NFL media deals announced: Amazon gets TNF

CHICAGO, IL - OCTOBER 04: A detail view of the NFL Crest logo is seen on a goal post pad in game action during a NFL game between the Chicago Bears and the Indianapolis Colts on October 4th, 2020, at Soldier Field in Chicago, IL. (Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire)

The NFL has officially locked up its media rights through the beginning of the next decade.

The NFL announced Thursday that it has reached media rights deals with NBC, FOX, ESPN/ABC, CBS and Amazon that will begin in the 2023 season and run through 2033. Under the deal, Amazon will exclusively carry Thursday Night Football, ABC will enter the Super Bowl rotation, ESPN+ will get an exclusive game each year, and flexible scheduling will be expanded to Monday Night Football.

According to Sports Business Journal, the deals will add up to $10 billion per year, for a total of $110 billion over the life of the deal.

The Amazon portion of the deal is perhaps the most significant change in sports broadcasting since FOX — then a little-regarded netlet — shocked the industry in acquiring NFL rights 27 years ago. Under the current NFL media deals, which remain in place through 2022, Amazon is one of three outlets simulcasting Thursday night games. Entering negotiations, the expectation had been that Amazon would again simulcast games with NFL Network. Instead, Amazon gets 15 exclusive Thursday night games while NFL Network is left with an undisclosed number of windows.

Amazon has thus far carried only one exclusive NFL broadcast — Cardinals-49ers on a Saturday afternoon last season. In total, only three NFL games have ever been carried exclusively via a streaming provider.

Beyond Amazon, ESPN+ and NBC’s Peacock will each carry a number of exclusive regular season games. ESPN+ will get one International Series game per year starting in 2022 and Peacock one game per year from 2023-28. ESPN+, Paramount+ and Peacock will have simulcast rights for a number of games on their affiliated networks (ESPN/ABC, CBS and NBC, respectively).

As for the linear networks, ESPN/ABC will enter the Super Bowl rotation for the first time since ABC aired Super Bowl 40 in 2006, with both networks carrying the game in 2026 and 2030. The networks will also add a Divisional Round game for the first time in their respective histories. During the regular season, the ESPN/ABC schedule will expand from 17 to 23 games per year, including three weeks per season in which ESPN and ABC will each carry separate Monday night games. Starting this coming season, ESPN will carry a Saturday doubleheader on the final weekend of the season, with those games being simulcast on ABC once the new deal kicks in two years from now.

ESPN/ABC will also get flex scheduling rights for Monday Night Football starting in Week 12 of the season.

FOX, CBS and NBC will each get three Super Bowl games over the life of the deal — four for FOX and NBC including the remaining Super Bowl games in the current contract — and FOX will add Christmas Day games when the schedule allows.

[News from NFL, Fox Sports, NBC Sports, CBS Sports, ESPN PR]

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Jon Lewis

Jon Lewis has been covering the sports media industry on a daily basis since 2006 as the founder and main writer of Sports Media Watch. You can contact him here or on the social media websites X (Twitter) or Bluesky.

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Comments 7

Nate Johnson says:

6 years ago

Very Late on this post. Just some quick points:

– Digital. Digital. Digital… Seems like that’s the headliner of the deals. The NFL going this route is simply because of dollars and cents. Everything is an investment. I believe that with the NFL able to opt out in 2029 indicates that if indeed the digital platforms doesn’t catch on, or if they believe that stronger value is upon them at the moment with the CBA coming to a near close, they could seek greater options.

– No report of the Sunday Ticket deal was a bit of surprise. I stand by them needing to have a separate deal with digital and a satellite/cable media.

– Congrats to ABC on receiving the Super Bowl once again. Disney seemed to got a lot by spending less from what they’re spending now (percentage wise compared to other networks). This different NFL again seems to only care about the bottomline. No surprise on MNF flexing rights starting in Week 12 as well. I knew it wasn’t going to be possible in September or October. Week 12 typically starts in mid or late November so I was a little surprised by them not getting the first half of November to flex. But still not far off from what I forecast.

– The only question I really have is with MNF games expanding from 17 to 23, where exactly does the other 3 games come from? The Saturday DH from Week 17* is 2 games and then another week of football added to the schedule equals 20 games.

*I disagree with that. The way it has been for the last several or so years having all week 17 games on Sunday has been greater and taking 2 games away is something I don’t agree with. If it starts next season and the league settles with a 17 week schedule that means the games will take place on NYD which will have conflict with the Rose and Sugar Bowl on ESPN. I’m not sure how that is possible unless those bowl games gets moved to ABC.
NaBUru38 says:

6 years ago

10 billion a year is an insane amount of money.

Other sports may suffer.
- Mike says:
  
  6 years ago
  
  Will home markets continue to get all games on an over-the-air station? Even for the streaming-only game?
  - Paulsen says:
    
    6 years ago
    
    Yes — all of the Amazon/ESPN+/Peacock games will be available on local OTA TV.
Jean Pierre says:

6 years ago

With this deal here what happens.

NBC..I think its pretty certain they’ll walk away from the NHL second half TV package. Look for more time buys like lacrosse, or motocross or some athletic event just to keep from spending money.

For CBS…Once the SEC Deal runs out they’ll make a run at the BIG 12 or PAC 12 for conference football game or stay with the WAC or Mountain West for football games.

FOX…..With this deal plus BASEBALL, BIG 12 and BIG 10 football and basketball and NASCAR, I dont think they make a run at the NHL for FS1. They’ll stand down.

ESPN/ABC….drop the BIG 12 or BIG 10 to save money.
Esl says:

6 years ago

Interesting rights package. Still think the linear networks got shafted by the Thursday night package. But it just shows the NFL focus was getting the streaming package…
2 questions..
1. You noted The ESPN/ABC schedule will include three weeks in which both ESPN and ABC will have separate Monday night game. Does this mean the remaining MNF schedule will be simulcast on ESPN/ABC?
2. Will the NFL network games be part of the Thursday night schedule?
- Paulsen says:
  
  6 years ago
  
  No, I think the other MNF games will be on ESPN alone. But I’ll double-check. I imagine the NFL Network games will be on Saturdays or part of the International Series.