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Revision as of 16:38, 25 July 2022 by ViperSnake151 (talk | contribs) (rewrite article to reflect today's announcements, add some more details)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)NFL+ (formerly NFL Game Pass) is an over-the-top subscription service operated by the National Football League (NFL). The service offers live streaming of the radio broadcasts of all NFL games, streaming of the television broadcasts of in-market games on mobile devices, streaming of out-of-market preseason games, and library content from NFL Films and NFL Network. The service's premium tier offers on-demand replays of NFL games, including alternate "All-22" and "Coaches Film" presentations.
The service is a direct successor to several streaming services previously offered by the NFL, including NFL Audio Pass (formerly NFL Field Pass)–which launched in 2003 to provide radio broadcasts, and NFL Game Rewind. Audio Pass and Game Rewind were merged to form NFL Game Pass in 2015. In turn, Game Pass was merged with the NFL's in-market mobile streaming rights (formerly held by Verizon Media) in 2022 to form NFL+.
History
In January 2003, the NFL announced a partnership with RealNetworks to serve as its streaming media partner, offering exclusive multimedia features during the playoffs via the company's RealOne SuperPass subscription service. Chris Russo, the league's senior vice president of new media and publishing, stated that this was a pilot that could lead to "a subscription program that includes elements such as video, audio, enhanced analysis and fantasy football" in the future. Ahead of the 2003 NFL seasonr, the NFL launched two subscription streaming services with RealNetworks as a partner, including NFL.com Fantasy Extra–which additional featured analysis and video content oriented towards fantasy football players, and NFL Field Pass–which would carry the radio broadcasts for all NFL games, video features on NFL.com (including game highlights), the weekly program NFL Insider Radio, and coverage of team press conferences. To enforce exclusive regional rights and encourage use of the service, the NFL prohibited local radio affiliates from including game broadcasts in their internet radio streams.
In 2008, the NFL launched NFL Game Pass as its streaming service for international markets. NFL Field Pass was renamed NFL Audio Pass prior to the 2010 season. That year, the NFL started live streaming preseason games online.
In 2015, the NFL merged NFL Game Rewind–a subscription service that offered on-demand streaming of NFL games (including the original broadcast, and "Coaches Film" and "All-22" angles), with NFL Audio Pass, forming a single service under the NFL Game Pass branding in the United States.
The NFL previously maintained an exclusive mobile streaming rights package with Verizon Communications, as part of its official wireless carrier sponsorship of the league; streaming of In-market and nationally-televised games on smartphones was exclusive to the Verizon-operated "NFL Mobile" service, which was only available to Verizon Wireless subscribers. This exclusivity deal also affected TV Everywhere streaming of games by the NFL's television partners, who were prohibited from offering their streams on smartphones. Under a five-year extension of the agreement beginning in the 2017–18 NFL playoffs and 2018 NFL season, Verizon waived this exclusivity, while still offering in-market mobile streaming. Rather than being exclusive to Verizon Wireless subscribers, the content was now primarily distributed via Yahoo! Sports–taking advantage of Verizon's recent acquisition of Yahoo! in 2017.
In May 2022, it was reported that with the expiration of the league's agreement with Verizon (who had divested AOL and Yahoo! to Apollo Global Management in 2021) that the league was planning to paywall these behind a new "NFL Plus" service. NFL+ was officially announced on July 25, 2022, succeeding Game Pass in the United States. The service will be offered in two tiers, with the basic service offering in-market streaming on mobile devices, streaming of radio broadcasts and most preseason games, as well as library content from NFL Films and NFL Network. The premium tier of NFL+ will add game replays.
References
- "NFL Says RealNetworks Deal May Lead To Subscription Program". www.sportsbusinessjournal.com. Retrieved 2022-07-25.
- "Real offers package of NFL audio/video". www.sportsbusinessjournal.com. Retrieved 2022-07-25.
- Meserve, Jason (2003-09-11). "NFL and RealNetworks team". Network World. Retrieved 2022-07-25.
- Rubio, Justin (2012-09-04). "NFL Game Rewind tablet apps let you watch games on-demand, but not without a slew of restrictions". The Verge. Retrieved 2020-08-08.
- Boorstin, Julia (2015-09-08). "NFL Game Pass gives cord-cutters a new option". CNBC. Retrieved 2020-08-08.
- Effron, Lauren (December 20, 2011). "Super Bowl Will Be Live-Streamed Online for First Time". technology Review. ABC News. Retrieved January 4, 2012.
- Milian, Mark (December 20, 2011). "NFL playoffs, Super Bowl to be streamed online". CNN Tech. CNN. Retrieved January 4, 2012.
- Effron, Lauren (December 20, 2011). "Super Bowl Will Be Live-Streamed Online for First Time". technology Review. ABC News. Retrieved January 4, 2012.
- Milian, Mark (December 20, 2011). "NFL playoffs, Super Bowl to be streamed online". CNN Tech. CNN. Retrieved January 4, 2012.
- Tharakan, Anya George; Shepardson, David (13 June 2017). "Verizon closes Yahoo deal, Mayer steps down". Reuters. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
- Rovell, Darren (December 11, 2017). "Verizon, NFL agree to new 5-year deal worth nearly $2.5 billion". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on December 12, 2017. Retrieved December 11, 2017.
- "Verizon's exclusivity for live games on mobile expected to end". Sports Business Daily. Archived from the original on October 24, 2017. Retrieved October 23, 2017.
- Sherman, Alex (September 10, 2021). "Tinder CEO Jim Lanzone will be next CEO of Yahoo following Apollo acquisition". CNBC.
- Ben Fischer (May 25, 2022). "NFL to proceed with launch of streaming service". Sports Business Journal. Leaders Group.
- Dade Hayes (May 25, 2022). "NFL Reportedly Sets July Launch Of Mobile-Focused Streaming Service NFL+, Its Own Version Of Previous Verizon & Yahoo Setups". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Media Corporation.
- Hayes, Dade (2022-07-25). "NFL Expands Media Footprint, Launches League-Branded Streaming Service". Deadline. Retrieved 2022-07-25.
- Sherman, Alex (2022-07-25). "National Football League's new streaming service NFL+ launches at $4.99 per month". CNBC. Retrieved 2022-07-25.
- Steinberg, Brian (2022-07-25). "NFL Joins Streaming Wars With Subscription Hub NFL+". Variety. Retrieved 2022-07-25.
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