Options for watching the Pats this season, out of market (Jax)...

[oldrover]

For the past few years, I have been using some "questionable internet sources"... but they really suck. And I'm excited about this season!

So... what are my options? $300 a year through Youtube? I'm a cheap bastid... but for the Pats this year...

 

[Joey007]

I will say, using a laptop and going to streaming websites may lead to a bigger expense of needing a new laptop regardless, thanks to the inevitable viruses you’ll receive.

The $300 Sunday ticket may be cheaper than you realize.

 

[oldrover]

I will say, using a laptop and going to streaming websites may lead to a bigger expense of needing a new laptop regardless, thanks to the inevitable viruses you’ll receive.

The $300 Sunday ticket may be cheaper than you realize.

Have yet to download a virus. But they crash constantly. And seemingly right after every snap! LOL

 

[denverpatsfan]

Been paying for the YouTube. Wife can watch her Eagles. I can watch the Pats. I can also log in from my buddies house. It works pretty well. Still cheaper than going to the sports bar eating wings and drinking beer all day just to watch the Pats.

 

[Ian]

I’ve gotten multiple copyright notices this offseason about the mention of illegal stream sites. So please don’t post them in this thread.

That being said, YouTube TV is the necessary evil and I’ve done Sunday ticket previously. The only thing I haven’t tried is a Boston VPN, but I’m pondering trying that this year since the cost is getting a little crazy.

 

[PatsfanTN]

I made a post awhile back on this if you can find it. Just need an Android tablet or phone and YouTubeTV

 

[Palm Beach Pats Fan]

One legal way to at least watch the CBS games, if you subscribe to Paramount Plus anyway, is to watch it on their app with a Chrome extension installed that spoofs your location. I think the extension I used is called Location Guard. For the upoming season you could watch 11 of the 17 games.

I set mine to my old address out near Worcester. Of course it didn't help with Fox games*, but CBS games were in nice HD with no glitches other than being a few seconds behind. You get Massachusetts commercials and 1-877-Kars4Kids may drive you insane.

*Fox sports has an app, but it wasn't talking to my Location Guard extension and so it was always showing the one on my local TV in south Florida.

 

[mike_usagisan]

I really liked the Paramount Plus solution when I did that. It sucks that they stopped mainly airing AFC on CBS.

 

[mike_usagisan]

In the past I've done NFL+ where I watch the games later. Sunday afternoons aren't always great for watching TV in my house, so I didn't mind watching the games a couple hours later.

 

[jmt57]

Years ago I had Sunday Ticket but dropped it because the Patriots were on local/national tv so often, the expense wasn't worth it. Fot the six or so games they weren't on my ex would drop me and a friend off at a sports bar to watch the Pats, and drive us home when the game ended. Those days of the Patriots being on tv out-of-town are long gone.

Every person is in a different situation in terms of finances, priorities, etc. But since you are living in Jacksonville you have almost no opportunity to see the Patriots on local television.


Out of curiosity I looked to see which team would be on most often nationally this year. Logically some might think that would be the defending super bowl champions, but that is not the case. That honor once again goes to the Dallas Cowboys, who are coming off a 10-loss season and have not made it to a conference championship game in 30 years. Both Dallas and KC have eight exclusive broadcasts (only game on in that time slot, such as SNF, MNF, etc) plus four almost-exclusive (4:30 time slot that will be broadcast in all but a couple tv markets). That doesn't include week 18, TBD.


Back to the Patriots for Florida fans. Here's a look at how often they will be on television in oldrover and Ian's Jacksonville television market, as well as mine (Tampa area).

Not a pretty picture.

Week 1: Raiders at Patriots, 1:00, CBS; Jags 1:00 Fox; Bucs 1:00 Fox; CBS doubleheader
JAX-TV area will probably air Miami (because they are in Florida) vs Indy (AFCS team)
TB-TV area will probably air Ariz-NO (they like to show NFCS rivals), or possibly Miami-Indy (Florida factor)
No Pats game for either viewing area.

Week 2: Patriots at Dolphins, 1:00, CBS; Jags 1:00 CBS; Bucs MNF; Fox DH
JAX-TV area gets the Jaguars game, eliminating the Pats broadcast
TB-TV area will probably get the Pats game, though it is possible they could opt for Clev-Bal or Buf-NYJ
No Pats game for Jax; probable for Tampa.

Week 3: Steelers at Patriots, 1:00, CBS; Jags 1:00 CBS; Bucs 1:00 Fox; Fox DH
JAX-TV area gets the Jaguars game, eliminating the Pats broadcast
TB-TV area will probably air Cin-Minn (best matchup) or possibly Hou-Jax
No Pats game for Jax; doubtful for Tampa.

Week 4: Panthers at Patriots, 1:00, Fox; Jags 4:00 Fox; Bucs 1:00 Fox; CBS DH
JAX-TV area will most likely air Tenn at Houston, two teams in same division
TB-TV area is most likely another NFCS game, Car-NE or more likely NO-Buffalo
Pats game doubtful for both Jax and Tampa.

Week 5: Patriots at Bills, 8:20, NBC
Game available in 100% of US television markets.

Week 6: Patriots at Saints, 4:25, CBS; Jags 1:00 Fox; Bucs 1:00 CBS; CBS DH
JAX-TV area will most likely air Cincy at Green Bay, a more compelling game
TB-TV area is a tossup, as New Orleans is in the same division as Tampa Bay
No Pats game for Jax; probable for Tampa.

Week 7: Patriots at Titans, 1:00, CBS; Jags 9:30 am; Bucs MNF; Fox DH
JAX-TV area will more likely air either Miami-Cleveland (Florida factor) or Raiders-Chiefs (Mahomes/Swift factor)
TB-TV area will do the same, unless CBS decides to promote Vrabel vs his old team; depends on Pats w-l record
Pats game doubtful for both Jax and Tampa.

Week 8: Browns at Patriots, 1:00, Fox; Jags on bye; Bucs 4:00 Fox; CBS DH
JAX-TV area will get one of the other games; Fox loves the NFCE, so it's probably NYG at Philly
TB-TV area will air the Bucs game, eliminating the Pats game (only one game on Fox this week)
No Pats game for either Jax or Tampa.

Week 9: Falcons at Patriots, 1:00, CBS; Jags 4:00 Fox; Bucs on bye; CBS DH
JAX-TV area could show the Pats game based on regionality and hype as Super Bowl rematch
TB-TV area will most likely air this game based on Atlanta and Bucs being in same division
Pats game probable for both Jax and Tampa.

Week 10: Patriots at Bucs, 1:00, CBS; Jags 1:00 CBS; Bucs vs Pats; Fox DH
JAX-TV area will broadcast the Jaguars, eliminating the Pats game
TB-TV area will obviously air the Pats-Bucs game
No Pats game for Jacksonville; 100% certain for Tampa.

Week 11: Jets at Patriots, 8:15, Amazon Prime
If you don't have Amazon Prime, just sign up for a free 30-day trial, then cancel later.
Pats game available to all.

Week 12: Patriots at Bengals, 1:00, CBS; Jags 4:00 CBS; Bucs MNF; Fox DH
JAX-TV area will broadcast the Jaguars, eliminating the Pats game (CBS single game this week)
TB-TV area could show the Pats game, or Indy-KC (Mahomes/Swift factor); depends on the four teams records
No Pats game for Jacksonville; possible for Tampa.

Week 13: Giants at Patriots, 8:15, ESPN MNF
Pats game available to all.

Week 14: Bye Week

Week 15: Bills at Patriots, 1:00, CBS; Jags 1:00 CBS; Bucs TNF; CBS and Fox DH
JAX-TV area will air the Jaguars, eliminating the Pats broadcast
TB-TV area could show Pats-Bills, Balt-Cin or Chargers-KC; depends on standings
No Pats game for Jacksonville; possible for Tampa.

Week 16: Patriots at Ravens, 1:00, CBS; Jags 4:00 Fox; Bucs 1:00 Fox; CBS DH
JAX-TV area could get any one of four games: NE-Balt, Buff-Clev, KC-Tenn or NYJ-NO; most likely KC-Tenn
TB-TV area is in same boat, but most likely will go with NYJ-NO (division rivals in both cases)
Pats game doubtful for both Jacksonville and Tampa.

Week 17: Patriots at Jets, 1:00, CBS; Jags 1:00 Fox; Bucs 1:00 Fox; Fox DH
There are five TBD/Flex games, but it is unlikely that there will be another game broadcast head-to-head with a local team
Much depends on games being flexed due to the standings
Pats game doubtful for both Jacksonville and Tampa.

Week 18: Dolphins at Patriots, ???
All times to be determined based on standings


Final Score for watching the Patriots in the Jacksonville area:
- Three definite yes games
- One probable yes
- Four doubtful
- Eight definite no
- One to be determined (week 18)

Final Score for watching the Patriots in the Tampa area:
- Four definite yes games
- Three probable yes
- Six doubtful
- Two definite no
- One to be determined (week 18)

 

[Triumph]

Have yet to download a virus. But they crash constantly. And seemingly right after every snap! LOL

Constant buffering and freezing up is too frustrating.

The risk is becoming greater with almost everything connected on the web. Banking, credit cards, passwords, cell phone numbers.

 

[oldrover]

In the past I've done NFL+ where I watch the games later. Sunday afternoons aren't always great for watching TV in my house, so I didn't mind watching the games a couple hours later.

NFL Plus... am I to understand that this is all games throughout the year, live (AND after the fact)... on your iPad? Plus Red Zone?

That might very well do the trick. I'd still have some games I can watch on the big screen, and we have Paramount Plus, so some extra there. And I'm used to watching on the iPad after the last few seasons. Plus I don't have to inflict all the games on Mrs. Rover. Just a few.

EDIT: Ah, just realized I CAN'T watch out of market games live with this. Urrrrrgh...

 

[mike_usagisan]

NFL Plus... am I to understand that this is all games throughout the year, live (AND after the fact)... on your iPad? Plus Red Zone?

That might very well do the trick. I'd still have some games I can watch on the big screen, and we have Paramount Plus, so some extra there. And I'm used to watching on the iPad after the last few seasons. Plus I don't have to inflict all the games on Mrs. Rover. Just a few.

No, not live. Only after the fact.

 

[Hyped]

DirecTV and now YTTV Sunday Ticket subscriber for 13 years now.

Only way to watch the Patriots without any hassle wherever I am in the United States.

If you live outside the U.S.…. DAZN is amazing….super cheap and has ALL the games…including SNF, MNF, etc… I was able to 7-day free trial two Pats games while in Tahiti two years ago!

 

[n1997y]

NFL Plus... am I to understand that this is all games throughout the year, live (AND after the fact)... on your iPad? Plus Red Zone?

That might very well do the trick. I'd still have some games I can watch on the big screen, and we have Paramount Plus, so some extra there. And I'm used to watching on the iPad after the last few seasons. Plus I don't have to inflict all the games on Mrs. Rover. Just a few.

EDIT: Ah, just realized I CAN'T watch out of market games live with this. Urrrrrgh...

If your TV has hdmi input (iow is not Stone Age) look for an old Apple TV puck and use AirPlay from the pad.

I have a pair of ancient first gen units, one for each TV, just for throwing the iPad display onto the bigger screens. They’re commonly available, and cheap. When I just looked on my local FB marketplace five of the first six listed were $30 or less, cheapest were $10 or $15.

 

[Patjew]

Sounds like the easiest option is probably to move to New England.

 

[n1997y]

Sounds like the easiest option is probably to move to New England.

Reverse snowbird.

Sounds vaguely inappropriate.

 

[Rob0729]

I do Sunday Ticket from NC.

I have a friend who found uses a site where you can get virtually every local channel in the country for like $100 a year. It isn't exactly legal sites though and the picture quality can be ****. I have no idea what it is.

Or you get a Hulu TV or Youtube TV app and create a VPN for your home network to trick them into not knowing where you are actually located and then set your location to a Boston market location.

 

[Zuma]

I do the thing Ian mentioned...for the past 5ish years

 

[tasmlab]

I do YoutubeTV with Sunday Ticket.

It's nearly as expensive as it was when Ticket was on DirectTV since YouTubeTV costs nearly $100/month before you even buy Sunday Ticket. Would like to try to the VPN thing with Sling but haven't taken the time.

The DirectV/Sunday ticket was really expensive when Brady was on the team: the Pats would play almost every game in a national timeslot, so I was paying like $2K per year to watch five games. Cable is near worthless without sports these days.