How to Watch out-of-market NFL Games from Anywhere Around the World
Excitement builds as the 104th NFL season approaches, kicking off on September 5, 2024, featuring the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs in the much-anticipated NFL Kickoff Game. For many fans, the new season is a reason to celebrate, but geographical broadcast restrictions often dampen the spirit by limiting access to out-of-market games.
In this blog, we’ll explore the intricate web of broadcast regulations that often leaves fans on the sidelines regarding out-of-market games and explain how to watch out-of-market NFL games. Whether it’s through NFL Sunday Ticket, NFL RedZone, or other reliable streaming services, we’re here to help you catch every crucial play. Stay tuned as we delve into the best ways to stream out of market NFL games and enjoy uninterrupted NFL action all season.
Table of Contents
What do out-of-market games mean?
Regarding broadcasting NFL games, “out of market” refers to games not being televised in your local viewing area. This geographical limitation on broadcasts is primarily due to the NFL’s agreements with various television networks designed to protect the regional broadcast rights of the teams involved.
1. Broadcast Rights and Agreements
The NFL sells broadcast rights to CBS, FOX, and NBC networks. These networks have the right to air games in the local markets of the playing teams. For instance, if the Miami Dolphins are playing the New York Jets, the game will be shown on the local CBS or FOX station in Miami and New York but may only be available on network channels in these areas.
2. Local Market Priority
The primary reason for designating games as “out of market” is to prioritize local fanbases. The NFL’s policy ensures that local fans can watch their home teams on local television, which helps maintain and increase local fan engagement and, by extension, revenue from local advertising.
3. Exclusivity and Value
By controlling which games are shown here, the NFL can create a sense of exclusivity and scarcity, enhancing the value of its television contracts. This exclusivity also drives the demand for various subscription-based services that offer more comprehensive access to games, including those out of the market.
Why You Need a VPN to Watch Out-of-Market NFL Games?
For NFL fans far from their favorite team’s local market, catching every game live can be challenging due to regional broadcasting restrictions. These rules often limit broadcasts to local team games or those considered of national interest, restricting access to many out-of-market games. This is where the utility of a VPN (Virtual Private Network) becomes crucial for die-hard football enthusiasts.
A VPN allows you to bypass these geo-restrictions by changing your IP address to that of a region where your desired game is being broadcast. For example, by connecting to a server in the home city of the team you support, you can access the game as if you were living there.
This method lets you skirt around regional broadcasting limitations and expands your access to a much wider range of games broadcast outside your local area, providing a more comprehensive NFL viewing experience regardless of where you are situated.
How to watch out of market NFL games with a VPN?
Follow these simple steps to watch watch out of market NFL games with Astrill VPN:
- Get an AstrillVPN subscription.
- Download and install the AstrillVPN app on your device.
- Open the app and Log in to it.
- Select a USA server from the list and connect to it.
- Now go to NFL RedZone or NFL Plus and stream the game live.
How to Watch out-of-market NFL games with NFL Sunday Ticket
NFL Sunday Ticket is among the most popular ways to watch out-of-market NFL games. DirecTV offers a service that allows football fans to watch every Sunday NFL game that’s not being shown on local television. Here’s how you can use NFL Sunday Ticket to catch all the out-of-market action:
1. Subscription to DirecTV
To access NFL Sunday Ticket, you generally need to be a DirecTV subscriber. When you sign up for a package, ensure it includes NFL Sunday Ticket, or you can add it to your existing subscription.
2. Using the NFL Sunday Ticket App
If you are not interested in a full DirecTV subscription, consider NFL Sunday Ticket.TV, which is available to non-DirecTV customers under specific conditions. It’s mainly targeted at:
- Residents in areas where DirecTV service is not available. However, you can still access DirecTV with AstrillVPN
- Students at four-year universities (offered at a discounted rate).
- Residents of certain metropolitan cities.
With NFL Sunday Ticket.TV, you can stream games live on your smartphone, tablet, game console, or PC.
3. Pricing and Packages
NFL Sunday Ticket isn’t cheap as the pricing varies, depending on your chosen package. If anyone tells you that they have the cheapest way to get Sunday ticket, then do not believe them at all. There are usually two main options:
- NFL Sunday Ticket: This basic package allows access to every out-of-market Sunday game.
- NFL Sunday Ticket Max: This includes extra features like the Red Zone Channel, which shows every touchdown from every game, and DirecTV Fantasy Zone, which is a channel dedicated to fantasy football.
4. Setting Up and Watching
Once you have the service, you can watch games via your satellite box on your TV or the NFL Sunday Ticket app on various devices. The app allows streaming on multiple devices, so you can watch games wherever you are.
5. Game Availability
It’s important to note that NFL Sunday Ticket only covers games played on Sundays and out of the market. It does not include nationally broadcast games on Sunday night, Monday night, Thursday night, or Saturday games late in the season.
Watch out-of-market games with NFL Game Pass International
NFL Game Pass International is a fantastic service for fans looking to stream out-of-market NFL games from outside the United States. Unlike its domestic counterpart, which only offers replays, the international version of NFL Game Pass allows subscribers to watch every NFL game live, including regular season games, playoffs, and the Super Bowl.
Subscription Options
NFL Game Pass International offers different subscription plans tailored to the needs of international NFL fans. Here are the primary options available, along with some specific features that may vary slightly depending on your region:
1. Season Plus Subscription
- Access every live NFL game, including preseason, regular season, playoffs, and the Super Bowl.
- 24/7 streaming of the NFL Network, which includes live games, analysis, documentaries, and more.
- NFL RedZone shows every touchdown from every game every Sunday during the season.
- Full game replays and the condensed 40-minute version are available shortly after the live broadcast.
- Option to download games to your device and watch them offline.
- Includes the exclusive All-22 angle footage that shows all 22 players on the field simultaneously.
2. Season Subscription
- It includes live streaming of regular season and playoff games, but it may not include the Super Bowl or the same access to preseason games as the Season Plus.
- Access to replays of all regular season and playoff games, including the condensed game feature.
- It may include live access or on-demand content from the NFL Network but does not include the channel’s live streaming.
| Feature | Season Plus | Season |
| Live NFL Games | All games, including Super Bowl | Regular season and playoffs |
| NFL RedZone | Included | Not included |
| NFL Network Live | Included | Limited or on-demand |
| Game Replays | All games (live and replay) | All games (replay only) |
| Download Games | Yes | Not typically available |
| Coaches Film | Included | Not included |
To access NFL Game Pass International, visit the NFL Game Pass website or download the NFL Game Pass app. The service is compatible with various devices, including smartphones, tablets, PCs, and smart TVs.
You can sign up directly through the website, and you’ll need to provide payment details. Ensure your billing address matches the location you’re accessing the service, as NFL Game Pass uses location data to determine eligibility.
How to Watch out of network NFL games with NFL RedZone
NFL RedZone is a unique broadcasting service offered by the NFL Network that provides fans with a special viewing experience, especially useful for those interested in watching out-of-market games. NFL RedZone airs every Sunday during the NFL regular season, offering live coverage of all games, jumping from one game to another whenever a team is about to score (inside the 20-yard line) or a notable play occurs.
The coverage starts at 1:00 PM ET on Sundays and runs until the final afternoon game concludes, typically around 8:00 PM ET. Most cable and satellite providers offer NFL RedZone as part of a sports package or a premium tier. You should add this to your existing subscription.
Several streaming platforms offer NFL RedZone as part of their packages. Services like Sling TV, YouTube TV, and FuboTV offer sports add-on packages that include NFL RedZone. You can also subscribe directly to NFL RedZone through the NFL app or the NFL website, which allows you to stream on your mobile devices or web browser.
The cost of adding NFL RedZone varies depending on your service provider and the type of subscription. It generally ranges from $10 to $15 per month as an add-on to existing packages during the NFL season.
For streaming services, you must navigate to the NFL RedZone channel or access the service’s app on devices like Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, and various smart TVs and game consoles.
Other ways to watch out-of-market NFL games
Aside from popular methods like NFL Sunday Ticket and NFL RedZone, several other ways to watch out-of-market NFL games cater to different needs and preferences. Each option varies in terms of accessibility, cost, and type of coverage provided.
Streaming services offer various packages that can include access to out-of-market games, often through local channels or sports networks. Services like YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, and FuboTV are known for their comprehensive sports coverage. They typically include networks like ESPN, FOX, CBS, and NBC, which broadcast NFL games. However, the availability of specific games will depend on your location and the package you subscribe to.
It’s important to note that detailed streaming methods are discussed extensively in our guide “How to Watch NFL Live Stream Online.”
Is it legal to watch out-of-market NFL games with a VPN?
Using a VPN to watch out-of-market NFL games can be a legal gray area, depending on several factors, including your location, the terms of service of the streaming platform, and local laws. VPNs are generally legal in most countries, but using them to circumvent geographic restrictions set by streaming services is typically against those platforms’ terms of service. Violating these terms can lead to penalties such as account suspension or termination.
Streaming platforms like NFL Game Pass, for instance, use geo-blocking to enforce regional broadcasting rights and actively prevent the use of VPNs to access content from regions other than where the subscription is meant to be used. Therefore, while the technology itself is legal, using it to access NFL games unavailable in your area can breach your service agreement with the provider.
Can I use a free VPN to watch out-of-market NFL games?
Free VPN services have significant drawbacks. They offer slower speeds, less reliable connections, and limited data usage, which can greatly diminish your viewing experience, especially for live sports where streaming quality and stability are crucial.
Moreover, free VPNs are often less secure and compromise your privacy by tracking your activities or displaying intrusive ads.
FAQs
Yes, you can use a VPN to get out-of-market NFL games. A VPN allows you to change your IP address to a different region where the desired game is being broadcast, bypassing regional restrictions.
YouTube TV includes many local and national channels that broadcast NFL games, but it primarily shows games available in your local market. For out-of-market games, additional services like NFL Sunday Ticket are required.
Watching NFL games for free via over-the-air broadcasts with an antenna for local games. Some apps, like the Yahoo Sports app, stream local and primetime games for free. However, these methods do not cover out-of-market games.
No app legally allows you to watch all NFL games for free. Free streaming apps typically only offer local and nationally broadcast games, not the full slate.
No, NFL+ does not offer live out-of-market games. It provides live local and primetime games on mobile devices, but other services like NFL Sunday Ticket are needed for out-of-market games.
No, NFL+ does not include live out-of-market games. It focuses on live local and primetime games for mobile devices and on-demand content. Other services, such as NFL Sunday Ticket, are required for live out-of-market games.
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