NFL BROADCAST GUIDE 2024
The NFL remains the king of linear television, but the streaming transition is well underway. The fragmentation is accelerating.
The Sunday Ticket Shift
YouTube TV took over Sunday Ticket from DirecTV in 2023. While the streaming quality improved dramatically, the base cost remains a significant hurdle: $449/season without a YouTube TV base plan.
Crucial Rule: Sunday Ticket only provides out-of-market Sunday afternoon games. It does not include local games, Sunday Night Football, Monday Night Football, or Thursday Night Football.
The 2024 Streaming Exclusives
The NFL is testing the waters by carving out exclusive games for streaming platforms:
- Amazon Prime: Thursday Night Football (Season-long exclusive)
- Peacock (NBC): Week 1 Friday game (Eagles vs. Packers in Brazil)
- Netflix: Two Christmas Day games in 2024 (Chiefs vs. Steelers, Ravens vs. Texans)
- ESPN+: One exclusive International Series game
Local Blackout Rules Explained
If an NFL game is broadcast on your local CBS or FOX affiliate, it will be blacked out on NFL Sunday Ticket in your area. You must watch it via an antenna or your local cable/streaming bundle (like YouTube TV or Hulu + Live TV).