On Sept. 5, the NFL streamed its first-ever game exclusively on YouTube when the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers played a game in Sao Paulo, Brazil. 

However, this is not the first time that the NFL has transitioned to streaming services to broadcast games. In the past two years alone, the NFL has streamed games exclusively on Amazon Prime Video, Netflix and Paramount Plus. 

According to CBSNews.com, “To watch every NFL game in the 2025 season you need to buy at least half-a-dozen streaming services and YouTubeTV if you do not have traditional cable.” CBS also reported that costs could reach upwards towards $1,500 to catch all of the games. 

Now, if someone who wants to watch the NFL has cable television, they can watch NFL games on cable depending on where they live. 

In an article written by Eugenie Park and Colleen McClain for pewresearch.org, “Most Americans (83%) say they watch streaming services, with Netflix and Amazon Prime being especially common. Far fewer – 36% – say they currently subscribe to cable or satellite TV at home.” 

More people are turning to streaming services because of the open freedom of being allowed to watch any TV show that one provides without the hassle of longer commercial breaks and limited time.

Now there are ways to stream straight from cable television, like Fubo, Hulu, Peacock and ESPN+ that give you direct access to what would be on cable. But, this is a different form of streaming since it is directly the same as what is being shown on cable TV.   

Streaming services overall have created a much more accessible and easier form of television, instead of being restricted to certain times, hours and only being able to watch at one’s home. Streaming services provide easier access to watch more and are proving to be less expensive than cable, despite high prices.

While the access becomes easier, the moral question is whether this is all becoming too much. Just because one has access to it, if it is not a good financial decision, is it worth it if the majority of games are still available on cable TV?

Overall, a fair medium would be to limit the number of services that can stream games, thus limiting prices and the amount of money being spent by fans and customers. While expanding NFL games towards streaming services and not limiting to just cable television, it is proving to be an expensive feat, and it poses the question: when does it become too much to watch an NFL game?

Personally, if given access, I will choose to watch the game. However, if not, missing the game and being forced to watch the highlights, tune into ESPN or read written recaps by sports writers are things I am willing to do.