NFL PLAYOFFS
Another TV rights dispute reached a tipping point earlier this weekend, leaving hundreds of thousands of Americans without access to dozens of cable channels. How can they watch the NFL playoffs during the Nexstar-Optimum dispute?
Optimum cable subscribers around the country lost access to 63 channels Friday night as part of an ongoing dispute between Optimum parent company Altice and Nexstar Media Group. Given that Nexstar’s assets include dozens of local cable affiliates of NBC, CBS, Fox and ABC, many football fans need to find alternative ways to watch the 2024 NFL playoffs, which start on Saturday.
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USA TODAY Sports is here to showcase the different alternative streaming options that football fans can turn to for access to the NFL playoff games until the dispute is resolved.
Here’s everything to know:
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Nexstar-Optimum blackout: How can subscribers watch ESPN and other sports channels?
- Fubo: This streaming service includes local channels like Fox, CBS and ABC as well as the ESPN family of networks. Plans start at $79.99/month.
- ESPN+: ESPN+ is ESPN’s primary streaming service, though the service does not provide all of the sports network’s channels. However, the Los Angeles Rams vs. Minnesota Vikings game on Monday, Jan. 13 will be available to stream on ESPN+. Plans start at $11.99/month for just ESPN’s streaming service. Fans can also subscribe to the Disney bundle, which includes Hulu and Disney+ in addition to ESPN+ starting at $16.99/month.
- Paramount+: Paramount+ will include access to games that will be broadcast on CBS all postseason. They offer a free, one-week trial before plans starting at $7.99/month.
- Peacock: NBC’s streaming service will include access to the NFL playoff games that NBC has the broadcast rights to this postseason. Their plans begin at $7.99/month.
- Amazon Prime Video: Amazon will carry one NFL playoff game this postseason – Baltimore Ravens vs. Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday night – after another year of their “Thursday Night Football” broadcasts. Amazon is currently offering a 30-day free trial, and a Prime Video subscription costs $8.99/month.
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When will the Nexstar-Optimum dispute end?
It’s unclear right now when the dispute between Nexstar and Optimum’s parent company, Altice will be resolved. Ultimately, that’s up to the negotiations between the higher-ups at each organization.
What we do know is that Nexstar has said it’s been in “good faith negotiations” with Altice for at least two full months and that Altice had previously offered an “interim extension” that did not pan out, according to reporting from Variety.
Altice is currently involved in another dispute with MSG Network, the network owned by Madison Square Garden Sports Corporation, the James L. Dolan-founded holding company that also owns the NBA’s New York Knicks and NHL’s New York Rangers, among other teams.
NFL playoffs schedule
Saturday, Jan. 11:
- AFC No. 4 seed Houston Texans vs. AFC No. 5 seed Los Angeles Chargers | 4:30 p.m. ET (CBS)
- AFC No. 3 seed Baltimore Ravens vs. AFC No. 6 seed Pittsburgh Steelers | 8 p.m. ET (Amazon Prime Video)
Sunday, Jan. 12:
- AFC No. 2 seed Buffalo Bills vs. AFC No. 7 seed Denver Broncos | 1 p.m. ET (CBS)
- NFC No. 2 seed Philadelphia Eagles vs. NFC No. 7 seed Green Bay Packers | 4:30 p.m. ET (Fox)
- NFC No. 3 seed Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. NFC No. 6 seed Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 8 p.m. ET (NBC)
Monday, Jan. 13:
- NFC No. 4 seed Los Angeles Rams vs. NFC No. 5 seed Minnesota Vikings | 8 p.m. ET (ESPN)
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