Amazon gets big part in NFL’s new TV rights deal
The NFL announced Thursday it has signed 11-year agreements with media partners Amazon, CBS, ESPN/ ABC, Fox and NBC to distribute games over TV and digital platforms, starting in 2023 and running through the 2033 season.
The NFL will nearly double its media revenue to more than $10 billion a season with new rights agreements, including a deal with Amazon Prime Video that gives the streaming service exclusive rights to “Thursday Night Football” beginning in 2022.
Among the deals, according to the league:
• AMAZON: In the league’s first alldigital package, Amazon Prime Video has acquired the rights to be the exclusive home of “Thursday Night Football” across hundreds of compatible digital devices. The NFL and Amazon first partnered on Thursday night games during the 2017 season.
• CBS: CBS retains the rights for the AFC package of Sunday games. In addition to the CBS network, all those games will be streamed live on Paramount+, ViacomCBS’ flagship streaming service. CBS is the league’s longest-running media partner, having first televised NFL games in 1956.
• ESPN: ESPN will continue to be the NFL’s television partner for “Monday Night Football.” Additionally, ABC has acquired the rights to televise two Super Bowls, along with exclusive regular season games. ESPN+ can stream one International Series game on an exclusive national basis every season, and the new agreement allows ESPN to simulcast all ABC and ESPN games on ESPN+. The new agreement for ESPN covers 11 years, including a 10-year deal beginning in 2023 and a bridge year deal in 2022.
• FOX: Fox has renewed its agreement to produce the NFC package of Sunday games that it acquired in 1994. Fox expanded its digital rights, including for its on-demand streaming platform Tubi to deliver NFL programming. “America’s Game of the Week” has been the most-watched show in all of television for the last 12 seasons and the most-watched NFL window for the last 20 seasons.
• NBC: “Sunday Night Football,” the No. 1 prime-time show on TV for the 10th consecutive year, will continue to be produced by NBC Sports. In addition to simulcasting all “Sunday Night Football” games, Peacock,
NBCUniversal’s streaming service, will deliver an exclusive feed of a select number of NFL games over the course of the agreement. NBC first acquired its package of prime-time games in 2006.
WATSON FACES LAWSUITS AFTER ACCUSATIONS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT >> Three masseuses have sued Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson for alleged sexual assault, accusing the star player of a “disturbing pattern” of behavior toward women. In lawsuits filed this week, two of the woman claim that Watson touched them with his penis during massages last year, and the third alleges he forced her to perform oral sex.
Watson, 25, has broadly denied that he acted inappropriately and said he looks forward to clearing his name.
“I have never treated any woman with anything other than the utmost respect,” the quarterback said in a statement posted to Twitter Tuesday. His attorney and agent did not immediately respond to requests for comment Thursday.
BEARS PLAN TO RELEASE CB KYLE FULLER, SAVE $11M >> Chicago Bears cornerback Kyle Fuller was informed he will be released, saving the team $11 million against the 2021 salary cap. NFL Network reported the move would most likely be reported as a post-June 1 transaction.
A first-round pick in 2017, Fuller played in every game for the Bears the past four seasons.
NHL
SABRES’ SKID HITS 13 >> David Krejci had three assists to cross the 700-point threshold, and the Boston Bruins beat Buffalo 4-1 to extend the host Sabres’ skid to 13 games.
Kyle Okposo scored his first career short-handed goal but it was hardly enough for the Sabres in their first game under new coach Don Granato. Buffalo’s 13-game skid (0-11-2) is the second-longest in franchise history and the longest in the NHL since the Sabres lost 14 straight during the 2014-15 season.
Baseball METS’ CARRASCO STRAINS HAMSTRING, LIKELYTOMISSOPENER>>
New Mets pitcher Carlos Carrasco strained his right hamstring during conditioning after throwing batting practice Thursday and seems certain to miss the start of the season. Carrasco, who turns 34 on Sunday, has not appeared any exhibition games this year.
He is in remission from leukemia and had the coronavirus vaccine, causing him to start spring training workouts behind other players. He then stopped throwing for a stretch because of elbow soreness.
Soccer U.S. GETS OLYMPIC QUALIFYING OFF TO WINNING START >>
Jesús Ferreira scored in the 35th minute, and the United States opened its bid to reach the Olympic men’s soccer tournament after a pair of misses by beating Costa Rica 1-0 on Thursday at Guadalajara, Mexico. Ferreira plays for Dallas in MLS.
The U.S. last qualified in 2008, failing to reach the 2012 London Games and 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games. The United States faces the Dominican Republic on Sunday night and Mexico on Wednesday. In the second game of the Group A CONCACAF doubleheader, host Mexico beat the Dominican Republic 4-1.
Golf MATT JONES TIES COURSE RECORD WITH 61 IN HONDA CLASSIC >>
Matt Jones tied the course record with a 61 for a three-shot in the opening round of the Honda Classic on a typically windy day at PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.
Russell Henley and Aaron Wise shot 64s, matching the best score at the Honda by anyone — Jones excluded — since Rory McIlroy and Russell Knox had 63s in 2014. Nobody in the field last year shot better than a 66. U.S. Ryder Cup captain Steve Stricker, Scott Harrington, Kevin Chappell and Cameron Davis shot 66. Defending champion Sungjae Im opened with a 68.