The National Football League (NFL) and ESPN have announced a groundbreaking deal that marks a significant shift in the traditional broadcasting model. Under this new agreement, the NFL will acquire a 10% stake in ESPN, effectively becoming an equity partner, while the network will take over some of the league’s media properties.
The partnership is a seismic change for both parties, with the NFL gaining actual ownership for the first time in one of its external broadcast partners. This move comes as the league continues to prioritize streaming and expanding its reach across multiple platforms. The new deal also paves the way for potential changes to how games are distributed to fans.
The implications of this partnership are far-reaching, and it’s reminiscent of boxing’s decline in popularity after it reached a high mark in the late ’80s and ’90s. Boxing experienced a downturn when pay-per-view events became increasingly expensive, forcing fans to choose between watching their favorite sports or paying for premium viewing.
The NFL’s current deal with ESPN is seen as a test run for unconventional revenue streams, such as charging viewers per team or individual contests. This could lead to further decoupling of games from traditional broadcasting models, potentially resulting in pay-per-view events similar to those seen in boxing.
While the exact outcome remains uncertain, the recent moves suggest the NFL may soon adopt a similar model, which would harm both fans and the sport as a whole.
Source: https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/nfl-espn-expensive-fans-streaming-boxing-rcna223523