YouTube and National Football League announced on Thursday that the two had reached an agreement for the NFL’s Sunday Ticket. Starting next season, NFL Sunday Tickets will be available on two of YouTube’s subscription businesses as a YouTube TV add-on bundle and as a stand-alone takeaway service on YouTube’s Prime Time Channels. . NFL Sunday tickets have been offered exclusively in the United States through DirecTV since 1994, but that will soon change in a major overhaul of sports streaming.
The Wall Street Journal reports that YouTube is paying $2 billion per season in a multi-year deal for the NFL’s Sunday Ticket package, according to people familiar with the matter.
YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki said: “YouTube has long been the home of football fans, whether they’re streaming matches, following the home team or watching the best games of the season. outstanding matches”. Press Release. “Through this expanded partnership with the NFL, viewers can now also experience the game they love in innovative and engaging ways through YouTube TV or the YouTube Primetime Channel. We’re excited to continue our partnership with the NFL to make YouTube a great place for sports lovers everywhere.”
The deal will give YouTube viewers the ability to stream nearly all NFL games on Sundays starting with the 2023 season, with the exception of those that are broadcast on traditional television in the market. their locality. During the week, games will continue to be available on other networks, including ESPN, ABC and Amazon Prime video.
Image credits: YouTube
The news comes as Apple is seen as a leading contender for the Sunday Ticket, until the tech giant withdrawal report. Now the package has reached one of its main competitors.
“We are thrilled to bring NFL Sunday Tickets 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,” said NFL Commissioner. Roger Goodell said in a statement. “For many years we have been focused on enhancing the digital distribution of our games, and this partnership is another example of how we look to the future and build the next generation of fans. Next NFL.”
YouTube’s deal marks a major shift in the media industry, which has been increasingly leaning towards streaming over the past few years. Although consumers have moved from cable to streaming services like Netflix and Hulu, sports fans still watch matches via traditional television. However, we have gradually noticed this change, as Apple has acquired the rights to Professional Baseball Tournament and Big football tournament games and Amazon made an agreement last year for the rights Thursday Night NFL Game. YouTube’s new deal reinforces this shift.
