NBC Sports is waiting on the NFL to make the first move. Jon Miller, President of Acquisitions and Partnerships for NBC Sports, addressed the league’s media rights future on The Varsity Podcast with Jon Ourand.
Miller made clear the NFL controls the timeline for any discussions with NBC Sports.
“The NFL is obviously a hugely important part of our ecosystem. We’ve been very proud of our relationship with them, and obviously the success speaks for itself,” said Miller. “At the right time, when the NFL decides that they want to have a conversation with us, our leadership will sit down with them.”
While the NFL has publicly stated a desire to renegotiate current league rights agreements with its partners, NBC has yet to have that meeting. As for where talks stand now, Miller says he’s watching from the sidelines. The NFL is reportedly in discussions with CBS. Those conversations stem from the network’s recent ownership change.
Miller acknowledged the uncertainty directly.
“I don’t know when the NFL is going to come to us.” He added that NBC’s leadership expects dialogue eventually. How it plays out remains to be seen.
NBC Sports isn’t sitting idle, though. Miller confirmed the network will pursue other rights opportunities as they emerge. Other properties will hit the market, and NBC plans to engage.
“There are other properties that we don’t have that will be coming to market as well. We’ll engage with all of them at the right time,” Miller said.
Miller kept his comments measured on how NFL talks might affect other negotiations.
“I don’t really have any idea of how the NFL negotiations will have an effect one way or another on any of those conversations,” said Miller.
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