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The National Football League already signed new TV deals worth $100-plus billion this offseason and with the future of NFL Sunday Ticket undecided, more money could be headed the league’s way with another contract.
As the NFL has looked for ways to broaden its reach and increase revenue, streaming has become a bigger priority for the league. Already partnered with Amazon on a 10-year deal to stream 15 games per season, the NFL will receive roughly $1 billion for the exclusive streaming rights to Thursday Night Football.
But that might not be the only agreement the two sides reach. According to CNBC’s Alex Sherman, Amazon is viewed as the likely front-runner to sign a multi-year deal to become the new home of NFL Sunday Ticket.
The two sides are reportedly already in talks and Amazon has long expressed “serious interest” in acquiring the rights to NFLST. With Amazon Prime Video already the first-ever streaming service with its own NFL broadcast package, the company could soon be a bigger provider for NFL games than some TV networks.
According to Sherman, the NFL is reportedly seeking roughly $2 to $2.5 billion per season for the package. While negotiations aren’t being rushed, the league wants an agreement to be finalized before the 2021 season concludes in February.
NFL Sunday Ticket has been operated by DirecTV for more than two decades, with prices steadily climbing each year. DirecTV renewed its contract with the NFL in 2014 and it won’t expire until after the 2022 season.
While the likes of Disney and Apple could get involved in a bidding war for NFL Sunday Ticket, it’s widely expected that Amazon’s ties to the league and its willingness to spend will result in it winning out.