If you’re wondering why CBS isn’t showing football today, the most common reasons are that the game is being broadcast on a different network, it’s a bye week for the teams you want to watch, or there’s another major sporting event or program scheduled at that time. This guide will help you pinpoint exactly why your favorite team’s game might not be on CBS.
The world of sports broadcasting can sometimes feel like a complex puzzle, especially when you’re settling in for a day of football action only to find your usual channel dark. For many fans, CBS is a familiar home for thrilling NFL matchups and exciting college football games. However, there will be days when the CBS football schedule doesn’t feature the game you’re expecting. This can be due to a variety of factors, from the natural ebb and flow of the sports calendar to specific broadcast rights and programming decisions.
Let’s dive deep into the reasons why you might not be seeing a CBS game today.
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Deciphering the CBS Football Broadcast Landscape
CBS has a rich history of broadcasting professional and collegiate football. They are a major player in the CBS NFL broadcast landscape, carrying a significant portion of the National Football League games each season. This typically includes AFC matchups, but their coverage can vary depending on the week. Similarly, CBS college football brings fans some of the most anticipated games from various conferences.
However, the sporting world is dynamic. Broadcasters don’t have exclusive rights to every single game, and scheduling is a strategic dance involving multiple networks, leagues, and affiliates.
Common Reasons for No CBS Football Today
There are several straightforward explanations for why your television might not be tuned to a football game on CBS. Let’s break them down.
1. The Game is on a Different Network
This is perhaps the most frequent reason. While CBS is a primary broadcaster for NFL and college football, they don’t have the rights to every single game.
- NFL Broadcast Rights: The NFL has complex broadcast agreements with multiple networks. CBS typically airs AFC games, but NFC games are often on FOX. Games can also be broadcast on NBC (Sunday Night Football), ESPN/ABC (Monday Night Football), and Amazon Prime Video (Thursday Night Football). If the game you’re looking for involves teams primarily in the NFC, or if it’s a specific nationally televised event on another network, it simply won’t be on CBS.
- College Football Scheduling: College football is even more fragmented. Different conferences have their own television deals. While CBS often carries SEC games and other prominent matchups, many other conferences (Big Ten, Pac-12, ACC, etc.) have their games broadcast on networks like ESPN, FOX, NBC, and their associated cable channels.
How to Check: The best way to confirm where a specific game is being broadcast is to consult the official CBS football schedule or the league’s official website for the particular week. Many sports apps and websites also provide comprehensive schedules.
2. It’s a Bye Week
Every NFL team has a bye week during the regular season, meaning they don’t play a game for one particular week. If the teams you follow are on their bye, then naturally, there will be no game for them to broadcast on CBS (or any other network).
- NFL Bye Weeks: These are strategically placed throughout the season to give teams a break. They are usually staggered so that there are still plenty of games to watch each week. However, if your favorite team happens to be one of the teams with a bye, you’ll have to wait until the following week.
- College Football Bye Weeks: While less common for entire conferences to have simultaneous bye weeks, individual college teams also have bye weeks.
When to Expect Bye Weeks: In the NFL, bye weeks typically begin around Week 4 or 5 of the regular season and continue until Week 13.
3. Another Major Event is Being Broadcast
CBS, like all major networks, has a primetime schedule that includes a variety of programming. Sometimes, a significant non-football event might take precedence.
- Primetime Programs: This could include major award shows, special news events, or popular entertainment programs. If a highly anticipated movie premiere, a presidential address, or a significant cultural event is scheduled, it might preempt the typical CBS Sunday football or CBS Saturday football broadcast.
- Other Sports: While CBS is known for football, they also broadcast other sports like golf, tennis, and basketball. If a major tournament final or a championship game in another sport is happening, it could be the primary focus for the network.
How to Know: Check the official CBS program guide for the specific day and time. This will clearly indicate what is scheduled to air.
4. Regional Blackouts or Local Broadcast Issues
While less common for national broadcasts on major networks like CBS, local blackouts can occur. A CBS football blackout might happen if a game is not sold out within a certain radius of the stadium, and broadcast rights agreements dictate that it cannot be shown locally on free-to-air television.
- Local Affiliate Issues: Sometimes, the issue might not be with CBS national but with your local CBS affiliate. Technical difficulties, local programming preemptions, or disputes between the affiliate and the network could lead to a CBS game not playing as expected in your specific area.
- Technical Problems: In rare cases, widespread technical issues with the broadcast signal or your cable provider could result in you not being able to see the game.
What to Do if You Suspect a Blackout: Check local sports news or fan forums for your specific region. If it’s a league-mandated blackout, you might need to purchase tickets to make the game available locally. For affiliate issues, contacting your local CBS station or your cable provider is the best course of action.
5. Preseason or Off-Season Periods
If it’s not currently the NFL or college football season, then CBS will not be showing any football games.
- NFL Preseason: While CBS does broadcast some NFL preseason games, they are not as consistently scheduled as regular-season games and might appear on different networks or at different times depending on the matchups.
- College Football Off-Season: The college football season typically runs from late August through early January. Outside of that window, there are no games to broadcast.
When is Football Season? The NFL regular season usually begins in early September and concludes in early January. College football seasons start a bit earlier, with some games kicking off in late August.
Navigating the CBS Football Schedule
To avoid disappointment, it’s crucial to stay informed about the CBS football schedule. Here’s how you can do it effectively:
- Official League Websites: NFL.com and NCAA.com provide the most accurate and up-to-date game schedules, including broadcast information.
- CBS Sports Website: CBS Sports has its own dedicated website (cbssports.com) which will list all their scheduled football broadcasts.
- Sports News Apps and Websites: Reputable sports outlets like ESPN, Bleacher Report, Yahoo Sports, and others offer detailed weekly schedules that usually specify which network is carrying each game.
- TV Guide and Program Listings: Your cable or satellite provider’s TV guide is an essential tool. You can often filter by sport or channel to see what’s coming up on the CBS football channel.
- Social Media: Following official NFL, college football, and CBS Sports social media accounts can provide real-time updates on schedule changes or broadcast information.
Exploring CBS Sports Live Options
If you’re trying to watch a CBS game today and it’s not on your regular television, there might be alternative ways to access it through CBS sports live streaming options.
- Paramount+: This streaming service is often the primary platform for live CBS sports content. Many NFL games broadcast on CBS are available to stream live on Paramount+. This is a fantastic option if you don’t have traditional cable or if you’re traveling.
- CBSSports.com: The website itself might offer live streaming for certain games, especially if you log in with your TV provider credentials.
- Other Streaming Services: Services like YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, and FuboTV often include your local CBS affiliate, allowing you to stream the game live as it airs on the channel.
Important Note on Regional Availability: Live streaming availability can sometimes depend on your geographic location due to broadcast rights. Always check the specific terms for your region.
Is it CBS Saturday Football or CBS Sunday Football?
The day of the week matters significantly when it comes to CBS football.
- CBS Sunday Football: This is CBS’s flagship day for NFL coverage. They typically broadcast a slate of AFC games every Sunday afternoon. If you’re looking for NFL on Sunday, CBS is usually your go-to.
- CBS Saturday Football: In the college football season, CBS often features prominent CBS college football matchups on Saturdays. These are typically high-profile games involving major conferences.
If you’re looking for a game on a specific day and it’s not there, double-check whether your game is actually scheduled for that day or if it falls on another day of the week and thus another broadcast partner.
What if the CBS Game Not Playing is a Technical Glitch?
While rare, sometimes a game might be scheduled, but technical issues can prevent it from being broadcast correctly.
- Local Station Issues: If your local CBS affiliate is experiencing technical difficulties, it could impact their broadcast.
- Network-Wide Issues: Very rarely, a problem could affect the entire network’s feed.
Troubleshooting: If you believe there’s a technical issue, try switching to another channel briefly and then back to CBS. If the problem persists, check social media for reports of outages or contact your cable provider.
FAQs About CBS Football Broadcasts
Here are some frequently asked questions regarding why CBS might not be showing football today:
Q1: Is CBS always showing NFL games on Sunday?
A1: While CBS broadcasts NFL games most Sundays during the season, they primarily show AFC matchups. NFC games are typically on FOX. Also, on weeks where there are special events or other major sporting coverage, the usual CBS NFL broadcast might be preempted.
Q2: Can I watch college football on CBS on days other than Saturday?
A2: While Saturday is the main day for CBS college football, there can be occasional weekday games, especially towards the end of the season or during bowl season, but these are less common. Always check the specific CBS football schedule.
Q3: How do I know if a game is blacked out on CBS?
A3: A CBS football blackout usually applies to local broadcasts if a game isn’t sold out. For national broadcasts, if you are unable to receive the game and other CBS programming is available, it’s unlikely to be a blackout. Check your local league or team information for blackout policies.
Q4: What should I do if the game I want to watch is not on CBS?
A4: First, check the official schedule for that league or team to see which network is broadcasting the game. It might be on FOX, NBC, ESPN, or a streaming service. Then, explore your options for watching on that network, which might include streaming services like Paramount+ for CBS sports live content or other platforms depending on the broadcaster.
Q5: Does Paramount+ show all NFL games that are on CBS?
A5: Generally, yes. Paramount+ is the primary streaming home for many live CBS sports events, including most NFL games that air on the CBS Television Network. However, it’s always wise to confirm for specific games.
Q6: What if I’m looking for a specific team’s game and it’s not on CBS?
A6: This likely means that team’s game is being broadcast by another network. For example, if you’re looking for an NFC team’s game, it’s probably on FOX. If it’s Monday or Thursday night, it will be on ESPN/ABC or Amazon Prime Video respectively. Knowing which conference your team plays in and checking the league’s schedule is key.
By staying informed about the intricate world of sports broadcasting, you can ensure you never miss a moment of the action, whether it’s on the CBS football channel or another network. Happy watching!