Roger Goodell says he plans for every NFL game to remain on broadcast television moving into the league’s new media deals. He noted in an interview with CNBC that he is paying attentions to seeing how fans are increasingly watching elsewhere these days.
What We Know: Goodell said 100% of NFL games stay on broadcast television in an interview with CNBC. This follows a House Judiciary Committee investigating earlier this year whether that remains true or not in regards to the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961. Even so, Goodell noted that fans are shifting toward other platforms and services. The NFL has been reevaluating those trends since striking its media deals in 2021. Meanwhile, its broadcast partners are expanding into streaming themselves. This summer, the NFL held talks with several media partners about their rights deals looking to extend but didn’t.
What They Said: (All quotes via CNBC):
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell says 100% of games are available on broadcast television: “I think we’ll always continue to make sure our games are available. 100% of our games are available on broadcast television. I see that continuing. We want to make sure our games are available to our fans. I think that’s been the magic of our success.”
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell says the NFL is noticing changes in how fans are consuming games: “I’m not sure what an ideal world is. The world is changing. The world is changing for our partners. It’s changing for us. It’s changing for fans. Our fans are moving to other platforms. We’ve obviously evaluated that in the context of many of our media deals, even since we struck these deals back in in 2021. You have to continually stay ahead of that, see where the technology is going, see where the fans are going.”
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell believes the shift to streaming is a natural progression: “We also have to look at these new platforms and evaluate them, because a lot of fans are going to those platforms. It’s not like we’re going there and they’re coming; they’re already there. They’re also a younger demographic, and they’re looking for different technologies. They’re looking for different experiences, and I think that interactive is something that they’re doing. And as you know, our broadcast partners are getting into streaming. Every single one of them.”
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell says the NFL will take time talking with everyone on new media deals: “The bottom line is we have all of our options. We can do deals earlier, or we can do deals later. We have that opportunity, and we’re continually having conversations with our current partners and potential partners going forward. We’re not gonna make any decisions until we have to or where we think it’s in our best interest. All of those things are on the table for us. We’ve had really good dialog, and we’ll continue to have that. We’ll make the best decision for the NFL and our fans.”
What Remains Unclear: Goodell admits he isn’t sure what an ideal streaming model looks like. The league keeps evaluating new platforms as younger fans seek different technology. No timeline exists for when the NFL might adjust its broadcast mix. Talks with current and potential partners continue without a set decision date.
What It Means: Goodell decided to not appear at the House Judiciary Committee hearing earlier this year. He cited his absence was due to ongoing litigation related to the topic of the hearing. Broadcast still anchors the NFL’s audience and revenue for now. Streaming, however, is reshaping how the league plans future deals. Younger fans want interactive, on-demand experiences, not just traditional TV. That shift keeps pressure on the NFL to adapt without rushing. Whether or not the wait and see approach taken by the networks this summer is to their benefit is yet to be seen. But Goodell still holds his stance that the NFL remains the most available sport on broadcast television.
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