![]() ![]() The NFL hasn't reached the phase in its discussions with Apple where it's decided if it will give those to the company or sell them separately, one of the people said. Amazon will be the first exclusive streaming provider for NFL games when it begins carrying Thursday Night Football this year.Īpple would like to own global rights for Sunday Ticket, two of the people said. Apple also agreed to stream Major League Soccer games in a 10-year deal announcement earlier this month. That's appealing for the NFL because it potentially brings a new bidder to the table for future deal talks.Īpple has showcased its ability to broadcast live sports this year by streaming Major League Baseball games, though some fans, especially older ones, have complained about the exclusive streaming package. While Amazon has already acquired exclusive Thursday Night Football rights and Disney's ESPN owns Monday Night Football, Apple would represent a new global partner for the NFL – with the world's largest corporate balance sheet. But fewer than 2 million subscribers usually sign up for the package each year, making Sunday Ticket a money-loser for the satellite TV provider, which no longer is interested in bidding on the full rights, according to a person familiar with the matter.Ī spokesperson for DirecTV declined to comment. When AT&T acquired DirecTV in 2015, Sunday Ticket rights were so important that the entire $49 billion deal was contingent on renewing a long-term contract with the NFL. It is now a privately held independent company co-owned by AT&T and private equity firm TPG. Building a commercial relationship may be enticing for Disney, Apple or Amazon, and the winner may want to be the direct contact for all Sunday Ticket subscribers.ĪT&T spun out DirecTV last year. Still, it's unclear whether the winning bidder would be interested in such a partnership. It would also backstop any potential streaming latency or reliability issues that may come with broadcasting live football over broadband. This would allow DirecTV to mitigate churn while reducing switching costs for consumers. ![]() Under such an agreement, it could transfer all revenue for Sunday Ticket to the rights owner but still offer it to customers. Sunday Ticket is also popular with sports gamblers who want to see multiple games at the same time.ĭirecTV would also consider acting as a residential pass-through. Sunday Ticket is a staple in sports bars that use the game package to bring in fans of nonlocal games, most of whom have no other way to watch their favorite team. An agreement, if reached, could lessen the financial burden for the winning streaming platform.ĭirecTV is interested in maintaining a relationship with bars and restaurants. That condition will no longer apply for this new deal, opening up the package to many new subscribers who will no longer balk at spending hundreds of dollars on the package because they didn't want DirecTV.ĭirecTV isn't bidding on the current rights package but is willing to cut a deal with the winning buyer, two of the people said. Spokespeople for Amazon, Apple, Disney and the NFL declined to comment.ĭirecTV required all Sunday Ticket package owners to also become DirecTV customers. Bidders would like to get a deal done sooner rather than later because they want enough time to alert consumers that the owner of Sunday Ticket rights will change. There's no urgency on an announcement, as DirecTV already will offer Sunday Ticket for the coming season. ![]() ![]() If the discussions centered on Sunday Ticket only, an agreement probably would have already been reached, one of the people said. The delay has to do with the mix of assets and associated partnership conversations wrapped up in the deal talks, two of the people said. Many observers, including some of the bidders themselves, have expressed surprise a deal hasn't gotten done by now. The NFL pushed for 100% increases for its primary game packages last year, but there's little chance the league will get $3 billion for Sunday Ticket, which has historically lost money for DirecTV, sources said. The NFL's mobile rights could be part of the package, as well, since its previous mobile agreement with Verizon has ended.ĭirecTV paid $1.5 billion per year for Sunday Ticket for the existing rights, which end after the upcoming 2022-23 season. The NFL wants any buyer to pay more than $2 billion for the rights and a stake in NFL Media, which is being packaged with Sunday Ticket, three of the people said. Personal Loans for 670 Credit Score or Lower Personal Loans for 580 Credit Score or Lower Best Debt Consolidation Loans for Bad Credit ![]()
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