For the first time this NFL season, the Thursday night game was shown on CBS. As per usual, though, it was also simulcast on the NFL Network, so you could be forgiven if you bought a Sling package that includes the NFL’s in-house channel and then expected to watch the Jets play the Bills on Thursday.
But you’d also be wrong. This is the message you received if you were tuning in to the game via Sling.
https://twitter.com/kawnar/status/776578386000945152
So, what’s that about? As we wrote about here in all the ways you can livestream the NFL, Sling provides you the opportunity to watch most games.
But, as we noted …
If you’re a cord-cutter, Sling is a good option because it still allows you to watch football for a relatively cheap price on your TV, computer, or mobile device … To get all the aforementioned channels, along with the NFL Network and NFL RedZone channels, you’d have to buy the Orange + Blue package for $40 per month. CBS, though, isn’t available on Sling, meaning you couldn’t watch any of the games on that channel.
And since Thursday night’s game aired on CBS, Sling was of no use.
@marksully1 The game is aired on CBS today. We don't offer CBS, so twitter is the only way to view the game at this time. ~MG
— Sling Answers (@slinganswers) September 16, 2016
Games that are not nationally aired on a local channel will then be available on NFL Network. *AR
— Sling Answers (@slinganswers) September 16, 2016
Yet, people were pissed.
Wtf @Sling I pay for NFL network yet you don't have the rights to play the game?
— This_Justin (@This_Justin86) September 16, 2016
https://twitter.com/LandOfOzz/status/776594566325506049
Seriously who wants to watch football on @twitter!? Blacked out on @Sling way to @nfl 😒 #TNF
— Chris (@cbpietras) September 16, 2016
For the record, only five Thursday night games are blacked out this season on Sling. Oh well, at least the affected fans could have watched the game for free on Twitter.
H/T Awful Announcing