Want to watch Dolphins-Chiefs playoff game? You'll have to pay for a streaming service
The Miami Dolphins-Kansas City Chiefs playoff game Saturday night will be shown only on NBC streaming service Peacock for much of the country, including Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast.
Dolphins fans in the "local" market, which includes Fort Lauderdale and Miami, can watch the Wild Card round game on their local NBC affiliate (Channel 6). But those in the Palm Beach-Fort Pierce TV market will need to subscribe to Peacock, watch the game at a restaurant/bar that is showing it, or go to Broward or Miami-Dade counties.
It will be the first NFL playoff game exclusively livestreamed behind a paywall on a subscription streaming service.
Why is the NFL doing this? Perhaps because Peacock, the streaming service for NBCUniversal, reportedly paid around $110 million to the league for the rights to exclusively broadcast one playoff game. Peacock wanted the Chiefs and star quarterback Patrick Mahomes. After Miami lost to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday night, the Dolphins now must play the Chiefs in Kansas City.
Peacock will have a broadcast crew of Mike Tirico, former Cowboys coach Jason Garrett and sideline reporter Kaylee Hartung.
For fans unable to watch through traditional cable, satellite or broadcast methods, here's how to watch the Dolphins-Chiefs playoff game via Peacock:
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How to watch Dolphins-Chiefs game on Peacock
Quarterbacks Tua Tagovailoa and Mahomes will face off in a historic "Peacock AFC Wild Card Exclusive" that will be available only via streaming for most of the country.
Peacock offers streaming applications on smartphones, televisions and other platforms. Users can sign up for Peacock by downloading the app or by creating an account with an email address at peacock.com.
Premium plans begin at $5.99 per month and include options for "Premium Plus" at $11.99 per month. Peacock also offers annual rates. Subscribers can cancel at any time.
Is there a free trial to Peacock for Dolphins-Chiefs game?
Peacock currently does not offer a free trial period for new subscribers.
Unfortunately, this will prevent fans who are only interested in watching a one-off football broadcast from unsubscribing before billing.
Will restaurants, bars show Dolphins-Chiefs on Peacock?
NBCUniversal is offering the Dolphins-Chiefs playoff game as part of its Peacock Sports Pass package available to commercial establishments. You'll have to check on your local restaurant/bars to see if they will carry the game.
Can I watch Dolphins-Chiefs with over-the-air broadcast?
The NFL is the only sports league in the United States that makes all regular-season and postseason games available on free, over-the-air television in "local" markets.
Eric J. Wallace is deputy sports editor for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at ejwallace@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: How to watch Dolphins vs. Chiefs NFL playoff game on Peacock
