Fox Secures Two Additional NFL Games for Historic Tripleheader Broadcasts
Fox is set to acquire two additional NFL games this season, as announced by the company's CEO Lachlan Murdoch during an investor call. This development follows reports that Fox secured two out of five games that were initially rumored to be split between Netflix and YouTube. YouTube reportedly backed out of the deal, leaving Netflix with three games and two games available for sale to broadcast networks. The two additional games will be part of Week 10 and Week 15, creating a historic "tripleheader" on broadcast television.
The NFL had previously allocated four of the five games to ESPN for Monday Night Football doubleheaders, but these games were returned to the league as part of a new equity deal with ESPN. The fifth game, which was reportedly the Week 1 game from Australia, is likely headed to Netflix. This move to add games to Fox's schedule aligns with the NFL's decision to increase its presence on broadcast television this season, amidst ongoing federal scrutiny over the shift of games from linear TV to streaming platforms.
The announcement of Fox acquiring additional NFL games comes in the wake of a recent Wall Street Journal report detailing a pressure campaign by Fox Corporation founder Rupert Murdoch to investigate the NFL's media rights practices. Despite these reports, Lachlan Murdoch stated during the investor call that there is no tension with the NFL, indicating that Fox's efforts to secure more games were part of regular business negotiations.
In conclusion, Fox's acquisition of two more NFL games this season marks a significant expansion of its football programming and contributes to the league's increased presence on broadcast television. The addition of these games will create new viewing opportunities for fans and further solidify Fox's position as a key broadcaster of NFL content.