Friday September 22, 2023
The Best Employers in Sports Survey is Now Open!

Extra Game Helps NFL Score $4.4B in Ad Revenue

  • NFL media partners banked $4.4 billion in advertising revenue last year.
  • The 17th regular season game helped contribute to the record total.
NFL
Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
Front Office Sports Today

Could Promotion-Relegation work in College Football?

The proposal aims to create an exciting media product while reducing travel for non-football sports.
Listen Now
September 21, 2023 | Podcast
Linkedin
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

The NFL was a more valuable media property than ever last year.

The league generated a record $4.4 billion in advertising revenue for its media partners, according to a report by Standard Media Index — a 14% increase over the 2020-21 season.

  • The league added a 17th game to the regular-season schedule, growing ad inventory.
  • 30-second ad spots increased 3% on average from the previous year to $480,000.
  • Late buys on ads reached $600,000, and up to $800,000 for “Sunday Night Football” on NBC.

NFL games comprised 75 of the 100 most-watched broadcasts in 2021.

Pricey Rights

While the $4.4 billion figure is impressive, it pales in comparison to what the NFL charges its broadcasters for the rights to show its games.

The league’s deals with CBS, NBC, Fox, ESPN, and Amazon will collectively bring in around $10 billion per season for 11 years, starting with the 2023 season. 

That’s before adding in NFL Sunday Ticket, which the league is hoping to sell for $2.5 billion annually. The NFL is looking for a streaming service to take the out-of-market games package, with Google, Amazon, and Apple all reportedly interested.

The league is also launching its own streaming service, NFL+, which will allow fans to watch games within the NFL app. The service could reportedly cost $5 per month.

Linkedin
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

NBC will reportedly pay $287 million annually across five years to air broadcast on USA Network.

NBC Inks WWE SmackDown Rights for Reported $1.4 Billion

The reported rights fee is about 40% higher than SmackDown's Fox deal.
Fanatics is buying auction marketplace PWCC.

Fanatics Nabbing WWE Rights In Latest Win Over Panini

Fanatics will take over WWE's trading card rights.
RFK

RFK Stadium Bill Advances in Congress

Congress' vote is the first step towards returning the NFL to D.C.

Can Amazon Keep Up NFL Viewership Boost After Record Week 1?

The San Francisco 49ers and New York Giants face off on Thursday night.
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

Could Promotion-Relegation work in College Football?

0:00
0:00

Featured Today

Teams without secured venue situations could be left out of a potential XFL-USFL merger.

XFL-USFL Merger Could Drop Teams, Change League Name

Teams without secured venues could be cut from a XFL-USFL merger.
September 21, 2023

Rupert Murdoch's Exit Leaves Lasting Fox Sports Legacy

Rupert Murdoch steps down as chairman of Fox Corp. and News Corp.
Could ESPN lose events such as the NBA Finals if it sold ABC.
September 21, 2023

Selling ABC Poses Billion-Dollar Dilemma for Disney and ESPN's Future

Losing ABC would create complications as ESPN enters NBA rights negotiations.
Boise State Broncos running back Ashton Jeanty (2) runs the ball against the North Dakota Fighting Hawks during the first half at Albertsons Stadium.
exclusive
September 20, 2023

The First Official Proposal for Promotion-Relegation In College Football

Realignment is forcing Group of 5 schools to rethink their structure.

Careers

Powered By

Careers in Sports

Looking for a new job? Check out these featured listings and search for openings all over the world.
Chicago Cubs
Chicago
Fanatics
New York
Tri Star Sports and Entertainment Group, Inc.
USA - Multiple Locations
Deion Sanders and The Rock

Deion Sanders Reshaping College Football Fanbase With Buffaloes Surge

Deion Sanders has made Colorado "Black America's Team."
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is tripped up by New York Jets defensive end Solomon Thomas in the second quarter at AT&T Stadium.
September 20, 2023

NFL Viewership Sees 2% Increase in First Two Weeks of 2023 Season

The NFL is experiencing its highest viewership since 2018.
September 19, 2023

WBD Pursues ‘Different’ Strategy For Sports on Max

Company to place all of its live sports on new streaming tier
Deion Sanders
September 19, 2023

Colorado's Epic Victory Sets New ESPN Prime Time Viewership Record

Coach Prime Deion Sanders delivered in prime time on ESPN.
Joe Buck and Troy Aikman
September 18, 2023

'Monday Night Football' Returns To ABC Amid Entertainment Breakdown

ABC will simulcast 15 regular season "Monday Night Football" games.
September 15, 2023

DSG Looks To Use NHL Kings Deal As Reorganization Model

Agreement arrives as bankrupt RSN operator nears deadline for reorganization plan
September 14, 2023

Netflix Fatigue May Be Hitting Sports Docuseries

Netflix cameras won't have full access at the Ryder Cup.
September 14, 2023

NBA Cracks Down On Player Rest Ahead of Multi-Billion Dollar Rights Talks

NBA rest days will be regulated as league prepares for rights talks.