Even Google — one of the world’s largest technology companies — needs help monetizing its new NFL Sunday Ticket rights.
Google parent Alphabet disclosed during its second-quarter earnings call that its YouTube TV platform will work with Warner Bros. Discovery on a bundle combining the NFL’s out-of-market game package with the latter’s Max (formerly HBO Max) streaming service.
The effort brings together the most popular U.S. pro sports league with a major, general-interest streaming platform, significantly expanding NFL Sunday Ticket’s potential reach.
Google completed a deal with the NFL late last year for the package’s residential rights for an estimated $2 billion per year, supplanting DirectTV, which has since retained commercial rights.
The streaming collaboration “underscores our joint commitment to bring the highest-quality content and experiences to our customers,” said Philipp Schindler, Google chief business officer, during an earnings call with analysts.
Pricing for the combined offering hasn’t been finalized. YouTube TV announced its own NFL Sunday Ticket rates for the season, which start at $299, though prices previously fell to as low as $249 during an initial presale.
Verizon Offer
Some Verizon customers will be able to avoid any such charges, as the telecommunications giant is offering NFL Sunday Ticket for free to those purchasing select smartphones and home internet packages.
Like Google, Verizon is a key business partner of the NFL, and the promotional efforts are all part of the league’s long-stated intention to make NFL Sunday Ticket far more accessible in its new streaming-based structure.
