Before the 2022 season, the NFL’s commissioner, Roger Goodell, confirmed that the league would launch its own streaming service. Goodell told CNBC, “We’re very excited about what NFL+ is going to be because the consumers want it. It’s still very early in the process. It will probably keep expanding as time goes on. In the future, it will be a key tactic for us.
Goodell opted not to provide information on pricing, the specific features NFL+ will offer, or the exact launch date. But he added that the details would be revealed in a few weeks. NFL+ is reportedly set to launch this month, according to a previous report. Early August marks the start of preseason games, so that timing makes sense.
NFL+ may cost $5 per month, according to a Sports Business Journal report from May. It’s anticipated that it will give fans access to some live games they would normally be able to watch on local TV in their market on their phones and tablets. Previously, carriers and Yahoo (the parent company of Engadget) streamed these games, but those agreements are no longer in effect.
Goodell added that an announcement regarding the NFL Sunday Ticket partnership with a streaming service is anticipated by the fall. I’m confident that we’ll switch to a streaming service, Goodell said.
Amazon, Apple, and ESPN+ owner Disney are reportedly among the companies that have made bids. According to Goodell, discussions have been ongoing for more than a year.
Goodell acknowledged that the NFL had benefited from the current partnership with DirecTV, which will end after the 2022 season. He did, however, draw attention to the potential new markets that companies like Apple and Amazon could create, particularly given that fans are unlikely to be encouraged to sign up for satellite TV services as well.
We firmly believe that these new platforms enable us to innovate beyond where we are right now and significantly improve the experience for our customers, according to Goodell. “I believe this will increase accessibility for fans.”
