Fox Competes with Streamers for New Five-Game NFL Package Rights
Fox is actively competing for a new NFL media rights package alongside prominent streaming services such as YouTube and Netflix. The source of this information is Mike Florio from Pro Football Talk, who reported on the matter on Saturday. This new package consists of five games, which the NFL is currently offering to various bidders.
Overview of the NFL Rights Package Negotiations
The negotiations for the NFL’s new media rights package occur amid a federal investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice. This investigation aims to determine if the NFL’s agreements with streaming platforms like YouTube, Netflix, and Prime Video comply with the league’s antitrust exemption under the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961.
Fox’s Position on Antitrust Issues
Fox has been vocal about the need for federal scrutiny regarding the antitrust exemption. The company argues that this exemption should not apply to “paywalled streamers,” as indicated in a public comment to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Fox expressed concerns that streaming services are increasingly dominating the market, leading broadcast networks to face heightened competition.
- Fox suggests these conditions could lead to a “crisis” for traditional broadcasters.
- The Wall Street Journal, also owned by the Murdoch family, supports this scrutiny into antitrust issues.
Viewing Statistics and Broadcast Dynamics
In the previous NFL season, a total of 143 telecast windows were available, with 107 (75%) aired on broadcast television. Out of 36 windows that did not air on traditional platforms, 21 were shown exclusively via streaming services. Notably, all NFL games must be available on local broadcast television within home markets.
Impact of Ongoing Investigations
The federal inquiry could impact the NFL’s strategy regarding the sale of rights packages to streaming platforms. This scenario might provide a competitive advantage to broadcast networks like Fox in the ongoing bidding process. Recently, Fox received confirmation that one significant game slot will shift from streaming back to broadcast. NFL EVP of media distribution, Hans Schroeder, announced that the Christmas Day game, previously aired on Prime Video, will be broadcasted on Fox this season.
Details on the New Package
The NFL has presented a “menu” of potential game windows for bidders to select five of their preference. Some options include:
- Week 1 International Series game from Australia
- Thanksgiving Eve game
- Second Black Friday game
- Christmas Eve window (newly mentioned for this year)
Christmas Eve will fall on a Thursday in the current season, which may correspond with the Amazon “Thursday Night Football” package. Details regarding whether a second game will be scheduled for that day remain uncertain.
Fox has publicly expressed its position against potential mid-cycle rights fee hikes proposed by the NFL. CEO Lachlan Murdoch emphasized that the company is already paying “market price” for its current rights. The landscape will likely continue to evolve as the bidding process unfolds amid these complex negotiations.
