Taxpayer stadiums, paywalled games, and the loss of common culture

[1srelluc]

MSN

If you were hoping to watch the NFL Wild Card Weekend playoff game between the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears, and you were not already a member of Amazon Prime, you were out of luck.

Amazon paid a reported $150 million for the rights to that one playoff game this year. This is on top of the $100 million it paid for exclusive rights to a Black Friday game and the $1 billion a year to stream Thursday Night Football games throughout the season.

In an era of increasingly fragmented audiences, it is easy to understand why media giants such as Amazon and Netflix are willing to pay a premium for NFL rights. According to Nielsen, 40 of the top 50 television broadcasts in 2024 were NFL games, with college football accounting for two more. The only other programs to crack the top tier were the presidential and vice presidential debates, and the Thanksgiving Day parade, which stood alone as the sole non-sports, non-political broadcast to make the list.

Live sporting events are at the center of an economic battle between media giants right now. Disney recently yanked all of its football programming from Google’s YouTube TV in an attempt to extract higher fees. The previously mentioned Amazon and Netflix have both been aggressive in the live sports arena and are looking to spend even more. Paramount/CBS and Comcast/NBC also spend considerable money on live sporting events, both to support their current broadcast business models and look to establish themselves in the growing streaming market.

There are literally trillions of dollars involved in this media war, and no one knows what the winning business model will be. It is very tempting for free-market-minded individuals to sit back and let the media giants fight it out, but what if something is lost in the process?

America used to have a common culture. For most of the 20th century, large national events — the Super Bowl, the World Series, the Oscars, the Emmys, even sitcoms — were experienced together, at the same time, by rich and poor alike, free over the air. These shared rituals gave Americans with little else in common a sense that they still belonged to the same community.

Basically the NFL has said FU to fans....Pay to stream the games or don't....We want the revenue.

My gripe is that you can't really cut away from a streamed game during all the commercials during breaks at each quarter, after a punt, TV time-outs, or halftime then have to wait while Netflix or Prime spins back up.

Black Fatigue also plays a part because all the commercials have blacks in them.

 

[Darkwind]

The NFL should go back to broadcasting all playoff games, plus the Super Bowl, on Broadcast networks so that everyone can watch.

The NFL can get their cash through adverts like they used to.

 

[tyroneweaver]

Goodell is the problem.. Wait til the Superbowl is pay per view

 

[Dont Taz Me Bro]

Yep. They expect the taxpayers to fund their stadiums then charge the public astronomical amounts of money to attend and eat and drink at the games.

 

[evenflow1969]

MSN

If you were hoping to watch the NFL Wild Card Weekend playoff game between the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears, and you were not already a member of Amazon Prime, you were out of luck.

Amazon paid a reported $150 million for the rights to that one playoff game this year. This is on top of the $100 million it paid for exclusive rights to a Black Friday game and the $1 billion a year to stream Thursday Night Football games throughout the season.

In an era of increasingly fragmented audiences, it is easy to understand why media giants such as Amazon and Netflix are willing to pay a premium for NFL rights. According to Nielsen, 40 of the top 50 television broadcasts in 2024 were NFL games, with college football accounting for two more. The only other programs to crack the top tier were the presidential and vice presidential debates, and the Thanksgiving Day parade, which stood alone as the sole non-sports, non-political broadcast to make the list.

Live sporting events are at the center of an economic battle between media giants right now. Disney recently yanked all of its football programming from Google’s YouTube TV in an attempt to extract higher fees. The previously mentioned Amazon and Netflix have both been aggressive in the live sports arena and are looking to spend even more. Paramount/CBS and Comcast/NBC also spend considerable money on live sporting events, both to support their current broadcast business models and look to establish themselves in the growing streaming market.

There are literally trillions of dollars involved in this media war, and no one knows what the winning business model will be. It is very tempting for free-market-minded individuals to sit back and let the media giants fight it out, but what if something is lost in the process?

America used to have a common culture. For most of the 20th century, large national events — the Super Bowl, the World Series, the Oscars, the Emmys, even sitcoms — were experienced together, at the same time, by rich and poor alike, free over the air. These shared rituals gave Americans with little else in common a sense that they still belonged to the same community.

Basically the NFL has said FU to fans....Pay to stream the games or don't....We want the revenue.

My gripe is that you can't really cut away from a streamed game during all the commercials during breaks at each quarter, after a punt, TV time-outs, or halftime then have to wait while Netflix or Prime spins back up.

Black Fatigue also plays a part because all the commercials have blacks in them.

Watching sports has definitely risen in cost. It will cost them fans.

 

[1srelluc]

Watching sports has definitely risen in cost. It will cost them fans.

I quit watching Thursday night football since Prime took it over.

 

[22lcidw]

MSN

If you were hoping to watch the NFL Wild Card Weekend playoff game between the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears, and you were not already a member of Amazon Prime, you were out of luck.

Amazon paid a reported $150 million for the rights to that one playoff game this year. This is on top of the $100 million it paid for exclusive rights to a Black Friday game and the $1 billion a year to stream Thursday Night Football games throughout the season.

In an era of increasingly fragmented audiences, it is easy to understand why media giants such as Amazon and Netflix are willing to pay a premium for NFL rights. According to Nielsen, 40 of the top 50 television broadcasts in 2024 were NFL games, with college football accounting for two more. The only other programs to crack the top tier were the presidential and vice presidential debates, and the Thanksgiving Day parade, which stood alone as the sole non-sports, non-political broadcast to make the list.

Live sporting events are at the center of an economic battle between media giants right now. Disney recently yanked all of its football programming from Google’s YouTube TV in an attempt to extract higher fees. The previously mentioned Amazon and Netflix have both been aggressive in the live sports arena and are looking to spend even more. Paramount/CBS and Comcast/NBC also spend considerable money on live sporting events, both to support their current broadcast business models and look to establish themselves in the growing streaming market.

There are literally trillions of dollars involved in this media war, and no one knows what the winning business model will be. It is very tempting for free-market-minded individuals to sit back and let the media giants fight it out, but what if something is lost in the process?

America used to have a common culture. For most of the 20th century, large national events — the Super Bowl, the World Series, the Oscars, the Emmys, even sitcoms — were experienced together, at the same time, by rich and poor alike, free over the air. These shared rituals gave Americans with little else in common a sense that they still belonged to the same community.

Basically the NFL has said FU to fans....Pay to stream the games or don't....We want the revenue.

My gripe is that you can't really cut away from a streamed game during all the commercials during breaks at each quarter, after a punt, TV time-outs, or halftime then have to wait while Netflix or Prime spins back up.

Black Fatigue also plays a part because all the commercials have blacks in them.

The NFL have screwed over the fans over the many decades that supported the league as it continued to grow. TV made the league. That and the gambling aspect associated with it.

 

[evenflow1969]

I quit watching Thursday night football since Prime took it over.

About all I watch on tv is football and the weather. My tv has been turned on maybe 10 to 15 hours in the past year. I would watch more football if I didn't need every streaming service known to mankind to see the games. No I am dropping that money for as little as it will be used. I have a group of captains and hunter guides willing to hunt, golf, or fish pretty much anytime I want. Seems like a better use of time than sitting on a couch watching tv. Nope I am dropping money on cable and streaming services.

 

[Invisibleflash]

MSN

If you were hoping to watch the NFL Wild Card Weekend playoff game between the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears, and you were not already a member of Amazon Prime, you were out of luck.

Amazon paid a reported $150 million for the rights to that one playoff game this year. This is on top of the $100 million it paid for exclusive rights to a Black Friday game and the $1 billion a year to stream Thursday Night Football games throughout the season.

In an era of increasingly fragmented audiences, it is easy to understand why media giants such as Amazon and Netflix are willing to pay a premium for NFL rights. According to Nielsen, 40 of the top 50 television broadcasts in 2024 were NFL games, with college football accounting for two more. The only other programs to crack the top tier were the presidential and vice presidential debates, and the Thanksgiving Day parade, which stood alone as the sole non-sports, non-political broadcast to make the list.

Live sporting events are at the center of an economic battle between media giants right now. Disney recently yanked all of its football programming from Google’s YouTube TV in an attempt to extract higher fees. The previously mentioned Amazon and Netflix have both been aggressive in the live sports arena and are looking to spend even more. Paramount/CBS and Comcast/NBC also spend considerable money on live sporting events, both to support their current broadcast business models and look to establish themselves in the growing streaming market.

There are literally trillions of dollars involved in this media war, and no one knows what the winning business model will be. It is very tempting for free-market-minded individuals to sit back and let the media giants fight it out, but what if something is lost in the process?

America used to have a common culture. For most of the 20th century, large national events — the Super Bowl, the World Series, the Oscars, the Emmys, even sitcoms — were experienced together, at the same time, by rich and poor alike, free over the air. These shared rituals gave Americans with little else in common a sense that they still belonged to the same community.

Basically the NFL has said FU to fans....Pay to stream the games or don't....We want the revenue.

My gripe is that you can't really cut away from a streamed game during all the commercials during breaks at each quarter, after a punt, TV time-outs, or halftime then have to wait while Netflix or Prime spins back up.

Black Fatigue also plays a part because all the commercials have blacks in them.

You can't even watch the New Year's ball drop like it was shown a few years ago. Ball drop video is licensed.

 

[LA RAM FAN]

The NFL have screwed over the fans over the many decades that supported the league as it continued to grow. TV made the league. That and the gambling aspect associated with it.

the NO FAN LOYALTY LEAGUE for sure has screwed over the fans for decades,people that go to NFL games are idiots. the owners dont give a shit about the fans the fact as someone else said they want the PUBLIC to fund NFL stadiums instead of building their own ******* stadiums.

then after being loyal to them for decades,their team ups and leaves them for another city,it has gotten so rediculous you not only dont know what team your favorite player will play for next year you dont know what city your team will be in next year, The green bay packers are the only team you know wont move because the people in the state own them.thats how it SHOULD be but the corrupt NFL cartel put a stop to that


the owners **** over the livlihoods of people moving to another city and dont give a shit about their livelihoods,they are evil mother fuckers who will all burn in hell and join the likes of people like al davis,former rams owner geogia frontiere,oilers owner bud adams and colts owner jim irsey,ALL burning in hell right now as we speak.

give me COLLEGE football and UCLA over NFL football anyday of the year.**** THE NFL.

 

[odanny]

Of the top 100 programs watched in the U.S. in 2025, 84 of them were NFL games. Another 8 were college football games. 4 more were sporting events (Kentucky Derby was one, not sure the other 3).

That leaves 4 non-sporting shows in the top 100. With so many people watching NFL, you knew greed was going to take it over, and it has.

 

[candycorn]

MSN

If you were hoping to watch the NFL Wild Card Weekend playoff game between the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears, and you were not already a member of Amazon Prime, you were out of luck.

Amazon paid a reported $150 million for the rights to that one playoff game this year. This is on top of the $100 million it paid for exclusive rights to a Black Friday game and the $1 billion a year to stream Thursday Night Football games throughout the season.

In an era of increasingly fragmented audiences, it is easy to understand why media giants such as Amazon and Netflix are willing to pay a premium for NFL rights. According to Nielsen, 40 of the top 50 television broadcasts in 2024 were NFL games, with college football accounting for two more. The only other programs to crack the top tier were the presidential and vice presidential debates, and the Thanksgiving Day parade, which stood alone as the sole non-sports, non-political broadcast to make the list.

Live sporting events are at the center of an economic battle between media giants right now. Disney recently yanked all of its football programming from Google’s YouTube TV in an attempt to extract higher fees. The previously mentioned Amazon and Netflix have both been aggressive in the live sports arena and are looking to spend even more. Paramount/CBS and Comcast/NBC also spend considerable money on live sporting events, both to support their current broadcast business models and look to establish themselves in the growing streaming market.

There are literally trillions of dollars involved in this media war, and no one knows what the winning business model will be. It is very tempting for free-market-minded individuals to sit back and let the media giants fight it out, but what if something is lost in the process?

America used to have a common culture. For most of the 20th century, large national events — the Super Bowl, the World Series, the Oscars, the Emmys, even sitcoms — were experienced together, at the same time, by rich and poor alike, free over the air. These shared rituals gave Americans with little else in common a sense that they still belonged to the same community.

Basically the NFL has said FU to fans....Pay to stream the games or don't....We want the revenue.

My gripe is that you can't really cut away from a streamed game during all the commercials during breaks at each quarter, after a punt, TV time-outs, or halftime then have to wait while Netflix or Prime spins back up.

Black Fatigue also plays a part because all the commercials have blacks in them.

Just couldn’t help yourself and had to play the race card, could you?

 

[candycorn]

Steve Young talked about inelastic demand which is an economic term. The NFL has it for sure but it has taken it to another level to where it permeated the culture at large. Take this thread of example.... The OP apparently isn’t a rabid fan and most of the posters on it are not rabid fans either. Yet here we are discussing it when it has zero bearing on our lives, our families, the future, etc...

 

[petro]

Yep. They expect the taxpayers to fund their stadiums then charge the public astronomical amounts of money to attend and eat and drink at the games.

I see the shiny new Vikings stadium that cost taxpayers half of the billion to put it up.
I will never see the inside as tickets are beyond reasonable.
All for about 7 or 8 home games and they played 2 games in Europe.
The excuse for building it was more local revenue for businesses like bars and restaurants, yet 2 games overseas takes that local revenue away.

 

[Polishprince]

Top boxing, MMA and professional wrestling shows have been shown on pay per view for years.

I'm not shocked that football is following the lead.

BTW, you can still listen to the games on the radio for free.

 

[my2¢]

I don't find it as bad as it used to be. All home games used to be blacked out, whether the stadium was sold out or not. The first regular season Monday Night Football game between the Jets and Browns in 1970, I had to listen to on radio. At MNF halftimes during those early years fans first saw the highlights from the previous day's games. Howard Cosell once apologized to Broncos fans about their highlights often being skipped over because of the delay getting the film in from Denver.