DirecTV subscribers have limited options to watch Browns vs. Texans game Saturday
Watching the NFL used to be uncomplicated throughout the regular and post seasons.
Growing up in Northeast Ohio, it was NBC (WKYC Channel 3) and CBS (WJW Channel 8) on Sunday afternoons until eventually Fox came along.
NBC eventually lost one NFL package. CBS’s was altered, not to mention the fact that its local affiliation switched from Channel 8 to WOIO (Channel 19). And Fox, now WJW (Channel 8), got into the game. Since then where and how to watch America’s sport has grown increasingly convoluted with the addition of streamers and carriage disputes.
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The latter is in play this weekend with the Cleveland Browns-Houston Texans playoff game for customers of DirecTV, DirecTV Stream and U-verse. Those services have been locked in a carriage dispute with TEGNA, owner of the local NBC (WKYC) affiliate and are in danger of being blacked out of viewing the Browns NFL wild card game.
Anything can happen, but if I had a million dollars to bet on whether a deal gets done in time for Saturday’s game, I’d bet against it. As for how to watch, options are few beyond going to a friend’s house or the local watering hole.
By now, those choices are familiar to anyone affected by recent carriage disputes involving local television stations.
Option 1 for Browns fans with DirecTV: Buy an antenna
It’s not practical in winter weather and with the current time constraints making an outdoor installation impractical.
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But there are plenty of options for indoor antennas that are inexpensive and effective. And if there exists a saving grace for this screwed up situation it’s that WKYC has one of the strongest over-the-air signals of the local television stations. While Channels 8 and 19 have presented challenges over the years, Channel 3 has always come in crystal clear with my outdoor antenna.
Understanding this might be a final move for some, I evaluated a dinky indoor rabbit ears type antenna to ensure that this would be a possibility for some. The indoor antenna I picked up was less than $20.
The result can be seen above, but after finding the optimal spot for the antenna, the picture was clear on my 65-inch 4K television to start. Other factors – including weather and distance from broadcast towers – could affect reception, but it is an option.
Option 2 for Browns fans with DirecTV: Get a Peacock subscription
The other possibility — and I realize some may want to hunt me down for suggesting this given one playoff game this weekend (Kansas City Chiefs vs. Miami Dolphins) is streaming exclusively on this service — pay $5.99 for a month of Peacock and get the game that way.
Option 3 for Browns fans with DirecTV: Other streaming services
There are other streaming services with local television stations that include local channels such as WKYC. Fubo TV ($75-$100 per month) offers a one-week trial that will get you through. But you then have to remember to cancel the service. Then there's Hulu with Live TV ($75.99) which currently has no free trial.
Yes, if this feels like going back to the future to some, you’re not wrong.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: How Cleveland-area DirecTV customers can watch the Browns playoff game
