National Football League on television

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The National Football League on television involves the broadcasting of National Football League (NFL) games on television networks in the United States. The NFL, being the most popular sports league in the country, has a significant presence on television, which plays a crucial role in its revenue and popularity.

History

The history of the NFL on television dates back to 1939 when the first televised NFL game was broadcast. Over the decades, the relationship between the NFL and television has evolved significantly, with major networks such as NBC, CBS, ABC, Fox, and ESPN paying billions of dollars for broadcast rights. The NFL's television rights are among the most lucrative and expensive in all of sports due to the high viewership games attract.

Broadcast networks

Current

As of the latest broadcasting agreements, the NFL's games are primarily televised on five major networks:

• CBS: CBS continues to hold rights to broadcast AFC games on Sunday afternoons.
• Fox: Fox broadcasts NFC games on Sunday afternoons.
• NBC: NBC airs the Sunday night football game, known as Sunday Night Football.
• ESPN: ESPN hosts Monday Night Football, a staple of Monday evening programming.
• NFL Network: The NFL Network airs games on Thursday nights, known as Thursday Night Football, and also provides extensive coverage of the NFL Draft and other league-related activities.

Past

Historically, other networks such as ABC and TNT have also held broadcast rights to NFL games. ABC was the original home of Monday Night Football before it moved to ESPN in 2006.

Impact on television

The NFL's presence on television has had a profound impact on both the sports and television industries. NFL broadcasts consistently rank among the highest-rated programs in the United States, and the Super Bowl, in particular, is the most-watched annual television event.

Television rights deals

The NFL's television rights deals are negotiated to maximize revenue and ensure broad distribution of games. These deals are often multi-year agreements worth billions of dollars, reflecting the high demand for NFL content. The negotiation of these deals often involves complex considerations of broadcasting times, exclusivity, and digital rights.

Digital and streaming

In addition to traditional broadcast, the NFL has embraced digital streaming platforms to reach a broader audience. Platforms such as Amazon Prime Video and Yahoo! Sports have acquired rights to stream certain NFL games. The league also offers its own streaming service, NFL Game Pass, which provides access to live preseason games and replays of regular and postseason games.

Controversies and issues

The NFL on television has not been without its controversies, including debates over broadcasting rights, blackout policies, and the impact of live broadcasting on stadium attendance. Additionally, the league has faced criticism over how it handles broadcasting of national anthem protests and other political statements during game broadcasts.

See also

• Super Bowl television ratings
• List of Super Bowl broadcasters
• NFL Sunday Ticket
• Sports broadcasting contracts in the United States