| Revision as of 15:38, 25 July 2022 editViperSnake151 (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers, Rollbackers109,672 editsm ViperSnake151 moved page NFL Game Pass to NFL+: begin updates for changes announced today← Previous edit | Revision as of 16:38, 25 July 2022 edit undoViperSnake151 (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers, Rollbackers109,672 edits rewrite article to reflect today's announcements, add some more detailsTags: nowiki added Visual editNext edit → | ||
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| '''NFL Game Pass''' is |
'''NFL+''' (formerly '''NFL Game Pass''') is an over-the-top subscription service operated by the ] (NFL). The service offers live streaming of the ] broadcasts of all NFL games, streaming of the television broadcasts of in-market games on ], streaming of out-of-market ] games, and library content from ] and ]. The service's premium tier offers on-demand replays of NFL games, including alternate "All-22" and "Coaches Film" presentations. | ||
| The service is a direct successor to several streaming services previously offered by the NFL, including '''NFL Audio Pass''' (formerly '''NFL Field Pass''')–which launched in 2003 to provide radio broadcasts, and '''NFL Game Rewind'''. Audio Pass and Game Rewind were merged to form NFL Game Pass in 2015. In turn, Game Pass was merged with the NFL's in-market mobile streaming rights (formerly held by ]) in 2022 to form NFL+. | |||
| The NFL originally offered different subscription packages. '''NFL Audio Pass''', formerly '''NFL Field Pass''', was an ] ] that provided live and archived audio broadcasts of NFL games. '''NFL Game Rewind''' provided archived games for users in North America to watch.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Rubio|first=Justin|date=2012-09-04|title=NFL Game Rewind tablet apps let you watch games on-demand, but not without a slew of restrictions|url=https://www.theverge.com/2012/9/4/3291105/nfl-game-rewind-tablet-app-ios-android|access-date=2020-08-08|website=The Verge|language=en}}</ref> And the original NFL Game Pass package offered live and archived preseason, regular season, and postseason games to international users. All of these packages were integrated into a single NFL Game Pass platform prior to the ]. | |||
| == |
==History== | ||
| In January 2003, the NFL announced a partnership with ] to serve as its ] partner, offering exclusive multimedia features during the ] via the company's ] SuperPass subscription service. Chris Russo, the league's senior vice president of new media and publishing, stated that this was a pilot that could lead to "a subscription program that includes elements such as video, audio, enhanced analysis and fantasy football" in the future.<ref>{{Cite web |title=NFL Says RealNetworks Deal May Lead To Subscription Program |url=https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2003/01/08/Sports-Media/NFL-Says-Realnetworks-Deal-May-Lead-To-Subscription-Program.aspx |access-date=2022-07-25 |website=www.sportsbusinessjournal.com |language=en}}</ref> Ahead of the ]<nowiki/>r, the NFL launched two subscription streaming services with RealNetworks as a partner, including NFL.com Fantasy Extra–which additional featured analysis and video content oriented towards ] players, and '''NFL Field Pass'''–which would carry the radio broadcasts for all NFL games, video features on NFL.com (including game highlights), the weekly program ''NFL Insider Radio'', and coverage of team press conferences.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Real offers package of NFL audio/video |url=https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Journal/Issues/2003/08/25/Media/Real-Offers-Package-Of-NFL-Audiovideo.aspx |access-date=2022-07-25 |website=www.sportsbusinessjournal.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Meserve |first=Jason |date=2003-09-11 |title=NFL and RealNetworks team |url=https://www.networkworld.com/article/2355757/nfl-and-realnetworks-team.html |access-date=2022-07-25 |website=Network World |language=en}}</ref> To enforce exclusive regional rights and encourage use of the service, the NFL prohibited local radio affiliates from including game broadcasts in their ] streams. | |||
| Prior to 2002, NFL.com offered free broadcasts of its NFL games by special agreement with approximately 20 of its member teams. However, about the same time as the first Internet radio bust, the NFL decided to join the ] SuperPass system, a subscription multimedia service that provided various channels from major broadcast providers for a fee (hence the word "Pass" in the name). RealNetworks no longer manages NFL Audio Pass. | |||
| ⚫ | In ], the NFL launched NFL Game Pass as its streaming service for international markets. NFL Field Pass was renamed NFL Audio Pass prior to the ]. That year, the NFL started live streaming preseason games online. | ||
| ==NFL Audio Pass== | |||
| NFL Audio Pass provided audio feeds from the flagship English-language radio stations of all 32 NFL teams, broadcasting every preseason, regular season, and postseason game. To direct listeners to the service, the NFL had banned local affiliates from streaming NFL games on the Internet, although several stations still broadcast the games anyway and enforcement of this ban is inconsistent. | |||
| In ], the NFL merged NFL Game Rewind–a subscription service that offered on-demand streaming of NFL games (including the original broadcast, and "Coaches Film" and "All-22" angles),<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rubio |first=Justin |date=2012-09-04 |title=NFL Game Rewind tablet apps let you watch games on-demand, but not without a slew of restrictions |url=https://www.theverge.com/2012/9/4/3291105/nfl-game-rewind-tablet-app-ios-android |access-date=2020-08-08 |website=The Verge |language=en}}</ref> with NFL Audio Pass, forming a single service under the NFL Game Pass branding in the United States.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Boorstin |first=Julia |date=2015-09-08 |title=NFL Game Pass gives cord-cutters a new option |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2015/09/08/nfl-game-pass-to-offer-season-and-pre-season-games-for-99.html |access-date=2020-08-08 |website=CNBC |language=en}}</ref> | |||
| NFL Audio Pass coverage of the ] was unique. Because the NFL only allows one station to air a local broadcast for each team in the contest, NFL Audio Pass and ] were the only options for those who want to listen to their home team but live outside of the flagship station's listening range. In addition to the team broadcasts, the NFL Audio Pass Super Bowl package included various foreign language broadcasts, live feeds from the stadium PA announcer, archives, and "press box" stat play-by-play. | |||
| The NFL previously maintained an exclusive mobile streaming rights package with ], as part of its official wireless carrier sponsorship of the league; streaming of In-market and nationally-televised games on ] was exclusive to the Verizon-operated "NFL Mobile" service, which was only available to ] subscribers.<ref>{{cite news |last=Effron |first=Lauren |date=December 20, 2011 |title=Super Bowl Will Be Live-Streamed Online for First Time |work=technology Review |publisher=] |url=https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/technology/2011/12/super-bowl-will-be-live-streamed-online-for-first-time/ |access-date=January 4, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Milian |first=Mark |date=December 20, 2011 |title=NFL playoffs, Super Bowl to be streamed online |work=CNN Tech |publisher=CNN |url=http://www.cnn.com/2011/12/20/tech/web/super-bowl-online/index.html?hpt=hp_t3 |access-date=January 4, 2012}}</ref> This exclusivity deal also affected ] streaming of games by the NFL's television partners, who were prohibited from offering their streams on smartphones.<ref>{{cite news |last=Effron |first=Lauren |date=December 20, 2011 |title=Super Bowl Will Be Live-Streamed Online for First Time |work=technology Review |publisher=] |url=https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/technology/2011/12/super-bowl-will-be-live-streamed-online-for-first-time/ |access-date=January 4, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Milian |first=Mark |date=December 20, 2011 |title=NFL playoffs, Super Bowl to be streamed online |work=CNN Tech |publisher=CNN |url=http://www.cnn.com/2011/12/20/tech/web/super-bowl-online/index.html?hpt=hp_t3 |access-date=January 4, 2012}}</ref> Under a five-year extension of the agreement beginning in the ] and ], Verizon waived this exclusivity, while still offering in-market mobile streaming. Rather than being exclusive to Verizon Wireless subscribers, the content was now primarily distributed via ]–taking advantage of Verizon's recent acquisition of ] in 2017.<ref name="ReutersJune132017">{{Cite news |last1=Tharakan |first1=Anya George |last2=Shepardson |first2=David |date=13 June 2017 |title=Verizon closes Yahoo deal, Mayer steps down |work=] |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-yahoo-m-a-verizon/verizon-closes-yahoo-deal-mayer-steps-down-idUSKBN194220 |access-date=8 September 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Rovell |first=Darren |date=December 11, 2017 |title=Verizon, NFL agree to new 5-year deal worth nearly $2.5 billion |work=ESPN.com |url=http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/21737823/verizon-nfl-agree-new-5-year-deal-worth-nearly-25-billion |url-status=live |access-date=December 11, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171212031600/http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/21737823/verizon-nfl-agree-new-5-year-deal-worth-nearly-25-billion |archive-date=December 12, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Verizon's exclusivity for live games on mobile expected to end |url=http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2017/10/23/Leagues-and-Governing-Bodies/NFL-notes.aspx |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171024043711/https://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2017/10/23/Leagues-and-Governing-Bodies/NFL-notes.aspx |archive-date=October 24, 2017 |access-date=October 23, 2017 |website=Sports Business Daily}}</ref> | |||
| ===Free previews=== | |||
| In the past, from spring until August 1, NFL Field Pass opened up its archives to "free preview." All games from the past years were available for free during this window, as is live coverage of the ] and other live multimedia. This was not the case in 2009, though the free preview returned in 2010. Until its demise in 2007, ] live video broadcasts were also available on the service. | |||
| In May 2022, it was reported that with the expiration of the league's agreement with Verizon (who had divested ] and Yahoo! to ] in 2021)<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sherman |first1=Alex |date=September 10, 2021 |title=Tinder CEO Jim Lanzone will be next CEO of Yahoo following Apollo acquisition |work=CNBC |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/09/10/tinder-ceo-jim-lanzone-will-be-next-ceo-of-yahoo-following-apollo-acquisition.html}}</ref> that the league was planning to ] these behind a new "NFL Plus" service.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ben Fischer |date=May 25, 2022 |title=NFL to proceed with launch of streaming service |url=https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/en/Daily/Morning-Buzz/2022/05/25/NFL-Plus |website=Sports Business Journal |publisher=Leaders Group}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Dade Hayes |date=May 25, 2022 |title=NFL Reportedly Sets July Launch Of Mobile-Focused Streaming Service NFL+, Its Own Version Of Previous Verizon & Yahoo Setups |url=https://deadline.com/2022/05/nfl-plus-streaming-service-mobile-devices-verizon-yahoo-1235032464/ |website=Deadline Hollywood |publisher=Penske Media Corporation}}</ref> NFL+ was officially announced on July 25, 2022, succeeding Game Pass in the United States. The service will be offered in two tiers, with the basic service offering in-market streaming on mobile devices, streaming of radio broadcasts and most preseason games, as well as library content from ] and ]. The premium tier of NFL+ will add game replays.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hayes |first=Dade |date=2022-07-25 |title=NFL Expands Media Footprint, Launches League-Branded Streaming Service |url=https://deadline.com/2022/07/nfl-expands-media-footprint-streaming-service-nfl-plus-1235076585/ |access-date=2022-07-25 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sherman |first=Alex |date=2022-07-25 |title=National Football League's new streaming service NFL+ launches at $4.99 per month |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/07/25/national-football-leagues-new-streaming-service-nfl-launches-at-4point99-per-month.html |access-date=2022-07-25 |website=CNBC |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Steinberg |first=Brian |date=2022-07-25 |title=NFL Joins Streaming Wars With Subscription Hub NFL+ |url=https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/nfl-streaming-wars-football-1235324391/ |access-date=2022-07-25 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref> | |||
| ===Broadcast availability=== | |||
| Prior to 2009, the national radio broadcasts on the ] network (including the ], a Westwood One exclusive) were not available on NFL Field Pass. As part of a renegotiation of the broadcast contract, national Westwood One games, including all prime-time games, the Pro Bowl, and all playoff games, became available on Field Pass beginning in the ]. (Westwood One's Sunday afternoon doubleheader broadcasts, which are negotiated with individual teams separately from the national package, remain unavailable on NFL Audio Pass, as do those of the rival ] and ].) Spanish-language broadcasts from ] and ] are also now available on NFL Audio Pass, although they are available for free on the Univision-NFL joint project, . | |||
| === Super Bowl LIV outage === | |||
| During Super Bowl LIV international subscribers experienced service outage during the first quarter and on the final 3 minutes of the game. | |||
| ==Developments== | |||
| An ] spinoff service, NFL Game Pass, debuted in ] for online users outside of North America. | |||
| ⚫ | NFL Field Pass was renamed NFL Audio Pass prior to the ]. That year, the NFL started live streaming preseason games online. |
||
| Starting with the ], Game Pass became available in North America, replacing the similar NFL Game Rewind service. At the same time, NFL Audio Pass was also integrated into Game Pass. <ref>{{Cite web|last=Boorstin|first=Julia|date=2015-09-08|title=NFL Game Pass gives cord-cutters a new option|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2015/09/08/nfl-game-pass-to-offer-season-and-pre-season-games-for-99.html|access-date=2020-08-08|website=CNBC|language=en}}</ref> | |||
| During the ] and the subsequent ], NFL Game Pass offered its content for free.<ref>{{Cite web|title=NFL offers fans free access to NFL Game Pass|url=https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-offers-fans-free-access-to-nfl-game-pass-0ap3000001106855?campaign=sf:fanshare:facebook|access-date=2020-08-08|website=www.nfl.com|language=en-US}}</ref> | |||
| == References == | == References == | ||
Revision as of 16:38, 25 July 2022
NFL+ (formerly NFL Game Pass) is an over-the-top subscription service operated by the National Football League (NFL). The service offers live streaming of the radio broadcasts of all NFL games, streaming of the television broadcasts of in-market games on mobile devices, streaming of out-of-market preseason games, and library content from NFL Films and NFL Network. The service's premium tier offers on-demand replays of NFL games, including alternate "All-22" and "Coaches Film" presentations.
The service is a direct successor to several streaming services previously offered by the NFL, including NFL Audio Pass (formerly NFL Field Pass)–which launched in 2003 to provide radio broadcasts, and NFL Game Rewind. Audio Pass and Game Rewind were merged to form NFL Game Pass in 2015. In turn, Game Pass was merged with the NFL's in-market mobile streaming rights (formerly held by Verizon Media) in 2022 to form NFL+.
History
In January 2003, the NFL announced a partnership with RealNetworks to serve as its streaming media partner, offering exclusive multimedia features during the playoffs via the company's RealOne SuperPass subscription service. Chris Russo, the league's senior vice president of new media and publishing, stated that this was a pilot that could lead to "a subscription program that includes elements such as video, audio, enhanced analysis and fantasy football" in the future. Ahead of the 2003 NFL seasonr, the NFL launched two subscription streaming services with RealNetworks as a partner, including NFL.com Fantasy Extra–which additional featured analysis and video content oriented towards fantasy football players, and NFL Field Pass–which would carry the radio broadcasts for all NFL games, video features on NFL.com (including game highlights), the weekly program NFL Insider Radio, and coverage of team press conferences. To enforce exclusive regional rights and encourage use of the service, the NFL prohibited local radio affiliates from including game broadcasts in their internet radio streams.
In 2008, the NFL launched NFL Game Pass as its streaming service for international markets. NFL Field Pass was renamed NFL Audio Pass prior to the 2010 season. That year, the NFL started live streaming preseason games online.
In 2015, the NFL merged NFL Game Rewind–a subscription service that offered on-demand streaming of NFL games (including the original broadcast, and "Coaches Film" and "All-22" angles), with NFL Audio Pass, forming a single service under the NFL Game Pass branding in the United States.
The NFL previously maintained an exclusive mobile streaming rights package with Verizon Communications, as part of its official wireless carrier sponsorship of the league; streaming of In-market and nationally-televised games on smartphones was exclusive to the Verizon-operated "NFL Mobile" service, which was only available to Verizon Wireless subscribers. This exclusivity deal also affected TV Everywhere streaming of games by the NFL's television partners, who were prohibited from offering their streams on smartphones. Under a five-year extension of the agreement beginning in the 2017–18 NFL playoffs and 2018 NFL season, Verizon waived this exclusivity, while still offering in-market mobile streaming. Rather than being exclusive to Verizon Wireless subscribers, the content was now primarily distributed via Yahoo! Sports–taking advantage of Verizon's recent acquisition of Yahoo! in 2017.
In May 2022, it was reported that with the expiration of the league's agreement with Verizon (who had divested AOL and Yahoo! to Apollo Global Management in 2021) that the league was planning to paywall these behind a new "NFL Plus" service. NFL+ was officially announced on July 25, 2022, succeeding Game Pass in the United States. The service will be offered in two tiers, with the basic service offering in-market streaming on mobile devices, streaming of radio broadcasts and most preseason games, as well as library content from NFL Films and NFL Network. The premium tier of NFL+ will add game replays.
References
- "NFL Says RealNetworks Deal May Lead To Subscription Program". www.sportsbusinessjournal.com. Retrieved 2022-07-25.
- "Real offers package of NFL audio/video". www.sportsbusinessjournal.com. Retrieved 2022-07-25.
- Meserve, Jason (2003-09-11). "NFL and RealNetworks team". Network World. Retrieved 2022-07-25.
- Rubio, Justin (2012-09-04). "NFL Game Rewind tablet apps let you watch games on-demand, but not without a slew of restrictions". The Verge. Retrieved 2020-08-08.
- Boorstin, Julia (2015-09-08). "NFL Game Pass gives cord-cutters a new option". CNBC. Retrieved 2020-08-08.
- Effron, Lauren (December 20, 2011). "Super Bowl Will Be Live-Streamed Online for First Time". technology Review. ABC News. Retrieved January 4, 2012.
- Milian, Mark (December 20, 2011). "NFL playoffs, Super Bowl to be streamed online". CNN Tech. CNN. Retrieved January 4, 2012.
- Effron, Lauren (December 20, 2011). "Super Bowl Will Be Live-Streamed Online for First Time". technology Review. ABC News. Retrieved January 4, 2012.
- Milian, Mark (December 20, 2011). "NFL playoffs, Super Bowl to be streamed online". CNN Tech. CNN. Retrieved January 4, 2012.
- Tharakan, Anya George; Shepardson, David (13 June 2017). "Verizon closes Yahoo deal, Mayer steps down". Reuters. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
- Rovell, Darren (December 11, 2017). "Verizon, NFL agree to new 5-year deal worth nearly $2.5 billion". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on December 12, 2017. Retrieved December 11, 2017.
- "Verizon's exclusivity for live games on mobile expected to end". Sports Business Daily. Archived from the original on October 24, 2017. Retrieved October 23, 2017.
- Sherman, Alex (September 10, 2021). "Tinder CEO Jim Lanzone will be next CEO of Yahoo following Apollo acquisition". CNBC.
- Ben Fischer (May 25, 2022). "NFL to proceed with launch of streaming service". Sports Business Journal. Leaders Group.
- Dade Hayes (May 25, 2022). "NFL Reportedly Sets July Launch Of Mobile-Focused Streaming Service NFL+, Its Own Version Of Previous Verizon & Yahoo Setups". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Media Corporation.
- Hayes, Dade (2022-07-25). "NFL Expands Media Footprint, Launches League-Branded Streaming Service". Deadline. Retrieved 2022-07-25.
- Sherman, Alex (2022-07-25). "National Football League's new streaming service NFL+ launches at $4.99 per month". CNBC. Retrieved 2022-07-25.
- Steinberg, Brian (2022-07-25). "NFL Joins Streaming Wars With Subscription Hub NFL+". Variety. Retrieved 2022-07-25.
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