New York-based sports outlet OutKick reported that NFL fans in Nashville, Tennessee, and New York City voiced irritation with the league's media distribution strategy, which requires multiple streaming subscriptions to access all games.[1]
Interviewed supporters described the need to track games across various platforms and pay for several services simultaneously. One fan, a New York Jets season ticket holder with NFL Sunday Ticket, said he still lacks access to some games despite multiple subscriptions.
The NFL's broadcast rights include streaming deals with Amazon Prime Video for Thursday Night Football through the 2033 season,[2] YouTube for out-of-market Sunday Ticket games since 2023,[3] Netflix for two Christmas Day regular-season games on December 25, 2024,[4] and Peacock for select playoff and regular-season contests, including an exclusive AFC wild-card playoff game in January 2024.[5]
To access all regular-season games, viewers often subscribe to services covering CBS, Fox, NBC and ESPN/ABC broadcasts, plus the streaming exclusives and Sunday Ticket. Annual costs for Amazon Prime Video ($139), Peacock Premium ($119.99), Netflix Premium ($229.88) and YouTube TV with NFL Sunday Ticket (approximately $1,200 combined) exceed $1,500 before additional fees or cable.[6]
Fans estimated paying for three to six services. One called the system "stupid," while another labeled it a "money grab," and a third described it as a "pain" to navigate.
Some speculated the fragmentation could eventually consolidate, similar to past satellite TV models.
Sources
- OutKick, "NFL Fans Fed Up With Insane Streaming Strategy," accessed October 2024, https://www.outkick.com/sports/nfl-fans-fed-up-insane-streaming-strategy-davey-hudson
- NFL.com, "NFL announces 11-year media rights deal with Amazon Prime Video for Thursday Night Football beginning in 2023 season," March 18, 2021, https://www.nfl.com/pressrelease/nfl-announces-11-year-media-rights-deal-with-amazon-prime-video-for-thursday-night-football-beginning-in-2023-season
- NFL.com, "YouTube TV, NFL Sunday Ticket national launch partnership," December 22, 2022, https://www.nfl.com/pressrelease/youtube-tv-nfl-sunday-ticket-national-launch-partnership
- NFL.com, "NFL, Netflix announce Christmas Day games for 2024 season," May 15, 2024, https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-netflix-announce-christmas-day-games-for-2024-season
- NFL.com, "2024 NFL playoffs: Peacock to exclusively stream AFC Wild Card game for first time in NFL history," November 14, 2023, https://www.nfl.com/news/2024-nfl-playoffs-peacock-to-exclusively-stream-afc-wild-card-game-for-first-time-in-nfl-history
- Cord Cutters News, "Here's how much it costs to watch NFL games in 2024 via streaming," September 5, 2024, https://cordcuttersnews.com/heres-how-much-it-costs-to-watch-nfl-games-in-2024-via-streaming/
