How to Stream the 2026 NFL Season Opener on Monday Night Football
The Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs kick off Week 1 of the NFL season on Sept. 14 at 8:15 p.m. ET, airing on ABC and ESPN. Viewers can livestream the game through services like DirecTV, Fubo, Sling, Hulu + Live TV, and ESPN Unlimited, with some offering free trials. The broadcast coincides with the 2026 Emmy Awards.
The game airs on both ABC and ESPN, making it accessible through multiple live TV streaming platforms. DirecTV and Fubo both offer five-day free trials, allowing new subscribers to watch without immediate cost. Hulu + Live TV provides a shorter three-day trial. Sling has budget-friendly daily and monthly plans, though ABC availability varies by market.
The broadcast coincides with the 2026 Emmy Awards, creating a direct scheduling conflict for viewers. ESPN Unlimited is another streaming option, but it lacks its own free trial; however, it is bundled within DirecTV's Signature packages, which include the five-day trial. This bundling may influence subscriber choices.
The simultaneous airing of the NFL opener and the Emmy Awards could fragment live television audiences, forcing viewers to choose between sports and entertainment programming. This may impact advertising rates and streaming subscription decisions, as cord-cutters weigh free trials against long-term costs. The availability of multiple streaming options could accelerate the shift away from traditional cable, while the free-trial promotions may drive short-term sign-ups but also raise questions about subscriber retention. Sports fans and awards-show enthusiasts are the primary affected groups.