How to Watch NFL Sunday Ticket: A Comprehensive Guide
As football season approaches, fans are eagerly gearing up to watch their favorite teams battle it out on the field. One of the best ways to catch all the action is through NFL Sunday Ticket, a subscription service that offers access to every out-of-market NFL game. In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore the various options for watching NFL Sunday Ticket and help you decide which one is right for you.
What is NFL Sunday Ticket?
NFL Sunday Ticket is a subscription service that allows football fans to watch every out-of-market NFL game during the regular season. This means that fans can watch games that aren't broadcast in their local market, giving them access to all the teams and matchups they want to see. NFL Sunday Ticket also offers additional features, such as NFL RedZone, which provides live coverage of scoring attempts from around the league as they happen.
NFL Sunday Ticket: A Brief History
NFL Sunday Ticket was launched in 1994 as an exclusive offering from DirecTV, a satellite television provider. For years, the service was only available to DirecTV subscribers, limiting its reach to those who had satellite TV. However, in 2022, the service made a significant leap by transitioning to YouTube and YouTube TV, making it more widely available to viewers without satellite TV service.
NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube TV
One of the options for watching NFL Sunday Ticket is through YouTube TV, a popular streaming service that offers live TV channels, unlimited recording, and local broadcast channels. By subscribing to NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube TV, viewers gain access to around 100 linear channels along with the football games they want to watch.
How to Subscribe
To subscribe to NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube TV, you'll need to have an existing YouTube TV account. If you don't already have one, you can sign up for a free trial on the YouTube TV website. Once you have an account, you can add NFL Sunday Ticket as an add-on in your account settings under subscriptions.
Pricing and Discounts
NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube TV is not cheap, with a regular subscription costing $349 for the season, or $389 if you also want to add NFL RedZone.
NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube
Another option for watching NFL Sunday Ticket is through YouTube proper, sometimes referred to as YouTube Primetime Channels. This option does not include any additional linear channels or broadcast channels; it simply offers access to NFL Sunday Ticket through the YouTube platform.
How to Subscribe
To subscribe to NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube, you'll need a YouTube account. If you don't already have one, you can create one for free on the YouTube website. Once you have an account, you can subscribe to NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube by following the instructions provided.
Pricing and Discounts
Subscriptions to NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube Primetime Channels cost $449 for the season, or $489 if you want to add NFL RedZone.
NFL RedZone
In addition to the full NFL Sunday Ticket experience, viewers can also opt to subscribe to NFL RedZone as a separate service. NFL RedZone offers live coverage of scoring attempts from around the league as they happen, making it an exciting option for fans who want to stay up-to-date on all the action.
NFL RedZone is available on both YouTube and YouTube TV options for separate fees. On YouTube TV, it can be added as part of the $11-a-month Sports Plus add-on. On YouTube Primetime Channels, it can be bundled with the NFL Sunday Ticket subscription for an additional $40.
Availability and Blackouts
While NFL Sunday Ticket offers access to a wide range of games, it's important to note that blackouts may still occur. According to the current YouTube TV terms and conditions, blackouts are possible if the home game doesn't sell out (all of its tickets). In that case, the game would be unavailable in that region.
YouTube TV uses your billing address ZIP code to determine your location and potential blackouts. However, it's also possible that the service will use your phone's location data if you're away from home but still within a blackout zone.
Team Packages and Single-Game Options
As of now, NFL Sunday Ticket does not offer team packages or single-game purchasing options. It's an all-or-nothing service, meaning subscribers gain access to all out-of-market games or none at all. While there has been speculation about the possibility of team-specific or single-game options in the future, no official announcements have been made regarding these potential offerings.
Automatic Renewals
It's important to note that NFL Sunday Ticket subscriptions have different renewal policies depending on whether you sign up through YouTube TV or YouTube Primetime Channels.
If you subscribe via YouTube TV, your subscription is for a single season only, with no automatic renewal. You'll need to sign up again for the following season.
If you subscribe via YouTube Primetime Channels, your subscription will automatically renew until you cancel it. It's essential to be aware of this policy to avoid unexpected charges for future seasons.
When is NFL Sunday Ticket Available?
NFL Sunday Ticket is now available as an add-on for YouTube TV subscribers, and can be accessed through YouTube Primetime Channels. The first regular-season game of the 2023 season is scheduled for September 7, with the first Sunday games taking place on September 10.
Conclusion
NFL Sunday Ticket offers football fans a fantastic way to catch all the action from every out-of-market NFL game. With options to watch through YouTube TV or YouTube Primetime Channels, as well as the addition of NFL RedZone, there's never been a better time to subscribe. Keep in mind the information provided in this guide regarding pricing, blackouts, and renewals to ensure you have the best possible experience watching your favorite teams this season.
Author: Dan Anderson