Peacock does not carry Thursday Night Football
Peacock does not broadcast Thursday Night Football. Amazon Prime Video holds the exclusive rights to Thursday Night Football for the 2024 and 2025 NFL seasons. If you want to watch Thursday night games, you will need an Amazon Prime Video subscription, not a Peacock subscription.
This arrangement is different from past years. For several seasons, NFL games on Thursday nights aired on different networks depending on the week. Amazon secured the exclusive package in 2022, meaning every Thursday night game now streams only on Prime Video. The exclusivity means no cable channel, broadcast network, or other streaming service—including Peacock—can show these games.
Key Takeaways
- Amazon Prime Video holds exclusive rights to all Thursday Night Football games for 2024 and 2025, so Peacock cannot stream them.
- Peacock carries Sunday Night Football exclusively through its partnership with NBC, but this does not include Thursday games.
- You can watch Thursday Night Football through Amazon Prime Video's main streaming service or the standalone Prime Video app on any device.
- Amazon Prime Video requires a paid subscription; there is no free tier for Thursday Night Football games.
- If you subscribe to both services, you can watch Sunday Night Football on Peacock and Thursday Night Football on Prime Video.
What NFL games does Peacock actually show
Peacock carries Sunday Night Football exclusively. NBC holds the broadcast rights to Sunday Night Football, and Peacock streams every game from that package at no extra cost to Peacock Premium subscribers. If you have a Peacock Premium subscription (the paid tier), you can watch Sunday Night Football games live and on demand throughout the regular season and into the playoffs.
Peacock also streams some playoff games and the Super Bowl when NBC broadcasts them, which happens in certain years on a rotating basis. However, regular-season Thursday night games are not part of Peacock's NFL offerings. The Sunday Night Football package is separate from the Thursday Night Football package, and different companies own the rights to each.
How to watch Thursday Night Football on Amazon Prime Video
To watch Thursday Night Football, you need an active Amazon Prime Video subscription. You can watch through the Prime Video app on your phone, tablet, smart TV, or web browser. Games typically start at 8:15 p.m. Eastern time on Thursday nights during the NFL season, running from September through January depending on the playoff schedule.
Amazon Prime Video is included with an Amazon Prime membership, which also covers free two-day shipping and other Prime benefits. You can also subscribe to Prime Video as a standalone service without purchasing a full Prime membership. Both options require a paid subscription. Amazon occasionally offers trial periods for new subscribers, but there is no permanent free tier for Thursday Night Football.
Other places to watch NFL games besides Peacock
Different networks hold rights to different games based on the day and time slot. CBS and Fox broadcast most Sunday afternoon games. ESPN carries Monday Night Football. NBC broadcasts Sunday Night Football, which Peacock streams. Thursday Night Football is exclusively on Amazon Prime Video. This fragmentation means you may need multiple subscriptions to watch all the games you want.
Some games are also available through the NFL+ app, which is the league's own streaming service. NFL+ carries some out-of-market games and condensed replays, but it does not include Thursday Night Football or most prime-time games. The NFL+ subscription is separate from Peacock and Prime Video and costs less than either service, but it has significant limitations on which games it covers.
Why Amazon has exclusive Thursday Night Football rights
The NFL sells broadcast rights in separate packages to different networks and streaming services. Amazon paid for the exclusive right to Thursday Night Football starting in 2022. This means no other service—including Peacock, cable TV, or broadcast networks—can show these games. The exclusivity is complete and legally binding.
The NFL does this to maximize revenue. By selling each time slot and game package separately, the league can charge each network or service for the rights they want. Amazon chose Thursday nights as a way to build viewership for Prime Video and attract new subscribers. The strategy has worked: Thursday Night Football has become one of Prime Video's most-watched offerings.
What to do if you have Peacock but want to watch Thursday games
If you already subscribe to Peacock for Sunday Night Football or other content, you will need a separate subscription to watch Thursday Night Football. The two services do not bundle together, and Peacock does not include Thursday games in any of its subscription tiers. You cannot add Thursday Night Football to Peacock through any upgrade or add-on.
You can subscribe to Amazon Prime Video separately, or you can check whether you already have Prime Video access through an Amazon Prime membership. Some people find it worth subscribing to both services: Peacock for Sunday Night Football and other NBC content, and Prime Video for Thursday Night Football plus other Prime benefits like fast shipping and the broader Prime Video movie and TV library.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I watch Thursday Night Football for free anywhere?
No. Amazon Prime Video requires a paid subscription to watch Thursday Night Football. There is no free streaming option for these games, though Amazon occasionally offers promotional trial periods for new subscribers who have never had Prime Video before.
Does Peacock show any Thursday games at all?
No. Peacock carries Sunday Night Football but not Thursday Night Football. All Thursday night games are exclusive to Amazon Prime Video. This is a permanent arrangement for the current rights period.
What if I only have cable TV, not streaming services?
Thursday Night Football does not air on cable TV. Amazon Prime Video is the only way to watch these games. You will need to subscribe to Prime Video through the app or website, even if you have cable for other channels.
Do I need Amazon Prime membership to watch Thursday Night Football?
You need a Prime Video subscription, which can come through Amazon Prime membership or as a standalone service. You do not need to purchase full Prime membership with shipping benefits if you only want to watch football.
Will Thursday Night Football move to Peacock in the future?
Amazon's exclusive rights to Thursday Night Football extend through at least 2025. Rights packages can change when they come up for renewal, but there is no announced plan to move Thursday games to Peacock or any other service.