DirecTV Rethinks NFL Sunday Ticket Deal Amid Cord-Cutting

DirecTV has controlled rights to the service, which allows subscribers to watch nearly every game on the NFL schedule, for more than two decades. Once the crown jewel of DirecTV's offerings, the package has become less valuable as more customers cut the cord and ditch traditional cable for cheaper streaming platforms, according to AT&T COO John Stankey, who told the Wall Street Journal the service offers "less profitability" than it once did.

"I don't think we look at that and say it's a growth product," Stankey said. "I don't think we're going to wake up a year from now and suddenly there's going to be more people in the United States that want to watch an out-of-market team."

DirecTV is said to pay an average annual fee of $1.5 billion for exclusive rights to NFL Sunday Ticket, but loses more than $500 million each year on the deal, the Journal reported, citing sources familiar with the matter. The service has roughly two million paid subscribers.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/directv-rethinks-nfl-sunday-ticket-deal-amid-cord-cutting-11569603153

This is dumb. Article says directv loses $500M a season because of the difference between the revenue from people buying sunday ticket and the $1.5B they give the NFL....but fail to take into account all of the people who only have directv simply to get the sunday ticket.

Originally posted by SteveWallacesHelmet:

This is dumb. Article says directv loses $500M a season because of the difference between the revenue from people buying sunday ticket and the $1.5B they give the NFL....but fail to take into account all of the people who only have directv simply to get the sunday ticket.

Yea I admit that's why I've had DirecTV the last 20 years for the NFL Package

I don't feel like they are losing money when I just put down $330 for NFL Sunday Ticket streaming.

BTW, steaming is more convenient. If I'm out with the family, I can watch the game on my phone. If we spend the Sunday at home, I can chromecast to my widescreen TV.

Good. Screw direct TV.

Noting that He was a little shaken but would be all right, sources confirmed Friday that the Lord God Almighty, Our Heavenly Father, was struck by a DirecTV satellite approximately 22,000 miles above earth, rendering Him unconscious for several minutes. "Whoa! How long was I out?" God said to a host of concerned seraphim moments after the four-ton satellite impacted near His right temple while traveling at roughly 6,900 miles per hour. "Man, I must have let My mind wander—that thing really came out of nowhere. I didn't see it at all." As of press time, Heavenly sources confirmed that the deity had fully returned to omniscience.

Direct TV causes concussions

If it splits off you'll find multiple platforms you have to pay for to get the full suite as all the streaming services are bidding for a few games.

Cord cutting was a good idea.

When you realize what's happening with original content and sports across multiple streaming platforms you'll be paying the same as premium TV.

It's all by design. I am in the industry. It's diabolical.

I figured this was coming soon.

I've cut the cord and switched to Youtube tv. Since I live in the Bay area, I'm lucky enough to get all the Niner games. Not sure how else I'd watch if I was somewhere else. I guess illegal streams

Originally posted by Crown:

If it splits off you'll find multiple platforms you have to pay for to get the full suite as all the streaming services are bidding for a few games.

Cord cutting was a good idea.

When you realize what's happening with original content and sports across multiple streaming platforms you'll be paying the same as premium TV.

It's all by design. I am in the industry. It's diabolical.

They are digging their own grave. Everybody now has fast internet and smart TVs. Too many free places where you can watch whatever you want. They need to adapt like the porn business lol.

I've always thought pay per view live streaming would be a great option from the internet. I never wanted to get Direct TV just for the NFL. Their other offerings are of no interest to me and no better than any other cable service. I would only want the NFL package and nothing else. But that's how they hook you in. You need their service to get the NFL. I've been a sports bar guy if it's not on in the local area. But I would stream at home if I could have that as an option. An option for the whole season or 1 game at a time would be great for online streaming. I would definitely like that option. I've always thought the Direct TV monopoly on live NFL out of market games was bad for customers. But that's just me. Others happily signed up for it and stick with it. So to each their own.

Originally posted by Ensatsu:
I've cut the cord and switched to Youtube tv. Since I live in the Bay area, I'm lucky enough to get all the Niner games. Not sure how else I'd watch if I was somewhere else. I guess illegal streams

Or you can watch for free thru an antenna...since you live in the Bay Area.

Still wish there was a version of Sunday ticket that let you choose just one team

Would love it if they offered Sunday Ticket to Direct TV Now. Then again I haven't missed a game with Reddit Streams.

Originally posted by qnnhan7:
I don't feel like they are losing money when I just put down $330 for NFL Sunday Ticket streaming.

BTW, steaming is more convenient. If I'm out with the family, I can watch the game on my phone. If we spend the Sunday at home, I can chromecast to my widescreen TV.

The math does not make any sense

Direct TV re sells a product on their network, their network exists with or with out the Sunday ticket.....they are soley buying prepackaged product and distributing it.

If people are paying 330 for the product they only need 4.5 million subscribers to break even.