Network pricing to watch all NFL games in 2025

[frostbitmic]

I'm glad I don't feel the need to watch every game.

 

I do seem to be watching fewer games every season, I watch all Bills games (some on NFL Network sometime during the week) I seem to be having a lack of interest in the rest of the league, though laughing at the Jests never gets old.

 

I haven't watched a Thursday night game since it went to Prime and I haven't missed it at all. Thursday nights breed terrible football.

 

 

[KOKBILLS]

5 hours ago, buffaloboyinATL said:

So you just buy the Sunday ticket but don't have Youtube TV? I tried last year and was told that I had to have YTTV to get the ticket.  I will double check, that would be great.  

 

I thought I had to have YTTV?... And to boot they bumped that up to 82 bucks a month last year! I need to look into this for sure. I almost never use YTTV...

[Dan]

2 hours ago, Mr. WEO said:

 

a year ago, it was calculated as half as much. https://www.thelines.com/nfl-schedule-release-cost-streaming-sunday-ticket-peacock-netflix-amazon-prime-2024/

 

YouTube TV basic package: $73/month ($438 total)

NFL Sunday Ticket: $239/year

Amazon Prime Video: $15/month ($75 total)

Peacock Premium subscription: $6/month ($6 total)

Netflix standard subscription: $15.50/month ($15.50 total)

Est. taxes and fees: $92.50

Grand total to watch every NFL game this season: $866

 

As many have pointed out, you can get Sunday ticket stand alone.  also, not sure why ESPN is listed at $105 when it's included in YTTV, for example. 

 

anyway, 20 of 272 games were streamed last year.  how many fans typically seek to watch every game of the season??  Hopeless gamblers maybe.  

 

also, complaining about the "greed" of the NFL falls flat. they have a wildly popular product that is in endlessly increasing demand.  Why shouldn't they get what the market will bear?  if you absolutely feel you must see every single NF game, , then you will pay for that.  What other private business that lowers the price for having more access to their product.

 

 

But aren’t many of these streaming services monthly. For example, Netflix.   You don’t pay one monthly fee. You have to pay that $15 fee (or whatever it is now) each month of the season.   So aren’t some of the prices higher than quoted?

 

The problem with all this is that no single service allows you to watch all of one teams games, let alone all teams games.  So the value of each is all over the place.   So I need Netflix to watch just a couple games. I need Amazon, YouTube, over the air antenna, I don’t even know what else.

 

i have most of those streaming services and still watch the free/illegal feeds half the time because I don’t have the energy to figure out which device/app I need to tune to.  Just to see the refs screw over whoever the Chiefs are playing. It’s gotten ridiculous.  And yes I’m old. But in addition to those damn kids staying off my lawn, the NFL needs to think about the fans just a little and stop spreading their content to every conceivable format, time slot and continent all while making us pay for it twice - once for the service, secondly for all the damn ads that pop up everywhere!   Then I’ve paid for it all.. but I still can’t watch replays/highlights without more ads or services.  It’s just out of hand. 
 

Yes, you get lots of pop up ads on the illegal streams, but at least those are mostly porn ads. So you get something better to click away. 

Im not complaining, I’m just saying the NFL policies are forcing people to find work arounds more than just people’s desire to get something for free. 

 

 

 

[Simon]

1 hour ago, Johnny Bravo said:

Of course the NFL has competition-MLB, NBA, NHL, MLS, College Football, etc.  And that competition is just in sports.

 

Expand that out a bit and there is competition from all the streaming services, movies, books, time with family and 10,000 other leisure pursuits and recreation.

 

TL:DR

The only one of those "products" even bearing a remote resemblance to the NFL is college ball, so one could accept it as its only "competition", albeit at a stretch.

In reality I do pay for both the NFL and college ball every time I frequently send DTV $100+ and that's a fairly hefty price because, with the Sabres being irrelevant and unwatchable, football is literally the only time I voluntarily turn on my TV.

The problem arises when those networks choose to limit my viewing options of that product without giving me any reasonable choice in the matter (blackout shenanigans in publicly funded stadiums, colluding to limit windows, privatizing specific broadcasts for additional lucre, etc). 

They've gravitated to such an underhanded, self-serving, contemptuous business model that they've alienated many good folks who no longer feel any moral obligation to uphold what could be a respectful product/patronage relationship. If they were to at least to make any effort whatsoever to show a modicum of respect toward their monopolized audience, I'd be happy to reward that respect with the monetization they're seeking. But instead they have chosen to not only disregard, but to actively disdain that mutual relationship. Their abandonment of that historically successful and requited obligation is the direct cause of me choosing to abandon my own part in that relationship, and to do so without the guilt or regret I'd typically feel if I were to disregard the needs of a more considerate and honest business.

 

Short version:

*****'em; they've earned it.

[Draconator]

1 hour ago, BullBuchanan said:

No it isn't. 

Yes it is. I know more about this than you do. So stop trying to pretend otherwise. 

1 hour ago, co_springs_billsfan said:

Go on...

Streaming at It's Best. Over 3000 stations. What makes it legal is no DVR. I never used DVR when I had it so this is perfect for me. 

[Chandler#81]

6 hours ago, Simon said:

 

A restaurant has competition and must cater to its customers to make money.

The NFL has no competition and takes advantage of that fact by maximizing profits with less than zero regard for its customer's wants or needs.

I've recently lost any qualms I may have once had about honesty and fair play when it comes to the NFL.

If you want to consider me a thief for "stealing" from unethical robber barons, so be it.

Welcome to the group!

[eball]

7 hours ago, Jukester said:

but slightly misleading

 

Slightly?  It's a joke of a tweet.

 

[Jukester]

59 minutes ago, KOKBILLS said:

 

I thought I had to have YTTV?... And to boot they bumped that up to 82 bucks a month last year! I need to look into this for sure. I almost never use YTTV...

 

Maybe the confusion is that you still use the YTTV app with the standalone but you don’t have to have their tv service. It’s through what they call YouTube TV Prime Channels which is a separate service form their regular tv offering.
 

 

[Matt_In_NH]

Is there one person who doesn't some (a good chunk) of that for non NFL use already?  Are there people who have to watch every single NFL game?   THis seems like a dram queen way to look at this.

[Mr. WEO]

4 hours ago, Dan said:

But aren’t many of these streaming services monthly. For example, Netflix.   You don’t pay one monthly fee. You have to pay that $15 fee (or whatever it is now) each month of the season.   So aren’t some of the prices higher than quoted?

 

The problem with all this is that no single service allows you to watch all of one teams games, let alone all teams games.  So the value of each is all over the place.   So I need Netflix to watch just a couple games. I need Amazon, YouTube, over the air antenna, I don’t even know what else.

 

i have most of those streaming services and still watch the free/illegal feeds half the time because I don’t have the energy to figure out which device/app I need to tune to.  Just to see the refs screw over whoever the Chiefs are playing. It’s gotten ridiculous.  And yes I’m old. But in addition to those damn kids staying off my lawn, the NFL needs to think about the fans just a little and stop spreading their content to every conceivable format, time slot and continent all while making us pay for it twice - once for the service, secondly for all the damn ads that pop up everywhere!   Then I’ve paid for it all.. but I still can’t watch replays/highlights without more ads or services.  It’s just out of hand. 
 

Yes, you get lots of pop up ads on the illegal streams, but at least those are mostly porn ads. So you get something better to click away. 

Im not complaining, I’m just saying the NFL policies are forcing people to find work arounds more than just people’s desire to get something for free. 

 

 

 

you can sign up for any streamer for a month and cancel.

 

out of area, there has never been one network that you could watch all of one team’s games

[PetermansRedemption]

12 hours ago, Gregg said:

This is a really higher than indicated in some places, lower in others. ESPN+ does not get you Monday night football. The new ESPN streaming service will, but they have announced that will be $29.99 per month. As someone else mentioned, YouTube TV isn’t required for Sunday ticket, and Netflix has lower priced plans than $22.99, I think that is their highest priced plan. 

[boyst]

12 hours ago, JerseyBills said:

there's ways around this for 0$

Dofu

[gregmo]

12 hours ago, Gregg said:

When I started back with DirecTV on the original RCA box/dish from BestBuy, it was $99 and then $119 for a few years.  How times have changed.

[Sierra Foothills]

Just a few thoughts on the topic...

 

I see some people asking the question "who watches every NFL game?" That misses the larger issue which is that the cost of watching the NFL continues to increase. That's the issue.

 

Another issue is whether the cost of watching games is "fair." Some argue that the cost is fair based on simple market economics... "what the market will bear." However with the wealth inequality in this country there is an inequality in who can afford to watch the games, so to me it's a bit more complex than "what the market will bear" because the league is pricing out loyal and longtime customers that helped build the league.

 

I'm with @Logic and @Simon in the opinion that the monopoly and greed of the NFL justifies a reaction of contempt and arguably justifies acts of piracy.

 

I don't personally practice piracy but I don't have a problem with those that do. I always say you're only as principled as you can afford to be. At these prices I can still afford to be principled.

 

If someday I decide not to pay an arm and a leg to the NFL, then they will lose my revenue. What will be interesting is what the NFL will do when higher prices create a drop in revenue. Will the NFL lower prices to increase the number of paying customers or will they simply raise prices on their remaining customers?

 

[muppy]

10 hours ago, stevewin said:

My biggest issue with illegal streams is all the spyware and other crap I imagine is being downloaded to my computer.

 

I will gladly pay the cost of standalone ST to just know I have reliable access each week.  I already have subscriptions to all the other streaming services so there is no net additional cost for me for those

Ditto Sir

 

I am willing to pay for convenience and  access to content I can DVR. and no bad stuff come in my computer

 

Between my normal subscriptions I am content to just buy my NFL Sunday ticket. One less thing for me to be concerned about. and then its done,

 

Going to the bar especially here in San Diego is a BLAST. But its a long drive plus I used to enjoy some cocktails. and I wont drink and drive. It's just easier to see it from home. I'll go for a special event and I LOVE IT though.

 

My monetary and emotional investment in my football team is Major. But its my choice to pay and Im happy with it. And to me stealing is stealing.

 

m

 

 

 

I WILL be taking advantage of any discounts I can find wether it is pay early  etc. 

Edited 19 hours ago by muppy

[muppy]

1 hour ago, Sierra Foothills said:

 

 

If someday I decide not to pay an arm and a leg to the NFL, then they will lose my revenue. What will be interesting is what the NFL will do when higher prices create a drop in revenue. Will the NFL lower prices to increase the number of paying customers or will they simply raise prices on their remaining customers?

 

it hasn't seemed to have happened yet. The NFL is expanding across the globe it seems.  I like you though wonder will they ever lower prices?

 

will NFL owners be willing to forgo  their huge profits? Meh I doubt it. I'm not holding my breath.

 

People will and are being priced out even now. Much more after they move to the new stadium. I think those numbers will be massive for The NFL solely  due to #17 and wanting to see him play live though. so after he retires hmm

 

we will see what happens. I find the topic very interesting because it does affect Me.

Edited 19 hours ago by muppy

[stevestojan]

Only somewhat related, but I can’t speak highly enough about YouTube TV.
 

It’s like $83 a month, has all the “cable” channels you could want, a seemingly unlimited DVR feature, no need to bundle “home phone” like the cable companies still try in 2025, and one small feature that is awesome for me, you can organize the channel list however you want. So my three watch channels are all at the top of the list when I go to the live tv feature.

 

And lastly, if you do tack on NFL Sunday ticket, it doesn’t buffer - ever. When DTV offered ST streaming it was like watching on Netscape Navigator on dial up in 1997. 

[Gunsgoodtime]

15 hours ago, JerseyBills said:

there's ways around this for 0$

And that's exactly how I will be watching.  It has got too out of hand.

[stosh64]

95% of the games I watch are free OTA.  I am extreme northern WNY, on a clear day I can see Toronto from my deck, most Bills games are broadcast on local channels and I pick up Canadian CTV that broadcasts many primetime games.  All HD perfect picture over my antenna.  On rare occasion I resort to nflbite.

Edited 13 hours ago by stosh64

[WhitewalkerInPhilly]

I will come out of my hole to evangelize for NFL+ Premium (for however long that lasts) because honestly it gives me way more for my money at $100 for the year. I have been an out of market fan for over a decade now so the struggle is real. I did NFL Sunday ticket when it (finally!) was offered as a separate package and it worked out to ~$100 per Bills game I watched on it. Between the sheer number of Primetime games I get all of them between services I already use (Sling for NBC & ESPN exclusively when it's football season and Amazon Prime because it's worth the money) and that the Bills are a main draw making free local broadcast a thing, more than half the season is already available for me to watch

 

NFL Premium doesn't let you see out of market games live. What is *does* do is give you NFL Red Zone and have the official streams to the WGR broadcast and...I'm not going to lie, I enjoying listening to the local radio team a whole lot more than Chris Collingsworth. There is a slight time delay where I will see a play on RedZone before I hear it, but the radio commenters give me the leadup and context to understand the play. Then, by bedtime, there is a full replay of the game for me to watch every minute over. Plus, as we hit the doldrums of summer, I can go back and rewatch my favorite games from last year.

18 hours ago, Antonio said:

Well I got the NFL Game Pass for about $150 and have all the games, including games that are on Netflix, Amazon or whatever... I can also watch them in 40 minutes, coaches film, Redzone and some other benefits. Playoffs and SB included aswell. 

You have to be really dumb to pay for all of them separately. 

 

Unfortunately, I think that's something that out of country fans only get.

6 hours ago, muppy said:

Ditto Sir

 

I am willing to pay for convenience and  access to content I can DVR. and no bad stuff come in my computer

 

Between my normal subscriptions I am content to just buy my NFL Sunday ticket. One less thing for me to be concerned about. and then its done,

 

Going to the bar especially here in San Diego is a BLAST. But its a long drive plus I used to enjoy some cocktails. and I wont drink and drive. It's just easier to see it from home. I'll go for a special event and I LOVE IT though.

 

My monetary and emotional investment in my football team is Major. But its my choice to pay and Im happy with it. And to me stealing is stealing.

 

m

 

 

 

I WILL be taking advantage of any discounts I can find wether it is pay early  etc. 

Yeah I tried making a trip to my local Bills bar a thing but that was hard to do when I had time (now with kids) and it was hard on the wallet (even more with kids) and as I've drastically cut my drinking, not as much fun to hang around at.

 

My problem with Sunday Ticket was how little I got out of it.