Television deals

The television deals don’t renew after the 2021 season. The CBA expires after the 2020 season. This protects the television partners and gives a bit of a buffer for the NFL to reach a CBA first and then a television deal, but if the 17 game contract is pushed into place immediately, the television partners could get a free year with an extra game.

Again, when in the history of time has the NFL and its owners just given stuff away? They don’t need to prove anything here. If 4-million people are watching the XFL, then the normal viewership numbers for the NFL should be expected when adding an extra game.

The NFL could just package that extra week and sell it to a streaming partner, but the television partners aren’t just going to give that up. The main reason the NFL wants a 17-game season in place is that they want more money from distribution partners. That’s why the league will push for the 17 game season immediately — and not the delay the players want.