The Cost of Watching NFL Games This Season

2 weeks ago 0

Do you have all the services required to watch NFL games this season? If not, here’s a detailed breakdown of the platforms you’ll need and their costs.

Streaming Services Breakdown

Netflix will air exclusive games like the Rams-49ers matchup in Australia. It will broadcast five matchups this season, including Thanksgiving Eve, Christmas Day, and Week 18. To catch all these games, you’ll need subscriptions for four of the five months of the NFL season: September, November, December, and January. Netflix will not cover any games in October.

A monthly Netflix subscription ranges from $8.99 to $26.99, depending on the plan.

Amazon Prime Subscription

Fans must subscribe to Amazon Prime from Week 2 through the Wild Card Round, covering a five-month period. The cost is $14.99 per month. This service includes the Thursday Night Football broadcasts.

Cable and Satellite Packages

Standard cable or satellite packages offer weekly games on Fox, CBS, NBC, and ESPN/ABC. Alternatively, YouTube TV offers a $64.99-per-month Sports Plan, covering local channels and multiple sports networks like ESPN, TNT, and more. First-time subscribers get a discount of $49.99 per month for the initial six months.

You may also choose individual subscriptions to services: Fox One and ESPN Unlimited for $39.99 per month, Paramount+ for CBS games at $8.99 per month, and Peacock for NBC games at $12.99 per month. Both these options require additional Netflix and Amazon Prime subscriptions.

Total Cost Estimation

Overall, you’ll spend approximately $450 to $500 for access to all nationally televised NFL games. Additionally, NFL Sunday Ticket is required for area-exclusive games, costing $336 annually or $240 for new subscribers.

Considerations and Challenges

These expenses may explain memes suggesting it costs around $800 to watch all NFL games. The NFL has also partnered with DAZN, allowing Canadian fans to view games via cable companies.

Despite escalating costs, the NFL remains popular, though rising prices might impact its future appeal. The league’s expansion of game windows and days could affect the product’s quality, risking increased injuries and reducing rest periods.

As costs rise and streaming requirements proliferate, fans might explore more affordable entertainment options. Bobby Burack provides insight on this topic for OutKick.