YouTube TV does not carry every NFL game, but it covers most of them through its NFL-focused channels

YouTube TV includes CBS, Fox, and NBC, which together broadcast the majority of regular-season NFL games on Sunday and Monday nights. However, some games air exclusively on ESPN, the NFL Network, or Amazon Prime Video — services YouTube TV does not include in its base package. If you want to watch every game your team plays, you need to know which channel carries each one before the season starts.

The channels YouTube TV does include are the ones that show the most games. CBS and Fox split the Sunday afternoon slate, NBC handles Sunday Night Football, and ESPN carries Monday Night Football. For most viewers, this covers the games that matter most: your local team's broadcast and the nationally televised matchups.

Key Takeaways

  • YouTube TV includes CBS, Fox, and NBC, which broadcast most regular-season NFL games, but not ESPN, the NFL Network, or Amazon Prime Video.
  • Some games air only on ESPN Monday Night Football or the NFL Network, which YouTube TV does not carry in its standard package.
  • Your local team's Sunday game usually appears on CBS or Fox, depending on your region and the matchup.
  • Thursday Night Football moved to Amazon Prime Video in 2023, so YouTube TV subscribers cannot watch those games without a separate Prime subscription.

What channels YouTube TV includes for NFL games

YouTube TV's base package includes CBS, Fox, and NBC. These three networks broadcast the bulk of NFL regular-season games. CBS and Fox alternate Sunday afternoon games based on which conference is playing at home — CBS typically shows AFC home games and Fox shows NFC home games, though this varies by matchup. NBC broadcasts Sunday Night Football, the primetime slot that airs one game per week.

ESPN is not included in YouTube TV's standard package. This matters because ESPN carries Monday Night Football, which is one of the two primetime slots each week. If your team plays on Monday night and you want to watch on YouTube TV, you will need to find another way to view it — either through ESPN's standalone app (which requires a cable login you may not have) or through a different service.

Games YouTube TV does not carry

Thursday Night Football airs exclusively on Amazon Prime Video, not on any broadcast network. YouTube TV does not include Prime Video, so you cannot watch Thursday games through your YouTube TV subscription. You would need a separate Prime Video subscription or a Prime membership to view these games.

The NFL Network carries some games that do not air on the major broadcast networks, particularly during the preseason and in specific regular-season slots. YouTube TV does not include the NFL Network. If your team plays an NFL Network-exclusive game, YouTube TV will not have it.

Some playoff games air on networks YouTube TV does not carry, depending on the year and the matchup. The Super Bowl always airs on a broadcast network (CBS, Fox, or NBC), so you can watch it on YouTube TV. However, Wild Card and Divisional playoff games may air on ESPN or other cable networks that YouTube TV does not include.

How to find out which channel shows your team's games

The NFL publishes its full schedule before each season, and each game listing includes the broadcast network. You can find this on NFL.com or on your team's official website. Look at your team's schedule and note which games air on ESPN, the NFL Network, or Amazon Prime Video — those are the ones YouTube TV will not carry.

Your local CBS or Fox affiliate will broadcast your team's local games on Sunday afternoons, with rare exceptions. If your team plays in a major market, you may see more nationally televised games on NBC or ESPN. The exact breakdown depends on your region and your team's record — networks adjust their broadcasts based on which games draw the largest audiences.

What to do if your team plays on a channel YouTube TV does not have

If your team plays on Monday Night Football (ESPN), you have a few options. ESPN offers a standalone streaming app that lets you watch with a cable login, but this requires you to have a cable subscription elsewhere. Some cable providers offer ESPN through their own apps. Alternatively, you could add ESPN+ to your YouTube TV subscription — ESPN+ is a separate service from ESPN the cable channel, and it does not include Monday Night Football, so this would not solve the problem.

For Thursday Night Football on Amazon Prime Video, you need either a Prime Video subscription or a Prime membership. This is a separate purchase from YouTube TV and costs money each month or year.

For NFL Network games, you would need to subscribe to a service that includes it, such as cable, Sling TV, or YouTube TV's Sports Plus add-on (though Sports Plus does not include the NFL Network — it adds NFL RedZone and other channels). Check the current add-on options on YouTube TV's website, as these change.

Regional blackout rules and local games

Your local team's Sunday afternoon game is almost always broadcast on CBS or Fox in your region, and YouTube TV will carry it. The NFL has strict rules about which games air locally: if your team is playing at home on Sunday afternoon, the game airs on your local CBS or Fox station. If the game is not sold out, it may be blacked out in your area, but YouTube TV will still carry the broadcast — you just will not be able to watch it if you live in the team's home market.

Games that air nationally (Sunday Night Football, Monday Night Football, Thursday Night Football, and most playoff games) are not subject to blackout rules. You can watch them from anywhere, as long as you have access to the network that carries them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I watch the Super Bowl on YouTube TV?

Yes. The Super Bowl airs on one of the major broadcast networks — CBS, Fox, or NBC — which YouTube TV includes. The network changes each year, but YouTube TV will always carry it.

Does YouTube TV include NFL RedZone?

NFL RedZone is not included in YouTube TV's base package, but it is available as an add-on. You can add it to your subscription for an extra monthly fee. RedZone shows live look-ins from all Sunday afternoon games, cutting between them as plays develop.

What if I want to watch every game my team plays?

Check your team's schedule on NFL.com before the season starts. Note which games air on ESPN, the NFL Network, or Amazon Prime Video. For those games, you will need a separate subscription or cable login. For all other games, YouTube TV will have them.

Can I watch playoff games on YouTube TV?

Most playoff games air on CBS, Fox, NBC, or ESPN. YouTube TV carries CBS, Fox, and NBC, so you can watch those games. Games on ESPN or other cable networks require a separate subscription. The Super Bowl always airs on a broadcast network, so YouTube TV will have it.

Does YouTube TV have the NFL Network?

No. The NFL Network is not included in YouTube TV's standard package or available as an add-on. If you need the NFL Network, you would need cable, a different streaming service, or the NFL's own streaming options.