The Sunday Ticket deal between the NFL and DirecTV will expire following the 2022 regular season, and a new era of football streaming will likely begin. But who will carry those rights?
Currently, the NFL does not have a deal in place for 2023 and beyond. The only certainty is that it won’t be with DirecTV — at least not in the same form or fashion they currently operate.
That leaves the door open for significant change. And given the NFL’s massive audience, there will undoubtedly be a rush to secure any streaming rights.
Among those vying for said rights are Disney, Amazon and Apple.
Those are three powerhouse companies but John Ourand of Sports Business Journal reports that Amazon and Apple should be considered the two frontrunners. Disney, while still in the race, has fallen off a bit and are “said to be well below the amount Apple and Amazon have discussed.”
Early estimates suggest the NFL will be paid upwards of $2 billion per season for Sunday Ticket rights.
Meanwhile, DirecTV, who pay $1.5 billion per season dating back to 2014, won’t be left out in the cold. Ourand adds that they’re currently negotiating a potential commercial license, which would allow them to sell Sunday Ticket to restaurants, bars and clubs.
