Sports Media Watch presents a one-stop hub for the latest news surrounding the 2026 NFL schedule release. The new schedule is set to be announced Thursday, May 14, with the league’s network partners announcing select game windows in the days leading up.
NBC acquires extra Saturday game
NBC Sports announced Monday it has acquired an additional NFL broadcast window in Week 17. The "NFL Holiday Special" will air on Saturday, January 2 at 4:30 PM on NBC and Peacock, followed by its annual Peacock-exclusive game in primetime.
Participating teams for both contests will be revealed when the full NFL schedule is announced on Thursday.
Fox to air two additional NFL games
Fox Corporation CEO Lachlan Murdoch revealed in the company’s earnings call Monday morning that the network has picked up two additional NFL broadcast windows. The first will be a morning window on November 15, featuring the Detroit Lions hosting an international game from Munich, Germany. Fox will follow with two windows at doubleheader at 1:00 and 4:25 PM, resulting in a rare NFL tripleheader on a single network.
Fox has also acquired a Saturday window on December 19, which once again coincides with the first round of the College Football Playoff.
The two games would appear to be a part of the five-game package the NFL was shopping to various digital and linear platforms. Netflix is believed to have been awarded the remaining games.
Live from New York, it’s Sunday night
NBC Sports announced the season opener of Sunday Night Football will feature the New York Giants hosting the Dallas Cowboys. The game will kickoff on Sunday, September 13 at 8:20 PM on NBC and Peacock.
The game will be the sixth time in the last seven years the Cowboys have opened their season on NBC, between two Kickoff games in 2025 and 2021 and four SNF openers.
NBC will also televise the season-opening NFL Kickoff game on Wednesday, September 9, with the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks hosting a TBA opponent.
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