The NFL’s decision to air the Chiefs-Dolphins wild card game on the Peacock streaming service was a look at what’s on the horizon for the league
The future is upon us, and it’s going to cost us. At least when it comes time to watch important football games. The NFL’s decision to broadcast the Kansas City Chiefs vs. Miami Dolphins game during Wild Card Weekend on streaming service Peacock is just the tip of the iceberg. And while that may not sit too well with longtime fans, it’s a trend that’s NOT going to stop.
Field & Stream
As has been the trend for nearly ten years now, live streaming has replaced terrestrial and even cable television for many events. The same can be said for other entertainment like major films and TV. It seems as if the streaming option is much more convenient and gives the viewers more options.
Unfortunately, it also means paying a premium to see some games, and most fans expect those rates to be constantly on the rise. Especially when it comes to major sporting events, where the demand is exceptionally high. For example, the NFL or NBA could black out a team’s game locally (especially if it was a pivotal one) and charge their fans a fee to see it. That has many viewers worried about price gouging. Especially as the world of sports-on-demand gets nearer and nearer. We’ve seen this with major boxing and pro wrestling events, some of which have reached a price of nearly $100.
At the same time, there have been complaints that some of the streaming services have technical issues, poor broadcast teams, or are just hard to find. With what seems to be infinite channel options, many viewers don’t feel like searching around to find a contest that’s not being aired on one of the league’s traditional networks – like FOX, NBC, or ABC/ESPN.
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The NFL Will Lead The Way
As the most-watched American sport, the NFL will most certainly be the first to fully jump into the stream. And in many ways, they already have. Their weekly broadcasts on Amazon on Thursday nights have been mostly rejected.
Many view what Roger Goodell and his minions are doing as a mere ‘cash grab’. But that shouldn’t be surprising from a league that also charges $7 million for 30 seconds of airtime during the Super Bowl.
Even still? Cord-cutting has led to the end of the traditional era. For goodness sake, if anyone thinks they are ever going to be tuning into a game by using a coat hanger on the back of an old TV set again? They’re living in a cave. Entertainment costs money. And entertainment on demand comes at a premium. Pro leagues are just figuring out now how to exploit that. But make no mistake: They’re going to.
Passing The Buck
It’s the nature of professional sports and entertainment that the cost is always passed along to the customer. If your favorite squad signs a top free agent? Well then, that’s an excuse to raise ticket prices, isn’t it?
And to be fair… it works. Because they know we’re hooked.
Our need to watch competition at the highest level dates back to the Greeks and Romans. And the NFL is now in our blood. In many ways, it’s as much a part of traditional American culture as Mom and apple pie. The league knows that, and they also know that all the complaining from the masses isn’t going to matter.
At the end of the day, they’re going to play the games, and we’ll cough up the money for it. We may kick, and we may scream. But in the end, we’ll give in, because their product is just too damn enticing to pass up.
So, while the NFL will continue to punch its ticket toward premium services, it will be the fans who pay the fare. Like always.
Ryan K Boman is the author of the 2023 book, Pop Music & Peanut Butter: A Collection of Essays about Embracing Life with Laughter & Love. Follow him on social media @RyanKBoman
