YouTube, NFL strike deal to stream Sunday Ticket package deal of video games

Dec 22 (Reuters) – Google-owned YouTube (GOOGL.O) has signed a multi-year deal to solely stream the Nationwide Soccer League’s Sunday Ticket package deal of video games in the US, the video service stated, as extra content material strikes to streaming from conventional TV.

YouTube pays a mean worth of about $2 billion a 12 months to safe rights to the NFL Sunday Ticket franchise, the Wall Road Journal reported, citing individuals aware of the matter. Google and the NFL didn’t instantly reply to Reuters requests for remark.

Beginning subsequent season, NFL Sunday Ticket might be out there as an add-on package deal on YouTube TV and standalone a-la-carte on YouTube Primetime Channels, the corporate stated on Thursday.

DirecTV, the most important satellite tv for pc supplier in the US and which is 70% owned by AT&T Inc (T.N), had the rights to Sunday Ticket till the tip of the 2022 season.

“We’re excited to carry NFL Sunday Ticket to YouTube TV and YouTube Primetime Channels and usher in a brand new period of how followers throughout the US watch and comply with the NFL,” NFL commissioner Roger Goodell stated in a press release.

“For quite a few years we have now been centered on elevated digital distribution of our video games and this partnership is one more instance of us wanting in the direction of the longer term and constructing the subsequent era of NFL followers.”

Sports activities has remained one of many largest and most dependable sights for stay viewing, at the same time as U.S. audiences are chopping their pay TV subscriptions and migrating to streaming companies.

Sports activities distribution rights are more and more a draw for deep-pocketed tech corporations in search of to develop streaming audiences.

MOST PRIZED

The NFL is essentially the most prized sports activities media asset within the U.S.

In March 2021 the league stated it had reached long-term media offers with Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN.O) and main broadcast and cable corporations that run by 2033, divvying up packages of video games. The offers could possibly be value over $100 billion, in keeping with CNBC.

Amazon, which secured unique rights to “Thursday Evening Soccer,” can even stream its first-ever “Black Friday” recreation on its Amazon Prime Video service subsequent 12 months. Fox will air the Tremendous Bowl in February.

Apple (AAPL.O) – which is spending closely on content material for its Apple TV+ streaming service, and is the primary streamer to have gained a Finest Image Oscar – has additionally made a play for sports activities rights.

In June it introduced a partnership with Main League Soccer to stream each recreation on the Apple TV app for the subsequent decade.

In March it struck a deal to stream Main League Baseball video games.

“YouTube has lengthy been a house for soccer followers, whether or not they’re streaming stay video games, maintaining with their dwelling workforce, or watching the very best performs in highlights,” stated Susan Wojcicki, CEO of YouTube.

“Via this expanded partnership with the NFL, viewers will now additionally be capable to expertise the sport they love in compelling and revolutionary methods by YouTube TV or YouTube Primetime Channels.”

Reporting by Helen Coster in New York and Yuvraj Malik in Bengaluru and Steve Keating in Toronto; Enhancing by Shounak Dasgupta and Devika Syamnath

Our Requirements: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.