Apple May Have Secured Streaming Deal For NFL Sunday Ticket

Apple may have secured the deal for the streaming rights of NFL’s Sunday Ticket package. Rumours have been swelling that the iPhone maker was pursuing the deal with the NFL to bolster its streaming service and it’s reported that the ink may have already been signed.

In a recent report, Puck News‘ Matthew Belloni claims that NFL Sunday Ticket is “Apple’s to lose.” On top of that, Belloni’s sources claim that Apple has already signed the deal, securing the streaming rights. However, the deal is being kept quiet “at Apple’s request.”

My sources say it’s Apple’s to lose, at this point. (One source told me this weekend that the deal is actually done and is being kept quiet at Apple’s request, which I haven’t confirmed and don’t know for a fact; Apple isn’t commenting,)” Belloni claims in his reports. “That would make sense: Even after winning top Emmys and the best picture Oscar, C.E.O. Tim Cook has said Apple is merely in its early days of premium video, and nothing is more premium than NFL football. Plus, it would explain Apple’s recent foray into live events and advertising with MLB games.

Apple has reportedly been in talks with the NFL and its exec team since last year. Although Apple has long had its eye set on securing NFL Sunday Ticket, it has been met with competition from other streaming services like Amazon. The bid to ink the deal has been estimated to sit around $2.5 billion

If Apple does indeed begin to stream NFL Sunday Ticket, Apple TV+ subscribers will gain access to watch non-prime time games featuring all 32 NFL teams. NFL Sunday Ticket will join the growing roster of sports programming on Apple TV+. Most recently, Apple opened its door to sports by securing Friday Night Baseball, as a part of its deal with Major League Baseball.

Of course, as it stands, it’s best to take Belloni’s claims with a grain of salt. We will have to wait for official confirmation from Apple and NFL.