YouTube TV carries most NFL games, but not all of them
YouTube TV includes the channels that broadcast regular-season NFL games: CBS, Fox, and NBC. That means you can watch most games that air on those networks. However, YouTube TV does not carry ESPN, which means you will miss Monday Night Football games. You also will not see Thursday Night Football games, which air on Amazon Prime Video.
The exact number of games available to you depends on which team you follow and which broadcast window they play in. If your team plays a Sunday afternoon game on CBS or Fox, you will see it. If they play Monday night or Thursday night, you will not.
Key Takeaways
- YouTube TV includes CBS, Fox, and NBC, so you can watch Sunday afternoon and Sunday night NFL games on those networks.
- YouTube TV does not include ESPN, so Monday Night Football games are not available through the service.
- Thursday Night Football airs on Amazon Prime Video, not on YouTube TV.
- Regional blackout rules may prevent you from watching your local team's game even if it airs on an included channel.
- The number of games you can watch each week varies depending on your team's schedule and broadcast assignment.
Which channels carry NFL games on YouTube TV
YouTube TV's NFL coverage comes from three broadcast networks. CBS shows most Sunday afternoon games in the early and late windows. Fox also broadcasts Sunday afternoon games, typically in different time slots than CBS. NBC carries Sunday Night Football, which is the prime-time game each week.
These three channels together cover the bulk of regular-season games. During the 2024 season, CBS and Fox each broadcast around 13 games per week, and NBC carries one game per week. That adds up to roughly 27 games per week across YouTube TV's included channels during the regular season.
Games you cannot watch on YouTube TV
Monday Night Football airs exclusively on ESPN, which YouTube TV does not carry. This means you will miss every game that falls on Monday night, regardless of which teams are playing. ESPN has held the rights to Monday Night Football since 2006.
Thursday Night Football presents a different problem. Amazon Prime Video now holds the rights to this game slot. YouTube TV does not include Prime Video, so you cannot watch Thursday games through your YouTube TV subscription. Some Thursday games may also air on NFL Network, which YouTube TV also does not include.
Playoff games and the Super Bowl air on multiple networks depending on the round. Wild Card and Divisional rounds split between CBS, Fox, and NBC — all available on YouTube TV. However, if a playoff game lands on ESPN or another excluded network, you will not have access through YouTube TV.
Regional blackout rules that affect your viewing
Even when a game airs on CBS, Fox, or NBC, you may not be able to watch it on YouTube TV if you live in the home team's market. The NFL enforces local blackout rules that prevent out-of-market viewers from watching certain games on broadcast television. This rule exists to protect local television stations and encourage attendance at games.
Blackout rules vary by game and by region. A Sunday afternoon game might be blacked out in one state but available in another. YouTube TV respects these blackout restrictions, so the service will not let you stream a game that is blacked out in your location, even though the channel is included in your subscription.
How many games air each week during the regular season
The NFL regular season runs 18 weeks, and the number of games broadcast each week is consistent. CBS and Fox together broadcast roughly 13 games on Sunday afternoons. NBC adds one Sunday night game. That means YouTube TV users can typically watch 14 games per week, assuming no blackouts explore to the games you want to see.
Some weeks have more games available if the schedule includes a Sunday afternoon doubleheader or if both CBS and Fox have full slates. Other weeks may have fewer if one network has a lighter schedule. The exact breakdown changes year to year based on how the NFL schedules games.
Playoff and Super Bowl coverage on YouTube TV
YouTube TV carries playoff games that air on CBS, Fox, or NBC. The Wild Card round typically features six games split across these three networks over three days. The Divisional round has four games, also split among the three networks. The Conference Championships air on CBS and Fox.
The Super Bowl airs on one of the three included networks each year, rotating between them. YouTube TV will carry the Super Bowl when it falls on CBS, Fox, or NBC. You can watch the game live or use YouTube TV's cloud DVR to record it and watch later.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I watch Monday Night Football on YouTube TV?
No. Monday Night Football airs on ESPN, which is not included in YouTube TV. You would need a separate ESPN subscription or ESPN+ to watch those games.
Does YouTube TV include NFL Network?
No. YouTube TV does not carry NFL Network. Some Thursday Night Football games air on NFL Network, so you cannot watch those games through YouTube TV.
What happens if my team's game is blacked out?
You will not be able to stream the game on YouTube TV, even though the channel is part of your subscription. Blackouts are enforced at the streaming level. You may be able to watch the game on local broadcast television if you have an antenna in your area.
Can I watch the Super Bowl on YouTube TV?
Yes, if the Super Bowl airs on CBS, Fox, or NBC that year. The Super Bowl rotates among these three networks, and YouTube TV includes all of them. You can watch live or record it with cloud DVR.
How do I know which games are on YouTube TV each week?
Check YouTube TV's guide or the NFL schedule. The guide will show you which games are available in your region. You can also check the network listings — if a game is on CBS, Fox, or NBC, it will be on YouTube TV unless a blackout applies.