YouTube TV does not carry Monday Night Football
YouTube TV's sports lineup does not include Monday Night Football, the NFL games broadcast on ESPN. ESPN is owned by Disney, and YouTube TV does not have a carriage agreement that includes ESPN's primetime football broadcasts. If you want to watch Monday Night Football, you will need a different streaming service or cable provider.
This is a common reason people choose other live TV streaming services instead of YouTube TV. The gap matters most during the NFL season, which runs from September through January. If football is your main reason for subscribing to a live TV service, you should check what games each service actually carries before signing up.
Key Takeaways
- YouTube TV does not include ESPN, so you cannot watch Monday Night Football through that service.
- Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, and traditional cable all carry ESPN and can show you Monday Night Football.
- YouTube TV does carry NFL games on other networks—specifically Sunday games on CBS and Fox, plus Thursday Night Football on Amazon Prime Video if you have that subscription.
- The NFL season runs September through January, so the Monday Night Football blackout affects YouTube TV subscribers for about five months each year.
What sports channels YouTube TV actually includes
YouTube TV carries major sports networks, but ESPN is not one of them. The service includes Fox, CBS, NBC, and regional sports networks in most markets. This means you can watch NFL games on Sunday afternoons and some Thursday night games, but not the Monday night slot.
You also get access to NBA games on ABC, NHL games on NBC, and college sports on various networks. MLB games appear on Fox and regional channels. The missing piece is ESPN's exclusive content, which includes not just Monday Night Football but also college football, basketball, and other sports that air only on that network.
Which streaming services do carry Monday Night Football
Hulu + Live TV includes ESPN and carries the full Monday Night Football schedule. It costs more than YouTube TV and includes Hulu's on-demand library as a bonus. Hulu + Live TV also gives you access to ESPN+ for additional sports content.
Sling TV offers ESPN through its Sling Orange package, which is cheaper than Hulu + Live TV but has fewer total channels. You can add sports-focused packages to expand what you get. Sling is a good option if you only want Monday Night Football and do not need a full cable replacement.
Traditional cable or satellite (Comcast, Charter, DirecTV, Dish) all include ESPN as standard. These are more expensive than streaming services but give you the widest range of sports and channels overall.
NFL games you can watch on YouTube TV
YouTube TV does carry NFL games, just not the Monday night broadcast. You can watch Sunday afternoon games on CBS and Fox, which is where most regular-season games air. These are the 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. ET kickoffs that make up the bulk of the NFL schedule.
You can also watch Thursday Night Football if you have an Amazon Prime Video subscription. Prime Video streams these games exclusively, and YouTube TV does not interfere with that—you just need both services. Sunday night games on NBC are included with YouTube TV as well, though these are fewer in number than the afternoon slots.
The games you miss are the 8:15 p.m. ET Monday broadcasts on ESPN, plus any playoff games ESPN carries. For most of the season, you will have access to the majority of games, but the Monday slot is a real gap if that is when you prefer to watch.
How to decide if YouTube TV works for you without Monday Night Football
Start by checking your local NFL team's schedule for the upcoming season. If your team plays most of its games on Sunday or Thursday, YouTube TV might work fine for you. If your team has multiple Monday night games, the missing ESPN channel becomes a bigger problem.
Consider also what other sports matter to you. If you watch college football, college basketball, or other ESPN-heavy sports, YouTube TV will feel incomplete. If you mostly care about NFL Sundays and do not watch much else, YouTube TV's sports package is solid.
You can also use YouTube TV's free trial period to test the service during football season. Watch a few games and see whether the missing Monday Night Football slot actually affects your viewing habits. Some people think they will miss it more than they actually do.
Switching services mid-season if you need Monday Night Football
If you sign up for YouTube TV and realize you need Monday Night Football, you can switch to another service. Most streaming services do not lock you into long contracts—you can cancel YouTube TV and start Hulu + Live TV or Sling TV whenever you want. The switch usually takes effect within a day.
Keep in mind that switching services means losing YouTube TV's interface and any recordings you made. You will also lose any promotional pricing you had. It is worth doing the research upfront rather than switching mid-season, but it is not impossible if you change your mind.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I watch Monday Night Football on YouTube TV if I have ESPN+?
No. ESPN+ is a separate streaming service that shows different content than the ESPN cable channel. Monday Night Football airs on the ESPN cable channel, which YouTube TV does not carry. ESPN+ has some sports content, but not the Monday night NFL broadcasts.
Does YouTube TV ever show Monday Night Football games?
No, YouTube TV does not carry ESPN, so it never shows Monday Night Football. This is a permanent gap in the service, not something that changes week to week. If you need Monday Night Football, you will need a different service.
What if my team plays on Monday Night Football—can I watch it another way?
If your team plays on Monday night, the game will be broadcast on ESPN. You would need Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, cable, or another service that includes ESPN. Some games may also be available through the NFL's own streaming service or the team's website, depending on blackout rules in your area.
Is YouTube TV cheaper because it does not have ESPN?
Yes, YouTube TV's lower price compared to Hulu + Live TV is partly because it does not include ESPN. YouTube TV costs less per month, but you lose access to all ESPN content. The trade-off is worth it for some people and not for others, depending on what sports you watch.
Can I use a VPN to watch Monday Night Football on YouTube TV?
No. YouTube TV's content restrictions are based on your account and billing address, not just your location. Using a VPN will not let you watch ESPN or Monday Night Football if your account is registered in the United States.