You don't need YouTube TV to watch NFL Sunday Ticket, but YouTube TV subscribers get a discount on the subscription
NFL Sunday Ticket is sold as a standalone subscription through YouTube, separate from YouTube TV. You can buy Sunday Ticket without having YouTube TV at all. However, if you already subscribe to YouTube TV, you'll pay less for Sunday Ticket than someone who doesn't — currently $99 for the season instead of $199, though pricing can change year to year.
The key difference is where you watch and what you get. YouTube TV is a live TV streaming service that includes cable channels, local broadcasts, and sports. Sunday Ticket is specifically the out-of-market NFL games — the ones not shown on your local CBS or Fox affiliate. If you want to watch your team play even when they're not broadcasting in your area, you need Sunday Ticket. YouTube TV doesn't include it automatically.
Key Takeaways
- NFL Sunday Ticket is a separate purchase from YouTube TV, and you can buy it without subscribing to YouTube TV.
- YouTube TV subscribers pay $99 per season for Sunday Ticket, while non-subscribers pay $199 per season.
- Sunday Ticket shows out-of-market games — the ones your local TV station doesn't broadcast.
- You watch Sunday Ticket through the YouTube app or website, the same place you'd watch YouTube TV.
What Sunday Ticket includes and what it doesn't
Sunday Ticket gives you access to out-of-market NFL games on Sundays during the regular season. That means if you live in New York but your team is the Kansas City Chiefs, you can watch their Sunday games even though your local station shows the Giants or Jets instead. You get the games on your phone, tablet, computer, or TV through the YouTube app.
Sunday Ticket does not include Monday Night Football, Thursday Night Football, or playoff games. Those air on other networks — ESPN, Amazon Prime Video, or broadcast TV — and you need those services separately. It also doesn't include the Super Bowl, which airs on a broadcast network. If you want every NFL game, you'll need multiple subscriptions.
How the YouTube TV discount works
YouTube TV costs around $72.99 per month (pricing varies by location and changes periodically). If you're already paying for YouTube TV, adding Sunday Ticket costs $99 for the full season. If you don't have YouTube TV, Sunday Ticket alone costs $199 for the season. That's a $100 difference.
The discount applies automatically when you add Sunday Ticket to an existing YouTube TV account. You don't need to enter a code or contact support — the system recognizes your YouTube TV subscription and applies the lower price at checkout. If you cancel YouTube TV during the season, your Sunday Ticket subscription continues at the price you paid, but you won't get the discount if you renew next year.
Whether to buy YouTube TV just for the Sunday Ticket discount
The math depends on how long you'd keep YouTube TV. YouTube TV costs about $73 per month. If you subscribe for just one month to get the Sunday Ticket discount, you'd pay roughly $73 plus $99 for Sunday Ticket, totaling $172. That's still cheaper than the $199 standalone price, so you'd save about $27. However, you'd be paying for a month of YouTube TV you might not use.
If you already watch YouTube TV for other reasons — local news, cable sports, or other channels — then adding Sunday Ticket at the discounted price makes sense. If you don't watch YouTube TV otherwise, the discount might not be worth the extra subscription cost. Calculate what you'd actually use before deciding.
Other ways to watch out-of-market NFL games
Sunday Ticket isn't the only option for out-of-market games. NFL+ is a separate streaming service from the NFL itself that costs $9.99 per month or $99.99 per year. However, NFL+ has restrictions: you can't watch games on a TV through a cable box or most streaming devices, and blackout rules still explore in some cases. It's mainly for phone and tablet viewing.
Some games also air on national networks like CBS, Fox, ESPN, and Amazon Prime Video. If your team plays a nationally televised game, you can watch it through those services without Sunday Ticket. Local games always air on your regional CBS or Fox station, included with an antenna or cable subscription. Sunday Ticket fills the gap for games that aren't shown locally or nationally.
How to buy Sunday Ticket with or without YouTube TV
To buy Sunday Ticket, go to YouTube.com/sunday-ticket during the NFL season. If you have a YouTube TV account, sign in and you'll see the discounted price. If you don't have YouTube TV, you can still buy Sunday Ticket at the full price without creating a YouTube TV subscription. You'll need a Google account to complete the purchase, but that's free to create.
After you buy, you watch through the YouTube app on your phone, tablet, computer, or TV. You can also watch on youtube.com in a web browser. The app is available on most smart TVs, Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire Stick, and other streaming devices. Check the YouTube app store on your device to confirm it's available before you buy.
Blackout rules and local broadcast restrictions
Even with Sunday Ticket, some games won't be available to you due to blackout rules. If a game is broadcast on your local CBS or Fox station, it's blacked out on Sunday Ticket in your area — you have to watch it on the local channel instead. This is set by the NFL to protect local broadcasters and encourage attendance at stadiums.
Blackout rules vary by game and by location. You won't know which games are blacked out until the schedule is released and the broadcast assignments are finalized, usually a few weeks before the season starts. The YouTube app will show you which games are available in your area once the season begins.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I watch Sunday Ticket on my TV without YouTube TV?
Yes. You can buy Sunday Ticket alone and watch it on any TV that has the YouTube app — smart TVs, Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire Stick, and others. You don't need YouTube TV to watch on your television.
Do I lose Sunday Ticket if I cancel YouTube TV?
No. If you cancel YouTube TV during the season, your Sunday Ticket subscription continues. You keep access to the games you paid for. However, if you renew Sunday Ticket next year, you'll pay the full $199 price instead of the $99 YouTube TV subscriber discount unless you re-subscribe to YouTube TV.
Can I watch Sunday Ticket on my phone if I don't have YouTube TV?
Yes. You can buy Sunday Ticket without YouTube TV and watch on your phone, tablet, or computer through the YouTube app or website. The discount is only available to YouTube TV subscribers, but the service itself works the same way.
What happens to my Sunday Ticket if I move to a different state?
Your subscription continues, but blackout rules change based on your new location. Games that were available in your old state might be blacked out in your new one, depending on which local stations broadcast in that area. Check the YouTube app after you move to see which games are available.
Is Sunday Ticket the same as NFL+?
No. Sunday Ticket shows out-of-market games on TV and streaming devices. NFL+ is a separate service from the NFL that costs less but only works on phones and tablets, and has different blackout rules. They're two different products with different prices and restrictions.