Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Packers–Bears Wild Card Streams Exclusively on Prime Video, With Local TV Only in Team Markets

The NFL placed the game on Amazon under a long-term rights deal that grants Prime Video one playoff contest each season.

Overview

  • Viewers nationwide need an Amazon Prime Video subscription to watch, while free over-the-air broadcasts are limited to Green Bay, Milwaukee and Chicago.
  • The assignment stems from the NFL’s 11-year media agreements through 2033, with Amazon paying roughly $1.2 billion annually for its package.
  • Prime Video’s Thursday Night Football averaged about 15 million viewers in 2025, reinforcing the league’s push to showcase marquee games on streaming platforms.
  • Wisconsin gubernatorial candidate Mandela Barnes criticized the setup, saying about 40% of the state cannot watch without Prime and pledging to pursue statewide TV access if elected.
  • This weekend’s matchup is only the fourth NFL playoff game not carried nationally on traditional broadcast television.