“Possibly The Only Thing Keeping DirecTV, Fox And CBS Alive”: Former Indianapolis Colts Punter Reacts To NFL’s Stunning Expectation Of $3 Billion/Year For Sunday Ticket Rights

Former Indianapolis Colts punter Pat McAfee recently shared his views over the start of a bidding war for the NFL Sunday Ticket rights. The rights for the package were in the hands of a multichannel video programming distributor DirecTV, who owned it for nearly 30 years. It has created an opening for a tussle between the TV broadcasting elites and the streaming platforms to compete for the rights.

During a recent episode on the Pat McAfee Show, the Colts punter discusses the potential bidding war, stating, “Only thing keeping probably FOX alive, CBS alive, everything is these NFL deals that are happening, and I’m sure they would survive otherwise. $1.5 billion a year is what DirecTV had been paying for Sunday ticket, and the NFL is looking for a 100 percent increase on that. We would like $3 billion a year.”

McAfee adds that there might not be much competition. The entry of major streaming platforms like Apple, Amazon, Netflix, and Disney is a game-changer. He believes that their entry will spell the end of an era of traditional broadcasters. The league looks to be exploring its options for the future. He also believes that it will be a period of transition. This will provide prospective NFL fans with a medium that is relatable for their comfort.

Is the former Indianapolis Colts punter Pat McAfee right about the beginning of a new era for the NFL?

The conversation about the new ownership of these rights seems to revolve around specifically these streaming platforms. The monetary power of these platforms has gradually witnessed an increase over recent times. With the backing of these big companies, the NFL can partner with one of the world’s largest corporate balance sheets.

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It provides Apple the opportunity to become a global partner for the league. The company having shown its potential with the MLB.

The deal seems to also facilitate the new owner with some minority stake in NFL Media.

It seems the doom of DirecTV is inevitable even if they work under the new ownership. The transition to a new era of broadcasting has begun. McAfee believes it is here to stay with all the major companies gearing for another NFL campaign.

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