After 28 years, NFL Sunday Ticket is departing DirecTV and moving to YouTube TV after a lengthy bidding war between services.
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The NFL and YouTube announced on Thursday that they had closed the deal and it will begin with the upcoming 2023 season. The package will be available as an add-on package to YouTube TV, as well as on an à-la-carte basis on YouTube Primetime Channels.
“We’re excited to bring NFL Sunday Ticket to YouTube TV and YouTube Primetime Channels and usher in a new era of how fans across the United States watch and follow the NFL,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement. “For a number of years we have been focused on increased digital distribution of our games and this partnership is yet another example of us looking towards the future and building the next generation of NFL fans.”
“YouTube has long been a home for football fans, whether they’re streaming live games, keeping up with their home team, or watching the best plays in highlights,” said YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki. “Through this expanded partnership with the NFL, viewers will now also be able to experience the game they love in compelling and innovative ways through YouTube TV or YouTube Primetime Channels. We’re excited to continue our work with the NFL to make YouTube a great place for sports lovers everywhere.”
The price has not been announced as of yet, but for the 2022 season, it was $293.94. This was under a deal where DirecTV was paying $1.5B a year for the rights, and was bringing in around 2M subs for around $600M. Sources indicate that YouTube TV’s deal is somewhere in the area of $2.5B a year. If the price will go up remains to be seen, but many are speculating that YouTube TV will be able to bring in far more subscribers as a satellite dish will no longer be involved.
Other outlets that were involved in the bidding included Apple, Amazon, and ESPN.
