YouTube and YouTube TV are gearing up for the NFL season by offering a special treat for NFL Sunday Ticket subscribers. On Saturday, August 23, subscribers will have access to two exciting preseason games: the Houston Texans vs. Detroit Lions and the Indianapolis Colts vs. Cincinnati Bengals, both kicking off at 1:00 p.m. ET. This move is part of YouTube’s annual tradition of conducting test broadcasts ahead of the regular season to ensure a seamless viewing experience for football fans.
Ths is a part of a agreed upon test run for YouTube and YouTube TV to test out the Sunday NFL ticket.
The NFL Sunday Ticket package, available through YouTube and YouTube TV, allows subscribers to watch out-of-market NFL games, making it a must-have for fans who want to follow their favorite teams no matter where they live. These preseason broadcasts serve as a critical test run for YouTube’s streaming infrastructure, ensuring that the platform can handle the high demand and deliver high-quality streams when the regular season begins in September.
For subscribers eager to tune in, YouTube has advised checking their custom guide settings to confirm that the NFL Sunday Ticket channel is enabled. If the channel isn’t appearing in your guide, a quick visit to the settings menu to ensure the Sunday Ticket channel is checked should resolve the issue. This step is particularly important for new subscribers or those who may have adjusted their guide preferences in the past.
However, fans should note that blackout restrictions will apply. If you’re located in the regional broadcast area for the Texans, Lions, Colts, or Bengals, the respective game will not be available on the Sunday Ticket channel. Instead, those games will air on local networks, in line with NFL broadcasting rules. For example, viewers in Houston or Detroit won’t see the Texans vs. Lions game on Sunday Ticket but can catch it on a local channel, ensuring that local broadcasters retain their audience.
This early access to preseason games is more than just a technical test—it’s a chance for fans to get a taste of the NFL action and fine-tune their viewing setup. Whether it’s checking streaming quality, ensuring device compatibility, or familiarizing yourself with the YouTube TV interface, these test broadcasts help subscribers prepare for the excitement of the regular season.
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