Honestly, trying to track down the Cincinnati Bengals tv schedule these days feels like you need a degree in data science and three different remote controls. Gone are the days when you just flipped to Channel 12 or Channel 19 and called it a day. Now? You're bouncing between broadcast networks, two or three streaming apps, and maybe even a random Thursday night exclusive that requires a password you definitely forgot. It’s a mess. But if you’re trying to see Joe Burrow lead the stripes back to the postseason, you kind of have to play the game.
The 2025-2026 season has been a rollercoaster for Who Dey Nation. We've seen some high-flying wins and some brutal defensive collapses. As we move into the final stretch and look toward the 2026 cycle, knowing exactly where to find the game is the difference between catching the kickoff and spending twenty minutes scrolling through a "Sign Up Now" screen.
Navigating the 2025 Cincinnati Bengals TV Schedule
The current season schedule is basically a roadmap of modern media fragmentation. If you look at the 17-game slate the Bengals have dealt with, the distribution is all over the place. We’ve had a heavy dose of CBS, which makes sense since they hold the primary AFC rights.
Most Sunday afternoon games—especially those 1:00 PM ET kickoffs against AFC North rivals like the Ravens or Browns—land on your local CBS affiliate. In the Cincinnati market, that’s usually WKRC-TV. However, the NFL loves to flex the Bengals into the 4:25 PM ET "Game of the Week" slot on FOX when they play high-profile NFC opponents. This year’s matchups against the Detroit Lions and Arizona Cardinals were perfect examples of that.
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Where to Watch: The Network Breakdown
- CBS (Local Affiliate): This is your bread and butter. If it's a Sunday at one o'clock and the Bengals are playing an AFC team, this is where you go. You can also stream these games live on Paramount+ if you've cut the cord.
- FOX: Usually reserved for when the Bengals host an NFC team or are part of a national doubleheader.
- NBC: Sunday Night Football remains the crown jewel. If the Bengals are winning, Mike Tirico and Cris Collinsworth are usually calling their games at least once or twice a year.
- ESPN/ABC: Monday Night Football is still a thing, obviously. This year, we saw a massive Monday night tilt against the Denver Broncos that had everyone in Cincy staying up way too late.
- Amazon Prime Video: Thursday Night Football is exclusively here. If you don't have Prime, you're basically out of luck unless you live in the immediate Cincinnati broadcast area, where a local station usually simulcasts the game.
The Streaming Struggle is Real
Streaming has changed the Cincinnati Bengals tv schedule from a simple list of channels into a monthly subscription bill. If you're a "cord-cutter," you basically have to assemble a Voltron-like stack of services.
You need Paramount+ for the CBS games. You need Peacock for any exclusive NBC games (like that Saturday night special we saw earlier in the season). And then there’s NFL+, which is great for mobile viewing but can be a headache if you’re trying to get the game on a 65-inch screen without a specific workaround.
The "out-of-market" fans have it even tougher. If you’re a Bengals fan living in, say, Phoenix or Atlanta, Sunday Ticket on YouTube TV is basically your only legal option to see every snap. It's expensive. It's also remarkably reliable compared to the old satellite dish days, but the price tag still stings every September.
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Why the 2026 Schedule is Already Creating Buzz
Even though the 2025 season is wrapping up, people are already looking at the 2026 horizon. The NFL usually releases the official dates and times for the next season in mid-May. For 2026, experts like Mike North (the NFL's VP of broadcast planning) usually eye that second week of May for the big reveal.
We already know who the Bengals will play in 2026 based on the NFL’s rotation formula. They’ll have their usual home-and-home series with the Ravens, Steelers, and Browns. Beyond that, the rotating schedule will pit them against specific divisions in the NFC and AFC that they haven't seen in a few years. This constant rotation is why one year you’re seeing the Cowboys and the next you’re seeing the Giants.
Anticipated Prime Time Slots
Expect the Bengals to remain a "priority" team for networks. When Joe Burrow is healthy and Ja'Marr Chase is making highlight-reel catches, the NFL wants those eyes. This usually results in:
- At least one Sunday Night Football appearance.
- A high-probability Monday Night game on ESPN.
- A Thursday night slot on Amazon.
Dealing with Blackouts and Flex Scheduling
One thing that really confuses fans about the Cincinnati Bengals tv schedule is "Flex Scheduling." It basically allows the NFL to swap a boring game for a better one later in the season.
Starting in Week 5, the NFL can move Sunday afternoon games around. By later in the season, they can even flex games into or out of Sunday Night Football. This is great for the general public who wants to see the best teams, but it’s a nightmare if you’ve already booked a hotel room in Pittsburgh or Baltimore.
Always check the schedule about 12 days in advance. If a game is "under league consideration" for a time change, the NFL usually makes the call by then. For Monday Night Football, the flex window is a bit narrower, but it's still something to keep an eye on if the Bengals are in a playoff hunt.
Practical Steps for the Season Finale and Beyond
To make sure you don't miss any more snaps this season or the start of the next, here is exactly what you should do:
Verify Your Local Affiliates If you use an antenna, make sure you're getting a clear signal for WKRC (CBS) and WXIX (FOX) in Cincinnati. If you’re in Dayton or Columbus, your affiliates will be different (likely WHIO or WBNS for CBS).
Check Your Streaming Subs If you only signed up for Peacock or Paramount+ to watch the Bengals, check your billing date. Many people keep paying for these services long after the season ends without realizing it. On the flip side, if the Bengals make a deep playoff run, you'll want to ensure your Paramount+ subscription is active, as CBS often carries the AFC Championship game.
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Download the Bengals App The official Cincinnati Bengals app is surprisingly good at sending "Game Starting Soon" notifications. It will usually list the specific TV channel and radio station (700WLW or 102.7 WEBN) for that week's game.
Mark Your Calendar for May The 2026 schedule release is a holiday for NFL fans. Expect the announcement around May 13, 2026. That’s when you can finally start planning your road trips and figuring out which games will require you to borrow a friend's Amazon login.
Keeping up with the Cincinnati Bengals tv schedule is a part-time job, but for Who Dey fans, it's just part of the ritual. Whether you're watching on a crisp 4K broadcast or a slightly laggy stream on your phone, the stress of the game remains the same.