A report from CNBC claims local broadcast restrictions in the NFL Sunday Ticket package have slowed negotiations between the league and Apple, the presumptive favorite to land the package.
The report says the NFL’s broadcast deals signed last year with FOX and CBS including local exclusivity. In turn, the networks have continued to hold or have purchased stations in NFL markets to retain the exclusivity. For instance, FOX owns stations in Atlanta, Chicago, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Francisco, and Washington D.C., which are all home to NFC teams the network owns the broadcast rights to.
Apple is also reportedly interested in owning the NFL Sunday Ticket rights outside of the U.S. Previously, the service has strictly been a U.S.-only cable product.
The NFL is seeking $2.5 billion per year for NFL Sunday Ticket rights. It also is looking to pair the service with an interest in NFL Media, which would include a stake in NFL.com, NFL Network, and NFL RedZone.
NFL Sunday Ticket is the final remaining broadcast property up for grabs for the league until 2030.
