Professional football is arguably the most popular sport in the US. The games are a form of mass entertainment turned national ritual. Nothing quite matches the NFL games in terms of scope and scale of preparations. Not a year or season goes by that stadiums are not filled with eager fans. And the sheer scale of preparations made for the Super Bowl, is simply unmatched. Guided by your love for football, we’ve come up with a list of the best subscription services and apps for NFL live stream online. International viewers can also join in on the fun.
What is the NFL?
The National Football League (NFL) is a professional football organization. Based in the US, the NFL is one of four major professional sports leagues. The NFL seems to surpass the other leagues in terms of popularity and profitability. The NFL was founded in the year 1920. It was originally known as the American Professional Football League of America (APFA). It had a rival team called the National Football League. The rival teams merged and took up the official name of NFL in the year 1966. The first Super Bowl or world championship game was held the following year.
The League is composed of thirty-two (32) clubs, separated into two major conferences. The American Football Conference and the National Football Conference are the two major halves of the league. Each conference hosts a total of sixteen (16) clubs each. This set is further divided into four (4) divisions based on geographic location. The divisions represent the North, South, East, and West regions. Each division gets four teams, for a total of eight teams with four clubs in each.
Even with other sports leagues in existence, the NFL is still the most prestigious. The best evidence for this is the average attendance of Americans. Attendees flock to the hundreds of games conducted each year for the regular season.
NFL games also enjoy widespread media coverage. The NFL has had countless contracts with private television networks. Since the 1960s, television networks have been vying for broadcast rights. This translates to billions of dollars in revenue. The NFL also owns its own television network called the NFL Network. This broadcasts a select number of games nationally. The most-watched games of the NFL include those from the regular season. And of course, no one willingly misses the championship games each year.
What happens in an NFL season?
The NFL gaming season is divided into three. There is the preseason, regular season and postseason. The preseason is an exhibition game that involves free match-ups of teams and players.
The regular season, on the other hand, is a much more serious affair than the preseason. It involves each team playing 16 games to decide who goes through the playoffs. Only the teams with the best position within each division can advance to the playoffs. These include 8 winners from the eight divisions and two wildcard teams. The wildcard teams are the second-place teams within each division. The regular-season games take place between September to December. Sometimes it is extended until early January the following year.
The post-season games essentially comprise of the playoff games. All playoffs take place throughout three weekends during January. All 12 teams need to go through for rounds of playoffs. These include the wildcard, divisional, conference championship, and the Super Bowl. Each of the two conference champions faces off during the world championship game. Or as most people call it, the Super Bowl. The schedule of the Super Bowl usually takes place during the beginning of the year.
What is NFL live streams?
The NFL has exclusive streaming contracts with several television networks at any time. These usually include CBS, ESPN, Fox, and NBC. Network affiliates are usually assigned a specific number of games for certain timeslots.
Football fans might say that the most important consideration is the team playing. Most fans are loyal to home teams. These are the teams that represent their geographical location. But there are also plenty of fans of other teams located far from home. Other external factors also affect viewership at any point. This includes the timing of the programs and production quality. The number of commercial breaks and the quality of commentary also affect viewership.
Notably, the number of viewers is high during the first or second months of the regular season. This is since viewers are still curious about the capabilities of each team. The teams also get to start on a fresh slate and thus all are on equal footing. And of course, everyone knows that the most viewed show is the Super Bowl. We can only surmise that the two hundred plus games of the regular season might be too much to handle for some.
NFL Gaming Schedule
The regular-season games are normally played on three specific days. This includes Mondays, Thursdays, and Sundays. Games held on these days serve as nationally televised showcases for the NFL. Why these days? You may ask. The NFL is subject to antitrust laws. These prevent direct competition from college and high school football games. College and high school football games are commonly held during Fridays and Saturdays. Thus, the NFL needed to avoid those days. The scheduling is affected by agreements between the NFL and the television networks.
Monday Night Football
The Monday Night Football on ESPN and NBC is a live television broadcast of weekly NFL games. This happens during the regular season. This live streaming is focused on games that take place every Monday. The live broadcast starts at 7 PM and usually ends before midnight. Each live stream usually covers two games that are run consecutively.
The 2019 NFL season marked the 50th season for the Monday Night Football series. Since the 1960s, ABC has been producing the series. ABC is the sister network of ESPN. ABC then turned over the contract to ESPN in the year 2006. Since then the company has shared the rights to air the series with NBC.
Thursday Night Football
The Thursday Night Football series is a general term for all games aired on a Thursday night. This happens during the regular season. The series was first debuted in the year 2006, which was a long time following the Monday Night series. Kansas City Chiefs and the Denver Broncos were the first to grace the series. Media companies share in the production and distribution rights to the TNF. In this manner, the rights-holders get to pick the commentators and production arrangements. This also gives them the right to simulcast portions of the games to different channels. This means that different games are available on TV at the same time.
The NFL was prohibited from conducting games on Saturdays. The Network needed to find an alternative and Thursday nights was best. It was also another way for the NFL to ensure that all games are covered by a broadcasting service. Broadcasting rights to the series belong to more than one media firm. The NFL Network, Fox, and Amazon Prime Video all have a share in the series of games.
Sunday Night Football
Sunday Night Football refers to the live broadcast of Sunday evening games. This happens during the regular season. The series is said to have the best quality coverage during the regular season. For a few years, the series was considered to be the most-watched program on US network television. It is also the first sports program to reach this status. This is hardly surprising since most people are available during Sundays. Networks also exert extra effort in the production of the SN. The broadcast rights to the Sunday Night Football series is concurrently held by NBC.
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the epitome of grandeur above all else in the sports arena. This is part of the post-season. It is normally held on the first Sunday of February. This is wintertime, and all the major stadiums would be full. A majority of the TV sets from all over the country would also be tuned in to the channels airing the big game. As expected, TV networks have a fierce bid for this particular show. Luckily, the NFL has rotated broadcasting rights between NBC, Fox, and CBS. The 2020 Super Bowl is the 55th NFL championship game. The current owner of the streaming rights to the 2020 Super Bowl is Fox.
Disclaimer
The National Football League of America (NFL) has exclusive rights to sell broadcasting rights. It can engage any private media organization to broadcast NFL games over television. The plain intention of this article is to inform the public about channels to view and stream NFL games. Furthermore, all recommendations made are a matter of personal opinion.
Robots.net is aware that the subject of this article might include copyrighted material. Robots.net is not affiliated with any of these media organizations that stream NFL games. As such, it cannot be held liable for any violations in copyright laws. The site also does not condone piracy of any kind. This includes the illegal distribution of copyrighted materials. In this regard, all viewers are requested to be responsible in the use of third-party sites. They are also requested to exercise caution in the viewing of any materials on these sites. Materials from third-party websites should not be distributed or shared without permission.
How to Watch NFL Live Stream Online Through Your Web Browser
Streaming football games is no longer confined to watching it on your TV. Hardcore NFL fans are sure to enjoy the newest applications and services. These allow you to stream the games of your favorite NFL teams from as far back as you can imagine. With the right streaming service, you will have access to thousands of NFL gaming footage. These are arranged according to season and year. You can choose between subscription-based streaming or free mobile applications for this purpose. For both methods, you will also need an internet-ready device and a fast internet for seamless viewing. Indulge your NFL binge cravings with the best offers available.
NFL Game Pass
NFL Game Pass is a subscription-based video streaming service. It is a 24/7 network service dedicated solely to the NFL. Users can watch live and archived pre-season, regular season, and post-season NFL games 24/7. Originally, all NFL Game Passes pertained to the live or archived audio of NFL games. Live streaming is not available for regular season and postseason games. The archives contain mostly full broadcast or condensed replays. You also get options to watch other shows in the NFL Programming. This includes a wildly popular series that documents preseason preparations each year. The site collects videos from major broadcast channels and uploads them to a site. For a fee, users get a special pass to access vast archives of out of market games.
The Access Game Pass is accessible on multiple devices. This includes a desktop computer, smartphone, tablet, or TV. Potential subscribers within the US have two options. There is a one-time payment of $99.99 for a one-year subscription or three installments per year worth $33.30 each. The rate is slightly higher for European countries but it’s all worth it. You can sign up for an NFL account for NFL live stream online.
Fox Sports
Fox Sports is the sports programming division of the Fox Corporation. The company is one of the main carriers of the NFL broadcast rights. Fox Sports, like NBC, can cover more than a third of the local NFL teams. Thus, a subscription warrants access to the Monday and Sunday night premieres. There are also specials on the AFL teams and a game called Sunday Shootouts.
The Fox Sports Go service is the app equivalent of the Fox Sports programming. This allows users to access live-streamed sports from regional Fox networks. Live games can be streamed through tablets and personal computers. However, Fox Sports Go is not yet supported on mobile phones. Access to this service is generally free with a subscription to Fox Sports. Essentially, you have two options to access your favorite NFL teams. You can stream through the main Fox website or through the Fox Sports Go app.
NFL Webcast
The NFL Webcast is a free online video streaming service for NFL games. The website has access to different sports channels. These include the NFL Network, ESPN, and NBC. You’ll also be able to access CBS and Fox. With these channels combined, a user can access up to 250 games and more for the regular season alone. The webcast gives access to the Super Bowl, Playoffs, Pro Bowl, and Pre-season replays online. There’s also a special feature on the NFL drafting process through the channel. Even gaming devices can be used to stream the games on the site.
A subscription to the NFL streaming service will give you the absolute best of NFL content. The service allows you to stream hundreds of live local and primetime games and full replays. The app also provides full access to live playoff games and the Super Bowl. You can search for your favorite team and stream all their games. There are also plenty of articles and video highlights about breaking news related to the NFL.
With the NFL Webcast, all the restrictions observed by other streaming services do not apply. The sheer existence of a webcast service dedicated to the free streaming of NFL games is unheard of. The NFL Webcast is accessible through a multitude of devices. Nonetheless, we recommend using a Windows or Mac computer for optimized viewing. Head straight to the main NFL website and start streaming your favorite NFL seasons. It’s best to have a speedy internet so you can stream in 4K resolution.
Watch ESPN
ESPN is a sports television network service available in the US. It recently created a mobile application counterpart, Watch ESPN. This application allows users to stream live and on-demand NFL games online. A subscription gives you regular access to a set number of games during the regular season. These are divided accordingly into the Monday and Sunday Night Football streams.
Notably, the Sunday Night Football series has been the highest-rated NFL telecast. And this is considering it has been over seventeen years since it started. It also propelled ESPN to success as a major competitor to NBC and CBS. The network also made previous attempts at creating original NFL-related content. An example is a documentary-type feature showing the NFL drafts. Another feature is the Monday Night Countdown. This show recaps the progress of the games from the previous week. Subscription to Watch ESPN is available online or through the mobile app. You can access the official ESPN registration page for the online method. Get your daily dose of NFL live stream online with Watch ESPN.
Twitch
Twitch is a video streaming service that works a lot like Youtube. It was created for live-streaming video games. The service has since expanded to stream sports events, including NFL games. Amazon purchased rights to the service after noting its popularity. As such, Amazon Prime members get free access to Twitch. Amazon Prime is a great streaming service with all the premium channels you could want. You can read this comprehensive guide on Amazon Prime to learn about its full features and benefits.
Amazon Prime has the same rights as Fox to the Thursday Night series. It has even expanded streaming rights to Twitch. Both Amazon Prime and Twitch will be streaming eleven sessions of the TNF games. Originally, only Amazon Prime had this privilege. Notably, the site offers more variety in terms of sports content. It also accommodates newer, unheard-of types of sports including eSports tournaments.
Twitch comes free with an Amazon Prime account. All you need to do is to link your Twitch account to your Amazon Prime account and you can start streaming online. It is also compatible with most computers and handheld devices, including gaming consoles. Get your daily dose of NFL live stream online with Twitch.
How to Watch NFL Live Stream Online Free on Android and iOS
Most people have had to rely on cable television networks to get their weekly fix of football games. But since then, there has been an increasing number of alternative entertainment options. These allow users to stream content through computers and other devices. There are plenty of new applications that enable you to screen your favorite NFL games for free. Get your daily dose of team spirit with these free applications that host NFL live stream online:
NBC Sports
NBC Sports is a free mobile streaming app for sports games and news. The mobile app is dedicated to streaming sports games. This includes NFL regular season matches. The app is noted to have a rich repository of sports content, most of which are clips and replays. You can choose between full streams or video highlights. The former is complete footage of games. Meanwhile, the latter are essentially quick recaps and summaries of each game.
Live streaming is also available on NBC Sports but the gaming schedules are highly variable. The app will also notify you about upcoming games for live streaming purposes. The design of the app is also very professional and does not lag when being navigated. The app can be downloaded for free on the Google Play Store. Stream the latest NFL games on NBC Sports using any Android or Apple tablet or phone. Get your daily dose of NFL live stream online with NBC Sports.
theScore
theScore is a variety of mobile sports streaming services. It is the mobile-based equivalent of the sports news website of the same name. The app offers excellent coverage of NFL games, along with a wide variety of other sports. The app is also a provider of the latest sports news, gaming scores, and statistics. Real-time scores are displayed during live streaming. The data of individual players are also readily available. You can also create personalized feeds. The app will populate your feed with content related to your favorite teams and leagues. There’s also an in-app chat box to let you communicate with friends and family.
The app is also integrated with the sports betting app theScore Bet. The app allows you to join pre-game and in-play betting markets. You can stake your bets with digital cash and potentially earn cash when your team wins. The app can be downloaded for free on the Google Play Store. Stream your favorite NFL team’s games on theScore using any Android or Apple tablet or phone. Get your daily dose of NFL live stream online with theScore.
Thuuz Sports
Thuuz Sports is a free mobile streaming app for sports games and news. The app hosts a variety of upcoming live and recently completed game footage. You can bookmark your favorite teams and sports to refine your search for games. The app is integrated with NBC sports news and content. This means you can expect regular sports updates for quick reading. There’s also a comprehensive library of news about your favorite leagues.
All live games come with an average score based on legitimate, live-feed statistics. This will give you an idea of the perceived quality of the game before tuning in. Gaming schedules, scores, and statistics for each game are also available.
Extra features include a fantasy sports tracker and social features to the app. You can invite friends and share broadcasts of live games with them. The app can be downloaded for free on the Google Play Store. Stream the latest NFL games on Thuuz Sports using any Android or Apple tablet or phone. Get your daily dose of NFL live stream online with Thuuz Sports.
Yahoo Sports
Yahoo Sports is a free mobile streaming app for sports games and news. You can stream live games from different sports events, including the NFL. The site also features sports news and updated scores for each live game. You can set up a personalized page for all your favorite teams and leagues. Yahoo even personalizes news alerts based on your favorite teams and leagues. This means you don’t have to scroll through unwanted content. The live updates and statistics digest the details of the game so you always know your team’s status. This wonderful streaming app is completely free with a Yahoo account. Stream your favorite NFL team’s games on Yahoo Sports using any Android or Apple tablet or phone. Get your daily dose of NFL live stream online with Yahoo Sports.
How to Watch NFL Live Stream Online Through Paid Streaming Services
Choosing the best subscription for yourself and your family is not always easy. Of course, you want to get the best of what you pay for with the best of services and perks. There are a few considerations you need to make when choosing a subscription. The first is the number of channels supporting live NFL games. You also need to consider the interests of your other family members. It’s also nice to have add-on features such as cloud storage.
Several internet-based TV services are slowly gaining traction over the traditional cable set-up. Most of these provide extensive coverage of sports channels that feature the NFL. Internet-based streaming services have one particular advantage. You can stream them on most computers and tablets. However, not all services have fully transitioned and some still use the TV as the primary medium. In any case, here are some of the best available subscription-based deals. Express your love for NFL live stream online with any of these services:
Hulu + Live TV
Hulu + Live TV is one of the most popular streaming services available. It features a wide variety of live channels and on-demand content for all interests. For your specific NFL binges, you can tune in to CBS, ESPN, Fox, and NBC. The only channel not included in this line-up is the NFL Network. Nonetheless, die-hard NFL fans need not despair. Fox broadcasts most of the games on the NFL Network as well. This means it’s almost the same as having the channel. The service also includes plenty of other channels featuring other types of sports.
A monthly subscription to Hulu Live TV costs $54.99 per month. Hulu is best known for offering all the premium channels. These include channels for viewing movies and documentaries. You can also opt to have add-on Spanish channels for an additional monthly fee. Hulu + Live TV is available for streaming on your standard TV. It can also run on other internet-connected devices.
YouTube TV
YouTube TV is a streaming service that takes off from the popular website. It offers significantly wide coverage of NFL games. NFL fans will have multiple channels to choose from. The line-up includes CBS, ESPN, Fox, and NBC. Like Hulu Live TV, the NFL Network is unfortunately not included in the line-up. Nonetheless, the service is guaranteed to cover your weekly NFL binges.
YouTube TV comes with free and unlimited cloud storage. This allows you to record live NFL streams. The service also supports six user accounts for a single subscription. You can stream on different channels with up to three devices at the same time. This allows family members to watch different programs at the same time. There are also plenty of other channels that feature other types of sports.
YouTube TV is notable for having even more channels than Hulu Live. We can highly recommend it for this reason alone. It’s also cheaper at only $49.99 per month. You can also opt for add-on channels for soccer and NBA League passes for an additional monthly fee. YouTube TV is available for streaming on your standard TV. It can also run on other internet-connected devices.
Fubo TV
Fubo TV is a video streaming service made specifically for sports enthusiasts. It offers a wide variety of international sports channels and on-demand entertainment content. This includes CBS, ESPN, Fox, and NBC. This service also has two things that YouTube TV and Hulu Live services are missing: the NFL Network. There’s also an add-on option for the NFL RedZone for the Sport Plus package. Unfortunately, the service doesn’t have ESPN so you can’t stream Monday Night Football.
Fubo TV has a wide variety of special features. A Networks feature serves as a bookmark for your favorite channels. You can also select your particular choice of sports category. All upcoming content and sports events will be shown. Fubo TV filters these content according to your chosen category. And yes, it does have free DVR cloud storage. However, this only allows you to record a maximum of 30 hours of game time. You’ll need to upgrade to extend DVR storage to 500 hours. There’s also a channel guide and a searchable archive for all recorded games.
Fubo TV is available for streaming on your standard TV. It can also run on other internet-connected devices. A standard monthly subscription to Fubo TV with free DVR storage costs $54.99 per month. This is the same as Hulu Live. You can choose from a variety of add-ons. This includes additional channels and 500 hours of DVR storage. These increase the price of the standard package but the perks are worth it.
Sling Blue TV
SlingTV is a subscription video-on-demand service. We can say SlingTV has customized its service especially for the sports-loving audience. This is because it features more sports channels than its Sling Orange counterpart. The variety of channels featuring the NFL appears more than sufficient for fans of the genre. These include Fox, NBC Sports, and FS1 and FS2 (Special Fox Sports) channels. And of course, there is the delightful addition of the NFL Network. With the NFL Network alone, you can stream NFL games 24/7. Sling TV also comes with free DVR cloud storage so you can record your favorite games.
Sling Blue is available for streaming on any internet-connected device. A monthly subscription only costs $30, and users get a 50% discount during the first month. You also have the option to purchase a bundled package. This includes both Blue and Orange subscriptions for just $ 45 per month. This will provide you with access to channels that are only available to the Orange package. One of those channels is ESPN. Bundled or not, the Sling Blue package is distinctly cheaper than the other internet streaming services. Nonetheless, the service in no way compromises quality and variety of channels.
Safety Measures for Streaming NFL Live Stream Online
We would also like to provide a word of caution regarding internet-based streaming. A subscription to an internet streaming service is no guarantee of internet safety. Streaming using your password is relatively safe. Nonetheless, there are still potential risks and threats lurking about. Nosy hackers, internet service providers, and even governments can track your internet activities. Even streaming sites normally collect information for marketing purposes.
For this reason, we still recommend using reliable antivirus software as the first layer of protection. You can choose from free antivirus software available online. Another option is for you to purchase a premium antivirus software for added protection. You might also want to set-up a VPN as a second layer of protection. This is to ensure your safety and anonymity while you stream. As a third layer of protection, you can install a proxy server. The server obscures your information, preventing other networks and your ISP from tracking you.
Final thoughts on subscription services for NFL live stream online
NFL has recently expanded its reach through different networks and streaming services. This is great news for millions of NFL fans, as they now have plenty of options to view their favorite sports. Getting a cable subscription is the go-to of older and more traditional NFL fans. This would involve sitting in front of your TV while waiting for the pre-scheduled games. However, this manner of viewing the NFL is rather outdated. Cable TV is no longer the most cost-effective and efficient option.
More viable alternatives such as internet-based TV streaming and mobile applications already exist. These services offer more convenience and comfort at a lower cost. These are the types of products and services than NFL fans need to be aware of. Some of the options here are completely free while others are premium products. What they all have in common is that they are all dedicated to providing the best sports content on the market. All are great in terms of quality of content and functionality. With these services, you can stay in the loop on your favorite NFL teams, anytime, anywhere. And while you are a big fan of the NFL, you will also need to take a break from all that field drama. You can download free streaming apps to tide yourself over when you need a break from all that NFL excitement.
