Buzz is picking up that ABC wants in on NFL rights
By Andrew Marchand
January 8, 2019 | 1:34pm
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When the future of the NFL TV deals are discussed these days, it is almost always about the potential new kids on the block: the Amazons, the Facebooks and the Twitters. But while there is definitely merit for those platforms possibly being factors, there may be an old-fashioned alternative to how the NFL is viewed in the future.
It could be another legacy network.
Sources have told The Post that ABC is kicking around the idea of going hard after CBS’ or Fox’s NFL Sunday packages. Besides the games on Sundays, it also would allow ABC to pick up a Super Bowl or two.
This is somewhat speculation at this point, informed by sources familiar with Disney’s discussions. ESPN and ABC — both owned by Disney — declined comment.
It is a tad early to fully figure out what will transpire on the most important rights in American sports television, as Fox’s and CBS’ NFL packages do not end until after the 2022 season. Fox’s Thursday night and NBC’s Sunday night are also up in 2022. ESPN’s “Monday Night Football” is done after 2021.
But it is another reason to believe NFL’s fees will only increase in their next round of deals.
On the surface, the idea of Disney spending big for ABC doesn’t fully align with the company’s move toward over-the-top programming. After launching ESPN+, Disney+ is on the horizon. Disney is clearly trying to move direct-to-consumer.
However, Disney could try to prop up ABC by using Sunday football to lure more male viewers, which it currently lacks. It also has been proven for years that the NFL is either the top reason, or one of them, for an overall broadcast network’s success.
SEE ALSO
Amazon and NFL ink a 2-year, $130 million streaming deal
The digital players are not looked at as legitimate threats for the Sunday regionalization packages.
They also would likely have no chance at NBC’s Sunday window — which is the highest-rated show in primetime — and, at this point, it might be dubious to think they could acquire Monday night or Thursday on their own.
The NFL could divvy up the pie differently next round to bring a digital player in with a bigger piece. They have not yet earned the trust to be given a major package on their own.
Last summer, Amazon, in England, had exclusive rights for the US Tennis Open. It went so poorly that they had to disable comments.
The Amazons, Twitters, Facebooks and Yahoos could very well continue to do side deals — such as Amazon acquiring the digital rights to Thursday night — though it is unclear if that has had much, if any, impact. Their motivation to do these megadeals is not yet certain, though Netflix, for example, would be an unlikely player as it has a no-ad-based product and its model is not based on live programming.
The upstart DAZN, which is boxing-centric for now in the US, has loads of cash and a record with its international deals. Another traditional player, Turner, could be a bigger wild card for the main rights, like Monday night, depending how its incoming ownership, AT&T, views spending more on football.
So the business of TV is definitely changing, but maybe not everything.
By Andrew Marchand
January 8, 2019 | 1:34pm
Modal Trigger
When the future of the NFL TV deals are discussed these days, it is almost always about the potential new kids on the block: the Amazons, the Facebooks and the Twitters. But while there is definitely merit for those platforms possibly being factors, there may be an old-fashioned alternative to how the NFL is viewed in the future.
It could be another legacy network.
Sources have told The Post that ABC is kicking around the idea of going hard after CBS’ or Fox’s NFL Sunday packages. Besides the games on Sundays, it also would allow ABC to pick up a Super Bowl or two.
This is somewhat speculation at this point, informed by sources familiar with Disney’s discussions. ESPN and ABC — both owned by Disney — declined comment.
It is a tad early to fully figure out what will transpire on the most important rights in American sports television, as Fox’s and CBS’ NFL packages do not end until after the 2022 season. Fox’s Thursday night and NBC’s Sunday night are also up in 2022. ESPN’s “Monday Night Football” is done after 2021.
But it is another reason to believe NFL’s fees will only increase in their next round of deals.
On the surface, the idea of Disney spending big for ABC doesn’t fully align with the company’s move toward over-the-top programming. After launching ESPN+, Disney+ is on the horizon. Disney is clearly trying to move direct-to-consumer.
However, Disney could try to prop up ABC by using Sunday football to lure more male viewers, which it currently lacks. It also has been proven for years that the NFL is either the top reason, or one of them, for an overall broadcast network’s success.
SEE ALSO
Amazon and NFL ink a 2-year, $130 million streaming deal
The digital players are not looked at as legitimate threats for the Sunday regionalization packages.
They also would likely have no chance at NBC’s Sunday window — which is the highest-rated show in primetime — and, at this point, it might be dubious to think they could acquire Monday night or Thursday on their own.
The NFL could divvy up the pie differently next round to bring a digital player in with a bigger piece. They have not yet earned the trust to be given a major package on their own.
Last summer, Amazon, in England, had exclusive rights for the US Tennis Open. It went so poorly that they had to disable comments.
The Amazons, Twitters, Facebooks and Yahoos could very well continue to do side deals — such as Amazon acquiring the digital rights to Thursday night — though it is unclear if that has had much, if any, impact. Their motivation to do these megadeals is not yet certain, though Netflix, for example, would be an unlikely player as it has a no-ad-based product and its model is not based on live programming.
The upstart DAZN, which is boxing-centric for now in the US, has loads of cash and a record with its international deals. Another traditional player, Turner, could be a bigger wild card for the main rights, like Monday night, depending how its incoming ownership, AT&T, views spending more on football.
So the business of TV is definitely changing, but maybe not everything.
