This might surprise some people, but DIRECTV’s last eight-year contract with the NFL called for it to pay $1.5 billion a year for the Ticket’s rights. The telco last year filed a statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission that said it had agreed to pay up to $2.1 billion in losses stemming from the Sunday Ticket contract as part of its sale of a minority stake in DIRECTV to the private equity firm, TPG. The answer lies in uncovering one of the great myths about the NFL Sunday Ticket: It does not make a profit, has never made a profit, and will never make a profit. Now to your question: If the Sunday Ticket is so profitable, why doesn’t DIRECTV want to keep it as an exclusive after this season? And if it’s not a money-maker, why are Apple and Amazon prepared to pay more than $2 billion a year for the rights, according to the news reports? The reports add that DIRECTV might continue providing the Ticket to bars and restaurants, but even that is uncertain. However, the satcaster’s exclusive deal expires after this season and multiple news reports say either Apple TV+ or Amazon’s Prime Video will likely take over the rights starting with the 2023 season. Steve, as you probably know, DIRECTV has carried the NFL Sunday Ticket as an exclusive since its launch in 1994. If the Sunday Ticket makes a profit, why doesn’t DIRECTV try to keep it after this season? And if it doesn’t make a profit, why do companies like Apple and Amazon want it? What am I missing here? - Steve, Dallas. Have a question about new TV technologies? Send it to The TV Answer Man at Please include your first name and hometown in your message.TV Answer Man, I am confused by something. This site receives a small portion of each purchase, which helps us continue to provide these articles. Need to buy something today? Please buy it using this link. So, Ben, you don’t have to worry about losing the Sunday Ticket this year or next, or perhaps even beyond that. ![]() (You can see my story hereon which companies have the best chance of getting the Sunday Ticket.) Don’t dismiss the possibility that DIRECTV could retain a slice of the next Sunday Ticket contract, sharing it with a streaming company. ![]() (The radio host’s report was at least premature, if not totally wrong.)ĮSPN has said it’s interested in pursuing the Sunday Ticket rights, and several other companies could be as well, including AT&T for DIRECTV. The league recently announced a slew of new TV deals for properties such as Monday Night Football and Thursday Night Football, but not the Sunday Ticket. Second, the NFL has not said which company, or companies, will get the next Sunday Ticket contract. AT&T, which owns DIRECTV, said recently at an investors meetingthat the contract has two years left. Even this basic fact has been a point of contention among journalists, some of whom have reported that DIRECTV’s contract ends after this season. One radio host in New York has reported that ESPN+, the streaming service, has won the rights to the next Sunday Ticket contract while others have written that DIRECTV no longer has the popular package of NFL out-of-market games.Ĭlick Amazon: See Today’s 1-Day-Only Deals!įirst, DIRECTV still has a contract with the league to offer the Sunday Ticket as an exclusive for the next two seasons: 20. ![]() ![]() Ben, Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania.īen, there’s no wonder that you and many other football fans are confused about the Sunday Ticket situation. Is that true? I have DIRECTV and I would cancel it if they don’t have it. I know DIRECTV is saying it will have the Sunday Ticket this season, but is this the last season it will have it? And are you sure it will have the Sunday Ticket this year? I’ve seen articles saying ESPN got the contract and that DIRECTV no longer has the Sunday Ticket.
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