Before now, DirecTV NFL Sunday Ticket subscribers had to pay extra for the Max package in order to livestream out-of-market games. The television provider announced today that when the 2016 season starts this fall, the additional purchase will no longer be required. This means that anyone who opts in to Sunday Ticket will get access to every NFL game on both mobile and satellite TV without the need for an upgrade. However, if you still want options like Red Zone, Fantasy Zone and Short Cuts’ condensed game replays, you’ll want to continue with the Sunday Ticket Max add-on.
Similar to Major League Baseball’s legal dispute over blackouts, the NFL faced a lawsuit over its season-long television package. The required upgrade to watch out-of-market games meant fans of the Carolina Panthers living in Seattle weren’t able to see all of their team’s games without paying more. In fact, unless you fit the criteria of living in “select areas, residence types, and enrolled in select universities,” a DirecTV plan is required to even have the option of buying Sunday Ticket.