Remember the days when you needed one of those obscenely large satellite dishes in your yard to watch the NFL Sunday Ticket? After 28 years as the official partner of the NFL, DirecTV will no longer provide out-of-market Sunday afternoon games for fans. On Thursday, the NFL announced an agreement with YouTube TV to be the new home of Sunday Ticket.
The NFL’s partnership with DirecTV began all the way back in 1994 when the Dallas Cowboys were in the middle of their last round of dominance and quarterbacks such as Joe Montana, Steve Young, Dan Marino, Warren Moon, Troy Aikman and others were still active.
The NFL had been seeking around $2.5 billion per year in a new deal. The new pact with YouTube, which Google owns, is for just over $2 billion annually for seven years.
Google beat out Amazon, Apple and ESPN for the rights to Sunday Ticket.
“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. “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 Susan Wojcicki, CEO of YouTube. “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 new agreement begins in 2023, and YouTube will announce more details in the coming months.
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