Amazon is reportedly in the driver’s seat to acquire as much as a 49 percent stake in the NFL’s media business. Plus: a new contender for NFL Sunday Ticket; Dick Vitale is returning to the air; and more.
Amazon reportedly favorite to acquire stake in NFL Media
Amazon is considered the favorite to acquire a minority stake in NFL Media, though a deal has not yet been reached, Front Office Sports reported Monday. Amazon next year will take exclusive ownership of Thursday Night Football and is in the running to acquire the league’s out-of-market NFL Sunday Ticket package.
The NFL’s desire to sell a stake in its media business was first reported over the summer. Per Front Office Sports, the NFL could sell up to a 49 percent stake in the assets.
Discovery/Warner Media said to enter NFL Sunday Ticket sweepstakes
The New York Post reported Monday that the new Discovery/WarnerMedia conglomerate is a “dark horse” to bid on NFL Sunday Ticket, with the package potentially going to the HBO Max streaming service. Per the report, Amazon and ESPN+ remain favorites, with Paramount+, Peacock and Apple also in the mix. It should be noted that the Discovery/WarnerMedia merger has yet to officially close.
Vitale to make season debut on Gonzaga-UCLA
ESPN college basketball analyst Dick Vitale, who is undergoing treatment for cancer, is scheduled to make is season debut on Tuesday’s #1 Gonzaga-#2 UCLA game. Vitale announced last month that he has been diagnosed with lymphoma and is undergoing six months of chemotherapy, but will be able to continue working throughout his treatment. He is entering his 43rd season with ESPN.
Plus: Aikman-TNF, Brees, Winter Games, ESPN extensions
Front Office Sports reported last week that Fox Sports NFL analyst Troy Aikman is being pursued by Amazon to serve as the lead analyst on its Thursday Night Football games, likely working alongside Al Michaels. The New York Post previously mentioned the possibility of a Michaels-Aikman pairing. … NBC announced last week that Drew Brees will serve as the analyst on its scheduled Thanksgiving night NFL game this week, working alongside his Notre Dame partner Mike Tirico. It will be Brees’ first NFL game analyst assignment. … The Winter Olympics is set to occupy the post-Super Bowl slot on NBC, it was announced this month. Per Variety, no sporting event has followed the Super Bowl since 1976, when CBS carried Phoenix Open golf following the game. … ESPN earlier this month announced contract extensions with reporters Ryan McGee and Jeff Passan.
