How NFL Coverage Maps Work
An NFL coverage map answers one question: which game will my local TV station show? The answer depends on the time slot, the network and where you live.
Why there are coverage maps at all
Most NFL games are played on Sunday afternoon, and several kick off at the same time. CBS and FOX each hold a package of those games, but each network's local station can air only one game at a time. So every week each network decides which of its games goes to which TV market. Draw those decisions on a map and you get a coverage map.
For example, Week 4 of the 2026 season has 8 games in the early Sunday window and 4 games in the late window that share a slot with other games. Those are the games split by region. See them on the NFL Coverage Map Week 4.
The Sunday afternoon windows
- Early window — usually 1:00 PM ET. Both CBS and FOX typically have games here.
- Late window — usually 4:05 PM or 4:25 PM ET.
- Doubleheaders — each Sunday, one of the two networks usually has a doubleheader (an early and a late game in most markets) and the other has a single game, so most viewers can see three Sunday afternoon games on local TV.
How your local game is chosen
A team's games are generally shown in its home market, whichever network carries them. For other areas, the networks weigh regional interest — nearby teams, large fan bases — and the appeal of the matchup. Assignments are usually finalized during the week and can change. More on regional coverage.
Games that are not split by region
When a game has a time slot to itself, there's nothing to split, so it's typically available nationwide on one network or streaming service. That includes Thursday Night Football, Sunday Night Football, Monday Night Football, Sunday morning international games and holiday games. See this season's nationally televised games.
What this site shows — and what it doesn't
We keep three kinds of information separate:
- Schedule data (dates, kickoff times, venues, scores) from our sports data provider, refreshed every few minutes.
- TV listings — channels listed for each game by the same provider. They're often added close to kickoff and sometimes incomplete.
- Geographic coverage data — which markets get which game. Our data source does not provide this, so we don't draw broadcast regions or claim which game a ZIP code receives.
What we derive from the schedule alone is the coverage window: a game is in a regional window when it shares a Sunday early or late slot with other games, and in a standalone window when it is the only game in its slot. The map marks where each game is played and colors it by window. The location tool ranks the NFL team markets nearest to you, because those teams' games are the ones most likely to be on your local stations.
How to confirm your local game
- Check this week's NFL coverage map for the time slot and window of each game.
- Use the location tool to see the nearest team markets and their games.
- Confirm with your local CBS and FOX stations' listings, which reflect the networks' final assignments.