NFL Game Blackouts: Rules & Location Restrictions

NFL game blackouts are broadcast restrictions that prevent a game from being shown on local television in the market where it is being played, usually because the game did not sell out. Location restrictions work by using your device’s IP address and GPS data to determine whether you are inside the home television territory of the two teams playing, which then controls which games you can watch on NFL Sunday Ticket, NFL+, and other streaming services.

What Exactly Is an NFL Blackout?

An NFL blackout is a rule that stops a game from airing on the local affiliate station in the home team’s designated market area (DMA). The rule historically applied when a game did not sell out 72 hours before kickoff. The league suspended the policy for the 2015 season and has not reinstated it, so in practice, no regular-season game has been blacked out since then. However, the term still appears in streaming contracts and in discussions about out-of-market viewing.

The blackout rule was created in the 1970s to encourage ticket sales and protect local broadcasters who paid for the right to show games. The Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961 allowed the NFL to sell its TV rights as a package, and the blackout rule was a separate league policy, not a federal law. When the NFL relaxed the rule in 2012 (teams could lift a blackout if they sold 85% of non-premium seats), most games still sold out. The full suspension in 2015 made blackouts effectively obsolete for regular-season games.

How Location Restrictions Work Today

Location restrictions are not the same as blackouts. They determine which games are available to you based on your physical location, not on ticket sales. The NFL divides the country into 32 home markets, one per team. If you live in a team’s market, you see that team’s games on your local CBS or Fox affiliate, regardless of whether the game is a home or away game. If you live outside all markets (e.g., in another country), you get a different set of games.

Streaming services use two methods to determine your location:

• IP address geolocation – Your internet provider assigns an IP address that maps to a geographic region. This is often accurate to the city level, but it can be wrong if you use a VPN or if your ISP routes traffic through a distant server.
• Device GPS or Wi-Fi triangulation – On phones and tablets, the device’s GPS chip gives a precise location. On smart TVs and streaming sticks, the service may use the Wi-Fi network’s registered address or the IP address of the router.

When you open NFL Sunday Ticket, the service checks your location at the start of the session and periodically during the game. If you cross a market boundary while watching, the stream may switch to the local feed or cut off entirely. This is why a family watching from a cabin in a different state might see different games than they would at home.

Home Market vs. Out-of-Market Games

The key distinction is between in-market and out-of-market games. An in-market game is one involving the team in your local area. You can watch it on local broadcast TV (with an antenna or cable) or on NFL+ on your phone or tablet. An out-of-market game is any other game. To watch out-of-market games, you need NFL Sunday Ticket (for all games) or a streaming service that carries the specific network showing that game.

For example, a viewer in Chicago is in the Bears’ market. They can see every Bears game on local TV. They cannot see a Packers vs. Vikings game on local TV because that game is out-of-market. They could watch it with Sunday Ticket, but only if they are not in the Packers’ or Vikings’ market. If they travel to Green Bay and open Sunday Ticket, the Packers game becomes in-market, and the service will block it because local TV already carries it.

This system exists because the NFL sells exclusive broadcast rights to CBS, Fox, NBC, ESPN, and Amazon. Those networks pay billions for the right to show games in specific markets. Streaming services are contractually required to respect those exclusivity zones.

Common Problems and Misconceptions

One common misconception is that a VPN can always bypass location restrictions. While a VPN can change your IP address, streaming services use additional signals like GPS and Wi-Fi location. If your device has GPS enabled, the service may still see your true location. Also, using a VPN to watch a game that is blacked out in your area violates the service’s terms of use, and the service can cancel your subscription.

Another problem is the “local game blackout” that still appears on NFL+ for mobile devices. NFL+ only allows you to watch in-market games on your phone or tablet. If you try to watch a game that is not in your market, the app says it is unavailable. This is a location restriction, not a blackout, but the message often says “blacked out,” which confuses users.

A third issue is traveling. If you buy Sunday Ticket and travel to another state, your game availability changes. The service recalculates your location and may block a game you planned to watch. This is by design, not a glitch. The NFL’s terms require you to be in the market where you subscribe, though in practice the service just uses your current location.

How to Choose a Viewing Option

Your best option depends on where you live and which teams you follow.

• If you live in your team’s market – Local broadcast TV (antenna or cable) is the cheapest and most reliable. NFL+ ($14.99/month or $79.99/year) adds out-of-market preseason games and in-market mobile streaming.
• If you live outside your team’s market – NFL Sunday Ticket (available on YouTube TV and YouTube Primetime Channels) is the only way to watch every out-of-market game. It costs roughly $349/year for the base package, or $449 with NFL RedZone.
• If you only want one game – Check if the game is on a network you already get (CBS, Fox, NBC, ESPN, or Amazon Prime). You might not need any extra subscription.
• If you are cord-cutting – YouTube TV carries Sunday Ticket and local channels. Hulu + Live TV and FuboTV also carry local channels but not Sunday Ticket.

Always check the NFL’s official “Game Pass” or “NFL+” page for the current season’s rules, because packages change yearly.

Costs and Safety Considerations

NFL Sunday Ticket is the most expensive option, but it is the only one that offers every out-of-market game. NFL+ is cheaper but limited to phones and tablets for in-market games. Local broadcast TV is free if you use an antenna, but you need to be within range of the broadcast towers.

Safety-wise, be cautious with unofficial streaming sites. They often contain malware and can steal your credit card information. Stick to official services. Also, be aware that using a VPN to circumvent location restrictions is against the terms of service of every major streaming platform. If the service detects it, it may block your account or cancel your subscription. There is no legal penalty, but you lose the money you paid.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does the NFL blackout games at all?

The blackout rule was designed to protect ticket sales and local broadcasters. If a game didn’t sell out, the local network wouldn’t air it, which theoretically pushed fans to buy tickets. The rule was suspended in 2015, and no regular-season game has been blacked out since. The league has not officially eliminated the rule, but it has not used it in nearly a decade.

Can I watch my local team’s game on NFL Sunday Ticket?

No. Sunday Ticket only shows out-of-market games. Your local team’s game is always available on your local CBS or Fox affiliate. If you buy Sunday Ticket, you will see a message that the local game is “blacked out” on the app, but you can still watch it on local TV.

Does a VPN really work for NFL blackouts?

Sometimes, but not reliably. A VPN changes your IP address, but streaming services also use GPS and Wi-Fi location. If your device has GPS, the service may still see your true location. Also, using a VPN violates the terms of service, and the service can cancel your account. It is not worth the risk.

What is the difference between a blackout and a location restriction?

A blackout is a broadcast restriction based on ticket sales. A location restriction is a technical rule that limits which games you can stream based on your physical address. Blackouts are effectively gone, but location restrictions are active every week on every streaming service.

Why does my game say “blacked out” on NFL+ even though I paid?

NFL+ only allows in-market games on mobile devices. If you are trying to watch a game that is not in your market, the app shows a blackout message. This is a location restriction, not a ticket-sale blackout. You need Sunday Ticket to watch out-of-market games.

If I travel to another state, will my Sunday Ticket still work?

Yes, but your available games change. The service detects your new location and blocks games that are now in-market. You can watch the local games on local TV, but you may lose access to a game you planned to watch. There is no way to override this.

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