Amazon plans $ 1 billion NFL payment for exclusive rights to certain Thursday night games



[ad_1]

The National Football League and Amazon are in talks to have the e-commerce giant’s streaming service Prime Video exclusively broadcast several Thursday night football games, people familiar with the matter told the Wall Street Journal.

The deal, if agreed, could cost the tech giant $ 1 billion per season.

PROJECTS, A FLAT CASE SEEN AS A BET AGAINST FUBOTV LIKE STREAMER’S STREAMER TUMBLES

Amazon has owned the streaming rights to Thursday Night Football since 2017 for a reported rights royalty of $ 75 million per season. These games were, however, shared with other NFL TV broadcast partners. If Amazon and the NFL strike the deal, the agreed-upon Thursday night games will not be available on traditional television, except in the local markets of the two playing teams. A similar arrangement is in place for “Monday Night Football” which airs on cable ESPN.

Amazon last year extended its Thursday night deal and, as part of that deal, was granted exclusive national rights to a Saturday game. On December 26, Amazon broadcast the Week 16 game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Arizona Cardinals. The current agreement to share Thursday shows and the only Saturday exclusive game takes place during the 2022 season. The new agreement would take effect when the current contract is concluded.

Fox Corporation, the parent company of Fox Business, acquired the rights to broadcast “Thursday Night Football” from 2018. The current contract is also for the 2022 season.

Teleprinter security Latest Change Change%
AMZN AMAZON.COM, INC. 3,005.00 -89.53 -2.89%

Representatives for the NFL and Amazon declined to comment.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT FOX BUSINESS

Despite the good ratings of “Thursday Night Football”, the high price tag has made it difficult for NFL television partners in an era of fragmented television audiences. But the potential price tag of $ 1 billion would be easy for Amazon, which saw its market cap reach $ 1.5 trillion last year.

Teleprinter security Latest Change Change%
FOXA FOX CORP. 39.33 +1.38 + 3.64%
AFTER VIACOMCBS, INC. 70.91 +2.19 + 3.19%
CMCSA COMCAST CORP. 53.73 -0.52 -0.96%
Dis THE WALT DISNEY CO. 192.19 -1.64 -0.85%

There is still a risk for Amazon. The Wall Street Journal reported that the December Saturday exclusive with the 49ers and Cardinals drew an average audience of less than five million. According to The Hollywood Reporter, games on CBS, ESPN, Fox, NBC and the league-owned NFL Network averaged 14.9 million viewers. “Thursday Night Football” on Fox and NFL Network drew 11.89 million viewers.

Meanwhile, broadcast rights deals with Fox, Comcast’s NBC, ViacomCBS and Walt Disney Company’s ESPN could be in place as early as next week, with TV networks expected to pay up to double their current rates for the deals. Sunday and Monday franchise. are likely to last up to 11 years.

[ad_2]

Source link