YouTube and the NFL have announced a deal for the league’s Sunday Ticket game package. The deal was closed for seven seasons.
The package will become something of a flagship for YouTube to expand its subscriptions in the United States.
According to the New York Times, the new Sunday Ticket contract could be worth up to $2.5 billion annually. That’s $1 billion more a year than DirecTV, the previous rights holder, was shelling out.
The new agreement includes payments based on the number of subscribers YouTube attracts, in addition to other performance targets.
“For several years, we have been focused on increasing the digital distribution of our games and this partnership is yet another example of looking to the future and building the next generation of NFL fans,” said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell in a statement. from the league.
The deal will make nearly every NFL Sunday game available on YouTube starting next season, minus TV rights in their home markets.
The games will be available as an add-on to YouTube TV, the company’s $64.99 streaming package, or for purchase separately through YouTube Primetime Channels.
YouTube’s Sunday Ticket deal shows an increasing inclination to bring premium offerings to streaming as well. NFL games are considered a gold mine for cable TV to maintain its subscriber base. So channels like Fox, NBC, and ESPN can market lucrative advertising packages.
About streaming, it is worth remembering that Apple won the rights to MLB and MLS games. Amazon has, since 2021, an agreement with the NFL for the trendy Thursday Night Football.
