Streaming Options and Costs for Watching the NFL Season
Are you equipped with all the streaming services required to catch the NFL games this season? A variety of platforms are needed, each with its own cost structure.
Netflix’s NFL Coverage
In Australia, Thursday night’s Rams-49ers game is exclusive to Netflix. The streaming service will air five games this season, including those on Thanksgiving Eve, Christmas Day, and in Week 18. With this schedule, subscribers will need Netflix in September, November, December, and January, skipping October.
The cost of a Netflix subscription ranges from $8.99 to $26.99 per month based on the plan selected.
Amazon Prime’s Role
Amazon Prime will also be essential for NFL fans, covering five months from Week 2 through the Wild Card Round. The monthly fee is $14.99.
Traditional Broadcast Options
Fans with standard cable or satellite packages can still watch games on Fox, CBS, NBC, and ESPN/ABC. However, considering better value options is wise depending on one’s media consumption.
YouTube TV and Alternatives
YouTube TV has introduced a $64.99 per month Sports Plan, including local channels, ESPN, TNT, TBS, FS1, Big Ten Network, and SEC Network. New subscribers get a six-month introductory rate of $49.99 per month.
For those preferring to subscribe individually, Fox One and ESPN Unlimited are bundled at $39.99 monthly, covering access to Fox, ESPN, and ABC. Paramount+ adds CBS games for $8.99, while Peacock includes NBC games for $12.99. These options match the cost of YouTube TV, yet both require separate Netflix and Amazon subscriptions.
Comprehensive Cost
Fans need to budget between $450 to $500 to access all nationally televised games. For games not available locally, NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube is necessary, priced at $336 yearly or $240 for newcomers. This contributes to the memes highlighting that watching the NFL may cost around $800 this season.
Impact on Viewers
As ticket prices rise, streaming costs are also becoming prohibitively high for many NFL fans. Despite these rising costs, the NFL’s popularity remains steady, though it might face challenges if trends continue.
The NFL has added more game days, such as Wednesday and Friday, diluting its schedule and potentially impacting player performance and health.
With rising costs and streaming requirements, fans might explore more affordable entertainment options in the future.