The 2023 NFL season represents a turning point in how football is consumed. For the first time, almost all games are available on streaming platforms, marking a substantial departure from the traditional linear TV model. This change is largely driven by the launch of Walt Disney Co.’s ESPN+ and Fox Corp.’s Fox One, offering a wide array of games previously exclusive to cable.
These new streaming options join existing services already broadcasting NFL games. Paramount+ and Peacock, for example, already simulcast many games. Amazon has held Thursday Night Football rights since 2017, while YouTube offers the NFL Sunday Ticket package. Even Netflix streamed Christmas Day games last season.
The only games remaining exclusively on broadcast TV are six of the league’s seven international games. However, even these will be available on ESPN+ next year. MoffettNathanson analyst Robert Fishman declared the era of linear exclusivity for the NFL officially over.
Fishman’s analysis suggests that combining various streaming services – such as ESPN+, Fox One, Peacock, Paramount+, Prime Video, and Netflix – could cost less than traditional cable subscriptions. He compared the estimated cost of such a streaming bundle to DirecTV’s My Sports package, finding the former potentially cheaper.
This shift raises questions about the future of cable TV, which has been losing viewers to streaming for years. For established television companies, this reinforces the trend of viewers migrating to streaming services. However, these companies will now face heightened competition for NFL broadcast rights from established streaming platforms.
The NFL’s broadcasting rights remain highly valuable. Fishman emphasized the league’s immense influence on network ratings and advertising revenue during the fall TV season. He anticipates this will persist despite the changing distribution landscape. The NFL remains a major draw for viewers, regardless of the platform.
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