YouTube TV signs a MONUMENTAL deal bagging the streaming rights for NFL Sunday Ticket
The NFL has entered into a multi-year agreement with Google to stream the NFL Sunday Ticket to fans via YouTube TV and YouTube Primetime Channels from 2023.
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Roger Goodell and the NFL have inked a $2 billion deal with YouTube TV to give the streaming rights for NFL Sunday Ticket. (Image: CNN)
The NFL is on a spree when it comes to handing out media and streaming rights. The league on Thursday signed a massive deal with search engine and tech giant Google to bring the NFL Sunday Ticket subscription package to YouTube TV from the 2023 season onwards. This is the second deal that the NFL has inked, the first being with Amazon for rights to stream Thursday Night Football games.
The newest deal between the NFL and YouTube TV is worth an estimated $2 billion. With this deal, the league aims to provide easier and unrestricted access to the league’s flagship Sunday Ticket. The innovative interface and seamless user experience offered by YouTube combined with football would result in a great experience for the viewer.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell had this to say following the announcement of the league’s latest partnership, “We’re excited to bring NFL Sunday Ticket to YouTube TV and YouTube Primetime Channels and usher in a new era of how fans across the United States watch and follow the NFL…we have been focused on increased digital distribution of our games and this partnership is yet another example of us looking toward the future…”
Given the popularity of YouTube, it was a no-brainer for the NFL to ink a deal with the platform. “YouTube has long been a home for football fans, whether they’re streaming live games, keeping up with their home team, or watching the best plays in highlights. Through this expanded partnership with the NFL, viewers will now also be able to experience the game they love in compelling and innovative ways through YouTube TV or YouTube Primetime Channels. We’re excited to continue our work with the NFL to make YouTube a great place for sports lovers everywhere,” Susan Wojcicki, the CEO of YouTube, stated.
Apple and Google were in a heated race to grab the streaming rights for NFL’s Sunday Ticket:
The Sunday Ticket is a service offered by the NFL which enables fans globally to watch out-of-market games. From 2023 onwards, YouTube TV will be offering this new feature as an add-on package to users. Neither party has disclosed all the terms of the deal yet.
YouTube was willing to shell out a whopping $2.5 billion as per a report from The New York Times. This beat DirecTV’s offering of $1 billion for the same set of rights. The league could additionally benefit from this deal, as there are multiple avenues through which it will receive adequate financial returns on the basis of subscribers that will be added to this service.
Apple was also in the running to secure the NFL Sunday Ticket streaming rights, however, it wanted the league to be more flexible when it came to negotiations and added more restrictions. Due to the disagreements, both parties were unable to reach a common ground and close the deal.
This deal just highlights the rising popularity of streaming in the world of sports. With offerings such as ESPN+ and rumors of Disney considering getting into the sports streaming space, the amount of money to be made for corporations is immense. YouTube TV retails for $54.99 a month and has a subscriber base of over 5 million. That is nearly double that of DirecTV, the broadcaster that had the rights to NFL Sunday Ticket.
Streaming is the future of sports, and the NFL is recognizing it as well. This marks a shift from the conventional mode of broadcasting to the new norm, which is online streaming.
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Sumedh Joshi
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