The NFL may be on its way to making its first change in radio rights since the 1980s.
The league’s longtime radio partner, Westwood One, made an offer of $20 million to retain its rights to its primetime NFL package — substantially higher than ESPN Radio’s expected offer. However, the NFL “passed on the offer … because of the radio company?s tenuous financial position.”
While Westwood One is still “is in the running to keep the rights“, the league is now seeking suitors for the NFL radio package, including ESPN Radio, Sporting News Radio, Sports USA Radio and The Content Factory.
The league has indicated that its willing to split radio rights for the first time in decades. According to Sports Business Journal, ESPN Radio is “more interested in obtaining rights to ‘Monday Night Football’ and the postseason” than the entire package, partly to avoid scheduling conflicts between Sunday Night Baseball and Sunday Night Football early in the season.
That would leave Thursday, Saturday and Sunday night games available for another radio partner.
