NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell told reporters that the league will “take what we can get” when it comes to streaming games on digital platforms, but dismissed the idea that the Super Bowl would be a streaming-only broadcast.
Goodell was speaking at an invitation-only roundtable with selected media members ahead of the Super Bowl in Las Vegas later this week.
The NFL Commission was asked about the backlash the league received from football fans regarding the Peacock-only broadcast of the Dolphins vs. Chiefs AFC Wild Card Round meeting.
The game was available on local NBC affiliates in Miami and Kansas City, but the rest of the country had to sign up for a streaming service to watch the game, prompting complaints from fans.
“Consumers are moving away from pay-TV services and toward digital streaming services and platforms. We at the NFL have to be able to reach local fans,” Goodell said. “Over 90 percent of our games are still shown on free TV. No other league or sport can match that.”
Goodell pointed to the growth in viewership on streaming platforms and the NFL ultimately driving significant viewership to Peacock games, with 23 million viewers across Peacock, NFL+ and local NBC affiliates. said that they watched it.
He also mentioned the younger demographic watching the game.
“We need to fish where the fish are, and there are a lot of consumers on those platforms. And the Peacock game showed that,” Goodell said. “Amazon has proven that over the last two years. …Our fans are on these platforms, and our fans want access to them.”
Goodell admitted he doesn’t know what the future holds for NFL broadcasts, but there was one game he was certain would never be streamed exclusively.
And that would be the Super Bowl.
Asked about that possibility, Goodell said, “It’s certainly not my time.” “One of the secrets of our success is that we take broadcast television very seriously. As I mentioned earlier, 90% of our games are broadcast on broadcast and free terrestrial television. . I think that’s why over 200 million people watch this game here in the United States on the widest possible platform.”
Goodell’s contract runs through 2027, and whether he stays or is replaced could impact the league’s view on streaming “big games.”
Despite players’ shared anger over this season’s Peacock-only playoff games, the debate surrounding streaming games is sure to continue.
Chiefs defensive end Charles Omenihu criticized X for requiring fans to sign up for a different streaming service to watch playoff games.
In response to a question about fans being distressed by having to sign up for all these streaming services, Goodell argued: They offer more than just football, Peacock said, offering discounted rates to those who sign up to watch playoff games.
