On Monday afternoon, the NFL and CBS announced an expansion of their streaming agreement. The deal includes game streaming access via mobile devices for CBS All Access and paid TV subscribers. Through 2017, mobile streaming rights had previously been exclusive to Verizon.
“We are excited to extend our partnership with CBS as it aligns perfectly with our goal of providing NFL fans with greater opportunities to watch NFL games across digital devices,” said Hans Schroeder, Chief Operating Officer of NFL Media and Business, in a statement. “The 2018 season will mark a new era for NFL fans with unprecedented access to NFL games across digital platforms.”
Every NFL ON CBS game will be available to fans on mobile, including Super Bowl LIII next February. Subscribers with services like Roku, Apple TV, Chromecast, and Android TV will also be able to stream the games.
“We’re very pleased to extend and expand our partnership with the NFL and give our viewers and CBS All Access subscribers the ability to stream NFL ON CBS games on mobile phones in addition to all other platforms for years to come,” said CBS Interactive President and COO, Marc DeBevoise, in a statement. “This deal enables us to deliver even more value to NFL fans, our subscribers and our distribution partners.”
SportTechie Takeaway
The updated streaming deal will run through 2022 and stands to benefit both CBS and the NFL. The league’s TV ratings were down 9.7 percent in 2017, so finding new viewers is a key goal. The NFL extended its deal with Verizon last December to continue expanding through multiple digital properties.
Securing mobile streaming rights to the NFL is important for CBS because of reported slow growth with streaming platforms like CBS Sports HQ. An influx of NFL users could help that problem.