Let’s get this out of the way: The game is not on broadcast TV.* It’s not even on cable.
That’s right, a Saturday NFL wild card playoff game featuring last year’s Super Bowl champions, the walking highlight play that is Patrick Mahomes and (potentially) Taylor Swift will not be easily accessible for most Americans.
If you’re upset about the situation, you’re not alone. A New York congressman fired off an angry letter to NBC Sports and NFL executives this week, complaining that the move of Saturday’s Chiefs vs. Dolphins wild card game to air exclusively on a subscription streaming service was a “bait-and-switch” being played on consumers.
So where to find it? On streaming.
Peacock will exclusively present the 8 p.m. ET Chiefs-Dolphins game following an afternoon playoff tilt between the Browns and Texans that will air on NBC and Peacock. It’s likely that NBC will be heavily promoting the Peacock-only offering during the Browns-Texans faceoff.
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Peacock subscription plans start at $5.99 per month. Right now, you can get a 50% discount on a yearly subscription for $29.99. Sports fans might want to remember that NBC’s coverage of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris will stream on Peacock, including a lot of content that won’t be on NBC or other NBCUniversal-owned outlets.
There is also a student package at $1.99 a month, but the streamer requires verification.
You can sign up at Peacocktv.com, and once you have done so, you’ll be able to access the service on your smart TV, computer or phone by downloading the Peacock app. For a list of platforms and devices that support the service, click here.
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The streamer’s plans to air the wild card game were announced at the NBCU upfront presentation last May. The Wall Street Journal reported that the network paid $110 million for the rights to a package of games.
* Viewers in Miami and Kansas City will be able to watch the game on their local NBC affiliates.