TheOak

DirecTV currently owns the rights to NFL Sunday Ticket, the satellite package that telecasts every out-of-market regular-season NFL game. But their contract expires after the 2014 season, and that could open the door for other media companies to bid on the subscription that costs DirecTV $1 billion a year.
One such media company: Google.
Google CEO Larry Page and YouTube content chief Robert Kyncl met with NFL officials, including commissioner Roger Goodell on Wednesday, according to AllThingsD.com, and NFL Sunday Ticket was among the topics discussed.
In a world where content -- both written and video -- continues to migrate online (Hulu, Netflix and, yes, YouTube have all had success with original content and/or traditional television programming), it's reasonable to think that Google, which reported $14.1 billion in revenues last quarter, would be interested in the exclusive rights to the most popular game in the country.
In March, DirecTV CFO Pat Doyle was asked about the future of Sunday Ticket and he said that DirecTV would consider striking a non-exclusive deal with the NFL or possibly dropping Sunday Ticket altogether.
But let's not get too far ahead of ourselves. A Google-NFL meet-and-greet is a long way from a deal, and the notion of the league abandoning television for internet-only Sunday Ticket viewing is a pretty radical one. AllThingsD.com adds: "Goodell and other NFL executives are meeting with multiple Silicon Valley companies on this trip, which is one they make annually."
So for now, Sunday Ticket remains DirecTV-only, subscription-based programming that costs subscribers anywhere from $224.95 to $299.95 (for new subscribers, Sunday Ticket is free for one season). But in 18 months, that could all change, especially if the NFL has multiple bidders.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-...-sunday-ticket

Crusader

Interesting. I wonder how it would affect the International NFL Gamepass.

TheOak

I see Google/YouTube getting it.

DirecTV would have to charge an exorbitant fee to offset what revenue YouTube could bring in globally just based off of exposure.

I pay the DirecTv price because if I don't, it's Texans/Cowboys for me 12 weeks per season.

SmashMouth

Can't wait if that comes to pass. I only have Direct due to the ticket.

K Major

+1. That goes for me too.

RaginCajun83

Only have Direct in case I was ever to move and needed Sunday Ticket. If the games were on youtube, bye bye DTV

Papa Voodoo

Google will probably win the bid. I hate Red Zone, but I don't do fantasy football either.

mutineer10

It would be awesome if DirecTV's monopoly went the way of the dodo bird.

Granted, living in Baton Rouge I always get the Saints anyway, but it would be nice to have a choice of Sunday afternoon games. We recently cut the cord on cable to save some $$$, so we're heavy on NetFlix, Hulu, etc. Sunday Ticket would just be another added bonus.

TheOak

For all the reasons we have stated... DirecTV can't afford to let it go...


I tell AT&T and Comcast every few months the reason I am with DirecTv is not anything they have an answer for....

It's a wash for me... DTV has issues with weather from time to time but the picture and packages are a hell of a lot better than Cable or U-Verse.

saintfan

I have DirecTV absolutely because of Sunday Ticket. And I give their competitors the same story you do when they bother me. Frankly, I love DirecTV - the service is solid (my weather issues have always been few, even when I lived in Texas), the support has always been there when I've (rarely) needed it. I've been a customer for more than a decade.

I doubt they'll let it go, Sunday Ticket I mean, and I'm 100% fine paying what I pay for it - I mean I wish it was free, or I wish I could JUST pay for Saints games, but otherwise it's a good deal.

C'mon Man...