レギュラーシーズンとポストシーズンの全試合は、米国では以下のいずれかの全国ネットワークで放映されます。ABC 、CBS、Fox、NBCの放送ネットワーク、ケーブルチャンネルのESPNまたはNFL Network、あるいはAmazon Prime Video、Netflix、Peacockで独占的にストリーミング配信されます。リーグは、レギュラーシーズンの試合に関して、一般的にアンチサイフォニングルールを設けておらず、そのような試合はケーブル局とローカル系列局の両方で放映されることがあります(そして実際に放映されています)。ケーブルネットワークのESPNまたはNFL Network、あるいは前述のいずれかのOTTストリーミングサービスで独占的に放映されるレギュラーシーズンの試合は、参加する2チームのそれぞれのホームマーケットにあるローカル放送局でも同時放映されます(入札プロセスによって決定されます)。ESPNは、姉妹ネットワークである全国放送ネットワークのABCでも一部の試合を同時放映することがあります。同様に、 1961年のスポーツ放送法の一部として、米国政府は独占禁止法の例外として、NFLにレギュラーシーズンとポストシーズンのすべての試合の権利を全国ネットワークに販売することを許可した。[ 1 ]
Most preseason games, except a few contests such as the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game, are not televised by the national networks, and the league leaves television rights for those contests up to the individual teams. Most teams produce the games, either themselves or with help from the networks, and set up small syndication networks to carry games throughout the league-designated primary and secondary markets each team serves. The stations that win bidding to locally broadcast cable games are not necessarily the same as the ones who broadcast preseason contests, as the bidding processes are separate; this list is of the preseason broadcasters. In the event that a preseason game does not sell out, the local rightsholder must delay the broadcast a minimum of 24 hours (this rule, along with the rest of the league's blackout policies, was suspended for the 2015 season). NFL Network sometimes simulcasts select preseason games using the feeds of the local broadcast crews. In these cases, the NFL does impose an anti-siphoning rule and does not carry a live game in a particular market if a local station is broadcasting the same game.
On radio, all 32 teams have regional/local syndication networks that carry all preseason, regular season and most postseason games; these are listed here. Radio syndication networks are mostly unrestricted and can be carried anywhere in North America, and several supplemental networks (Compass Media Networks, Sports USA Radio Network) also carry additional Sunday afternoon games outside the home teams' markets. The league's night games are carried both by local networks and by the NFL on Westwood One, a partnership that goes back several decades; the Super Bowl is exclusive to Westwood One, and local broadcasts of that game can only be carried on one flagship station in each team's market. Spanish language national radio is held by Entravision, which sublicenses the game broadcasts to TUDN and Latino Media Network stations.[2]
Regional broadcasters
The following is a list of local radio and preseason television broadcasters for each individual team. Four teams, the Arizona Cardinals, the Baltimore Ravens, the Minnesota Vikings, and the New England Patriots do preseason television/radio simulcasts. Some teams, like the New York Giants and the San Francisco 49ers, have their regular radio announcers call their preseason telecasts, and then a different announcing team call their preseason radio broadcasts. For the preseason telecasts of many other teams, they may employ announcers who work for the national networks (either NFL or college football games) during the regular season.
Several teams also offer Spanish language broadcasts to serve their Hispanic fan bases.