American football has been gaining popularity in Germany over the past few years. With a growing fanbase eager to watch NFL games live, many football enthusiasts in Germany are wondering how they can tune into the action. While the NFL is not as mainstream in Germany compared to sports like soccer or basketball, there are still several options to stream live games through official broadcast partners and subscription services. This guide will walk through the main ways to watch the NFL from Germany, covering broadcast TV channels, online streaming platforms, and other tricks for catching games live.
Watching on TV
The NFL has partnerships with several TV channels in Germany to air games throughout the regular season and playoffs. While not every game is available on TV, you can usually find a few matchups each week broadcast nationally. Here are the major channels showing NFL games in Germany:
ProSieben MAXX
ProSieben MAXX is the main TV partner for the NFL in Germany. The channel will typically air 2-3 regular season games per week, usually on Sundays. ProSieben MAXX also shows a selection of playoff games and the full Super Bowl live. As a free broadcasting station, ProSieben MAXX is accessible to any viewer in Germany with a TV and antenna. Just check the weekly schedule to see which NFL games are coming up.
ran.de
In addition to ProSieben MAXX, the sports portal ran.de will also broadcast select NFL games over-the-air and through live streaming. Ran.de has partnerships with ProSiebenSat.1 Media to show sports content across their family of stations and online platforms. Football fans can check the ran.de website each week to see which NFL games will be available to watch.
Sport1
Sport1 is another sports-focused free TV channel that occasionally shows live NFL games in Germany. Typically, Sport1 will air 1-2 games per week during the regular season. As with ProSieben MAXX, make sure to see the broadcast schedule on the Sport1 website to know which games are coming up.
Other Channels
Occasionally, other smaller channels like Sat.1 or RTL may carry an NFL game here and there. While ProSieben MAXX and Sport1 own most of the broadcast rights, other networks sometimes pick up additional games, so scan through all your available TV listings for a full schedule.
Streaming NFL Games Online
For the most robust slate of NFL games from week to week, streaming over the internet is the best option for fans in Germany. There are a few main ways to watch the NFL online:
NFL Game Pass
The NFL’s own streaming product, Game Pass, shows every regular season and playoff game live or on-demand. With Game Pass, you can watch the broadcasts from either the home or away team’s TV crews. The International NFL Game Pass allows fans outside the US to stream games live without blackout restrictions. There are some limitations on which devices you can use though, as mobile streaming is restricted. Check out the full device compatibility list on the NFL Game Pass website.
| Game Pass Package | Price |
|---|---|
| Season Plus Package (all 256 regular season games) | 149,00 € |
| Season Package (all regular season games after they air) | 99,99 € |
| 7-day Free Trial | Free |
DAZN
The sports streaming platform DAZN carries a package of NFL games in Germany and other European markets. With a DAZN subscription you can watch around 10 live regular season games per week, including many primetime matchups. DAZN will also stream NFL RedZone on Sunday afternoons for real-time highlights. Playoff and Super Bowl coverage is included as well. DAZN costs either €14.99 per month or €149.99 for an annual pass.
YouTube TV
The internet TV service YouTube TV offers a package of NFL games to subscribers in Germany. While the channel lineup differs slightly from the US version, you still get access to live games airing on broadcast networks like CBS, Fox, NBC, and ESPN. With YouTube TV you can stream games on many devices, though simultaneous streams are limited. YouTube TV costs $64.99 per month after a free trial.
Zattoo
The TV streaming platform Zattoo carries many of Germany’s top sports channels, including ProSieben MAXX and Sport1. By getting a Zattoo subscription, you can live stream NFL games airing on those stations online or through the app. Packages start at €9.99 per month for the basic service. Zattoo is available on many devices like computers, smartphones, streaming boxes, and smart TVs.
FAN Pass on NFL Game Pass
The NFL recently launched a new option as part of Game Pass called FAN Pass. This add-on lets you live stream local broadcast feeds of CBS, Fox, and NBC to watch whichever NFL games are playing in your local market that week. While games will be based on US broadcast schedules, it’s an easy option for streaming games you’d normally see on TV at home. FAN Pass costs an extra $99 for the season on top of a Game Pass subscription.
Watching NFL with a VPN
For the widest range of NFL streaming options, a virtual private network (VPN) gives you the ability to work around geographical restrictions and access additional broadcasts. Here’s how using a VPN can help you watch more NFL action:
Access Streaming Services From Other Countries
Many streaming platforms like NFL Game Pass offer different content libraries and packages depending on your location. With a VPN, you can route your internet traffic through a server in another country to unlock different NFL streaming options:
- U.S. Game Pass includes live mobile streaming for all games.
- UK Sky Sports shows 5+ live regular season games per week.
- Brazil ESPN channel streams Monday Night Football.
- Australia offers live NFL through partner Kayo Sports.
By connecting to a VPN server in any of these countries, you can sign up for an account with streaming services based there.
Bypass NFL Game Blackouts
Certain NFL games are blacked out on local TV broadcasts if ticket sales are low. With a VPN, you can get around local blackout restrictions by routing your connection through another city to access their live feeds. This opens up more options to watch your favorite team.
Increase Streaming Reliability
Slow internet speeds can hamper streaming quality for NFL games. Connecting your devices through a VPN routes your traffic through optimized servers, which helps stabilize speed for HD streams. VPNs also encrypt traffic, which gets around ISP throttling.
Access U.S. Streaming Apps Like Sling TV
Many top streaming providers like Sling TV, Hulu + Live TV, fuboTV, and DirecTV are only available to users in the United States. By running your internet through a VPN, you can make it appear as if you’re accessing those apps from within the US to open up a ton of live NFL game options.
Make sure any VPN service you choose has fast US-based servers optimized for streaming. ExpressVPN, NordVPN, and Surfshark are top options to consider.
Other Ways to Watch the NFL from Germany
If you can’t watch the game live, there are still a few options to catch NFL action in Germany:
NFL Game Pass Archives
While live games have restrictions, the NFL Game Pass library includes full game replays and condensed 45-minute versions. You can watch archived games on-demand after they air without blackout rules. Great way to catch up on a game you missed.
NFL YouTube channel
The NFL posts highlights from games soon after they air on their official YouTube channel. You can watch top plays, game recaps, and analysis videos for free.
NFL Mobile App
The official NFL app offers live local radio broadcasts, highlights, stats, and news. While you can’t stream full games, it’s a good option for following along live or catching up on key plays.
NFL RedZone
If you want to stay on top of all the action on NFL Sundays without watching full games, NFL RedZone whips around live between stadiums bringing you every touchdown and big highlight as it happens. Available through various streaming services.
NFL Network
While not available as a standalone channel, you can access NFL Network content through Game Pass. This unlocks their great library of NFL Films documentaries, replays of classic games, and original shows for catching up on football history and culture.
Conclusion
American football has come a long way in Germany over the past decade. What was once a niche sport now has millions of dedicated fans across the country eager to tune into NFL games every week during the season. While not all games make it onto mainstream broadcast television, football fans in Germany have plenty of options to watch live NFL action through sports streaming services like DAZN and the NFL’s own Game Pass package. For the most robust selection of games without blackout restrictions, using a VPN unlocks even more NFL streaming possibilities from services based abroad. With so many ways to watch football now available, there’s no reason for gridiron fans to miss a game all season long.
