Whenever I’m asked about the fate of local TV, I always answer that as goes the next NFL deal, so goes TV. Well, as everyone with even the slightest interest in the subject already knows, the NFL/TV deal is done, and so is local TV.
The NFL got the $100 billion it was looking for, the big media companies got the catnip they need to schmooze what’s left of old-school advertisers, and as NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said, “These new media deals will provide our fans even greater access to the games they love. We’re proud to grow our partnerships with the most innovative media companies in the market.”
But…
The world has changed. The NFL’s traditional partners (ABC/ESPN, NBC, CBS, and Fox) all have streaming rights now, and Thursday games will be available exclusively online via Prime Video (Amazon). Where does that leave your friendly neighborhood local television station?
Cold open, hot switch, lead-in, lead-out, tune-in promos? What do they mean now? Is it time for the FCC to reclaim the very valuable spectrum gifted to the broadcast industry? Don’t miss my upcoming Sunday essay, “Has the NFL killed television?”
Author’s note: This is not a sponsored post. I am the author of this article and it expresses my own opinions. I am not, nor is my company, receiving compensation for it.