Disney Expands Its Relationship with the NFL

by Ray Keating

News

DisneyBizJournal.com

March 18, 2021 (Updated at 5:58 PM ET)

 

In a new deal, Disney has expanded its relationship with the NFL.

 

The NFL, as announced on March 18, has signed agreements with Disney (including ESPN, ABC and ESPN+), Fox, CBS, NBC, Amazon and NFL Network that cover national television coverage through the 2033 season. According to The New York Times, the complete package is worth about $110 billion.

 

ABC will pick up two Super Bowls. The NFL reported the Super Bowl breakdowns as follows: “From 2023 through 2033, three Super Bowls each will be hosted by CBS (2023, 2027, 2031), FOX (2024, 2028, 2032) and NBC (2025, 2029, 2033), while ABC (2026, 2030) will carry two.”

 

According to an ESPN report, ESPN keeps Monday Night Football, while adding six games each season, featuring three Monday night doubleheaders (with a game on ESPN followed by a game on ABC), a late-season Saturday doubleheader, and a Sunday morning game on ESPN+. Also, Monday Night Football will gain a “flex” option starting in week 12 of the season to ensure better games. And ESPN will continue to air the NFL draft.

 

Amazon pulled off a major gain by getting exclusive coverage of Thursday Night Football (with local broadcast coverage of teams playing) on Amazon Prime Video.

 

The NFL noted that the deals allow for the league to add a 17th game to its season, and a decision on that will be likely be made at the NFL owners’ meeting on March 30-31.

 

CBS and FOX keep Sunday afternoon coverage, and NBC Sunday Night Football.

 

Each network is able to simulcast games on their respective streaming services.

 

Disney CEO Bob Chapek was quoted: “This landmark agreement guarantees that ESPN's passionate fan base will continue to have access to the best the NFL has to offer. Bringing all the considerable and unique capabilities of The Walt Disney Company and ESPN to the table opens up so many opportunities across our industry-leading direct-to-consumer, broadcast, cable, linear, social and digital outlets. Special thanks to Roger Goodell and the NFL owners for continuing to embrace new ways to appeal to their fans, especially through increasingly important platforms like ESPN+.”

 

The current NFL television deals expire after the 2021 season for ESPN, and after the 2022 season for CBS, NBC and FOX. 

 

The NFL’s deal with DirecTV for the Sunday Ticket package also ends after 2022, but nothing new has been announced on that front. On the heels of today’s announcement, there are conflicting reports or rumors flying about Sunday Ticket, with some saying it will stay at DirecTV and others pointing to it going to ESPN+. Again, nothing has been announced on that as yet.

 

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Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com, and author of the  Pastor Stephen Grant novels and assorted nonfiction books. Have Ray Keating speak your group, business, school, church, or organization. Email him at raykeating@keatingreports.com.

 

The views expressed here are his own – after all, no one else should be held responsible for this stuff, right?

 

Keating has two new books out. Vatican Shadows: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel is the 13ththriller/mystery in the Pastor Stephen Grant series. Get the paperback or Kindle edition at Amazon, or signed books at www.raykeatingonline.com. Past Lives: A Pastor Stephen Grant Short Story is the 14th book in the series. Get the paperback or Kindle edition at Amazon, or signed book at www.raykeatingonline.com. 

 

You also can order his book Behind Enemy Lines: Conservative Communiques from Left-Wing New York  from Amazon or signed books  at RayKeatingOnline.com. His other recent nonfiction book is Free Trade Rocks! 10 Points on International Trade Everyone Should Know. 

 

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