YouTube signs deal to stream NFL Sunday Ticket

YouTube has signed a multi-year deal to exclusively stream the National Football League's Sunday Ticket package of games in the US to join the general transition from traditional tv to streaming. "We're excited to bring NFL Sunday Ticket to YouTube TV and YouTube Primetime Channels and usher in a new era of how fans across the United States watch and follow the NFL," NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement.

YouTube has committed to investing approximately $2 billion a year to secure rights to the NFL Sunday Ticket franchise, the Wall Street Journal reported. Google and the NFL did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment. Starting next season, NFL Sunday Ticket will be available as an add-on package on YouTube TV and standalone a-la-carte on YouTube Primetime Channels, the company said on Thursday. DirecTV, the largest satellite provider in the United States and which is 70% owned by AT&T Inc (T.N), had the rights to Sunday Ticket until the end of the 2022 season.

The NFL also confirmed deals with Amazon and other major broadcast and cable companies through 2033, collectively estimated to be worth more than $100 billion. "For a number of years we have been focused on increased digital distribution of our games and this partnership is yet another example of us looking towards the future and building the next generation of NFL fans," Goodell said.

Amazon, which secured exclusive rights to “Thursday Night Football,” will also stream its first-ever "Black Friday" game on its Amazon Prime Video service next year. Fox will air the Super Bowl in February. Apple. In June, the company announced a partnership with Major League Soccer to stream every game on the Apple TV app for the next decade. In March it struck a deal to stream Major League Baseball games. "YouTube has long been a home for football fans, whether they're streaming live games, keeping up with their home team, or watching the best plays in highlights," said Susan Wojcicki, CEO of YouTube."Through this expanded partnership with the NFL, viewers will now also be able to experience the game they love in compelling and innovative ways through YouTube TV or YouTube Primetime Channels."