As of Dec. 15, customers of Verizon Fios TV do not have access to local NBC affiliate WPXI — which also means no access to the Steelers’ final regular season game against the Baltimore Ravens this Sunday night.
The current blackout is due to a dispute about retransmission fees between Verizon and Cox Media Group, the parent company of WPXI. Negotiations between the two companies are ongoing, so there’s always a chance that NBC programming could return to Fios customers’ airwaves before kickoff at 8:20 p.m. Sunday.
For those who can’t just switch on their set and watch the game due to this ongoing spat, there are other viewing options, but none of them are on broadcast TV.
This final regular-season game is a pivotal one for the Steelers’ playoff hopes; if they can beat the Ravens, they’ll move on to the postseason.
One solution is to check out NBC streaming service Peacock. It requires the Premium plan to view Sunday Night Football, with a cost of $10.99 a month (or $109.99 if you invest in a year-long subscription). If you’re passionate about skipping ads, you can opt for the Premium Plus plan at $16.99 a month ($169.99 for an annual plan). Peacock also carries a variety of films, NBC and Bravo television favorites and more.
There’s also the route of the NFL’s streaming service, NFL+, which costs $6.99 a month. However, be wary of this option, because of broadcast policies, the app will only let you watch local games on mobile devices or browsers. So unless you want to squint at your phone for three hours, this may not be the best choice.
If neither of those appeals to you, why not head out and watch the game with other fans at a local bar or restaurant? Or, if you’re willing to brave chilly temperatures whipping off the Allegheny River, head to the game at Acrisure Stadium and watch in person. Tickets are still available.
