Apple Apparently Wants to Offer NFL Sunday Ticket to Apple TV+ Subscribers at No Extra Cost, But NFL Balks
Apple has yet to solidify a deal for the NFL Sunday Ticket package and talks could expand into 2023, according to a new report from Sportico (via The Verge).
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said on Wednesday that the negotiations for Sunday Ticket have reached a “very critical point,” with Apple the apparent frontrunner for the rights. The NFL had originally planned to establish a deal in the fall, but the end of the year is approaching and no final terms have been decided as of yet. Goodell said that there is no timeline, and the NFL’s decisions are “based on getting the best outcome with the best party.”
Sportico says that pricing on Sunday Ticket is a sticking point. Apple wants to include Sunday Ticket access in the $6.99 cost of an Apple TV+ subscription, with no additional charges, but the NFL is not happy with such a low price point as it needs to “protect the interests” of CBS and Fox, its Sunday afternoon broadcast partners. Together, the two networks will pay the NFL $40 billion for the 2023 season.
Disney and Amazon are also both interested in Sunday Ticket, so there are other options for the NFL. Rumors have suggested for months that Apple is the “likely winner” of the NFL Sunday Ticket package, but there were signs of negotiation issues earlier this year when CNBC reported that Apple wanted more contractual flexibility than the NFL was interested in providing.
Apple has been ramping up its sports offerings in recent months in an effort to draw more subscribers to Apple TV+. The company partnered with the MLB for “Friday Night Baseball,” and it has inked a 10-year deal with Major League Soccer that is set to kick off next year.
Popular Stories
iOS 16.2 Is Here: How to Use All the New Features
Apple has officially released iOS 16.2, the second major update to the iOS 16 operating system, which introduces a number of new features, functions, and customizations for iPhones, including a karaoke-style mode for Apple Music, end-to-end encryption for iCloud backups, new options for Live Activities, and more. This article summarizes what’s new and provides links to how-to articles that…
iOS 16.2 Released for iPhone With These 12 New Features
iOS 16.2 is now available for the iPhone 8 and newer following two months of beta testing. With last-minute additions like Apple Music Sing and Advanced Data Protection, the software update includes over a dozen new features and changes for the iPhone.
Below, we’ve recapped many of the new features available with iOS 16.2, including Apple’s new whiteboard app Freeform, two new Lock Screen…
iPhone Features We’re Still Waiting For Following iOS 16.2’s Release
Apple released iOS 16.2 this week with many new features, including the digital whiteboard app Freeform, Apple Music Sing, Advanced Data Protection for U.S. users, and more. Attention now turns to iOS 16.3, which should enter beta testing this week.
Below, we’ve recapped five upcoming iPhone features that Apple has previously announced but yet to launch, such as an Apple Pay Later financing…
Apple Releases AirTags Firmware Update
Apple today released a new firmware update designed for its AirTag item trackers, with the firmware featuring an updated build number of 2A36, up from the 2A24e firmware that Apple started releasing in November. Note that when you install the update, you will see a 2.0.36 version number. There is no word yet on what’s included in the update, but Apple may provide a support document with…
Apple Releases New HomePod 16.2 Software
Alongside iOS 16.2, iPadOS 16.2, tvOS 16.2, watchOS 9.2, and macOS Ventura 13.1, Apple today released new software created for the HomePod and HomePod mini. According to Apple’s release notes, HomePod software version 16.2 adds performance and stability improvements, with no additional information. It’s worth noting that alongside the new iOS and macOS updates, the HomePod software adds a…
Deals: Anker’s New Gold Box Sale on Amazon Has Up to 50% Off Charging Accessories
Anker is back today with a new Gold Box deal on Amazon, offering up to 50 percent off a collection of its most popular charging accessories. In total these deals include savings on wireless chargers, USB-C wall chargers, portable batteries, MagSafe-compatible chargers, and more.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we…
