Red Zone is available through YouTube TV's sports add-on package
Red Zone is NFL Network's live channel that shows every NFL game in progress during the regular season, switching between games to show touchdowns and critical plays. On YouTube TV, you do not get Red Zone as part of your base subscription. You must add the Sports Plus add-on, which costs extra per month and includes Red Zone along with other sports channels.
The Sports Plus add-on is the only way to watch Red Zone through YouTube TV. Once you add it to your account, you can watch Red Zone on any device where you are signed into YouTube TV — your phone, tablet, computer, or connected TV.
Key Takeaways
- Red Zone requires YouTube TV's Sports Plus add-on subscription, which is separate from your base YouTube TV plan.
- You can add Sports Plus directly from the YouTube TV app or website in your account settings under memberships.
- Red Zone broadcasts only during NFL regular season Sundays and some Thursday nights, not year-round.
- The Sports Plus add-on also includes NFL RedZone, NFL Network, NBA TV, and other sports channels beyond Red Zone alone.
How to add Sports Plus to your YouTube TV account
Open the YouTube TV app or go to youtube.com/tv on your computer. Sign in with the Google account linked to your YouTube TV subscription. Tap or click the profile icon in the top right corner, then select Settings.
In Settings, look for Memberships or Manage memberships. You will see your current YouTube TV plan listed. Below it, you should see an option to add Sports Plus or view available add-ons. Tap or click Add next to Sports Plus. YouTube TV will show you the current monthly price and ask you to confirm. Complete the purchase, and Sports Plus will be active on your account when ready.
If you cannot find the add-ons section, make sure you are signed in as the account owner or manager of the YouTube TV household. Family members with viewer-only access cannot add paid add-ons.
When Red Zone is available to watch
Red Zone airs only during the NFL regular season, which runs from September through early January. The channel broadcasts on Sunday afternoons during the main slate of games, typically from around 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern time. Some Thursday night games are also covered by Red Zone.
Outside the regular season — during the offseason, playoffs, and Super Bowl — Red Zone does not broadcast. During those periods, you can still watch other sports channels included in Sports Plus, such as NFL Network and NBA TV, but Red Zone itself will be dark.
What else comes with Sports Plus
Sports Plus is not just Red Zone. The add-on includes NFL Network, NBA TV, NHL Network, MLB Network, and several other sports-focused channels. If you subscribe to Sports Plus for Red Zone, you also gain access to these other channels at no additional cost.
This means you can watch out-of-market NFL games on NFL Network, NBA games on NBA TV, and league-specific programming year-round, even when Red Zone is not broadcasting.
How to watch Red Zone on different devices
Once Sports Plus is active on your account, Red Zone appears in the YouTube TV guide alongside your other channels. On a phone or tablet, open the YouTube TV app, navigate to the guide or search for Red Zone, and tap the channel. On a computer, go to youtube.com/tv, find Red Zone in the guide, and click to watch.
On a connected TV — such as a Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV, or Google TV device — open the YouTube TV app, sign in if prompted, and navigate to Red Zone in the guide. The channel will play in full resolution on your television. You must be signed into the same Google account on your TV device that has Sports Plus active.
Removing Sports Plus if you no longer want it
If you decide to cancel Sports Plus, return to Settings and select Memberships. Find Sports Plus in your list of active add-ons and tap or click Manage or Cancel. Confirm the cancellation. Your access to Red Zone and other Sports Plus channels will end at the end of your current billing cycle — you will not lose access mid-month.
You can reactivate Sports Plus at any time during a future NFL season by following the same steps to add it again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I watch Red Zone without paying for Sports Plus?
No. Red Zone is only available through the Sports Plus add-on. YouTube TV's base subscription does not include it, and there is no way to watch Red Zone through YouTube TV without purchasing Sports Plus.
Does Red Zone work on all YouTube TV devices?
Yes, as long as you are signed into the account that has Sports Plus active. Red Zone works on phones, tablets, computers, and connected TV devices. Make sure your device is up to date with the latest YouTube TV app version for the best experience.
What happens to Red Zone during the NFL offseason?
Red Zone stops broadcasting once the regular season ends in early January. The channel remains dark through the offseason and playoffs. If you only want Red Zone and do not care about other Sports Plus channels, you can cancel the add-on after the season ends and reactivate it the following September.
Can family members watch Red Zone on their own devices?
Yes, any family member in your YouTube TV household can watch Red Zone on their own device as long as they sign into the account that has Sports Plus active. YouTube TV allows multiple simultaneous streams depending on your plan.
Is there a free trial for Sports Plus?
YouTube TV occasionally offers free trial periods for Sports Plus, usually at the start of the NFL season. Check your YouTube TV account settings or the add-ons page to see if a trial is currently available in your area.