Apple Reportedly 'Most Likely Winner' of NFL Sunday Ticket Rights, Considering Bid for UEFA Champions League Package

Rumors have been circulating about Apple bidding on the massive NFL Sunday Ticket package for out-of-market games, with a report just a few weeks ago stating that Apple, Amazon, and Disney were all in the running.

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According to Dylan Byers at Puck News, Apple is now regarded as the "most likely winner" as Disney has dropped out of the bidding that could approach $3 billion per year.

As I learned at Sun Valley, and in subsequent conversations this week with sources close to the talks, the deal will likely come in significantly higher than $2 billion a year—some sources with insight into the talks believe it could come in close to $3 billion. This has effectively removed the cautious, ever-disciplined Disney from consideration, since its own bid came in under $2 billion. (Disney declined to comment.) Existing media partners, like Fox, Comcast and CBS, are also not in contention, I’m told. The race for the Ticket has therefore come down to Apple and Amazon, and while nothing has been signed or agreed to, I have been given ample reason to believe that Apple is the most likely winner of the sweepstakes—and not merely because I was told that Apple’s Tim Cook and Eddy Cue met with Goodell in Sun Valley.

Byers says that Apple and Amazon are also considering bids for a domestic package of UEFA Champions League games that could cost up to $2.5 billion over six years.

Apple has just begun dipping its toes into the live sports market, starting with a limited package of Friday night Major League Baseball games this season, and recently announcing a 10-year deal with Major League Soccer for worldwide broadcast rights to all games, but it's clear the company has significant ambitions as it seeks to increase its presence in the competitive market.

Tag: NFL

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Top Rated Comments

syklee26 Avatar
39 months ago
Apple winning Sunday Ticket and UEFA means it will skyrocket toward the top in the streaming market. This is a complete game changer.

Right now I pay $30 per month for Apple One Premium. I will gladly pay $10 extra for both. Heck, I can pay $15!
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mnsportsgeek Avatar
39 months ago

Apple winning Sunday Ticket and UEFA means it will skyrocket toward the top in the streaming market. This is a complete game changer.

Right now I pay $30 per month for Apple One Premium. I will gladly pay $10 extra for both. Heck, I can pay $15!
It won’t be part of Apple TV+. These will be Apple TV Channels. Separate fee. Confirmed with the MLS deal.

Makes sense to not bloat the monthly fee of ATV+ with sports content that many people don’t want.

I’d like to see Apple One subscribers get a discount on the channels though, and maybe Premier subscribers get Champions League for free.

Though my guess is:
MLS: $10/month or $80/yr
NFL: $300/yr or $75/month
UEFA: $5/month
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
throwaway572937 Avatar
39 months ago
I wish they’d make a bid on F1. I love watching the feed through Sky Sports and I’d want that to continue, but I think Apple TV+ could do a better job from a UI and reliability standpoint than F1TV
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ghostface147 Avatar
39 months ago
Well at least they’ll have the actual broadcast teams for the NFL instead of their baseball broadcast teams. They aren’t very good right now.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
syklee26 Avatar
39 months ago

You're kidding, right? More like $100 a month, for each of those. And that's counting todays price with Directv, which actually has a distribution channel that can handle the traffic and not eat up everyone's data cap!
NFL game pass is $279 for an entire season. Apple is not charging $100 per month.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mnsportsgeek Avatar
39 months ago
NFL, MLS, Champions League, and Europa League is a hell of a splash into sports. I would have loved if they grabbed a piece of the B1G football contract, but I’m sure they weren’t interested in a streaming partner.

Let’s see if they can grab the NBA in a couple years.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)