You pay for YouTube TV, Hulu, Fubo or Sling.
Then Thursday night arrives and the NFL game isn't there.
Thursday Night Football has a different home than most NFL games. It streams nationally on Amazon Prime Video,which isn't included with subscriptions to the major live TV streaming services.
That means most viewers will need separate access to Prime Video to watch the Buffalo Bills play the Detroit Lions at 8:15 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 17.
There are exceptions, particularly for viewers in Buffalo and Detroit.
Here's what to know about watching Thursday Night Football on YouTube TV, Hulu, Fubo, Sling, DirecTV and other services.
Watch Bills vs Lions live on Prime Video
Is Thursday Night Football on YouTube TV?
No. Thursday Night Football on Amazon Prime Video is not included with YouTube TV.
That remains true even if you have NFL Sunday Ticket. Sunday Ticket carries out-of-market Sunday afternoon regular-season games, not Thursday Night Football.
Is Thursday Night Football on Hulu, Fubo, Sling or DirecTV?
Not as part of their standard national live TV packages.
Prime Video is a separate streaming service, so having Hulu + Live TV, Fubo, Sling or DirecTV does not automatically give you access to Thursday Night Football on Prime Video.
There is an important exception. NFL games on Prime Video are also televised on a local broadcast station in the participating teams' home markets. That means viewers in Buffalo and Detroit may be able to watch Lions vs. Bills through their existing TV service if it carries the local station showing the game.
DirecTV customers with a Gemini device also can access the Prime Video app through their DirecTV device, but a separate Prime Video subscription is still required to watch the national stream.
Can you watch Lions vs. Bills without Prime Video?
Yes, depending on where you live and what device you're using.
The Bills vs. Lions game will be televised on WKBW (Channel 7) in the Buffalo market. The game also will be available on FOX 2 in the Detroit market.
NFL+ is another option. The service includes live local and primetime NFL games on phones and tablets.
Does Amazon Prime have a free trial?
Yes.
Eligible new members can sign up for a 30-day free trial of Amazon Prime, which includes Prime Video and Thursday Night Football.
Amazon Prime costs $14.99 per month or $139 per year after the trial unless the membership is canceled.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Is Thursday Night Football on YouTube TV, Hulu, Fubo or Sling?
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