Where to get NFL Sunday Ticket in 2024

NFL Sunday Ticket is now sold only through YouTube TV and YouTube Primetime Channels. There is no separate standalone subscription or other retailer offering it. If you do not want YouTube TV, your options are to watch games through your cable or satellite provider's sports package, use the NFL+ streaming service for limited games, or watch through local broadcast channels and ESPN.

YouTube acquired the exclusive rights to Sunday Ticket in 2023, ending the DirecTV era. This means you cannot buy Sunday Ticket through any other streaming service, cable provider, or sports app. The only way to get the full package of out-of-market games is through YouTube's platform.

Key Takeaways

  • NFL Sunday Ticket moved exclusively to YouTube TV and YouTube Primetime Channels in 2023, so it is not sold anywhere else.
  • YouTube TV costs around $72.99 per month and includes Sunday Ticket, but you can also add Sunday Ticket to a YouTube Primetime Channels subscription for a lower price if you do not want the full TV package.
  • Cable and satellite providers like Comcast, Charter, and DIRECTV still offer their own NFL packages that may include some out-of-market games, depending on your provider and plan.
  • NFL+ is a separate streaming service that shows some games live, but it has blackout restrictions and does not include the full Sunday Ticket lineup.
  • Local broadcast channels (CBS, FOX) and ESPN show many regular-season games for free or through basic cable, but they do not cover all out-of-market matchups.

YouTube Primetime Channels as a cheaper Sunday Ticket option

If you want Sunday Ticket but do not need YouTube TV's full channel lineup, YouTube Primetime Channels lets you add Sunday Ticket as a standalone add-on. This costs less than a full YouTube TV subscription. You pay for only the channels and services you want, building your own package.

With Primetime Channels, you can add Sunday Ticket without committing to YouTube TV's base package. The exact price varies, but this route is typically cheaper than paying for the full YouTube TV service. You still get the same Sunday Ticket content—all out-of-market games, RedZone, and the ability to watch on multiple devices.

To use this option, you need a Google account and a supported device (phone, tablet, computer, or compatible TV). You can start and stop the subscription month to month, so you can add it only during football season if you prefer.

What your cable or satellite provider offers instead

If you already have cable or satellite service, your provider may include NFL games in your current package. DIRECTV, Comcast Xfinity, Charter Spectrum, and other providers carry NFL broadcasts through their sports packages, though the games and channels vary by provider and plan level.

Your provider's package will include local broadcasts (games on CBS and FOX in your region) and some nationally televised games on ESPN and other channels. However, these packages typically do not include the full out-of-market game lineup that Sunday Ticket offers. If you want to watch teams outside your local market, your cable package alone may not be enough.

Call your provider's customer service line or log into your account online to see which NFL games are included in your current plan. Some providers offer sports add-ons that expand your NFL coverage, though these are separate from Sunday Ticket.

Using NFL+ for limited game access

NFL+ is the league's own streaming service, separate from Sunday Ticket. It costs around $14.99 per month or $99.99 per year and streams live games, but with important limits. You can watch games on your phone or tablet, but not on your TV, and blackout rules explore—you cannot watch your local team's game if it is broadcast on local TV that week.

NFL+ is useful if you want to catch games on the go or do not mind the blackout restrictions. It also includes replays of past games, coaches' film, and NFL Network shows. But it is not a replacement for Sunday Ticket if your main goal is watching out-of-market teams on your television.

Some cable and satellite providers bundle NFL+ with their packages, so check whether you already have it included before paying separately.

Free and low-cost broadcast options

Many NFL games are broadcast free on local channels. CBS and FOX show regional games based on your location, and ESPN carries Monday Night Football. These broadcasts are included with any cable package or antenna, and you can stream some of them through the networks' apps if you have a cable login.

Thursday Night Football moved to Amazon Prime Video in 2023, so you need a Prime membership (around $14.99 per month or $139 per year) to watch those games. Sunday Night Football remains on NBC and is available through cable or over-the-air antenna.

If you use an antenna, you can receive CBS, FOX, NBC, and sometimes ESPN for free, depending on your location and antenna quality. This covers a significant portion of the regular season, though you will miss out-of-market games and some prime-time matchups.

Comparing your total costs

The cost difference between options depends on what you already have and what you want to watch. YouTube TV with Sunday Ticket costs around $72.99 per month. YouTube Primetime Channels with just Sunday Ticket added costs less, though the exact price depends on what other channels you add. NFL+ alone costs $14.99 per month but has blackout restrictions and no TV viewing.

If you already have cable or satellite service, adding a sports package through your provider may be cheaper than switching to YouTube TV, though you will not get the full Sunday Ticket experience. Combining free broadcast channels with NFL+ or your cable package covers most games without paying for Sunday Ticket.

The right choice depends on whether you need to watch specific out-of-market teams every week. If you do, YouTube TV or YouTube Primetime Channels with Sunday Ticket is your only option. If you are flexible about which games you watch, free and low-cost options cover a large portion of the season.

What changed when YouTube took over Sunday Ticket

Before 2023, DIRECTV held the exclusive rights to Sunday Ticket and sold it as a standalone subscription. You could buy Sunday Ticket without having DIRECTV service. YouTube's acquisition ended that option—now the only way to get Sunday Ticket is through YouTube's platform.

YouTube also made Sunday Ticket available to YouTube TV subscribers at no extra cost (it is included in the base package), which was different from DIRECTV's model. This change means cord-cutters who want Sunday Ticket must use YouTube TV or add it through Primetime Channels, rather than buying it standalone from a satellite provider.

The shift reflects the broader move of live sports to streaming platforms. If you were a DIRECTV Sunday Ticket subscriber before 2023 and want to keep the same service, you now need to switch to YouTube TV.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I buy NFL Sunday Ticket without YouTube TV?

You cannot buy Sunday Ticket as a completely standalone product, but you can add it to YouTube Primetime Channels without subscribing to YouTube TV's full package. This is cheaper than YouTube TV but still requires a Google account and compatible device.

Does my cable provider still offer NFL Sunday Ticket?

No. DIRECTV was the last cable or satellite provider to carry Sunday Ticket, and that ended when YouTube took over in 2023. Your cable provider carries regular NFL broadcasts and may offer sports packages, but not Sunday Ticket.

Can I watch NFL games with just an antenna?

Yes, you can watch many games free with an antenna. CBS, FOX, NBC, and sometimes ESPN broadcast games in your region. You will miss out-of-market games and some prime-time matchups, but you can watch a large portion of the season without paying.

Is NFL+ the same as Sunday Ticket?

No. NFL+ is cheaper and streams some games, but it has blackout restrictions and does not work on your TV. Sunday Ticket includes all out-of-market games without blackouts and works on any device, but it is only sold through YouTube.

What if I only want to watch my local team?

Your local team's games are broadcast free on CBS or FOX most weeks. You can watch them with an antenna, cable, or through the network's app with a cable login. You do not need Sunday Ticket or YouTube TV for local broadcasts.