Peacock reveals NFL-boosted subscriber numbers during Q1 earnings call. Plus: Amazon and NHL reach exclusive two-year deal to stream Monday night games in Canada; the ACC faces Florida lawsuit demanding the conference reveal it’s television contract with ESPN.
Peacock subscriber numbers boosted by NFL Wild Card game
During its first quarter earnings call Thursday, Comcast revealed that NBC’s streaming service Peacock added 3 million paid subscribers in Q1, helped in large part by the streamer’s exclusive NFL Wild Card game in January. The added subscribers bring Peacock’s total number of customers to 34 million. Executives on Thursday’s call said the Wild Card game “helped to add, and then retain, more customers than expected.”
Peacock has leaned heavily into live sports properties like Premier League soccer to help attract subscribers, though Comcast President Mike Cavanaugh mentioned that subscribers “spend 90% of their time on non-sports programming,” suggesting that live sports is a means to convert subscribers, while original programming keeps them on the platform. Revenue for Peacock grew 54% compared to Q1 2023, though the streamer still ended up well in the red, with an operating loss of $639 million this quarter. (CNBC, 4.25)
NHL and Amazon reach deal to air games in Canada
The NHL and Amazon have reached a two-year deal that will see Prime Video as the exclusive broadcaster for all regular season Monday night games in Canada, per a press release Thursday. The package, dubbed Prime Monday Night Hockey, will be produced by Prime Video and feature a new yet-to-be-announced broadcast team. An Amazon Prime subscription will be required to stream games.
The deal represents Amazon’s latest interest in adding to its live sports inventory globally. For years, Amazon has strategically secured tier one live sports rights in international markets. In the U.K., Prime Video has streamed a Premier League package since 2018, though that deal expires this year. Prime Video will also air a package of UEFA Champions League games in the U.K. through 2027. Amazon’s live sports playbook thus far is to secure rights for the most popular sport in a given country; NHL in Canada, soccer in the U.K., and NFL in the United States. (NHL, 4.25)
ACC faces legal pressure to reveal ESPN contract
A lawsuit filed by Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody on Thursday demands the ACC disclose its television contract with ESPN as part of a public records request. Should the lawsuit succeed, the precedent would likely subject the broadcast agreements of other conferences and networks to similar public disclosures. The lawsuit is filed amid Florida State University’s attempt to get out of the ACC’s grant of rights contract. Currently, the ACC-ESPN contracts, including the grant of rights, are only accessible to member institutions at ACC Headquarters in North Carolina. (The Athletic, 4.25)
