The Power of the NFL

[StickierBuns]

https://frontofficesports.com/nfl-is-lin...f-america/

There’s nothing bigger on U.S. television than the NFL, but keeping those rights presents a range of challenges for the incumbent linear rights holders.

“NFL-related content at this point is the key linchpin holding the linear cable bundle together, a massive driver of linear advertising dollars, retransmission fees, and even more recently, direct-to-consumer sign-ups. This market paradigm has not gone unnoticed by the NFL,” Bank of America analysts wrote in a research note released Wednesday. “In short, it is hard to paint a positive outcome from the traditional media ecosystem perspective.”

[pattersaur]

https://frontofficesports.com/nfl-is-lin...f-america/

There’s nothing bigger on U.S. television than the NFL, but keeping those rights presents a range of challenges for the incumbent linear rights holders.

“NFL-related content at this point is the key linchpin holding the linear cable bundle together, a massive driver of linear advertising dollars, retransmission fees, and even more recently, direct-to-consumer sign-ups. This market paradigm has not gone unnoticed by the NFL,” Bank of America analysts wrote in a research note released Wednesday. “In short, it is hard to paint a positive outcome from the traditional media ecosystem perspective.”

Traditional cable has already hung on longer than it probably should have. Cable feeds helped greatly to get all of these sports popularized but in turn, that gives the sports more and more leverage in negotiations as time goes on. Eventually they become popular enough to where they don't need cable.

Netflix saw this and began making their own content quickly once movie studios started to offer streaming services of their own.

In related news my dad will probably still have his cable subscription for another 20 years lol.

[MaroonBells]

And the cap just keeps going up. No matter how optimistic the projections are, they always fall short. 

As we move farther away from the traditional TV model, I would have to assume we're getting closer to the ala carte model where I can pick and choose the games I want to watch (and pay for) without also having to pay for a package of other games, 90% of which I won't watch. Or maybe I'm just wishful thinking.

[StickierBuns]

As we move farther away from the traditional TV model, I would have to assume we're getting closer to the ala carte model where I can pick and choose the games I want to watch (and pay for) without also having to pay for a package of other games, 90% of which I won't watch. Or maybe I'm just wishful thinking.

Yes, please! I think its still a bit off for that, but some form is coming. Its just still so financially advantageous to stick consumers with shit they don't watch in a bundle. But Premium Subscription Ala Carte is on the horizon. Because we'll pay for anything as NFL fans and the younger demo is completely used to a subscription model, a monthly fee.

[medaille]

And the cap just keeps going up. No matter how optimistic the projections are, they always fall short. 

As we move farther away from the traditional TV model, I would have to assume we're getting closer to the ala carte model where I can pick and choose the games I want to watch (and pay for) without also having to pay for a package of other games, 90% of which I won't watch. Or maybe I'm just wishful thinking.

I think that’s the opposite of what you’ll get.  What you’ll get is each platform getting some of the games you want to see, so you’ll fork over the most amount of money, unless by ala carte you mean one-two month’s subscription for each platform if you remember to cancel.

[Vikesrock]

I think that’s the opposite of what you’ll get.  What you’ll get is each platform getting some of the games you want to see, so you’ll fork over the most amount of money, unless by ala carte you mean one-two month’s subscription for each platform if you remember to cancel.

I remember when The Sunday Ticket first came out.  What a deal!  Can watch all the games, watch my team every week (I was in the military in Pensacola FL when it first started).  And then it kept getting more and more expensive.  Of course you needed DirectTV subscription (I was on post so I had to throw money in with a buddy who lived off post to share).  

Then freaking RedZone came out!  OMG!  LOVE!  And then all the sudden...NetFlix has games not in the package, Amazon Prime, whatever other B.S.  I know they originally blacked out the local games, but it got to be more.  Now, I think someone posted if you wanted every game it's like 1200 bucks for the year?  

Yeah, the NFL is a juggernaut and I think everyone saw this all coming.  I think many thought games were going to go straight PPV, but hell the NFL got even smarter then that.  I can see, get your team and the RedZone for the low low price of $1500.  Then if you want to watch anything else, pay MORE.  They are going to milk this turnip for everything they can.

[medaille]

I could even see them changing the format up a little bit, like splitting the early and late afternoon slots, or just giving network TV exclusive access to the premier games and moving all the other games to streaming (except in local areas).

Like, I could see something like Netflix gets the noon games or the AFC games, and Prime gets the late games or the NFC games, except the premier ones which are still CBS and Fox, HBO gets the Sunday Night Games, and Disney gets the MNF game, Prime retains the TNF games, but Netflix gets any of the Saturday games. Just split everything out into as many tiers that everyone has to bid on.

[StickierBuns]

I could even see them changing the format up a little bit, like splitting the early and late afternoon slots, or just giving network TV exclusive access to the premier games and moving all the other games to streaming (except in local areas).

Like, I could see something like Netflix gets the noon games or the AFC games, and Prime gets the late games or the NFC games, except the premier ones which are still CBS and Fox, HBO gets the Sunday Night Games, and Disney gets the MNF game, Prime retains the TNF games, but Netflix gets any of the Saturday games.  Just split everything out into as many tiers that everyone has to bid on.

Yet the NFL Redzone will always remain... its a great concept I personally love. I know they want to do it for college football as well.

[IceRatz16]

And the cap just keeps going up. No matter how optimistic the projections are, they always fall short. 

As we move farther away from the traditional TV model, I would have to assume we're getting closer to the ala carte model where I can pick and choose the games I want to watch (and pay for) without also having to pay for a package of other games, 90% of which I won't watch. Or maybe I'm just wishful thinking.

It's very possible, especially now that YouTubeTV is providing more options to watch tv, rather than just one price and all channels.  For instance, they have an launched (for some, not me yet):

Sports Plan ($64.99/month)
Sports + News ($71.99/month)
Sports + News + Entertainment ($77.99/month)
Entertainment Plan ($54.99/month)
News + Entertainment + Family ($69.99/month)

Like Sticky, RZ changed the game for watching football, especially in conjunction with fantasy sports that it's here to stay for me as well and I'll follow whomever offers it.  I couldn't care less about the Ticket as I can stream a game or two if it's not on and I cannot stand watching a game in full due to the ridiculous amounts of commercials.  RZ is like crack for football fans, IMO.

[StickierBuns]

Like Sticky, RZ changed the game for watching football, especially in conjunction with fantasy sports that it's here to stay for me as well and I'll follow whomever offers it.  I couldn't care less about the Ticket as I can stream a game or two if it's not on and I cannot stand watching a game in full due to the ridiculous amounts of commercials.  RZ is like crack for football fans, IMO.

This. I can't stomach the commercials, I used to get The Ticket but won't now because of RZ....and the more RZ you watch every year, the more you only want to watch RZ.