The NFL's Next Media Deal Is Already Causing Chaos

The NFL plans to renegotiate its media rights deals years ahead of schedule, a move that is already freezing the market for other sports. As first reported by John Ourand of Puck News, leagues like the NHL and the PGA Tour are now scrambling for renewals before broadcasters commit their budgets to football.

• A market on ice: Although the NFL's current agreements run through 2033, a built-in opt-out clause for 2029 is a trigger the league is all but certain to pull. The league's power play has effectively stalled negotiations for other sports, as broadcasters keep their checkbooks closed, waiting to see the NFL’s opening bid before making other major commitments.

• The price of football: The anxiety is palpable across the industry, with media companies already stashing cash for an expected astronomical price hike. In a move that puts other sports properties on notice, Fox CEO Lachlan Murdoch has already signaled that the company is prepared to "rebalance" its sports portfolio to afford a new NFL contract.

• The digital scrimmage: The league is already warming up with the streamers, shopping a package of international games to the "usual suspects," including Netflix, YouTube, and Prime Video. This smaller negotiation is a clear warm-up act for the main event, where deep-pocketed tech giants will compete fiercely with traditional broadcasters.

The battle between old and new media will likely drive rights fees into a new stratosphere, further carving up the sports viewing map and forcing fans to juggle even more subscriptions.