You'd think in 2026, watching a football game would be as easy as flipping a switch. But if you’re trying to find kansas city chiefs tv broadcasts this season, you’ve probably realized it's more like solving a Rubik's cube. One week they’re on CBS, the next they’re tucked away on a streaming platform you forgot you subscribed to, and suddenly there’s a random game in Brazil or a Christmas Day exclusive. Honestly, it’s a lot to keep track of.
The reality is that "Kansas City Chiefs TV" isn't just one channel anymore. It’s a fragmented mess of broadcast networks, local affiliates, and "exclusive" streaming rights that make being a fan feel like a part-time job in tech support. Whether you're in the heart of the Chiefs Kingdom in Missouri or trying to catch Patrick Mahomes from a bar in Seattle, the rules of the game have changed.
If you want to make sure you never miss a kickoff, you need to understand exactly how the NFL slices and dices these broadcast rights.
The Local Reality: KSHB 41 and the Power of the Antenna
For those of you living in the Kansas City metro area, things are actually kinda simple—if you have the right hardware. Despite all the talk of billion-dollar streaming deals, the backbone of kansas city chiefs tv remains local broadcast television.
KSHB 41 (the local NBC affiliate) handles the preseason games. This is where you see the "65 Toss Power Trap Productions" magic. They’ve got the regular crew back for 2025-2026, with Ari Wolfe and Trent Green in the booth. It’s familiar. It’s comfortable. And if you have a $20 digital antenna from a big-box store, it's completely free.
But once the regular season hits, the channel surfing begins. Most Sunday afternoon games land on CBS (KCTV 5 in Kansas City) because the Chiefs are an AFC powerhouse. If they play an NFC team at home, you might find them on FOX (WDAF-TV).
- Preseason: KSHB 41 (NBC)
- Sundays: Usually CBS or FOX
- Sunday Night Football: NBC and Peacock
- Monday Night Football: ESPN, ABC, and sometimes ESPN+
Basically, if you’re in-market—which the NFL defines as western Missouri and eastern Kansas—your local affiliates are required to carry the games. This is the "protected" zone. But even here, the digital creep is real.
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The Streaming "Exclusives" That Catch Fans Off Guard
This is where people get frustrated. You've paid for your cable or your YouTube TV, and then suddenly, the game isn't there. For the 2025-2026 season, the NFL has leaned hard into "windowing."
Take the Week 17 game against the Denver Broncos on December 25, 2025. That was a Prime Video exclusive. If you didn't have an Amazon Prime account, you weren't watching—unless you lived in the local Kansas City or Denver markets, where the NFL’s "must-carry" rules forced it onto a local station.
Then there’s the international factor. The Chiefs opened the 2025 season in Sao Paulo, Brazil, against the Chargers. That game was a YouTube exclusive. Not YouTube TV—just YouTube. It’s these one-off digital "islands" that make the kansas city chiefs tv experience so confusing for the average person.
You’ve also got Peacock. They’ve moved from just simulcasting Sunday Night Football to hosting exclusive playoff games. If you want to see every second of a deep playoff run, you almost certainly need a Peacock subscription in your arsenal.
Watching Outside of Kansas City (The Sunday Ticket Problem)
If you live in Omaha, Des Moines, or anywhere else that isn't considered "local," your life is different. You are at the mercy of the "map."
Every week, fans flock to sites like 506 Sports to see those color-coded maps. If your city is in the "red zone" for the Chiefs game, you're good. If not, you’re stuck watching the regional game of the week. This is why NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube TV is basically mandatory for out-of-market diehards.
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It’s expensive. We know. But it’s the only legal way to see every single out-of-market Sunday afternoon game.
What about NFL+?
Honestly, NFL+ is a decent "budget" option, but there's a catch that most people miss until they’ve already paid. You can watch live local and primetime games, but only on your phone or tablet. You cannot cast it to your 65-inch TV. It’s perfect for the fan who is stuck at a wedding or working a Sunday shift, but it’s not a replacement for a true home theater setup.
The 2026 Playoff Picture
As we move through January 2026, the stakes for kansas city chiefs tv coverage get even higher. The playoffs are a different beast.
CBS is the heavy hitter for the AFC. Most of the Chiefs' path through the postseason, including the AFC Championship, traditionally lives on CBS and streams on Paramount+. If you’re a cord-cutter, Paramount+ is the cheapest way to get those CBS games without a massive cable bill.
For the 2026 Super Bowl (Super Bowl LX), the broadcast shifts to NBC and Peacock. If the Chiefs make it back to the big game on February 8, 2026, you'll need to make sure your NBC signal is strong or your Peacock app is updated.
Radio: The "Secret" Workaround
Sometimes, you just can't get to a TV. Or maybe you're like a lot of old-school fans who mute the national TV announcers and listen to the local call.
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Mitch Holthus is the "Voice of the Chiefs," and for 2025-2026, the flagship is 96.5 The Fan (KFNZ-FM). They’ve moved the headquarters, but the energy is the same. If you’re using the Audacy app, you can stream the radio call, but—and this is a big "but"—it’s usually geo-fenced. If you aren't in the KC area, the app might block the live game broadcast.
In that case, NFL+ or SiriusXM are your best bets for the audio feed. Tico Sports also does an incredible Spanish-language broadcast that’s gained a massive following, led by Oscar Monterroso.
Avoiding the "Blackout" Myth
One thing to clear up: the old "blackout rule" where games weren't shown if the stadium didn't sell out? That’s basically dead. You don't have to worry about the game disappearing because GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium has a few empty seats (which never happens anyway).
The "blackout" people talk about now is usually a streaming blackout. This happens when you try to use a service like Paramount+ or the Yahoo Sports app while your GPS shows you’re outside the allowed broadcast region.
Actionable Steps for the Rest of the Season
If you want to ensure you're never scrambling at 11:55 AM on a Sunday, do this:
- Check the Map: Every Wednesday, go to 506sports.com. It will show you exactly which games are being broadcast in your specific zip code.
- Audit Your Apps: Ensure you have Paramount+ (for CBS games), Peacock (for NBC/Playoff games), and Amazon Prime (for Thursday/Special events) logged in and updated.
- Get an Antenna: Seriously. Even if you have high-speed internet, a digital antenna is a lifesaver when the Wi-Fi goes down or your streaming service starts buffering during a game-winning drive.
- Sync the Radio: If you prefer Mitch Holthus over the national guys, use the SiriusXM app. It usually has less lag than the Audacy stream when trying to sync with your TV.
Navigating kansas city chiefs tv requirements isn't fun, but it's the price of admission for watching a dynasty in the making. Keep your apps updated, your antenna pointed toward the towers, and your subscriptions active through February.