For the first time ever, an NFL game will now be streamed instead of being broadcast on a TV network. The NFL and NBC have come into a partnership to exclusively stream a playoff game on January 13, 2024. Apple has invested millions in their streaming venture for MLS all-star games. They pay $250 million for their streaming deal with the Major League Soccer annually, but NFL charged a whopping $100 million for just one game. Apple gets their streaming right for thousands of MLS games annually, but this wild card playoff game will probably be streamed on NBC for only 4 hours. So, no wonder fans are dumbfounded after the revelation.
But one thing is certain: if this $100 million deal is successful, we will get to witness more NFL games being streamed on various platforms. Experts reveal that TVs are getting obsolete and streaming is the future. One might argue this is just the beginning. But rumors suddenly emerge around the whole deal and if it is even remotely beneficial for Peacock.
The biggest deal in streaming history
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Peacock is undoubtedly one of the biggest streaming services on this planet, worth a whopping $121.4 billion. In 2022, the streaming company made $16.1 billion in net income, a 7.3% increase from the previous year. Peacock is almost close to printing money, and it shows. But over $100 million for one game is just ridiculous, according to the fans. Peacock certainly holds future prospects for the sports division. $100 million for one game is a big deal but it also has never happened before. But the fans are clearly not happy about the whole thing.
One of the fans speculates how they will gain any money from this as they only have 20 million subscribers
A lot of money for one game that barely anyone will be able to watch. Peacock has barely over 20 million subscribers!
— Chris Kinard (@ChrisKinard) May 15, 2023
Other Twitter users wrote:
Like the NFL needs to make more money. Pathetic
— 𝔏𝔉𝔊𝔐 2023 (@LordBryon4) May 16, 2023
I wonder how they would even recoup this cost? I feel like most people will use a free 14-30 day trial to watch the game and then not log back in to Peacock.
They’d need around 2.2 million users to stay subscribed for a year to come close to the $110m (not including ads/spnsrs)
— Sean Hannan (@Handawg41) May 15, 2023
That’s ridiculous to force people onto another subscription platform for a PLAYOFF game! Regular season, ok I get it.
— Will Moore (@willm00re) May 15, 2023
There is a lot of buzz around the issue. Fans are inclined to speculate if Peacock gains anything from the deal. But unexpected deals are often the most beneficial ones.
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Peacock’s prospects of success
Peacock had remarkable growth in the few previous years and also they have gained more and more subscribers in the current fiscal year. Pete Bevacqua, NBC Sports Group President, announced that Peacock will have a lot more sports content. He has a vision of bringing sports to the streaming services and he is yet doing an absolutely remarkable job to make that happen. In addition to this, Peacock has another exclusive right to air one regular season game on Saturday, Dec 23. Also, Peacock streams all the “Sunday Night Football Games” on NBC.
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In a nutshell, NBC Sports is only getting started and will probably make more and more NFL future games exclusively on their platform. The company has the big bucks to spend and we are already on the verge of a big, big change.
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