Is Apple TV Going To Be The New Home For NFL Sunday Ticket?
You may or may not have heard the news that DirecTV has chosen to forego renewing its contract with NFL Sunday Ticket after the 2022 season ends. This has presented a major opportunity for streaming platforms to snag the popular package that includes all Sunday games except for those restricted locally. The football packagewhich currently secures around 2 million subscribers annuallystarts at about $300 for a season-long subscription. Eligible individuals who dont have access to DirecTV can also purchase the package straight from the source NFLSUNDAYTICKET.TV to watch/cast from the web or stream via the app. Apple is already engaged in early talks with the National Football League on the games, according to tech news site The Information, which is citing persons familiar with the situation as their source. This would make Apple TV the likely frontrunner for the package. Many streaming platforms, including Prime Video, have had live sports for awhile now, but Apple hasnt made it a major focus until now after hiring Amazon Videos former head of sports James DeLorenzo to run its own sports division last year. Apple has become a top competitor in the streaming wars with its own Apple TV streaming devices, Apple TV app and platform, and Apple TV+ streaming service with original content such as TV series Ted Lasso. NBC News reported that Amazon and ESPN are also in the game, which makes sense since Amazon Prime Video began streaming Thursday Night Football games in 2017 and the NFL announced in May that Amazon would be the exclusive home of Thursday Night Football starting with the 2022 season. Walt Disney Co. CEO Bob Chapek also expressed interest in the package during the companys earnings call in May. Thats something that were in conversations with and were considering and were thinking about it, he said. Obviously, its an attractive property, but well only do it just like our other rights, if it is something that adds shareholder value.  While formal bidding for NFL Sunday Ticket has not yet begun, discussion commenced at the Allen & Company conference this week in Sun Valley, Idaho. In attendance were NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and Robert Kraft, chairman of the NFL ownership groups media committee and owner of the New England Patriots, as well as Apple CEO Tim Cook and Apple senior vice president Eddy Cue. Talks have been ongoing and bidding will likely occur over the next year with both traditional TV and digital media companies coming to the table to make a run at Sunday games. Further details are likely to emerge in the near future.