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I rely on NFL Network to stay connected to football. Through this channel, I watch live games, particularly during preseason, along with expert analysis and compelling documentaries. While I once needed a cable subscription to access NFL Network, today there are more ways to tune in.
Seeing “not available in your area” or a blackout? Connect to another US location to unlock regional sports, news, and shows you already pay for. A streaming subscription is still required.
VPNs are also handy when you travel abroad and want to watch your usual US streaming content. New to VPNs? Learn how they work….
In a hurry? If you just want to start watching NFL Network and don’t care about the details, these streaming services will serve you well:
All three services carry NFL. Pick based on your budget:
Best Overall
185+ channels including NFL, all major sports networks, and local channels. 7-day free trial – watch tonight, cancel anytime. Best if you want one service that “just works”, without piecing together bundles.
From $79.99/mo after free trial
Lowest Price
Carries NFL from $45.99/mo – roughly half the price of Fubo. Add channel packs if you want more. The lowest-cost route for NFL, if you are happy with a smaller bundle.
Most Channels
90+ channels including NFL – the closest thing to full cable without a contract. 5-day free trial, then from $59.99/mo.
Away from home? If your content is blocked, a VPN helps you keep streaming. Our top pick is ExpressVPN.
NFL Network started as a cable TV channel back in 2003. It airs live games throughout the NFL (National Football League) season in addition to providing 24/7 coverage with player and game analysis, documentaries, and classic games.
It isn’t broadcast over the air, so you can’t get NFL Network with a TV antenna. Instead, you must get it from a third-party streaming provider. Today, NFL Network is available from all the major online live TV streaming services.
All you need is an internet connection, streaming device (like a TV or mobile phone), and a subscription to a streaming service that offers NFL Network. Once you sign up for the streaming service, you’re set to go.
As you plan for the upcoming NFL season, you are likely looking into the different ways on how to watch NFL Network online without cable. With so many different streaming services available, it shouldn’t be hard to find NFL Network and its slate of games this fall.
| NFL Channels | CBS, ESPN, Fox, NBC, NFL Network |
| Total Channels | 150+ |
| Cloud DVR | 1000 hours |
| Simultaneous Screens | 10 (2 away) |
| Free Trial | ✅ |
| Fubo Price | $79.99/month |
Fubo (formerly FuboTV) is one of the top streaming services when it comes to sports. For just $79.99/month, you get NFL Network and the other NFL channels: CBS, ESPN, FOX, and NBC.
The standard Fubo plan (Pro) comes with over 150 channels — 35+ of them sports-oriented in addition to all the network affiliates in most areas. It also comes with a generous unlimited cloud DVR storage and the ability to watch on up to ten devices/TVs at the same time. New subscribers get seven days to try it all out.
If you want NFL RedZone, Fubo offers it as part of its Sports Plus add-on. For $10.99/mo, you get NFL RedZone and 25 other additional sports channels including MLB Network, NBA TV, and NHL Network.
For more information, see the following articles:
| NFL Channels | ABC, Fox, NBC, CBS, ESPN, ESPN2 |
| Total Channels | 100+ |
| Cloud DVR | unlimited |
| Simultaneous Screens | unlimited |
| Free Trial | ✅ |
| DIRECTV Price* | $64.99/month |
DIRECTV’s base plan costs $59.99/month with 75+ channels including all the major local channels. But to watch NLF Network, you need to sign up for the Choice plan for $64.99/month. The Choice plan offers 100+ channels with Sports channels like ESPNews, ESPNU, Fox Sports, TNT, NBA TV, Golf Channel, Tennis Channel & more. It also includes the best selection of RSNs in the industry.
If you upgrade to the Premier plan ($129.99/month), you will get all that including access to Max, SHOWTIME, and Starz. All plans offer unlimited hours of cloud DVR and watching on unlimited streaming devices at the same time.
| NFL Channels | Fox, NBC, NFL Network |
| Total Channels | 40+ |
| Cloud DVR | 50 hours |
| Simultaneous Screens | 3 |
| Free Trial | ❌ |
| Sling TV Price* | $45.99/month |
The Sling Blue plan comes with NFL Network and 40+ other channels for just $45.99/month. Otherwise, it isn’t a great plan for live sports. It does, however, offer local affiliates of FOX, which airs two games each Sunday, and NBC, which airs Sunday Night Football. It also shows the entire NFL draft.
You can also get ESPN, if you opt for the Orange + Blue plan for $60.99/month.
Sling TV provides the option of integrating an antenna with its streaming platform. If you sign-up for just two months in advance, they will send you an antenna for free. This should allow you to get all your local affiliates including CBS in one low-cost plan.
Sling TV comes with 50 hours of cloud DVR storage and you can use it with up to three devices at one time. Get Sling TV.
Or, check out our detailed articles on Sling TV:
| NFL Channels | CBS, ESPN, Fox, NBC, NFL Network |
| Total Channels | 85+ |
| Cloud DVR | Unlimited (9 month storage) |
| Simultaneous Screens | 2 |
| Free Trial | ❌ |
| Hulu Price | $82.99/month |
Not long ago, Hulu was a disappointment for NFL fans. But since the start of the 2021 season, Hulu + Live TV offers NFL Network. This is part of its 85+ live TV streaming plan, which includes CBS, ESPN, FOX, and NBC — all the channels you need to watch the NFL live. And you get ESPN+ and Disney+.
Start Hulu + Live TV Free Trial ↗︎
Hulu is also offering NFL RedZone in the Sports add-on for $9.99/mo. It comes with a handful of other channels focusing on horse racing (TVG, TVG2), hunting (Outdoor Channel, Sportsman Channel), and motorsports (MAVTV).
You can read more about Hulu in these articles:
There are other ways to watch your favorite teams on NFL Network:
All of the streaming services that we’ve highlighted support the vast majority of the devices currently in use.
All support the Samsung and LG smart TVs of the past few years. Fubo also supports the Hisense TVs. But all the services support smart TVs based on Android TV.
All the standard TV devices are supported: Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, and Roku. And mobile devices based on Android and iOS (iPhone, iPad) are supported.
Finally, Fubo, Hulu, and Sling TV all support the Xbox One. Hulu also supports the PlayStation and Nintendo Switch. And Sling TV supports the Oculus.
And finally, everyone supports the major web browsers. Devices that run such browsers can often be hooked up to TVs, too.
The NFL Network broadcast schedule for games is focused mostly on the preseason.
| Date | Time (ET) | Teams |
|---|---|---|
| Thu Aug 10 | 7:00 pm | Houston Texans (20) at New England Patriots (9) |
| Thu Aug 10 | 10:00 pm | Minnesota Vikings (13) at Seattle Seahawks (24) |
| Fri Aug 11 | 7:00 pm | Green Bay Packers (36) at Cincinnati Bengals (19) |
| Fri Aug 11 | 10:00 pm | Denver Broncos (17) at Arizona Cardinals (18) |
| Sat Aug 12 | 1:00 pm | Tennessee Titans (17) at Chicago Bears (23) |
| Sat Aug 12 | 4:00 pm | New York Jets (27) at Carolina Panthers (0) |
| Sat Aug 12 | 7:00 pm | Philadelphia Eagles (19) at Baltimore Ravens (20) |
| Sat Aug 12 | 9:00 pm | Los Angeles Chargers (34) at Los Angeles Rams (17) |
| Sun Aug 13 | 1:00 pm | Kansas City Chiefs (24) at New Orleans Saints (26) |
| Sun Aug 13 | 4:00 pm | San Francisco 49ers (7) at Las Vegas Raiders (34) |
| Thu Aug 17 | 7:30 pm | Cleveland Browns (18) at Philadelphia Eagles (18) |
| Fri Aug 18 | 7:00 pm | Carolina Panthers (19) at New York Giants (21) |
| Sat Aug 19 | 1:00 pm | Jacksonville Jaguars (25) at Detroit Lions (7) |
| Sat Aug 19 | 4:00 pm | Miami Dolphins (28) at Houston Texans (3) |
| Sat Aug 19 | 7:00 pm | Chicago Bears (17) at Indianapolis Colts (24) |
| Sat Aug 19 | 10:00 pm | Dallas Cowboys (14) at Seattle Seahawks (22) |
| Sun Aug 20 | 7:05 pm | New Orleans Saints (22) at Los Angeles Chargers (17) |
| Thu Aug 24 | 7:30 pm | Pittsburgh Steelers (24) at Atlanta Falcons (0) |
| Fri Aug 25 | 8:15 pm | New England Patriots (7) at Tennessee Titans (23) |
| Fri Aug 25 | 10:00 pm | Los Angeles Chargers (23) at San Francisco 49ers (12) |
| Sat Aug 26 | 1:00 pm | Cleveland Browns (32) at Kansas City Chiefs (33) |
| Sat Aug 26 | 6:00 pm | New York Jets (32) at New York Giants (24) |
| Sat Aug 26 | 9:00 pm | Los Angeles Rams (0) at Denver Broncos (41) |
| Date | Time (ET) | Teams |
|---|---|---|
| Sun Oct 8 | 9:30 am | Jacksonville Jaguars at Buffalo Bills |
| Sun Oct 15 | 9:30 am | Baltimore Ravens at Tennessee Titans |
| Sun Nov 5 | 9:30 am | Miami Dolphins at Kansas City Chiefs |
| Sun Nov 12 | 9:30 am | Indianapolis Colts at New England Patriots |
| Sun Dec 24 | 8:15 pm | New England Patriots at Denver Broncos |
Fubo ended up being my favorite for watching NFL Network after checking out a bunch of streaming options. It’s got awesome streaming quality – no annoying buffering or glitches – and the DVR is a lifesaver if you can’t catch games live. The interface is simple to use, and it’s packed with channels beyond just football, so it’s great value. Plus, it works on pretty much any device, which is a huge plus. Other services didn’t feel as reliable or as easy to navigate. If you want a stress-free way to watch the NFL, Fubo’s the way to go.
NFL Network airs all preseason games, the playoffs, and the Super Bowl. It will air a handful of regular season games as well, but most of them will be on CBS, Fox, ABC, NBC, or ESPN. If regular season games are what you’re after, there are better options. See the 2023 NFL Network Game Schedule.
The NFL Network is not available anywhere for free. Whether you pay for a cable subscription or subscribe to a streaming service, you will need to pay in order to access NFL Network. The good news is that the streaming services mentioned earlier do not charge extra for viewers to watch NFL Network. It is included in their basic packages.
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