Football season isn’t far away. And with it comes big crowds, big games and, with the right plays, big wins for your business. From the opening snap to week 18 and beyond, DIRECTV FOR BUSINESS® has the playbook to put your business in the end zone this NFL season.
Ready for DIRECTV FOR BUSINESS to make an impact on your bottom line? Check out our packages today.
How to Watch the NFL on DIRECTV FOR BUSINESS
DIRECTV FOR BUSINESS is your ticket to all things NFL all the time. With multiple networks broadcasting games and analysis, your screens never need to leave the sidelines and your customers never need to miss a play, all season long.
Show NFL games and analysis on the following channels:
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ESPN (channel 206)
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ABC (find your local network)
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NBC (find your local network)
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CBS (find your local network)
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Fox (find your local network)
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NFL Network (channel 212)
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NFL RedZone (channel 9551)
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Prime Video
For the most up-to-date NFL TV schedule, check out the DIRECTV programming guide.
Big-Time Games Mean Big-Time Gains For Your Business
It doesn’t get much bigger than the NFL. Marketing your business as the go-to spot to catch 2026-27 football action can help you tap into the most popular sports league in America. Filling your seats and scoring a touchdown for your bottom line.
How big is the NFL? Just check out its TV viewership numbers from 2025. According to the NFL:
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An average of 18.7 million viewers watched regular season games, the second-highest number since 1988.
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CBS averaged 21.25 million, its best regular-season on record.
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The Thanksgiving Day game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Dallas Cowboys was the most-watched regular-season game in NFL history, averaging more than 57 million viewers.
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NBC’s Sunday Night Football averaged 23.5 million viewers.
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Monday Night Football averaged 15.8 million viewers.
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Fox Sports averaged 19.63 million, its best regular season since 2015.
And then there’s the Big Game. According to Nielsen, the NFL’s championship game had a jaw-dropping 125.6 million viewers. They call it big for a reason.
Put simply, the NFL has more eyes on it than any other sport in the country. So, if your business is showing the games, the fans will come in droves.
From Preseason to The Big Game: The 2026-27 NFL Calendar
The 2026-27 NFL regular season begins on September 9, 2026, and ends on Sunday, January 10, 2027, with each of the 32 teams playing 17 games. What does this mean for your business? Seven solid months of hard-hitting, touchdown-tossing, take-it-to-the-house NFL action on your TVs.
Here are some key dates and games to plan around:
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Preseason: The preseason kicks off with the annual Hall of Fame Game on Thursday, August 6, 2026, between the Arizona Cardinals and Carolina Panthers.
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Week 1: The regular season gets underway on September 9, 2026, with the defending-champion Seattle Seahawks taking on the New England Patriots. This will be the first time a season opener has been on a Wednesday.
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International games: There are a record nine international games on the schedule this season, including the NFL’s first visits to Melbourne, Australia, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and Paris, France. With DIRECTV FOR BUSINESS, you’ll get the following matchups:
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September 27, 2026, Baltimore Ravens vs. Dallas Cowboys in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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October 4, 2026, Indianapolis Colts vs. Washington Commanders in London, U.K.
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October 11, 2026, Philadelphia Eagles vs. Jacksonville Jaguars in London, U.K.
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October 18, 2026, Houston Texans vs. Jacksonville Jaguars in London, U.K.
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October 25, 2026, Pittsburgh Steelers vs. New Orleans Saints in Paris, France
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November 8, 2026, Cincinnati Bengals vs. Atlanta Falcons in Madrid, Spain
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November 15, 2026, New England Patriots vs. Detroit Lions in Munich, Germany
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November 22, 2026, Minnesota Vikings vs. San Francisco 49ers in Mexico City, Mexico.
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Thanksgiving: A turkey-day tradition, catch three games on Thursday, November 26, with the Chicago Bears at Detroit Lions, Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys and Kansas City Chiefs at Buffalo Bills.
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Christmas Day: Enjoy season greetings and football with the Los Angeles Rams visiting the Seattle Seahawks on December 25, 2026.
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Week 18: It all comes down to the final week of the season, with games on Saturday and Sunday, January 9-10, 2027.
And that’s not even mentioning other preseason tune-ups, Thursday Night Football, Monday Night Football, Wild Card Weekend, Divisional Playoffs, AFC and NFC Championship Games and, of course, The Big Game, which is scheduled for February 14, 2027.
Showing the NFL Can Be a Big Hit for Your Business
From big-time ratings to die-hard fandom, the NFL is a powerhouse. And its popularity is only going to get bigger. Here are just a few ways for your business to get in on the action.
Host Fantasy Football Draft Parties: With another NFL season comes another year of fantasy football fun. More than 14 million people played fantasy football on ESPN in 2025, the fourth year in a row they’ve hit an all-time high. And by promoting your business as a fantasy draft HQ, you can get in on the fun. With the DIRECTV MVP Marketing Program, you can receive our dedicated Fantasy Football kit, which includes custom marketing materials and our Fantasy Football Playbook with tips and tricks on how to make this a winning season for your business. Fantasy draft food and drink deals will only sweeten the pot.
Host Watch Parties: It doesn’t matter who’s playing, the NFL is always a must see. Host special events for your home team games, Monday Night Football, the playoffs and The Big Game. And bring the stadium experience to your guests by offering football-themed food and drink specials.
Give Customers a Front-Row Seat: Position high-quality screens so it feels like you’re at the 50-yard line. With multi-network coverage through DIRECTV FOR BUSINESS, you can keep football fans tuned in throughout the season.
Promote Your Venue as THE NFL Hot Spot: Use social media, email and in-venue signage to remind customers they can see football action at your bar, restaurant or business. And with the DIRECTV MVP Marketing Program, you can even order custom coasters, posters, banners and more to promote your business.
Catch Every Game Thrown Your Way
32 teams. Preseason tune-ups. 272 regular season games. Playoffs. Daily analysis. There’s never a dull moment in the NFL season. And it’s packed with TV coverage. The DIRECTV sports schedule keeps you locked in, so your guests don’t miss a single play and it’s easier for you to plan staffing, promotions and screen setups in advance.
Get DIRECTV FOR BUSINESS
DIRECTV FOR BUSINESS offers the ultimate live sports entertainment experience. Enjoy:
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99% signal reliability
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Standard professional installation included at no additional cost
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Dedicated customer support
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Access to Sports Bar Finder to help sports fans discover your location
DIRECTV is a leader in sports and delivers a one-stop shop for live programming across NFL, MLB, MLS, Formula 1, NBA, NHL and more, all through a single streamlined system built for business. Call 888.303.9117 to get started.
Don’t miss a second of the action. Explore DIRECTV FOR BUSINESS packages today.
