With the world becoming further and further entrenched in the streaming era, NFL games are far and away the most viable products left on television for networks. The NFL has suggested that it is interested in renegotiating its current set of media rights deals several years early, and broadcasters are bracing themselves for the prices to go up.
The NFL could renegotiate as early as this year, as the league’s deals go through 2033 with an opt-out option in 2029 (excluding its ESPN deal, which has a 2030 opt-out).
During a quarterly earnings call earlier this month, FOX CEO Lachlan Murdoch got candid about what might happen should the price of NFL games rise as anticipated.
“Fox’s Lachlan Murdoch says if NFL costs rise (if the league opts out of media deals and goes back to market), then company would look to “rebalance” its rights. Sounds like NFL’s gain will be another sports property’s loss at Fox,” reported Daniel Kaplan.
This could put some of FOX’s other sports packages, such as the Big Ten and Big 12 games that it carries, in jeopardy, especially when it comes to sports like volleyball and basketball.
Fans reacted to the potential of FOX losing college sports on social media.
“As a fan of other sports, good,” one fan wrote on Twitter.
“Or they don’t accept the bill and the NFL accepts competitive bids to set the market value of it,” someone else added.
“I’d rather them have the nfl,” one fan added.
It’ll be interesting to see how things shake out.
About Qwame Skinner
Qwame Skinner has loved both writing and sports his entire life. In addition to his sports coverage at Comeback Media, Qwame writes novels, and his debut; The First Casualty, an adult fantasy, is out now.