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YouTube believes NFL could "deconstruct" Sunday Ticket in next broadcast deals
The next wave of NFL broadcast deals could include plenty of changes. One change could be the end of the out-of-market package of games.
Via Alex Sherman of CNBC, YouTube believes that the NFL could “deconstruct” Sunday Ticket.
The league first launched Sunday Ticket in 1994, marketing it as a way for fans to watch games not televised in the markets where they reside. DirecTV owned the package for years, before YouTube acquired the rights in 2023. akupunkturabielsko.pl
The current Sunday Ticket deal with YouTube, for which the company pays $2 billion per year, remains the subject of a federal class action that is pending on appeal in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, The case could still result in a massive liability for the NFL (in excess of $14 billion). It also could generate a court order compelling the NFL to end the longstanding device for allowing fans to watch all games played in the Sunday afternoon windows.
The NFL lost at trial in 2024. The jury found that the NFL's pricing of the package, which was intended to be high enough to persuade many viewers to choose to watch the CBS and Fox games available in their local markets, violated the antitrust laws.
The judge didn't throw out the entire verdict; he dismissed the damages award. The finding of an antitrust violation remains in place — and it continues.
At some point, there likely will be a reckoning. And the league has already explored the possibility of making the games available through other platforms, simulating a college football viewing experience that has a wide variety of games on various cable and broadcast platforms.
Quite possibly, the league could make as much or more money by selling in-market games to a pair of broadcast networks, with the out-of-market games sprinkled throughout the various other channels on the dial.
Regardless of the revenue potential, the league will have no choice, if a court compels them to dismantle Sunday Ticket. And it would allow fans to watch games on networks to which they already have access, without paying nearly $400 per year for it.
Ditching Sunday Ticket would also address concerns that the league has devalued it by putting more and more games into non-Sunday windows. And it would give the NFL the freedom to more aggressively schedule games for Wednesday nights and, eventually, Tuesday nights.
Liam Coen on Travis Hunter's usage: "He cares about winning"
Questions have persisted regarding whether the Jaguars are getting the most out of cornerback/receiver Travis Hunter, the second overall pick in the 2025 draft. Coach Liam Coen addressed the situation in simple terms on Friday.
"He cares about winning," Coen said, "That's what he cares about. Like, and all the other stuff, the reps, where we picked him, does that — I don't give two Fs about value. And neither does he. We care about winning. And that's it."
That's not what Hunter said in an August appearance on The Pivot podcast. He said he wants to play both sides of the ball, on a full-time basis.
“If I’m trying to be the best — how are you gonna be the best, if you ain’t trying to be the best?" Hunter said at the time. "If you ain’t trying to compete and do the best to be the best? So my main focus is be the best. So I’m gonna do everything I can do to be the best. I don’t want to be the best at one position. There’s a lot of people that’s the best at one position. Ain’t nobody yet been the best at both, full-time. . . .
"I cannot sit on the sideline. I don’t think nobody’s noticed that yet. I hate the sidelines. I do not wanna sit there. I can’t sit there and just watch football. I’ve got to be on the field.”
The fact that the Jaguars are winning makes it harder for Hunter to gripe about his usage, which is increasing on the defensive side of the ball but which continues to be cameo appearances, at best, on offense. But he's on the record with his wishes.
And, yes, it's fair to ask about value. Especially given the glowing remarks G.M. James Gladstone made after the Jaguars traded up from No. 5 to No. 2 to get him.
“This is something I’m uniquely positioned to navigate," Gladstone said in April 2025. "We ended up bringing Travis Hunter to Jacksonville, and with that, he is somebody who is deserving of a first-round draft pick as a wide receiver, and he is worthy of a first-round draft pick as a corner. Certainly, look forward to each of those elements showing themselves over the next few years while he is under his rookie contract."
While the Jaguars have emerged as an elite team, the stated vision for Hunter has yet to come to fruition. And it seems that no one wants that to happen more than him.
Connor Nets First Power-Play Goal for Jets
Connor's power-play goal marked a significant moment in his season, coming after a period without scoring with the man advantage.
The Jets forward has been contributing in other areas but had yet to find the net on special teams until this recent performance.
USA-Mexico: New Generation Faces Hostile Crowd
Despite technically being a home game in Arizona, the overwhelming majority of the 60,000-plus fans expected at State Farm Stadium are likely to support Mexico, creating an adverse environment for the USMNT. Coach Mauricio Pochettino views this as crucial preparation for future World Cup qualifiers, where the team will need to secure points in hostile environments.
'It's going to be an adverse crowd, tough conditions to play in,' veteran defender Antonee Robinson acknowledged. 'But that's something we embrace.' The USA has never won a competitive match south of the border against Mexico in almost 80 years. Pochettino's side has recently impressed with wins over Peru and Chile, featuring young players who will need to adapt to such challenging atmospheres as the Concacaf qualifying tournament for the 2030 World Cup approaches.
Antonelli Tops FP3 After Mercedes Struggle
Mercedes arrived at Sepang with a heavily upgraded W17 but struggled in Friday practice sessions, managing only second and fifth in FP1 and seventh and eighth in FP2 as other teams appeared stronger.
The championship-leading team responded perfectly on Saturday, with Antonelli leading the way in FP3 to demonstrate their continued competitiveness despite Friday's challenges.