• Loading stock data...
Sunday, November 24, 2024

The NFL, America’s Biggest League, Crosses Borders to Find New Fans

  • The NFL will play games in London, Munich, and Mexico City this season.
  • The league is looking to grow its streaming audience as well.
NFL
Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports

With the NFL season kicking off on Thursday night, the biggest league in the U.S. is looking to grow with two key audiences: streamers and international fans. 

Not content to coast after a 2021 in which 75 of the top 100 U.S. broadcasts were NFL games, the league is looking outside the country.

  • This season will see a trio of games in London in October, followed by games in Munich and Mexico City in November.
  • Two games at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last year brought in more than 120,000 fans combined.
  • Over 770,000 accessed the ticketing site for the game at Bayern Munich’s Allianz Arena when tickets went on sale in July. The stadium holds 70,000 for international games.

In April, the NFL assigned general managers in the U.K. and Australia to grow the game in those countries.

Stream Effort

While Thursday’s season opener between the defending champion Los Angeles Rams and ascendant Buffalo Bills will be broadcast on NBC, most Thursday contests will only be available on Amazon Prime Video, which is paying $1 billion annually for “Thursday Night Football.”

The league incorporated the streaming services of NBC, Disney, CBS, and Fox in its set of 11-year media deals that begin next season and are collectively worth more than $110 billion.

The league is also launching its own streaming service, NFL+.

With the biggest names in broadcast media on board, the league is looking to the tech giants for NFL Sunday Ticket: Google, Apple, and Amazon are all reportedly eyeing the out-of-market package, which the league hopes to sell to a streaming service for $2.5 billion annually.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Can an Elite Women’s Soccer School Survive the New College Sports Moneyball?

Santa Clara faces an uphill battle in the new college sports landscape.
Nov 16, 2024; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Spirit forward Trinity Rodman (2) celebrates after defeating NJ/NY Gotham FC in a 2024 NWSL Playoffs semifinal match at Audi Field. Mandatory Credit:

The Washington Spirit’s Business Makeover Carried Them to the Finals

The team’s return to the NWSL championship looks a lot different from 2021.

The Big Noon Debate: Will Ohio State’s Early Games Lead to Change?

The Buckeyes will end the season with seven noon ET kickoffs.
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

How Conference Expansion Has Changed College Football

0:00

Featured Today

Nov 18, 2023; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Williams Racing driver Logan Sargeant of the United States (2) during the Las Vegas Grand Prix at Las Vegas Strip Circuit.

F1 Grand Prix Upended Vegas Last Year. Stakes Are High for Its..

Stakes are high as F1 gears up for a successful second act.
Classic Football Shirts New York Pop-Up
November 18, 2024

Vintage Soccer Jerseys Have Found a Sweet Spot in the Lucrative U.S...

The money-making shirts are at the prime intersection of memorabilia and fashion.
Nov 13, 2024; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) reacts after fouling Chicago Bulls guard Coby White (not pictured) during the second half at Madison Square Garden.
opinion
November 16, 2024

NBA Ratings Rorschach Test: Buy the Dip

Was it the election? Too many threes? Lack of storylines?
November 15, 2024

Executive Decision: When Richard Nixon Named a College Football Champion

In 1969, the 37th president unilaterally named the winner of the season.

Reader Mailbag: Why Are NBA Ratings Down to Start the Season?

NBA viewership is down 28% on ESPN through the first four weeks.
A photo of Around the Horn's set
November 21, 2024

‘Around the Horn’ to End 23-Year ESPN Run in 2025

ESPN had reportedly been thinking of canceling the show since the summer.
November 22, 2024

DirecTV-Dish Deal Is Dead, Spelling More Trouble for Pay TV

Bondholder objections undo an agreement to create the largest U.S. pay-TV distributor.
Sponsored

How UBS Crafts Impactful Partnerships Across Sports, Arts, and Culture

As UBS continues to expand its impressive array of sports and entertainment partnerships, the company solidifies its position as a leader in wealth management.
November 21, 2024

NBA Legend Hubie Brown Stepping Away From ESPN at 91

Brown has been associated with the league for over 50 years.
Nov 19, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; The Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers play during the second half at TD Garden.
November 20, 2024

Cavs vs. Celtics Draws Big TV Numbers in NBA Cup Showdown

The game averaged 1.94 million viewers and peaked at 2.7 million.
November 20, 2024

NFL Ratings Hold Strong Through Election Season, Chiefs Lead TV Pack

In 2016, NFL ratings fell 8% from the prior year.
November 20, 2024

Comcast’s SpinCo: New Home for USA Network, Golf Channel, Sports Rights

The move by NBC Sports’ parent company reflects how dramatically the linear television business has changed.