Football fans preparing for the upcoming NFL season are encountering a significant increase in the cost of accessing games through various streaming platforms, notably with ESPN raising its subscription prices. This surge in expenses comes as the network prepares to broadcast its first Super Bowl.
For the 2026 NFL season, watching every game may require subscriptions to as many as nine different platforms, potentially costing hundreds of dollars. Some fans are opting for a strategic approach, utilizing a live-TV streaming package as a base and adding only those services with exclusive content. One proposed combination includes YouTube TV's Sports Plan, Amazon, and Netflix, with an estimated total cost ranging from $450 to $550 for the season.
YouTube TV's Sports Plan, which includes major networks like CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN, ABC, and NFL Network, costs $64.99 per month, or $54.99 for new subscribers in their first year. This plan, however, does not cover Amazon's Thursday night games or Netflix's exclusive slate.
ESPN's streaming options have also seen price hikes. ESPN Unlimited is now $31.99 per month, an increase from $29.99, offering access to over 47,000 live events annually. However, this subscription includes only about 22% of the total NFL games, including pre-season games. A lower-tier option, ESPN Select, has increased to $13.99 per month from $12.99. This plan offers access to an estimated 32,000 live events but excludes ESPN's live cable and satellite channels, meaning subscribers get access to only about 2.6% of NFL games for the 2026 season, and it does not include Monday Night Football games from the ESPN cable channel.
Annual subscriptions to ESPN Unlimited will now cost $319.99, a $20 increase from the previous year's price of $299.99. These rising costs have led to frustration among fans, with some expressing concerns on social media about continually paying more for game access.
ESPN's acquisition of the NFL Network has also generated concern about additional costs. While the NFL Network is now available through ESPN Unlimited, the RedZone channel remains under NFL operation. The current US media rights agreements for the NFL began in 2023 and are set to continue through the 2033 season, with games distributed across CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN/ABC, and Amazon. The Super Bowl is scheduled to be broadcast on ESPN and ABC on February 14 next year.