NFL+, the league’s streaming video subscription service, will now offer the ability to watch NFL Network and NFL RedZone, the NFL announced Thursday. Here’s what you need to know:
- NFL+, now in its second season, will include a live stream of NFL Network in addition to access to live out-of-market preseason games, local and primetime regular season and postseason games. It costs $6.99 per month or $49.99 per year.
- Fans can upgrade to NFL+ Premium for $14.99 per month or $99.99 per year to get NFL RedZone as well. The program is hosted by Scott Hanson and produced by NFL Network. It’s also available with a subscription to DirectTV, YouTubeTV and other streaming services.
- NFL+ was available for $4.99 per month or $39.99 annually when it launched last season. The premium version was $9.99 per month or $79.99 per year.
The Athletic’s instant analysis:
Why is this significant?
This is huge news for NFL fans who have always dreamed of getting NFL RedZone and NFL Network direct to consumer. RedZone, in particular, has always been an intoxicating product, with host Hanson rightfully becoming one of NFL’s most popular broadcasters because of his devotion to multiple-screen action and “the witching hour.”
“People have asked me all the time where can I watch NFL RedZone, how can I get it on the go?” Hanson said today during a conference call. Now, they have their answer (for a cost).
Like all entities, the future (and current) is direct-to-consumer strategy and today’s announcement continues the NFL’s ultimate media strategy which is both reach and the accumulation of money — Deitsch
What about the price point?
The NFL’s senior vice president of NFL Media, David Jurenka, said Thursday that the league based its price point on research that showed what would be affordable for a base tier and a premium tier. At least anecdotally, there have been plenty of consumers who have wanted the Red Zone but did not want to pay hundreds of dollars for Pay TV.
Is $14.99/month ($99.99/year) fair value for the NFL+ tier including Red Zone, NFL Network, game replays, the All-22 Coaches Film? We’ll see. The league says its data shows there are 180 million NFL fans (this probably is a liberal number that includes many casuals), so that’s the base of potential customers for a direct-to-consumer product. — Deitsch
What they’re saying
“We launched NFL+ last season to further grow our direct relationship with millions of fans,” NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said a release Thursday. “The response was excellent. And as we embark on the second season of NFL+, we are excited to add NFL Network and NFL RedZone and provide greater access to football content for NFL fans everywhere.”
Backstory
In June, the NFL and DirecTV announced they had agreed to a multiyear renewal that for the first time includes RedZone access for all DirecTV customers. DirecTV used to produce its own version of the show, but last December, the NFL moved on from its Sunday Ticket deal with DirectTV, instead announcing a seven-year deal with YouTube. The YouTube deal is worth about $2 billion a year, per a source familiar with the deal.
Required reading
(Photo: Kirby Lee / USA Today)
