The competition for live sports broadcasting rights has grown between traditional TV networks and streaming platforms seeking premium NFL games.

The NFL's current media rights package, approved in 2021, is worth $113 billion over 11 seasons from 2023 to 2033, averaging more than $10 billion annually.[1][2]

Broadcasters CBS, Fox, NBC and ESPN hold key packages alongside streaming services including Amazon Prime Video and YouTube.[1]

Curtis LeGeyt, chief executive of the National Association of Broadcasters, said on "The Varsity" podcast with Sports Business Journal's John Ourand that industry consolidation is necessary to bid effectively for NFL rights and maintain local over-the-air access.[3]

"I think, for better or worse, (consolidation) is an essential thing right now," LeGeyt said. "And I’m looking at this purely through the lens of broadcast. If we’re going to compete for those NFL sports rights, if we’re going to compete locally to ensure that teams feel like they have a local distribution option that is freely available through local broadcasts... broadcasters need some scale in order to compete for that. The only way to gain that scale is through some level of consolidation."[3]

Former NFL linebacker Shawne Merriman, a three-time Pro Bowl selection who played from 2005 to 2012, appeared on OutKick's "Don't @ Me with Dan Dakich" podcast to discuss the league's media future.[4]

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission on September 17, 2024, announced it would seek public comment on the shift of live sports programming from broadcast television to streaming video services, citing implications for major leagues including the NFL.[5][6]

Sources

1. NFL.com
   Article: "NFL clubs approve new $113 billion media rights deals"
   Publication date: March 18, 2021
   https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-clubs-approve-new-113-billion-media-rights-deals
2. Reuters
   Article: "NFL agrees to more than $100 billion in media deals with TV networks"
   Publication date: March 18, 2021
   https://www.reuters.com/article/us-nfl-media-rights/nfl-agrees-to-more-than-100-bln-in-media-deals-with-tv-networks-idUSKBN2B91T1/
3. Sports Business Journal
   Podcast: "The Varsity with John Ourand" (episode featuring Curtis LeGeyt)
   Accessed date: November 2025
   https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/podcasts/the-varsity
4. Fox News
   Article: "Ex-NFL star Shawne Merriman advocating for players to get paid more when TV rights deals explode"
   Publication date: November 2025
   https://www.foxnews.com/sports/ex-nfl-star-shawne-merriman-players-paid-tv-rights-deals-explode
5. FCC.gov
   Document: "FCC Chairwoman Seeks Comment on Live Sports Programming on Multichannel Video Programming Distributors and Video Streaming Services"
   Publication date: September 17, 2024
   https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-chairwoman-seeks-comment-live-sports-programming-multichannel
6. Associated Press
   Article: "FCC to examine how live sports are moving from TV to streaming services"
   Publication date: September 17, 2024
   https://apnews.com/article/fcc-sports-tv-streaming-rosenworcel-2d9a5e4a0f2b4e5a8b1c9d7e3f0a1b2c