How Much Money Can You Save By Watching NFL Games Online?

4 MINUTE READ

How much money can you save by watching NFL games online?

About $82 per month, on average.

That’s right. Cord cutting fans looking to stream NFL games can theoretically reduce monthly costs by 38%.

To enumerate, we derived that figure from:

• The average cable bill ($217)¹.
• Average (U.S.) internet bill ($64)².
• The average cost of 5 major streaming providers, namely, DirecTV Stream, Fubo TV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, & YouTube TV ($71).
• Sources: ¹allconnect.com | ²cordcuttersnews.com

Indeed, this is great news for the majority of 55 million cord-cutters who think that traditional pay TV is much too expensive.

However, don’t go and tell your cable provider to shove it just yet.  I strongly suggest that you keep reading, because ditching traditional pay TV isn’t always the answer.

When is watching NFL games online cheaper?

Given that cable TV bills vary greatly based on location, provider, package, & how long you’ve been with them allows for many different scenarios.

Nevertheless, let’s say for example that you purchased a mid-tier TV package with a provider we’ll refer to as “Noptimum” for $99/month in 2015. Seven years of rate hikes & inflation later, your monthly bill is $240. On the other hand, a YouTube TV subscription combined with an average-priced internet service costs 42% less:

Interactive NFL TV Schedule for 2023

When is watching NFL games online not cheaper?

In this example, you’re a new subscriber to Xfinity Digital Preferred at a cost of $90 a month for the first year. Your channels include CBS, NBC, FOX, & NFL Network. Additionally, you get the RedZone and ESPN add-ons for $17 more, giving you access to the same number of games as YouTube TV.  How does that compare to an NFL live stream package?

What’s the cheapest way to watch NFL games?

The absolute cheapest way to stream NFL games doesn’t require cable or satellite.

Namely, the new NFL Plus streaming service comes with an inflation-busting $30 price – and a huge “but”. As in, “But it’s only available to use on phones and tablets.”

In spite of this, the potential to save $100-$200+ per month merits consideration from fans with budget issues.

Read The Cheapest Way to Watch NFL Games.

Conclusion

Yes, the above graphic is certainly damning when it comes to just how much cable TV costs have risen recently.

However, here’s the bottom line.

Watching NFL games online won’t always save you money, but there are clearly 2 instances when it will:

1. Your monthly cable bill is in excess of $150, and, for some reason you don’t want to switch to a new internet provider. Switching to an internet-only plan with your existing provider can save you $70 or more. 
2. You’re thinking long term. Switching providers means reaping the benefits of  introductory plan pricing, and you’ll save a bundle for the first year or two. But if recent history is any indication, it won’t be long until your bill is out of control.

From 2018 to 2021, the average cost of streaming rose by 85%. While that’s high, it’s still considerably less than cable TV’s increase over the same period:

Notably, this is how cable vs. streaming costs would compare when applying the respective rates of inflation to Xfinity’s pricing models:

Next: Cutting the Cord: Pros and Cons of Streaming NFL Games