Finding out what channel is the miami dolphins football game on used to be a simple "check the paper" kind of task. Now? It's basically a scavenger hunt across four apps and two cable tiers.
If you are looking for the game right now—meaning today, January 15, 2026—there actually isn't one. The Dolphins' 2025-2026 regular season wrapped up with a tough 38-10 loss to the Patriots on January 4th. Since Miami didn't secure a spot in the Divisional Round this weekend, the pads are off until the preseason.
But look, being a Dolfan means always being ready for the next kickoff. The broadcast landscape for the NFL in 2026 is messier than a fumbled snap, and if you don't know where to look, you're going to miss a Tyreek Hill touchdown because your app didn't update.
The Standard Rotation: Where Miami Usually Lands
Most of the time, you'll find the Fins on CBS. Since they are an AFC team, CBS (specifically WFOR-TV Channel 4 if you're local to Miami) is the primary home. But the "AFC on CBS" rule isn't a rule anymore; it's more of a suggestion. The NFL uses "cross-flexing" now, which means a Dolphins game can randomly end up on FOX just to balance out the viewership numbers.
If the game is at 1:00 PM or 4:00 PM on a Sunday:
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- CBS: Usually the safest bet.
- FOX: Happens a few times a year, especially for NFC matchups like when they played the Saints or Buccaneers this past season.
- Paramount+: This is the secret weapon. If the game is on CBS, it is always on Paramount+.
Primetime and the Streaming Chaos
This is where it gets annoying. You can't just rely on "the channels" anymore. The 2025-2026 season saw Miami bounce around a lot.
Remember that Thursday night game against the Bills in September? That was exclusive to Amazon Prime Video. If you didn't have a subscription, you were stuck watching the play-by-play on your phone unless you lived in the Miami or Buffalo markets, where local stations are legally required to simulcast it.
Then there was the international game. Miami headed to Madrid to play the Commanders in Week 11. That one was an early morning kickoff on NFL Network. If you’re a late sleeper, you missed the whole thing before your first cup of coffee.
The Monday Night Factor
Monday Night Football is still mostly an ESPN thing. However, we're seeing more games simulcast on ABC. If the Dolphins are the "A-tier" matchup, ABC usually picks it up for the over-the-air crowd. For the hardcore fans, the "ManningCast" on ESPN2 is often a better way to watch anyway, even if Peyton spent half the time this season talking about the Dolphins' offensive line issues.
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How to Watch If You Aren't in South Florida
For the "Fin-Addicts" living in New York, Cali, or anywhere else, the struggle is real. Local channels will show you the Jets or the Giants, not the Dolphins.
YouTube TV owns the rights to NFL Sunday Ticket. It is expensive. There’s no sugar-coating it. But it is the only way to guarantee you see every single Dolphins game regardless of where you live.
Wait. There's a catch.
Sunday Ticket doesn't include the primetime games. So, if the Dolphins are on Sunday Night Football (NBC/Peacock), Monday Night Football (ESPN/ABC), or Thursday Night (Amazon), Sunday Ticket goes dark for those windows. You still need those individual services. Basically, to be a complete Dolphins fan in 2026, you need a digital wallet that never runs dry.
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The "Free" Way (Legally speaking)
If you're within the Miami broadcast area, grab a high-quality digital antenna. Seriously. A $40 one-time purchase from a place like Best Buy gets you CBS, FOX, NBC, and ABC in 4K or HD. No monthly bill.
The NFL also has NFL+. This is a mobile-only service. You can watch local and primetime games on your phone or tablet. You can't "cast" it to your TV (the NFL is very protective of those TV rights), but it’s a lifesaver if you’re stuck at a wedding or working a Sunday shift.
What Most People Get Wrong About Blackouts
People still think "blackouts" happen because the stadium didn't sell out. That hasn't been a thing for years. Nowadays, "blackouts" are almost always "map-outs."
The NFL decides which regions get which games based on "interest." If you live in North Florida, you might get a Jaguars game on CBS instead of the Dolphins. There is no way to "fix" this on standard cable. You either need Sunday Ticket or a friend with a very specific VPN setup that we probably shouldn't talk too much about here.
Future Outlook for the 2026-2027 Season
The NFL is already talking about renegotiating these media deals. Roger Goodell hinted that we might see even more games move to streaming-only platforms by next season. We’ve already seen the "Netflix Christmas" games become a thing. Don’t be surprised if the Dolphins end up on a platform you’ve never even downloaded by next November.
Actionable Next Steps for Dolphins Fans
- Check the local listings on Saturdays. The NFL "flexes" games with only a few days' notice sometimes.
- Verify your subscriptions. If it's a Thursday, make sure your Amazon Prime is active. If it's Sunday night, you'll need Peacock or an NBC login.
- Invest in an antenna. If you live in South Florida, it's the only way to avoid the "streaming lag" where you hear your neighbor cheer for a touchdown 30 seconds before it happens on your screen.
- Download the Miami Dolphins app. They send out "Where to Watch" notifications about two hours before kickoff that are usually 100% accurate regarding local channel numbers.
The season might be over for now, but the 2026 NFL Draft and the preseason schedule will be here before you know it. Keep your remote close and your apps updated.