The 2023 AFC Championship game is on five live TV streaming services, and broadcasts on CBS. The game is Sunday, January 29 at 6:30 p.m. ET.
You can watch the AFC Championship on:
Cord-cutters can watch the game for free because CBS is a broadcast station that you can get with a TV antenna.
Either way, you can watch the rematch between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Cincinnati Bengals for the AFC title. The winner goes to Super Bowl LVII.
The Chiefs will be hosting the AFC Championship for the fifth straight year, coming out on top against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Bengals defeated the Buffalo Bills in the divisional round.
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes will once again face his counterpart Joe Burrow for the third time. Burrow and his teammates pulled off an overtime victory during the AFC Championship last year, ending the Chiefs’ playoff streak and a shot at the Super Bowl.
How to Watch the AFC Championship without cable
Streaming services now carry popular TV channels, including local channels such as CBS and NBC along with cable TV networks.
The AFC Championship game is on CBS. But if you are planning on watching some or all of the NFC Championship game, you will need a service that also carries local FOX stations.
These live TV streaming services work on Smart TVs, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Google Chromecast with Google TV, Xbox One and PlayStation consoles.
Smart TVs made by Sony, Samsung, and LG, Roku TVs and Amazon Fire TV Edition televisions also support streaming apps.
Most of these services have a free trial that lasts up to a week. Here are all your options.
Paramount+
Paramount+ (formerly CBS All Access) is the cheapest way to watch the AFC Championship without cable TV or satellite service.
The Essential plan costs $4.99 per month. You will not get a local live CBS station, but you can watch live NFL games, including the AFC Championship game.
The Premium Plan cost $9.99 per month. Subscribers get access to a live, local CBS station, and all live sports including the PGA Tour and college basketball that airs on CBS.
Paramount+ carries hit shows such as the Yellowstone-prequel “1923” and blockbusters like “Top Gun: Maverick.” There are popular programs from Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, BET, MTV and Smithsonian Channel.
Subscribers can stream up two shows at once on different screens.
You can sign up for a free trial of Paramount+ or bundle the service with Showtime for $11.99 per month.
fuboTV
fuboTV has about 152 live TV channels, including CBS, FOX, ESPN, and entertainment channels such as HGTV.
A subscription costs $74.99 per month. Subscribers get 1,000 hours of Cloud DVR. The Pro plan includes a variety of sports networks, including FS1, Big Ten Network and ACC Network are included in the Pro channel bundle.
Subscribers can watch live TV on 10 screens at once, so not everyone has to watch the game.
You can look over the channel lineup in your area before deciding whether to sign up.
A fuboTV subscription allows you to activate more than 40 apps for channels that are included in your channel package.
You can watch fuboTV on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Smart TVs, Google Chromecast with Google TV and web browsers.
fuboTV lets you try its service free for 7 days. Just be sure to cancel before the trial ends if you don’t want to be billed.
Hulu Live TV
Hulu Live TV is the best option for someone who wants to bundle their streaming services.
Subscribers get more than 75 live TV channels, unlimited Cloud DVR space and access to Disney+ and ESPN+. A subscription costs $69.99 per month. Subscribers can stream live TV on up to two screens at once.
You can look over Hulu’s channel lineup in your area before deciding whether to sign up. Hulu works on Roku, Amazon Fire TV Stick, Google Chromecast, Apple TV and Smart TVs.
DIRECTV STREAM
DIRECTV STREAM (formerly AT&T TV) carries local channels such as CBS, FOX and NBC along with entertainment channels and sports networks.
The Entertainment plan has more than 75 TV channels for $74.99 per month.
DIRECTV STREAM has ESPN, Nickelodeon, HGTV and TNT. There are other local channels, including NBC, ABC and FOX.
You can sign up for a 5-day free trial. Subscribers can watch live TV on up to 20 screens at once. You get unlimited Cloud DVR for recording sports and TV shows. There are more than 40,000 on-demand movies and shows.
DIRECTV STREAM works on Smart TVs, Roku, Android TV, Fire TV devices, Apple TV and smartphones and tablets. Subscriptions run month to month and so you can cancel whenever you want.
You can look over the different channel lineups before deciding whether to sign up.
YouTube TV
YouTube TV carries 128 live TV channels, including local CBS stations across the U.S.
A subscription costs $64.99 per month, YouTube TV subscribers unlimited Cloud DVR and up to six profiles for family members or people in your household.
You can watch live TV on up to three screens at once.
YouTube TV supports Amazon Fire TV, Roku Apple TV, Google Chromecast, Smart TVs, and viewing on a PC. Subscriptions run month to month, and there are no contracts or other obligations.
You can try out YouTube TV with a free 7-day trial.
How to Watch the AFC Championship for free
Let’s quickly cover how to watch CBS for free using a TV antenna
With a TV antenna, football fans can get local broadcast channels such as NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX and PBS for free.
People living within 30 to 40 miles of local broadcast towers have an excellent chance at getting local broadcast channels with a quality TV antenna.
You can use the free tool at AntennasDirect to see whether CBS is available in your area.
Local channels broadcast digital signals in 1080i or 720p, which is High Definition. If you own a NextGenTV, a small number of local stations are broadcasting the new ATSC 3.0 signal, which supports 4K and High Dynamic Range.
If you are new to TV antennas, here is a list of resources that I have written to get you started.
- Review: The Best TV Antenna
- How to Connect Multiple TVs to One Antenna
- Review: The Best Indoor TV Antennas
- Review: The Best Outdoor TV Antennas
How to Watch AFC Championship FAQ
These are questions NFL fans ask when researching ways to watch the AFC Championship game without a TV provider.
Where can I watch the AFC Championship game?
The 2023 AFC Championship game airs on the broadcast network CBS on January 29, 2023 at 6:30 p.m. ET. Paramount+, fuboTV, Hulu Live TV, DIRECTV STREAM, and YouTube TV all carry local CBS stations across the U.S.
How can I watch the AFC Championship game without cable?
Football fans can use a TV antenna to watch the AFC Championship game on CBS. Streaming services Paramount+, DIRECTV STREAM, fuboTV, Hulu Live TV, and YouTube TV stream CBS live without a cable TV subscription.
Can I watch the AFC Championship game on the CBS Sports app?
You can watch the 2023 AFC Championship game live on the CBS Sports app by activating the app with a pay TV subscription. You can use fuboTV, DIRECTV STREAM, Hulu Live TV and YouTube TV to activate the CBS Sports app.
Can I watch the AFC Championship on Amazon Prime?
No. The 2023 AFC Championship game is airing on the broadcast channel CBS. Amazon Prime only had streaming rights to Thursday Night Football.
Is the AFC Championship game on Sling TV?
No. Sling TV does carry local NBC and FOX in a limited number of TV markets, but it does not carry local CBS stations. Sling TV is not an option for watching the 2023 AFC Championship.
Is the AFC Championship game on Peacock?
No. The 2023 AFC Championship game is on CBS. Last year, the Super Bowl was on NBC and streamed live on Peacock. But that’s not the case for the 2023 AFC Championship game.
What’s the best way to watch the AFC Championship?
Paramount+ is the cheapest way to watch the AFC Championship if you can’t use a TV antenna. New customers can sign up for a free trial without any obligations. A subscription costs $4.99 per month.
If you want to watch the AFC Championship and NFC Championship games, then fuboTV is the better choice. fuboTV has a free 7-day trial. You get 152 live TV channels, 1,000 hours of Cloud DVR and an on-demand library of movies and TV shows. Subscribers get local NBC, CBS and ABC stations along with ESPN and regional sports networks.
fubo works on compatible Smart TVs, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV and Google Chromecast with Google TV.
Note: This article was published on January 29, 2022, and has been updated.
For more news on streaming, how-to guides and reviews, head over to the main page of The Cord Cutting Report or follow the CCR on Google News.
Founder and Editor of The Cord Cutting Report. Before launching the site in 2016, he worked for more than two decades as a staff writer or correspondent for a number of daily newspapers, including The Boston Globe. His enthusiasm for tech began with the Atari 2600. Follow @james_kimble
