NFL Broadcast Maps: How To Watch Your Game

Tired of missing your favorite NFL team's games? This guide explains NFL broadcast maps, showing you how to find out which games are airing in your local area each week so you never miss a snap.

Key Takeaways

• NFL broadcast maps show which games are televised in specific regions, dictated by agreements between the NFL and broadcast networks.
• National broadcasts (Sunday Night Football, Monday Night Football, Thursday Night Football) are available nationwide, regardless of local broadcast maps.
• Services like NFL Game Pass, NFL+, and VPNs offer ways to watch out-of-market games, though some have restrictions and geographic limitations.
• Websites like 506sports.com provide updated weekly NFL broadcast maps.
• Understanding the broadcast rules and map specifics helps fans maximize their viewing options.

Introduction

For avid NFL fans, knowing where and when to watch their favorite team is crucial. The NFL's broadcasting agreements, however, often dictate which games are shown in which markets, leading to potential frustrations when out-of-market games aren't readily available. This is where NFL broadcast maps come in handy. These maps provide a visual guide to the regional television coverage each week, helping fans understand which games they can watch locally and explore options for accessing those that are not. This article breaks down how NFL broadcast maps work, how to interpret them, and what options you have for watching games outside your local broadcast area.

What & Why: Understanding NFL Broadcast Maps

What are NFL Broadcast Maps?

NFL broadcast maps are visual representations of the television coverage for NFL games each week. They divide the country into regions, indicating which games will be broadcast on local channels affiliated with major networks like CBS and FOX. These maps are based on agreements between the NFL and these networks, primarily focused on ensuring local teams receive priority coverage in their home markets. — Harrisburg, PA Zip Code: Find It Fast!

Why are Broadcast Maps Necessary?

• Local Market Priority: The primary reason for broadcast maps is to prioritize coverage of local teams. This means if your local team is playing on Sunday afternoon, their game is highly likely to be broadcast in your area.
• Contractual Agreements: The NFL has contracts with CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN, and Amazon for broadcasting rights. These agreements dictate the number of games each network can air and how the coverage is distributed across the country.
• Balancing Coverage: Broadcast maps help balance the coverage of different teams and games across the nation, preventing one market from being saturated with a single team while others are ignored.

Benefits of Understanding Broadcast Maps:

• Planning Your Viewing: Knowing the broadcast map allows you to plan your Sunday viewing schedule effectively. You'll know which local games are available and can make arrangements for out-of-market games if desired.
• Exploring Viewing Options: Broadcast maps highlight when you need to consider alternative viewing options like NFL Sunday Ticket, streaming services, or sports bars.
• Avoiding Frustration: There's nothing worse than tuning in to watch your team only to find another game is being broadcast. Broadcast maps help avoid this disappointment.

Potential Drawbacks & Restrictions:

• Out-of-Market Games: The main drawback is limited access to out-of-market games. If you're a fan of a team outside your local area, you might miss many of their games.
• Blackout Rules: Although less common now, the NFL has historically had blackout rules preventing games from being televised locally if tickets weren't sold out. These rules can still occasionally apply.
• Changing Schedules: The broadcast schedule can change due to flex scheduling, which the NFL uses to ensure more compelling matchups are shown in primetime slots later in the season. This can lead to unexpected broadcast map changes.

How-To: Interpreting and Using NFL Broadcast Maps

Where to Find NFL Broadcast Maps:

• 506sports.com: This website is a go-to source for up-to-date weekly NFL broadcast maps. They provide maps for CBS, FOX, and national broadcasts.
• NFL Schedule Websites: Many sports websites and apps (e.g., ESPN, NFL.com) also provide broadcast information, though visual maps are most reliably found on 506sports.

Understanding the Map Key:

Broadcast maps use color-coded regions to indicate which games are being shown in each area. The key will specify which color corresponds to which game. For example:

• Green: Game A (e.g., Chiefs vs. Chargers)
• Blue: Game B (e.g., Cowboys vs. Giants)
• Red: Game C (e.g., Patriots vs. Dolphins)

Steps to Using a Broadcast Map:

1. Identify Your Location: Find your general location on the map. This will typically be based on your local television market (e.g., New York, Los Angeles, Chicago).
2. Check the Color Coding: See which color is assigned to your region. This corresponds to the game being broadcast on your local CBS or FOX affiliate.
3. Refer to the Key: Use the map's key to identify the specific game associated with the color in your region.
4. National Broadcasts: Remember that national broadcasts (Sunday Night Football on NBC, Monday Night Football on ESPN, Thursday Night Football on Amazon Prime) are available nationwide and are not subject to these regional maps.

Example Scenario:

Let's say you live in Dallas, Texas, and you're looking at the Week 7 broadcast map. You see that the Dallas area is colored blue on the FOX map. The key indicates that blue corresponds to the Cowboys vs. Eagles game. This means the Cowboys-Eagles game will be broadcast on your local FOX station.

Examples & Use Cases

Use Case 1: Planning a Sunday Football Watch Party

Scenario: You're hosting a watch party and want to ensure you have the right game on for your guests. — Mail On Black Friday: Delivery Schedule & Holiday Hours

How Broadcast Maps Help: Check the broadcast map early in the week to see which games will be available locally. If your friends are fans of different teams, you can plan to watch the locally broadcast game and explore options for streaming others, or head to a sports bar.

Use Case 2: Following an Out-of-Market Team

Scenario: You're a lifelong fan of a team that doesn't play in your current city. — UPS Store Billings, MT: Services & More

How Broadcast Maps Help: Identify the weeks when your team is not being broadcast locally. This allows you to plan ahead by subscribing to NFL Sunday Ticket, using a VPN with NFL Game Pass (if available in your region), or finding a sports bar that carries the game.

Use Case 3: Deciding Between Games

Scenario: Two compelling games are on at the same time, but only one is being broadcast locally.

How Broadcast Maps Help: The map clarifies which game you'll receive on your local channels. You can then decide whether to watch that game, stream the other, or use a multi-screen setup to follow both.

Best Practices & Common Mistakes

Best Practices for Using NFL Broadcast Maps:

• Check Early in the Week: Broadcast maps are typically released early in the week (Tuesday or Wednesday) for the upcoming Sunday games. Check early to plan your viewing.
• Cross-Reference Information: Use multiple sources (506sports, NFL.com, ESPN) to confirm broadcast information, as schedules can sometimes change.
• Consider Streaming Options: If your desired game isn't being broadcast locally, explore streaming options like NFL+, NFL Sunday Ticket, or network-specific streaming apps.
• Understand Flex Scheduling: Be aware that the NFL can