If you’re scrambling to find your remote because you heard the Niners are playing a high-stakes game in the Pacific Northwest, you’ve come to the right place. Honestly, playoff Saturdays are basically national holidays in the Bay Area. Today, Saturday, January 17, 2026, the San Francisco 49ers are heading into the literal "Loudest Stadium in the World" to take on the top-seeded Seattle Seahawks.
The question of what channel is the 49ers game on today is pretty straightforward: the game is on FOX.
Kickoff is officially set for 5:00 PM PT (8:00 PM ET). If you’re in the San Francisco market, that’s KTVU Channel 2. But since this is a Divisional Round playoff matchup, it’s a national broadcast. No matter where you are in the U.S., if you have a local FOX affiliate, you’re good to go.
Where to Watch the 49ers vs. Seahawks Today
The broadcast booth for this one is the A-team. You're getting Kevin Burkhardt on play-by-play and Tom Brady providing the color analysis. Love him or hate him, Brady’s insight into playoff pressure is kinda hard to beat. Erin Andrews and Tom Rinaldi will be handling the sideline reporting, probably freezing their tails off at Lumen Field.
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If you aren't sitting in front of a traditional TV, you have a few ways to catch the action:
- Fubo: Probably the easiest "cable replacement" if you want the game in high definition.
- YouTube TV: Always reliable for the local FOX stream.
- Hulu + Live TV: Includes FOX in almost every market.
- NFL+: You can watch the live local and primetime games on your phone or tablet. Just don't expect to cast it to your 75-inch TV unless you have the right subscription tier.
- FOX Sports App: You’ll need a cable or satellite login for this one, but it works great on iPads and Rokus.
Why This Game is Massive
The Niners (12-5) aren't the favorites here. The Seahawks (14-3) snagged the No. 1 seed and the first-round bye, which means they’re rested and healthy. Meanwhile, San Francisco had to go through a gritty 23-19 win against the Eagles last week just to get here.
People keep talking about the "Lumen Field factor." It’s real. The crowd noise in Seattle is legendary, and it has a weird way of making even veteran quarterbacks like Brock Purdy struggle with snap counts.
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Interestingly, these two teams just met on January 3 to close out the regular season. Seattle won that one 13-3. It was a defensive slugfest where neither team could move the ball effectively. But playoffs? That's a different animal. Christian McCaffrey is healthy, and the Niners' defense—led by Nick Bosa—is currently playing some of its best football of the year.
Key Matchups to Watch
- Trent Williams vs. the Seattle Pass Rush: If Purdy has time, he’s lethal. If he’s running for his life, things get messy.
- Sam Darnold’s Revitalization: Seriously, who saw Darnold leading Seattle to 14 wins this season? His comeback story under Mike Macdonald has been one of the biggest surprises of 2025-2026.
- The Kittle Factor: George Kittle usually shows up big in Seattle. If he can find the soft spots in that zone defense, the Niners have a real shot at an upset.
Radio and International Options
Maybe you’re stuck in the car. It happens. You can listen to the local call on KNBR 680 AM or 107.7 The Bone. Greg Papa’s "Touchdown, San Francisco!" call is basically the soundtrack of the city at this point.
For the Spanish broadcast, tune into Jesús Zárate and Carlos Yustis on the 49ers Radio Network.
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If you’re an international fan, you’re likely looking at NFL Game Pass on DAZN. In the UK, Sky Sports NFL usually carries the Saturday night window, while fans in Mexico can catch it on Fox Sports Mexico.
Final Insights for Game Day
Don't wait until 4:59 PM to check your signal. FOX usually does a pre-game show starting an hour or two before kickoff, which is a good time to make sure your streaming app hasn't logged you out.
If you're using an antenna, remember that digital signals can be finicky. Sometimes moving it just two inches to the left makes the difference between a crisp 1080p picture and a "No Signal" screen right as the Niners are in the red zone.
Next Steps:
- Check your local listings to confirm the FOX affiliate channel number in your specific city.
- Download the FOX Sports app now and log in with your provider to avoid the last-minute scramble.
- Charge your devices if you plan on using NFL+ for mobile viewing.