NFL looks for new Sunday Ticket deal, Apple may be in early talks

DirecTV's Sunday Ticket deal is due to expire after 2022, and the NFL is reportedly looking for a streaming partner — potentially including Apple TV+.

Apple has long been rumored to want to add live sports to Apple TV+, but now an opportunity may be arising to get it the NFL's Sunday Ticket games. All that is certain is that the broadcast rights to those games expire at the end of the 2022 season, but some sources are claiming Apple is in early talks.

The Information, which reports the claim, also says that Apple is not really considered a serious contender, It cites Apple's reported reluctance to invest heavily in entertainment programming, such as sporting or series known as "shiny floor shows," such as as "Dancing with the Stars."

Nonetheless, The Information says that there are indications Apple is looking closer at live sports, and posits that NFL Sunday Ticket would be a boon for the service.

Reportedly, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is focused on getting a new television contract for the games. They've been a loss leader for DirecTV, and unspecified sources said that Goodell is keen to moving to streaming.

Neither Apple nor the NFL have commented.

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22 Comments

Beats 3073 comments · 4 Years

About 3 years ago

This made more sense when Apple was trying to bring networks together for a TV package.

blastdoor 3565 comments · 15 Years

It cites Apple's reported reluctance to invest heavily in entertainment programming

Say what now?

https://www.cultofmac.com/738633/apple-tv-is-almost-certainly-a-money-loser-right-now/

I guess everything is relative, but if spending single digit billions on original content isn't "investing heavily" then what is?

I mean yeah, to get the NFL, Apple would probably need to spend approximately as much as they spend on everything else on ATV+, but I don't think it's totally crazy. Having the NFL is kind of like having several guaranteed hit TV shows every year. The NFL is also *the* thing that keeps some people from cutting the cord.

22july2013 3725 comments · 11 Years

AppleInsider said:

DirecTV's Sunday Ticket deal is due to expire after 2022, and the NLF is reportedly looking for a streaming partner -- potentially including Apple TV+

The national liberation front wants to stream with Apple?

rs0212 25 comments · 9 Years

This will never happen. DirecTV will attempt renew their contract at all costs - otherwise they will lose millions of business customers (such as sportsbars). I can see both a DirecTV and an OTT streaming service deal, but I don't see an either or.

tommikele 599 comments · 12 Years

22july2013 said:

AppleInsider said:

DirecTV's Sunday Ticket deal is due to expire after 2022, and the NLF is reportedly looking for a streaming partner -- potentially including Apple TV+

The national liberation front wants to stream with Apple?

Not worthy of even a sarcastic response. Somethings are just ignorant no matter how witty or creative their out of touch author thinks they are.