Watching all the National Football League games this season could require a significant financial commitment from viewers, with total subscription costs potentially reaching close to $800.
The increasing reliance on multiple streaming platforms for live sports means NFL fans may need subscriptions to services including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube TV, Peacock, and Paramount+. Additionally, NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube is a separate package for out-of-market games.
This season, Netflix will exclusively broadcast five NFL games, including matchups on Thanksgiving Eve, Christmas Day, and in the final week of the regular season. This requires a subscription to be active for at least four months of the NFL season, from September through January, with Netflix not carrying games in October. Monthly Netflix plans range from $8.99 to $26.99.
Amazon Prime Video will continue to air Thursday Night Football, requiring a Prime membership for five months of the season, from Week 2 through the Wild Card Round. This costs $14.99 per month.
For those with traditional cable or satellite packages, games will still be available on networks like Fox, CBS, NBC, and ESPN/ABC. However, alternative streaming options are available for those who consume other content on these platforms.
YouTube offers a Sports Plan at $64.99 per month, which includes local channels and various sports networks. New subscribers can get this plan for $49.99 per month for the first six months. Alternatively, viewers can subscribe to individual services. Bundling Fox One and ESPN Unlimited costs $39.99 per month for access to games on Fox, ESPN, and ABC. Paramount+ adds $8.99 per month for CBS games, and Peacock costs $12.99 per month for NBC games. These individual subscriptions would total a similar monthly cost to the YouTube TV Sports Plan, but would still necessitate separate Netflix and Amazon Prime subscriptions.
In total, accessing all nationally televised games could cost between $450 and $500 for the season, not including NFL Sunday Ticket.
NFL Sunday Ticket, available on YouTube, is necessary for fans wanting to watch games not broadcast locally in their market. The full-year package is priced at $336, with a discounted rate of $240 for new subscribers. This brings the total potential cost for comprehensive NFL viewing to the higher range, contributing to the memes circulating that suggest an $800 price tag.
The article notes that while rising costs have not yet impacted NFL popularity, this trend could eventually affect viewership. It also points to the league's expansion of game windows and days as potentially diluting the product, leading to issues like shorter rest periods, sloppy play, and increased injuries. The author suggests that charging more for a potentially diminishing product is not a sustainable strategy and that fans may eventually seek more affordable entertainment options.