NFL Sunday Ticket: A New Era Where Streaming Dominates, But Is DISH Still an Option?

The landscape of professional football viewing has shifted dramatically. The NFL Sunday Ticket, once the hallmark of DirecTV’s satellite service, is now a streaming-exclusive product. This means that if you want to watch every out-of-market Sunday afternoon game for your favorite team, you’re going to need an internet connection and a subscription to YouTube TV.

The NFL on Satellite: DirecTV’s Reign is Over

For nearly 30 years, DirecTV held the exclusive residential rights to NFL Sunday Ticket. That era officially ended with the conclusion of the 2022 season. Now, DirecTV only holds the commercial rights to distribute the package to bars and restaurants. Residential customers cannot get NFL Sunday Ticket from DirecTV.

DISH Network: A Strong Alternative for the “Complete” Fan

While DISH Network can’t sell you the full Sunday Ticket package either, they offer compelling reasons why their overall satellite service might be the superior choice for an NFL enthusiast, particularly when combined with YouTube TV.

Here’s why DISH might appeal more to the ultimate football fan:

1. The Power of the DISH Multi-Sport Pack

DISH provides a robust sports offering that often includes the highly sought-after NFL RedZone channel. RedZone is a must-have for fantasy football players and general fans alike, offering commercial-free, “whip-around” coverage that jumps from game to game showing every scoring opportunity.

By subscribing to DISH for your local channels and RedZone, you get a premium in-market experience. You can then easily add a YouTube TV subscription for out-of-market games, creating a comprehensive football setup.

2. High-Quality Local Coverage

Both providers offer excellent quality for your local CBS and FOX affiliates, but DISH is known for reliable, high-definition programming. This ensures you catch all in-market games and nationally televised matchups without a hitch.

3. The Best of Both Worlds

For the dedicated fan, the ideal setup now involves combining the reliable satellite service of DISH with the modern features of YouTube TV. While DirecTV is out of the residential Sunday Ticket game entirely, DISH makes it easy to supplement their service with the streaming option, offering a seamless total viewing experience.

The New Reality: You Need to Stream for Sunday Ticket

Regardless of your satellite provider, the simple truth for the 2025 NFL season is that you need a Google account and a YouTube TV subscription for NFL Sunday Ticket. Key features of the new streaming package include:

Multiview: Watch up to four games on a single screen simultaneously.
No Equipment Needed: Access games on smart TVs, phones, tablets, and streaming sticks.
NFL Shorts: Replays of full games compressed into 30 minutes.

Bottom Line

DirecTV’s NFL dominance is a thing of the past. While neither satellite provider offers the full Sunday Ticket residential package, DISH Network’s superior supplementary sports packages (like the Multi-Sport Pack with NFL RedZone) make it the more attractive option for a passionate NFL fan.

Combine DISH’s reliable satellite feed for local games and RedZone with an easy YouTube TV add-on, and you’ve got the ultimate football viewing package. The era of the satellite-exclusive NFL Sunday Ticket is over; embrace the hybrid approach and catch every play.

Game On: Why DISH is the Winning Play for Today’s NFL Fan

The era of choosing your satellite provider solely for the NFL Sunday Ticket is over. With the package now exclusively in the hands of YouTube TV for residential customers, the playing field between DISH and DirecTV has leveled, allowing other factors to determine which satellite service offers a better overall experience for the modern NFL fan.

For value, technology, and a comprehensive football experience, DISH emerges as the clear winner.