Chris “Mad Dog” Russo isn’t buying what the NFL is selling when it comes to streaming.
Weeks later, the prominent sports commentator is still furious about the NFL’s decision to broadcast the Wild Card playoff game between the Chiefs and Dolphins on Peacock, a platform operated by NBCUniversal.
Russo is not alone in his disappointment with the NFL’s decision to broadcast playoff games exclusively on streaming services, but he has been vocal about it.
That included Wednesday during his weekly appearance on ESPN’s “First Take.”
“The answer they give is, ‘Well, young viewers. We’re all doing different surveys that show a shift to streaming. The participation has been so great that we basically have to shift our business model to streaming as well.” Now, wait a second,” Russo began in the “What are you mad about?” segment. .
“What are we, idiots? I have young kids. They stream. But they’re sports fans. NBC, CBS, Fox or [ESPN] What if there is a game? Oh, come on, it’s the football playoffs! It was $23 million for the Chiefs-Dolphins game. The next night, when the Lions and Rams played on NBC, they earned $38 million. So the idea that we’re doing a huge service to younger viewers by streaming postseason games is complete nonsense.
“They did it because the NBC guys gave away $110 million for just one stupid match. That meant all the owners would split $55 million and make a lot of money.” It is.”
Goodell, speaking to a select group of reporters in Las Vegas ahead of the 2024 Super Bowl earlier this week, defended the streaming push, saying younger viewers are watching things on these platforms and that the NFL is “fishing.” By the way, I have to catch it.” ”
“This isn’t about little Timmy Russo, little Colin Russo, little Keira Russo. This is about making money,” Russo continued to rant. “And next year, another postseason game will be played at Peacock, and their answer will be: ‘Well, our young people.’ [fans] They stream. Nonsense! It’s NFL playoff football. 110 million people are going to watch the Super Bowl, but it’s not streaming!”
Russo can sleep a little easier knowing that Goodell said the Super Bowl will never be a streaming-only broadcast “in my day.”
Goodell’s contract runs through 2027, meaning there will be at least three more Super Bowls where the former WFAN star won’t have to figure out how to get the Peacocks on TV to watch the big game.
