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How to Watch the Packers Without Cable (Wisconsin Cord-Cutter's Guide)

Watch every Green Bay Packers game without cable. 90% of games are FREE with an antenna. Here's the complete setup for Wisconsin cord-cutters.

How to Watch the Packers Without Cable (Wisconsin Cord-Cutter's Guide)

If you're a Green Bay Packers fan in Wisconsin, you've probably asked yourself: "Can I really ditch cable and still watch every Packers game?"

The answer is YES.

In fact, you'll watch MORE Packers games for FREE than most cable subscribers. And the few games that aren't on local TV? You can get them for a fraction of cable's cost.

This guide shows you exactly how to set up your home to never miss a Packers game—without paying $150+/month for cable.

Want a setup customized for your exact location in Wisconsin? Get your free personalized plan →

How Packers Games Are Broadcast

Here's the breakdown of where Packers games air during the regular season:

FOX (Most Sunday Afternoon Games) - FREE

  • ~9-10 regular season games on FOX
  • Broadcast FREE over the air on WITI FOX 6 (Milwaukee market)
  • Also available in Green Bay (WLUK FOX 11), Madison (WMSN FOX 47), Wausau (WFXS FOX 55), La Crosse (WXOW FOX 19)
  • Perfect HD quality with antenna

CBS (Sunday Afternoon Games) - FREE

  • ~2-4 regular season games on CBS when Packers play AFC teams
  • Broadcast FREE over the air on WDJT CBS 58 (Milwaukee market)
  • Also Green Bay (WFRV CBS 5), Madison (WISC CBS 3), Wausau (WSAW CBS 7), La Crosse (WKBT CBS 8)

NBC (Sunday Night Football) - FREE

  • 2-3 prime time games per season on NBC
  • Broadcast FREE over the air on WTMJ NBC 15 (Milwaukee)
  • Also Green Bay (WGBA NBC 26), Madison (WMTV NBC 15), Wausau (WAOW NBC 9), La Crosse (WEAU NBC 13)

ABC/ESPN (Monday Night Football)

  • 0-1 games per season
  • Some MNF games simulcast on ABC (FREE with antenna)
  • ESPN-only games require streaming (ESPN+, $10.99/month)

Streaming/NFL Network

  • Thursday Night Football on Amazon Prime Video (included with Prime membership)
  • International games occasionally on NFL+

Playoffs

  • Wild Card, Divisional, Championship games on FOX, CBS, or NBC (all FREE)
  • Super Bowl rotates between FOX, CBS, NBC (FREE)

Bottom line: 85-90% of Packers games are available FREE with just an antenna.

What You Need: The Essential Setup

Option 1: Basic Single-TV Setup (Under $100)

Perfect for: Single TV, close to Milwaukee/Green Bay broadcast towers

Equipment:

Total: $99.98

What you get:

  • All Packers games on FOX, CBS, NBC (FREE)
  • Streaming apps for occasional ESPN games
  • Local news and weather

Best for: Apartment dwellers, renters, people within 30 miles of towers

Option 2: Whole-Home Setup (Most Popular)

Perfect for: 2-5 TVs, homeowners who can install outdoor antenna

Equipment:

Total with Apple TV: $713.92 Total with Roku: $513.92

What you get:

  • All TVs can watch Packers games simultaneously
  • 4 tuners = watch/record 4 channels at once
  • Free Packers games on all TVs
  • Streaming apps on all TVs

Best for: Families, multi-TV homes, serious Packers fans who want DVR

Option 3: Premium DVR Setup (Never Miss a Game)

Perfect for: Die-hard Packers fans, people who can't watch live, families with conflicts

Add to Option 2:

Additional Cost: $169.98 (first year)

What you get:

  • Record every Packers game automatically
  • Skip commercials (automatic!)
  • Watch games later if you're busy during kickoff
  • Keep games forever (4TB = 500+ hours)
  • Pause, rewind, replay live TV

Best for: Busy families, people who want to skip commercials, ultimate Packers fans

Wisconsin Antenna Reception Guide

Milwaukee Market (25 miles from towers)

Broadcast Towers Located: Southwest of Milwaukee (near 35th & Howard)

Antenna Recommendation:

  • Outdoor: DB8e ($129.99) - rock-solid reception
  • Indoor: Mohu Leaf 50 ($59.99) - works in city, near south/west windows

Packers Channels:

  • FOX 6 (WITI) - Channel 6
  • CBS 58 (WDJT) - Channel 58
  • NBC 4 (WTMJ) - Channel 4

Expected Reception: Excellent. Even indoor antennas work well in Milwaukee proper.

Green Bay Market (10-30 miles from towers)

Broadcast Towers Located: Nearby Green Bay/De Pere area

Antenna Recommendation:

Packers Channels:

  • FOX 11 (WLUK) - Channel 11
  • CBS 5 (WFRV) - Channel 5
  • NBC 26 (WGBA) - Channel 26

Expected Reception: Excellent throughout Green Bay, De Pere, Appleton area.

Madison Market (20-35 miles from towers)

Broadcast Towers Located: Northeast of Madison

Antenna Recommendation:

Packers Channels:

  • FOX 47 (WMSN) - Channel 47
  • CBS 3 (WISC) - Channel 3
  • NBC 15 (WMTV) - Channel 15

Expected Reception: Good to excellent with outdoor antenna, moderate with indoor.

Wausau/Central Wisconsin (15-40 miles from towers)

Antenna Recommendation:

  • Outdoor: DB8e ($129.99)

Packers Channels:

  • FOX 55 (WFXS) - Channel 55
  • CBS 7 (WSAW) - Channel 7
  • NBC 9 (WAOW) - Channel 9

La Crosse/Western Wisconsin (10-30 miles from towers)

Antenna Recommendation:

Packers Channels:

  • FOX 19 (WXOW) - Channel 19
  • CBS 8 (WKBT) - Channel 8
  • NBC 13 (WEAU) - Channel 13

Rural Wisconsin (40-70+ miles from towers)

Antenna Recommendation:

  • Outdoor: DB8e ($129.99) - long-range essential
  • Optional: Antenna Mast (10ft) ($49.99) - height helps overcome distance

Expected Reception: Good with proper outdoor installation. Height is key in rural areas.

Streaming Options for ESPN/Other Games

For the 1-2 Packers games per year that aren't on local TV:

Option 1: ESPN+ ($10.99/month)

  • Cancel after the season if you only want it for Packers

Option 2: Paramount+ ($5.99/month)

  • Includes CBS games (streaming backup)
  • Good for when you're traveling

Option 3: Peacock Premium ($5.99/month)

  • Sunday Night Football streaming
  • Backup option for NBC games

Option 4: NFL+ ($6.99/month or $49.99/year)

  • Mobile/tablet streaming of all games
  • Replays available after games
  • Good for on-the-go viewing

Our recommendation: Don't subscribe to any unless you actually need them. 90% of games are FREE on antenna.

Real Wisconsin Example: The Hartland Setup

Location: Hartland, WI (suburb west of Milwaukee) Distance to towers: 25 miles southwest

Their Setup:

Total Investment: $869.95

Results:

  • Perfect reception of FOX 6, CBS 58, NBC 4
  • All 5 TVs in house can watch Packers games
  • Recorded every game in 2024 season
  • Family members watch different channels simultaneously
  • Zero monthly fees for Packers games

Previous cable bill: $165/month New monthly cost: $0 for Packers games ($13.98 for Disney+ and Paramount+ for kids/other content)

Annual savings: $1,812

They said: "We were skeptical about ditching cable before playoffs. Now we laugh that we ever paid for something we can get free in better quality."

Game Day Viewing Guide

Before the Season:

  1. Install antenna and scan for channels
  2. Verify you get FOX, CBS, NBC clearly
  3. Set up DVR if desired
  4. Create season pass to record all Packers games

Sunday Morning:

  • Check which channel has the game (usually FOX)
  • If recording, verify recording is scheduled

During the Game:

  • Picture quality will be BETTER than cable (uncompressed HD)
  • No buffering, no streaming issues
  • Works even if internet goes down

After the Game:

  • Watch post-game coverage on local channel
  • Replay game highlights from DVR
  • Skip all commercials if watching recorded

Watching on the Go

At a Friend's House:

  • If they have cable: Bring beer, watch there
  • If they cut the cord: They probably have antenna too

Traveling:

  • Most hotels have cable with FOX/CBS/NBC
  • Or use NFL+ on your phone ($6.99/month)
  • Or Paramount+/Peacock for streaming backup

Tailgating at Lambeau:

  • You're at the game! (Best option)
  • Or listen to 97.3 The Game (Milwaukee) or 107.5 The Fan (Green Bay)

Frequently Asked Questions

"Will I really get ALL the games?"

Almost all. Here's the typical breakdown:

  • ~12 games on FOX (FREE with antenna)
  • ~2 games on CBS (FREE with antenna)
  • ~2 games on NBC Sunday Night Football (FREE with antenna)
  • ~1 game on ESPN Monday Night Football (need streaming or go to sports bar)

Reality: 15+ of 17 regular season games are FREE.

"What about playoffs?"

All playoff games air on FOX, CBS, or NBC. Every single playoff game is FREE with an antenna.

Even the Super Bowl rotates between these three networks—always free.

"What if the antenna doesn't work?"

It will. Wisconsin broadcast towers are powerful and well-positioned. We've never seen a setup fail in Wisconsin with the right antenna for the distance.

If you're worried, start with a ClearStream FLEX ($49.99). It works indoors or outdoors. Test it indoors first. If reception is perfect, you're done. If not, move it outside.

"Can I watch in 4K?"

Some Milwaukee stations are testing ATSC 3.0 (NextGen TV) which broadcasts in 4K. The HDHomeRun Flex 4K supports it.

But even standard HD over antenna looks better than cable's compressed signal.

"What about pre-season games?"

Pre-season games air on local channels (FOX 6, WTMJ, etc.). FREE with antenna.

Complete Packers Fan Shopping List

Essential Setup (2-3 TVs):

Total: $673.92 (with Apple TV) or $513.92 (with Roku)

Add DVR for Ultimate Experience:

Grand Total Year 1: $843.90 (with DVR, Apple TV)

What you'll save vs cable ($150/month):

  • Year 1: $956.10
  • Year 2: $1,720.01
  • 5 Years: $7,556.05

Is It Worth It?

Let's be honest about what you're giving up:

With cable ($150+/month):

  • ✅ Packers games
  • ✅ Hundreds of channels you don't watch
  • ✅ Annual price increases
  • ✅ Equipment rental fees
  • ✅ Contracts

With antenna (one-time $500-800):

  • ✅ Packers games (same games, better quality)
  • ✅ Local news
  • ✅ NFL on all networks
  • ❌ ESPN (for 1-2 games per year)
  • ✅ No monthly fees
  • ✅ Own all equipment

You're giving up ESPN year-round to save $1,700+/year.

If you only care about ESPN for Packers games, that's 1-2 games. Go to a sports bar or subscribe to ESPN+ for one month ($10.99).

Still saving $1,689/year.

Not Sure What You Need for Your Location?

Every Wisconsin home is different. Distance to towers varies widely across the state.

Get a custom equipment list based on YOUR exact address:

Calculate your perfect Packers-watching setup →

Enter your Wisconsin address and we'll tell you:

  • Exact tower distance from your home
  • Which antenna will work best
  • Every channel you'll receive (including FOX, CBS, NBC for Packers)
  • Complete equipment list with links
  • Total cost and savings vs your cable bill

Free, takes 60 seconds.

Get Your Custom Wisconsin Setup →

Go Pack Go! (Without Cable)

Thousands of Wisconsin cord-cutters watch every Packers game in perfect HD without paying cable companies a dime.

You can too.

Set up your antenna before the season starts and never pay for Packers games again.

Find out exactly what you need for your home →

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission from purchases made through links on this page at no additional cost to you. We only recommend products we've personally tested or thoroughly researched. Go Pack Go! 🧀

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