Google News YouTube TV reportedly ready to pay $1,5 billion per year for NFL's Sunday Ticket
by DZEVAD MESIC | VIEW 538
YouTube TV is reportedly the frontrunner to get the rights to broadcast the NFL's Sunday Ticket. Sunday Ticket is a package of out-of-market games as it allows viewers to watch any of Sunday afternoon games. Since 1994, Sunday Ticket has been on DirecTV.
After this season ends, DirecTV's current eight-year contract for broadcasting Sunday Ticket is expiring. Over the last eight years, DirecTV has been paying $1,5 billion per year for the Sunday Ticket rights. Now according to John Ourand of Sports Business Journal, YouTube TV - owned by Google - is willing to pay $2,5 billion per year for the Sunday Ticket rights.
The NFL, YouTube TV closing in on a deal
Nothing has been confirmed yet, but reports are stating that YouTube TV and the NFL are closing in on a deal. Per season, NFL viewers have been paying $300 for Sunday Ticket. If YouTube TV gets the broadcasting rights to Sunday Ticket, the price is expected to remain the same.
Just last year, the NFL agreed with Amazon Prime Video on an 11-year deal. With that deal - which officially started this season - Amazon Prime Video has exclusive rights for Thursday Night Football. “These new media deals will provide our fans even greater access to the games they love.
We’re proud to grow our partnerships with the most innovative media companies in the market. Along with our recently completed labor agreement with the NFLPA, these distribution agreements bring an unprecedented era of stability to the league and will permit us to continue to grow and improve our game," NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement after the NFL agreed on a contract with Amazon Prime Video.
Now, everything is pointing toward the league agreeing on a deal with YouTube TV. It remains to be seen if the NFL and YouTube TV will indeed agree on a deal for the Sunday Ticket rights in the foreseeable future.