Apple is looking at a massive deal to swoop up three of the NFL's most notable products, a deal that would make the tech giant one of the biggest partners of the league.
In a report from Michael McCarthy and A.J. Perez of Front Office Sports, the NFL is offering 'NFL Media,' which includes NFL.com, NFL Network, and NFL RedZone, NFL Sunday Ticket, for out of market games and live streaming games on mobile devices.
This move by Apple comes as a direct shot at Amazon, who is the leader to buy a 49% stake in NFL Media and is already a big-time player in the news as to who will lead their Thursday Night Football broadcast.
“Apple is thinking very big. They want to roll them all up into one big NFL package,” said a source to Front Office Sports.
According to Ed Dresser, a sports media consultant listed in the report, believes Apple can be successful with the NFL despite questions that the company doesn't have any experience with sports.
"I can definitely see why [Apple] would be attractive for the NFL," Dresser said. "You do have to question Apple’s pedigree in sports: It’s not exactly their thing. But that’s the sort of thing you can buy or develop. Even Amazon, the first few years it carried ‘Thursday Night Football,’ used somebody else’s feed, not Amazon employees.”
While a report from John Ourand [via Mike Florio] of the Sports Business Journal says both companies are in the running for the lucrative out-of-market package, that alone could cost $2 billion alone.
The move would be a big win for Apple has no sports content of their streaming service and has been trying to find some to compete with Amazon.
Apple has been in talks with the MLB about carrying some games this season if there are ever any to be played. There is also an assumption coming from sports analyst Dan Ives that they are willing to spend billions on live sports which include the NFL, WNBA, and the Pac-12.
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As we see a lot of change in the booth among commentators, that competition to get live sports for these giant streaming services seems to be one where it will be a reality to have to watch your beloved Mets or Dallas Cowboys on Amazon Prime or Apple +. With the money both comapnies have, it seems like it will happen sooner rather than later.
Follow Jasper Jones on Twitter: @jonesj2342
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