Apple has remained one of the leaders to acquire the broadcast rights to the package that allows fans to watch all out-of-market NFL games. Those negotiations have expanded as it’s exploring the option of bundling all of the league’s outstanding broadcast rights into one multi-billion dollar deal.
If Apple were to land the rights, not only would the company’s streaming service Apple TV+ be the new home for “Sunday Ticket,” but they would also own the streaming rights for games on mobile devices; the company would also purchase an equity stake in NFL Media. The “Sunday Ticket” rights alone are expected to fetch north of $2 billion, so the price tag for all three NFL assets would be significant.
Amazon — who has already secured the rights to broadcast “Thursday Night Football” — is also a contender to purchase the “Sunday Ticket” rights and a non-majority stake in NFL Media, the company behind the NFL Network, NFL.com, and NFL RedZone.
According to league sources, the NFL is “intrigued” about potentially aligning itself with the most valuable company in the world. Given the size and profitability of Apple, it could be a significant boon in the growing international expansion of NFL content.
Apple has been increasingly active in attempting to acquire sports rights, and adding live NFL content would almost immediately raise the profile of the service from after-thought to must-have.
While talks with Amazon, Apple, Disney, and others have increased since the Super Bowl concluded in February, the NFL is not expected to finalize any plans until the summer.