Thursday night’s preseason game between the San Francisco 49ers and Houston Texans is less notable for who’s playing than how fans can watch it.

The contest will be the first NFL game shown exclusively on a streaming network, Amazon Prime Video, which marks the league’s most definitive step into the future of media.

• Amazon holds exclusive rights to “Thursday Night Football” broadcasts for $1 billion per season until 2033.
• The company struck a deal with DirecTV to allow games to be played in bars and restaurants. The games will also be available on each team’s local broadcast.
• Veteran broadcasters Al Michaels and Kirk Herbstreit will call Amazon’s games.

Amazon offers a host of features to augment the games, including alternate broadcasts, unlimited DVR recording, and “X-Ray” technology providing on-screen information on players and teams.