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RAVENS📺 Preseason Viewing Quick Cheat Sheet
1. Local TV Affiliates vs National TV Networks (NFL Network, CBS, FOX, NBC)
Understanding how NFL preseason broadcasting rights work is essential for every football fan trying to catch live action. Unlike the NFL regular season where television rights are sold almost exclusively to national broadcast networks, preseason broadcasting is split into two primary categories: Local Team Affiliates and National Network Partnerships.
Over 90% of all NFL preseason games are produced locally by regional television syndicates. For example:
- Buffalo Bills: Broadcast locally on WIVB Channel 4 (CBS) in Buffalo and WROC Channel 8 in Rochester.
- Cleveland Browns: Broadcast locally on WOIO Channel 19 (CBS) in Cleveland and WEWS ABC 5.
- Kansas City Chiefs: Broadcast locally on KSHB 41 (NBC).
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Broadcast locally on WFLA NewsChannel 8 (NBC).
Nationally, NFL Network serves as the flagship cable home for preseason football, airing over 21 out-of-market preseason games live during August 2026. Official schedule updates on NFL.com and ESPN detail that select marquee matchups (such as the Hall of Fame Game or Sunday night showcases) air nationally on NBC, ESPN, ABC, FOX, or Amazon Prime Video.
2. Digital Streaming Services Comparison (NFL+, Fubo, Hulu, YouTube TV, Paramount+)
Cord-cutters have more choices than ever to watch live NFL preseason football without traditional cable or satellite subscriptions. Here is how the top live TV streaming platforms compare for the 2026 preseason:
| Streaming Service | Monthly Price | Preseason Game Channels Included | Free Trial Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| NFL+ (Basic) | $6.99 / mo | All Live Out-of-Market Preseason Games | 7-Day Free Trial |
| FuboTV | $79.99 / mo | Local CBS, FOX, NBC, ABC + NFL Network & ESPN | 7-Day Free Trial |
| YouTube TV | $72.99 / mo | Local CBS, FOX, NBC, ABC + NFL Network & ESPN | 21-Day Promo Trial |
| Hulu + Live TV | $76.99 / mo | Local Channels, NFL Network, ESPN, Disney+ bundle | Occasional 3-Day Trial |
| Paramount+ | $5.99 / mo | Live local CBS affiliate preseason games | 7-Day Free Trial |
3. Out-of-Market Live Broadcast Options
If you live outside your favorite team's home media market—for example, a Buffalo Bills fan living in Florida or California—watching preseason games requires specific out-of-market options:
- NFL+ App: The official league streaming service permits live out-of-market preseason game streams on phones, tablets, smart TVs, and connected devices.
- NFL Network Live & Replays: NFL Network airs 21 games live and re-airs every single 2026 preseason game on tape delay throughout the week.
- DAZN NFL Game Pass (International): Fans located outside the United States and Canada can watch every preseason game live or on-demand via DAZN.
Important Blackout Note: If a preseason game is being shown live by your local over-the-air affiliate (e.g. WIVB in Buffalo), national streams on NFL Network will be blacked out in your local zip code to protect local broadcast rights.
4. Mobile App & Connected TV Setup
Streaming preseason football on connected devices is straightforward. Follow these steps for smooth viewing:
- Smart TVs & Streaming Sticks: Download the official NFL App, Fubo, or YouTube TV app on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, or Android TV.
- Location Permissions: Ensure location services are enabled on mobile devices so the app can verify local market broadcast rules.
- HD Bandwidth Requirements: Maintain a stable internet connection with at least 15 Mbps download speed for 1080p 60fps sports streaming.
5. Free Trial & Subscription Pricing Breakdown
Fans looking to watch preseason football without immediate financial commitment can leverage free trials offered by major streaming providers during August:
- Fubo 7-Day Free Trial: Provides full access to local CBS, FOX, NBC, ABC stations and NFL Network.
- YouTube TV Trial: Frequently offers promotional 7-to-21 day free trials with zero contract commitments.
- NFL+ 7-Day Trial: Gives instant access to all out-of-market preseason games on your phone or TV.
For exact kickoff times, TV affiliate maps, and team schedules, head to the Buffalo Bills Schedule 2026 homepage.
The Four Legitimate Ways to Watch August Football
The league's official hub at NFL.com/ways-to-watch organizes every option, but the practical breakdown fits into four buckets. One: local over-the-air broadcasts — every exhibition game airs free on regional affiliates in each team's market, which is how Rochester's WROC carried Buffalo's Cleveland trip. Two: national cable windows — NFL Network distributes a large share of the slate league-wide. Three: the league's streaming product — our NFL+ tier guide details how Premium carries out-of-market games. Four: general live-TV streaming services that include the cable channels.
As USA Today's Week 2 viewing guide confirmed, NFL+ Premium carries the entirety of the preseason, and services like Fubo handle the rest through trial timing for one-game viewers.
The Decision Tree: Which Option Fits You
In-market fan watching your own team? A digital antenna is free and legally flawless — local affiliates carry every game. Displaced fan following a hometown roster? The out-of-market streaming product exists precisely for you, with the mobile-device caveat explained in our NFL+ guide. One-game curious viewer? Time a live-TV streaming free trial to the specific Saturday window. Every-game completionist? Premium plus a cable-substitute service covers all windows together.
What none of these paths should cost you: confusion about which product excludes preseason entirely — our Sunday Ticket explainer prevents that purchase mistake.
Team-Specific Guides and the Regular Season Ahead
Specific matchups get their own broadcast maps as the schedule tightens — our Bills-Browns breakdown shows the pattern (local affiliates plus national cable) that most games follow. Once the exhibition calendar closes, broadcast assignments shift to the league's national partners, and our Bills Where to Watch hub tracks every regular-season window.
Lock in your full season plan on the Buffalo Bills Schedule 2026 homepage, where kickoff times and networks update as flexible scheduling announcements arrive.
Radio Broadcasts: The Most Underrated August Option
Every preseason game carries full radio broadcasts through each team's network, and for genuine football students this remains the richest viewing product available. Radio announcers explain roster battles as they happen — naming bubble players, decoding rotation logic, and translating coaching decisions in real time. Television broadcasts assume narrative knowledge; radio assumes nothing and teaches constantly.
The practical access points: team sites stream their networks directly (both Buffalo's and Cleveland's guides linked above list their feeds), league platforms carry national audio packages, and local flagship stations broadcast over the air entirely free. For fans who consume sports during commutes or work hours, August radio actually outperforms September television for pure football education per minute.
Pairing radio audio with a muted television stream is also the connoisseur's move: you get the visual clarity of camera angles plus the explanatory depth of broadcasters who know the roster battles intimately enough to narrate them properly.
Frequently Asked Questions: NFL Preseason Streaming
Can I watch preseason games with an over-the-air antenna?
Yes! If you live in the local broadcast market of either team playing, you can watch the game completely free in HD using a standard digital TV antenna connected to your television.
Why is NFL Network blacked out in my town during a preseason game?
NFL Network broadcasts are blacked out in local market zip codes whenever a local over-the-air TV station owns exclusive local broadcast rights to that game.
Where can I check today's full Buffalo Bills game schedule?
Visit the Buffalo Bills Schedule 2026 homepage for complete game listings, channel numbers, and kickoff times.