Many Big Tech companies have set their sights on a new arena for change: live sports. Apple and Amazon now want to boost their viewership for their streaming-subscription services by providing live sports. They are competing to replace DirecTV for the rights of the N.F.L. Sunday ticket. Eager to not miss out, Google has offered a bid with YouTube for rights in 2023.
The tech companies’ interest in sports is a thrill for sports leagues, but a nightmare for other media companies that fear rivalry from other companies that can make more money than them.
However, traditional television companies are trying to stave off Apple and Amazon by starting their own streaming services. According to reporters from The New York Times, “Last year Comcast, which owns NBCUniversal, shuttered NBC Sports Network to bolster its USA channel and to encourage people to pay for Peacock, where it exclusively aired some English Premier League soccer games.”
According to representatives from Apple, “Apple has made winning the package a priority. Tim Cook, Apple’s chief executive, has met with league officials and influential team owners like Jerry Jones, who owns the Dallas Cowboys, and the Kraft family, who own the New England Patriots.” Still, Amazon, YouTube, and ESPN+, are still in the hunt for the package.
The challenge for Apple and Amazon will be to convince somewhat skeptical sports leagues to film and broadcast high-quality, and flawless stream games and still maintain the viewership of millions of sports fans.
These companies are willing to pay an extreme amount of money to add sports to their streaming services. Apple has agreed to pay 2.5 billion dollars for the Major League Soccer’s rights and access to 1,000 games. Also, Amazon has agreed to pay 1 billion dollars a year to stream Thursday night N.F.L games.
Right now, the best opportunities for Apple and Amazon may be far out of reach. But many tech companies and sports leagues see a road of victory ahead.
Link to Article: https://s3.amazonaws.com/appforest_uf/f1658689623016x685695927358763000/Why%20Big%20Tech%20Is%20Making%20a%20Big%20Play%20for%20Live%20Sports%20-%20The%20New%20York%20Times.pdf
The tech companies’ interest in sports is a thrill for sports leagues, but a nightmare for other media companies that fear rivalry from other companies that can make more money than them.
However, traditional television companies are trying to stave off Apple and Amazon by starting their own streaming services. According to reporters from The New York Times, “Last year Comcast, which owns NBCUniversal, shuttered NBC Sports Network to bolster its USA channel and to encourage people to pay for Peacock, where it exclusively aired some English Premier League soccer games.”
According to representatives from Apple, “Apple has made winning the package a priority. Tim Cook, Apple’s chief executive, has met with league officials and influential team owners like Jerry Jones, who owns the Dallas Cowboys, and the Kraft family, who own the New England Patriots.” Still, Amazon, YouTube, and ESPN+, are still in the hunt for the package.
The challenge for Apple and Amazon will be to convince somewhat skeptical sports leagues to film and broadcast high-quality, and flawless stream games and still maintain the viewership of millions of sports fans.
These companies are willing to pay an extreme amount of money to add sports to their streaming services. Apple has agreed to pay 2.5 billion dollars for the Major League Soccer’s rights and access to 1,000 games. Also, Amazon has agreed to pay 1 billion dollars a year to stream Thursday night N.F.L games.
Right now, the best opportunities for Apple and Amazon may be far out of reach. But many tech companies and sports leagues see a road of victory ahead.
Link to Article: https://s3.amazonaws.com/appforest_uf/f1658689623016x685695927358763000/Why%20Big%20Tech%20Is%20Making%20a%20Big%20Play%20for%20Live%20Sports%20-%20The%20New%20York%20Times.pdf
