NBC Sports has a new over-the-top Premier League package that may not please viewers. In other news, FIFA has admitted awarding the 2026 World Cup to Fox Sports to avoid legal action, and Fox Sports has signed up for Nielsen’s new out-of-home ratings service.
NBC Announces Over-the-Top EPL Package
- NBC Sports announced Tuesday that it will begin offering a $50 over-the-top package of Premier League matches next season, allowing subscribers to watch 130 matches without need for a cable provider. The package does not include the 250 Premier League matches on NBC or its various cable networks, so those without a provider will still miss the bulk of the season. For those who have a cable subscription, the new package actually equals a loss of content. The over-the-top matches were previously available for free to cable subscribers via NBC’s Premier League Extra Time, but now one will have to own both a cable subscription and the new package in order to have access to all of the matches. [NBC Sports PR 6.27]
FIFA Awarded 2026 World Cup to Avoid Fox Ire
- In a report released Tuesday, FIFA acknowledged that it awarded the 2026 World Cup to Fox Sports in order to avoid potential legal action over the scheduling of the 2022 tournament in Qatar, which will take place in the winter and conflict with the NFL. FIFA awarded rights to the 2026 event several years ahead of time and without going to the open market, angering its previous partners — and potential bidders — ESPN and Univision. [Awful Announcing 6.27]
Fox Signs Up For Nielsen OOH Service
- Fox Sports has subscribed to the new Nielsen out-of-home viewing service, it announced Monday. It is the second major sports division to sign up for the service, following ESPN. According to Fox, the network’s NFL regular season viewership increased 16% in adults 18-49 with the out-of-home figures factored in. [Fox Sports PR 6.26]
