DALLAS (WBAP/KLIF News) — With professional football TV ratings declining the NFL has just made an unprecedented deal to allow free streaming of all games on Yahoo Sports and AOL. Until now Verizon gave free access to live-stream NFL games to subscribers only over the NFL Mobile app. Now Verizon, parent company of Yahoo Sports and AOL, say all games, including preseason, playoffs and the Super Bowl, will be free for all regardless of mobile carrier.
The new deal lasts through the 2022 season will go into effect January 1, in time for the NFL playoffs and the Super Bowl. Financial terms have not been released but are widely reported to be 500 million dollars per year, twice what Verizon paid the nfl before for its exclusive streaming rights via the NFL app..
TV ratings are down 8% this year. The NFL and Verizon believe it’s not because the popularity of football is declining but rather, people are increasingly using tablets, smart phones and laptops instead of TVs.
Sunday in-market games will be available but not all games across the country. Monday night and Thursday night games will be available nationwide.
