NFL Sunday Ticket is not included with YouTube TV — you must buy it separately
YouTube TV is a live TV streaming service that carries most broadcast and cable channels, but NFL Sunday Ticket is a separate subscription that you purchase on top of your YouTube TV membership. The two are not bundled together. If you want to watch out-of-market NFL games on Sundays, you will need to pay for Sunday Ticket as an add-on.
Google acquired the rights to distribute NFL Sunday Ticket in 2022, and the service moved from DirecTV to YouTube's platform starting in the 2023 season. Even though Google owns both YouTube TV and Sunday Ticket, they remain separate products with separate costs.
Key Takeaways
- NFL Sunday Ticket costs extra and is not part of a YouTube TV membership — you must buy it as a standalone subscription or add-on.
- YouTube TV carries your local NFL broadcast and primetime games like Monday Night Football, but not the out-of-market Sunday afternoon games that Sunday Ticket covers.
- You can purchase Sunday Ticket through YouTube's website or the YouTube TV app, and you do not need a YouTube TV subscription to buy it.
- Sunday Ticket pricing changes year to year, so check YouTube's official pricing page for the current season's cost.
What YouTube TV includes for NFL fans
YouTube TV carries the channels that broadcast NFL games: CBS, Fox, ESPN, and NBC. That means you get your local team's games, primetime matchups like Sunday Night Football and Monday Night Football, and Thursday Night Football on Amazon Prime (if you have that subscription). You also get NFL Network if you want news and analysis during the week.
What you do not get with YouTube TV alone is out-of-market Sunday afternoon games — the games that air on CBS and Fox in other parts of the country. Those are what Sunday Ticket is for. If you live in New York but want to watch a Kansas City Chiefs game that is not being broadcast in your market, you need Sunday Ticket to stream it.
How to buy NFL Sunday Ticket separately
You can purchase Sunday Ticket directly through YouTube's website or through the YouTube TV app. You do not need an existing YouTube TV membership to buy it — Sunday Ticket stands on its own. Go to YouTube's Sunday Ticket page, select the plan you want (pricing varies by tier), and complete the purchase using a Google account.
Once you own Sunday Ticket, you can stream games on any device where you sign in with that Google account: phones, tablets, computers, smart TVs, or streaming devices like Chromecast or Roku. You can also watch on the YouTube TV app if you have that installed.
Sunday Ticket pricing and plan options
NFL Sunday Ticket offers multiple tiers, and the cost changes from season to season. YouTube typically offers a standard plan and a premium plan with features like RedZone (a channel that cuts between games showing all the scoring plays) and the ability to watch on multiple screens at once. Some years, YouTube also offers a discounted plan for students.
Pricing is not fixed — it varies by year and by which plan you choose. Check YouTube's official Sunday Ticket page at the start of the NFL season to see what the current options and prices are. Some promotions or discounts may be available during preseason or early in the season.
Bundling YouTube TV with Sunday Ticket
While Sunday Ticket is not automatically included with YouTube TV, you can buy both services and use them together. Some people do this because YouTube TV gives them the local broadcasts and primetime games, while Sunday Ticket fills in the out-of-market Sunday afternoon slots. You will pay for both subscriptions, but they work seamlessly on the same devices and the same Google account.
If you are trying to decide whether to get YouTube TV, Sunday Ticket, or both, think about which games you actually want to watch. If you only care about your local team and primetime games, YouTube TV alone is enough. If you want to follow multiple teams or watch every game, you will need Sunday Ticket as well.
Watching NFL games without YouTube TV
You can buy Sunday Ticket without having YouTube TV. Many people do this — they use YouTube TV for other channels and sports, or they do not use YouTube TV at all and just subscribe to Sunday Ticket for football. Sunday Ticket works as a standalone product.
If you do not want YouTube TV but do want to watch NFL games, you have other options too. Your local games air on broadcast TV (CBS, Fox, NBC) and cable (ESPN, Fox Sports), so a basic antenna or a different streaming service might cover what you need. Sunday Ticket is specifically for the out-of-market games that are not available through those channels.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I watch NFL games on YouTube TV without buying Sunday Ticket?
Yes. YouTube TV includes CBS, Fox, NBC, and ESPN, so you can watch your local team's games and all primetime matchups. You only need Sunday Ticket if you want out-of-market Sunday afternoon games that are not broadcast in your area.
Do I need YouTube TV to buy NFL Sunday Ticket?
No. Sunday Ticket is sold separately and works on its own. You can own Sunday Ticket without having a YouTube TV subscription, though many people buy both because they complement each other.
What is the difference between YouTube TV and Sunday Ticket?
YouTube TV is a full live TV streaming service with hundreds of channels. Sunday Ticket is a sports-only subscription that streams out-of-market NFL games on Sunday afternoons. They are separate products with separate costs.
Can I watch Sunday Ticket on my TV if I have YouTube TV?
Yes. If you buy Sunday Ticket, you can stream it on any device — phones, tablets, computers, smart TVs, and streaming devices — using the same Google account. You do not need YouTube TV installed to watch Sunday Ticket, but if you have both, they work together on the same devices.
Does YouTube TV come with RedZone?
RedZone is not included with YouTube TV. It is available as part of the premium tier of NFL Sunday Ticket. You would need to buy the Sunday Ticket premium plan to access RedZone.