let’s get started!
Which NFL Games Will Be Broadcast in My Area?
Figuring out which NFL games you can watch each week can sometimes feel like a tricky puzzle. You’re excited for Sunday football, but you need to know where to tune in. Thankfully, with a little understanding of how NFL broadcasts work, you can easily find out what games are available in your specific area. This guide will walk you through all the important details, helping you become a pro at finding your favorite football matchups.
Understanding NFL Broadcasting Networks
The NFL has partnerships with several major television networks. Knowing which networks typically carry games will help you understand why certain games are available in your area. Here’s a breakdown:
Major Network Partners
- CBS (Columbia Broadcasting System): CBS usually broadcasts games from the American Football Conference (AFC). This means if your local team is in the AFC, you’ll likely see their games on CBS more often. Think of teams like the Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs, and Cincinnati Bengals.
- FOX (Fox Broadcasting Company): FOX primarily airs games from the National Football Conference (NFC). If you’re a fan of the Dallas Cowboys, Green Bay Packers, or San Francisco 49ers, FOX will be your go-to network.
- NBC (National Broadcasting Company): NBC is the home of “Sunday Night Football,” featuring a prime-time game each week that often includes matchups between some of the league’s biggest teams.
- ESPN (Entertainment and Sports Programming Network): ESPN broadcasts “Monday Night Football” and sometimes has other special game coverage throughout the season.
- NFL Network: NFL Network offers games on Thursday nights, plus they have some Saturday contests. They also show lots of NFL analysis, shows, and replays.
- Amazon Prime Video: Amazon Prime Video holds the exclusive rights to “Thursday Night Football.” You need an Amazon Prime subscription to watch these games.
How Local Affiliates Work
While the networks above have national coverage, most people receive their broadcast signal through a local affiliate. These local stations show the games their network has the rights to. For example, in your city, the CBS affiliate might be channel 5, and the FOX affiliate might be channel 7. It’s these local affiliates that determine which games are available in your specific region.
The NFL Television Market System
The NFL uses a system based on television markets to determine which games are shown in which areas. Here’s how it works:
Home Markets
Generally, you will get to watch the games of the team that is considered your “home team.” Your home team is often the one closest to where you live. For example, if you live in or near Dallas, Texas, the Dallas Cowboys would be your primary team for broadcast purposes. That means that in most weeks, you would see the Cowboys game on your local FOX affiliate.
Away Game Coverage
When your home team plays away from home, there’s still a very high chance the game will be televised in your market. It would be on either CBS or FOX, based on which conference the away team belongs to. Sometimes, even if the local team is on the road, if they are in a particularly popular game, it could even be broadcast on national TV, through NBC for Sunday Night Football, or ESPN for Monday Night Football.
Flex Scheduling
The NFL can “flex” schedule games later in the season. This means the network can change the game schedule based on who is doing well or has a major rivalry. This can mean a different game than initially planned might come to your local broadcast.
Tools to Find Games in Your Area
Thankfully, there are several tools and resources to help you know which NFL games will be on in your area.
NFL Website and App
The official NFL website and app are great places to check your local broadcast schedule. They usually have a “TV schedule” section that will show you what games are airing on the national channels as well as a section specific to your local area. You can enter your zip code and see the matchups that will be broadcast locally.
TV Guides
Many websites offer TV guides. Sites like TV Guide, Zap2it, and your local TV affiliate’s website offer details on what’s going to be on in your area for the entire week, including sports. These guides generally list games by date, network, and time.
Sports Apps
Many sports apps, like ESPN, Bleacher Report, and TheScore, usually include TV listings for sports games. You can customize these apps to show you games for the sports and teams you care about.
Local Cable and Satellite Provider Listings
Your cable or satellite TV provider will also offer a programming guide online or on your television. These guides show games and channels that you can watch with your specific subscription. They often offer the ability to set reminders and record games as well.
Understanding Blackout Rules
Sometimes, despite all the information and availability, certain games aren’t shown. The NFL used to have a blackout rule that would stop games from being shown if the stadium did not sell out. This rule has mostly been discontinued. While it’s very rare these days, you might encounter a blackout situation because of other issues, such as rights issues in international areas.
Types of Blackouts
While blackouts because of ticket sales are mostly a thing of the past, there still can be some rare causes of blackouts. A game might get blacked out in one particular area, while being broadcast in a neighboring city, because of the NFL’s market system. For example, a game might be a regional broadcast that is shown in most areas of a state, except for one specific city or TV market. Again, these are very rare, but they can happen.
Streaming Options for Out-of-Market Games
What if you want to see a game that isn’t being broadcast in your area? Thankfully, streaming options offer a way to watch out-of-market games. Here are some options:
NFL Sunday Ticket
NFL Sunday Ticket allows you to watch every out-of-market Sunday game. It’s a service that is usually offered by DirecTV. However, if you are not eligible for DirecTV, it can now be bundled with a YouTube TV subscription as well. If you live in a market, such as Los Angeles, that has two teams, and you want to see both teams play each week, NFL Sunday Ticket can offer the best solution.
NFL+
NFL+ is a streaming service from the league that offers live game audio, replays, and some out-of-market games on your mobile device or tablet. This service is not as robust as NFL Sunday Ticket, and usually will only offer the audio of the games, but may have some limited game viewing, depending on if you live in your team’s home market.
Other Streaming Services
Streaming services, such as Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, Sling TV, and FuboTV, may have options that include local channels or even add-on packages that have sports networks like ESPN. This may provide access to games that are not available through your local antenna and broadcast television.
Tips for Finding Your Game
Let’s review some easy tips for finding exactly what games will be on in your area!
- Check Early in the Week: The NFL schedule is set, but changes can happen, especially with flex scheduling late in the season. Check your local guides early to be well informed.
- Know Your Local Affiliates: Identify the CBS, FOX, and other network affiliates in your area. Once you know your locals, it makes it easy to know what channel a game will be broadcast on.
- Use Multiple Resources: Don’t just rely on one tool. Use a mix of the NFL website, TV guides, and your provider’s listing for a good picture of what is going on.
- Consider Streaming: If you really want to see a particular out-of-market game, explore streaming options like NFL Sunday Ticket and other services.
- Stay Flexible: The NFL broadcast schedule can change. Stay aware of any potential changes or flexed games so you don’t miss your favorite team.
Finding out which NFL games are on in your area doesn’t have to be a challenge. With a few key steps and the right resources, you’ll be all set to watch your favorite teams play each week. Understanding the network system, using TV listings, and exploring streaming options makes you well-prepared to enjoy every snap of the action. Remember to check your local listings frequently, and you’ll be enjoying the excitement of NFL football on your screen in no time!
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Final Thoughts
To quickly find which nfl games will be broadcast in my area, consult your local TV listings. Websites like 506sports often offer detailed broadcasting maps. These maps show which games are airing on regional channels.
Checking the official NFL schedule will also help. This schedule lists all games and their respective networks. Remember to use your zip code for precise information. It is crucial to pinpoint, which nfl games will be broadcast in my area.
