TV Guide Today: August 13, 2026 Prime-Time Listings, NFL Preseason, And Streaming Highlights
Television schedules for Thursday, August 13, 2026, feature a packed evening of live sports, reality television drama, and fresh streaming drops. As broadcast networks roll out early fall previews alongside ongoing summer franchises, viewers have a wide variety of live and on-demand choices across traditional broadcast and digital platforms.
| Time Slot (ET) | Network / Platform | Show / Event Title | Content Type / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7:00 PM | NFL Network | NFL Preseason Live | Live Sports Coverage |
| 8:00 PM | CBS | Big Brother Season 28 | Live Eviction Episode |
| 8:00 PM | ABC | Press Your Luck | Game Show Prime-Time |
| 9:00 PM | NBC | Law & Order Re-air / Special | Drama Broadcast |
| 10:00 PM | FX / Hulu | The Bear / Summer Original | Drama / Comedy Series |
| Streaming Drop | Netflix / Max | Thursday Premiere Movies | On-Demand Releases |
Prime-Time Grid: Live Sports and Reality TV Drive August Ratings
Thursday night television is dominated by high-stakes live sports and fan-favorite reality competitions. NFL Network anchors the sports grid tonight with live coverage of 2026 NFL Preseason action, offering fans their first look at rookie quarterbacks and updated roster depth charts ahead of the regular season kickoff.
Over on major broadcast networks, competition series continue to capture top viewership slots:
- CBS (8:00 PM ET): Features a crucial live eviction episode of Big Brother, shaking up the household alliance structure as the summer season enters its final stretch.
- ABC (8:00 PM ET): Delivers prime-time game show excitement with high-stakes rounds of Press Your Luck.
- Fox (9:00 PM ET): Airs fresh episodes of its summer cooking and survival reality programming, giving viewers high-intensity kitchen showdowns.
Local network affiliates will also air late-breaking news broadcasts immediately following prime-time blocks at 11:00 PM ET, covering key political developments and national headlines.
Seamless Viewing: Navigating Cord-Cutter Apps and Live TV Streaming
Accessing your favorite shows today requires balancing traditional cable grids with over-the-top (OTT) streaming services. Linear broadcast networks like CBS, NBC, ABC, and Fox remain easily accessible via standard digital antennas for over-the-air (OTA) viewing without subscription fees.
For cord-cutters looking for live broadcast access, several live TV streaming platforms provide real-time network feeds:
- Paramount+: Streams live feeds for local CBS broadcasts, ideal for catching Big Brother live.
- Peacock: Streams live NBC local affiliate broadcasts and ongoing summer sports events.
- Hulu + Live TV & YouTube TV: Provides complete access to local broadcast channels, NFL Network, and regional sports networks.
- Sling TV: Offers a budget-friendly option with select sports and cable channels for Thursday night broadcasts.
Understanding Today's TV Listings - propnews.co.uk
Upcoming Weekend Outlook: Fall TV Teasers and August Blockbusters
As August progresses toward the major fall premiere season, network schedules are beginning to transition. Broadcast executives are leveraging mid-August airtime to showcase sneak peeks and trailers for autumn drama debuts and returning flagship series scheduled for late September 2026.
Expect streaming catalogs to refresh overnight going into Friday morning:
- Friday Movie Drops: Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Max will release new weekend feature films and bingeable original series at midnight PT / 3:00 AM ET.
- Weekend Sports Blitz: Coverage shifts to major league baseball pennant races and international soccer opening weekends starting Friday afternoon.
- Late-Night Lineup: Standard late-night talk shows on NBC, CBS, and ABC maintain new broadcasts through Thursday night before rolling into weekend encore presentations.
