Thursday, October 22, 2026

YouTube TV Nears ‘NFL Sunday Ticket’ Deal Worth $2.5B Annually

  • DirecTV satellite service has held exclusive rights to Sunday Ticket since 1994.
  • The NFL’s current deal with DirecTV expires at the end of this season.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell standing next to official during a game
Kimberly P. Mitchell-Imagn

Want more from Front Office Sports
in your search results?

Add Front Office Sports on Google

Roger Goodell has long said that when it comes to the “NFL Sunday Ticket,” he wanted to reach larger audiences and consider different platforms of delivery. 

If recent reports pan out, it appears the NFL commissioner may get his wish.

The NFL is reportedly nearing a multiyear deal — worth about $2.5 billion annually — with Google’s YouTube TV to stream its “Sunday Ticket” package, which allows subscribers to watch every NFL game on Sundays regardless of their home market.

NFL-Sunday_Ticket

Report: NFL Nears Deal With Google for Sunday Ticket

DirecTV has had the package since 1994.
December 20, 2022
  • DirecTV has held exclusive rights to “NFL Sunday Ticket” since 1994.
  • The NFL’s current deal with DirecTV expires at the end of this season.
  • DirecTV currently pays $1.5 billion per year for “NFL Sunday Ticket.” 

When and if a deal is announced, it would mark the second NFL package to move online. Amazon paid $1.2 billion annually for the rights to “Thursday Night Football” in March 2021.

Apple and Disney were reportedly bidding along with Google — owned by Alphabet, Inc. — for the rights to “Sunday Ticket.” The NFL previously considered selling “Sunday Ticket” in a package deal with a stake in NFL Media, which includes NFL Network, NFL RedZone, and NFL.com.

As part of its pending deal, Google will not be acquiring a stake in the league’s media arm. 

Streaming Craze

In June, Apple agreed to a $2.5 billion deal with Major League Soccer that will see Apple exclusively stream every MLS match for 10 years starting in 2023. In August, Paramount Global renewed its contract for U.S. rights to the UEFA Champions League in a six-year, $1.5 billion deal.

Download the FOS App

The business of sports, in your pocket.

QR code to download the app

Scan the QR code to get the app now.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Troy Aikman

Examining Troy Aikman’s Options After J.J. Watt-CBS Deal 

Aikman has yet to receive a formal offer to return to ESPN.

NFL Could Soon Let TV Viewers Watch, Hear Instant Replay Reviews

The NFL could follow the ACC, Big 12, and Big Ten’s lead.
Aug 3, 2024; Canton, OH, USA; Houston Texans former defensive end J.J. Watt in attendance at the Class of 2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremony at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

NFL TV’s Analyst Market Tightens as CBS Extends JJ Watt

Watt is officially Tony Romo’s full-time replacement at CBS.

Goodell Addresses Steve Tisch, Paris Concerns, NFL Officiating

Goodell also talked about Jay-Z and Super Bowl halftime rumors.
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

10/22/26 – Rays-Brewers Can’t Stop Lockout, $771 to Watch NBA, Jaguars Fans’ Afterlife

0:00

Featured Today

Football - NFL - Houston Texans v Jacksonville Jaguars - Wembley Stadium, London, Britain - October 18, 2026 The necklace of a Jacksonville Jaguars fan outside the stadium before the match

Die-Hard Sports Fandom Has Reached the Afterlife

Will fans pay $6,000 to memorialize their team loyalty?
October 20, 2026

Why Europe Is Pumping Out NBA Superstars

The NBA and NCAA have an increasingly European flavor.
October 15, 2026

College Flag Football Is Outgrowing Its DIY Era

Women have been building the college game themselves at the club level.
Oct 5, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas arrives at the arena before the Penguins host the Winnipeg Jets at PPG Paints Arena
October 12, 2026

NHL’s New Wave of GMs Is Built Different

“I am in the prediction business,” Devils GM Sunny Mehta tells FOS.
Action Images/Peter Cziborra
October 9, 2026

Is Leicester City’s $264 Million Price Tag Too Rich for Hungry Investors?

After falling from grace, how much is a former top club worth?
NBC Sports Logo

Comcast-NBCUniversal Split Comes With $1B Cost, Layoffs

The NBC Sports parent company will take on a hefty restructuring charge.
Oct 15, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; MLB on Fox broadcasters Kevin Burkhardt, Alex Rodriguez, David Ortiz and Derek Jeter during game four of the NLCS for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at Uniqlo Field at Dodger Stadium.
October 22, 2026

Fox, MLB Look to Counter Lower World Series Expectations

MLB is riding a wave of postseason audience expansion.
October 22, 2026

FIFA’s World Cup Rights Shake-Up Could Favor NBC Over Fox

It’s bad news for Fox and great news for Telemundo’s parent, NBC.
Sponsored

Blake Griffin’s Plan for Media Domination

The former NBA star is building a second act across media & entertainment.
October 21, 2026

NFL Claims ‘No Concern’ About Aikman’s Issues With Buck, ESPN

Aikman’s contract expires after the Super Bowl.
Los Angeles, CA - October 27, 2025 - Dodger Stadium: Jeff Passan during game three of the 2025 World Series.
October 21, 2026

Jeff Passan: Brewers-Rays World Series Won’t Head Off MLB Lockout

Passan also addressed the backlash he received to comments about the Dodgers.
October 21, 2026

College Football’s Emerging Powers Are Shaking Up TV Ratings

BYU–Notre Dame averaged 9.2 million viewers on ABC.
October 21, 2026

NBC, USA Claim Record Audience for Start of WNBA Finals

The Finals are tied 1–1 with the series shifting to Atlanta.