DirecTV, the US satellite broadcaster, has expanded its NFL content offering as part of a multi-year renewal of its carriage agreement with NFL Media, the media business of the American football league.
The renewal, announced yesterday (June 27), will see DirecTV retain its distribution of NFL Network, the 24/7 channel fully owned by the league, and add distribution on its DirecTV Stream and U-verse platforms.
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The agreement also adds NFL RedZone, the channel featuring live-action cut-ins as teams approach the opposition’s end zone, to DirecTV for the first time. RedZone will also be carried on DirecTV Stream and U-verse.
Hans Schroeder, executive vice president of media distribution for the NFL, said: “DirecTV was an initial launch partner of NFL Network over 20 years ago and we're thrilled to continue our long-standing partnership which caters to millions of DirecTV customers who are NFL fans.
“This renewal will provide fans across all DirecTV platforms the ability to watch NFL Network's award-winning coverage of America's most popular sport while also giving greater access to the wildly popular NFL RedZone."
The addition comes after DirecTV lost its long-term rights to provide out-of-market Sunday afternoon games after, the NFL sold the package to Google in a seven-year deal starting with the 2023 season that will see the internet giant air games on its YouTube TV streaming service and YouTube Primetime Channels.
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By GlobalDataDirecTV had previously held Sunday Ticket rights since 1994.
DirecTV still holds the rights to show the Sunday Ticket in restaurants, bars, hotels, and other businesses across the US via its DirecTV For Business arm, which recently reached a multi-year distribution agreement with EverPass Media, the media platform that has rights to distribute out-of-market Sunday afternoon NFL games to commercial establishments, in May.
EverPass Media was created as a joint venture by the NFL and private equity firm RedBird Capital Partners in March to specifically sell Sunday Ticket broadcasts in commercial properties.
DirecTV For Business also has exclusive commercial rights for Major League Baseball's Friday Night Baseball and Major League Soccer's MLS Season Pass via tech giant Apple, as well as the NFL's Thursday Night Football through Amazon Prime Video.
Rob Thun, chief content officer of DirecTV, said: “With this agreement, DirecTV continues a long-standing partnership with the NFL and maintains our sports leadership position by delivering the best of sports content to our customers.
“This deal strengthens our NFL relationship as it includes expanded carriage of NFL Network and all the best action from Sunday's games with NFL RedZone, which is now available to customers across all three DirecTV platforms."
Image: Sebastian Widmann/Getty Images
