DirecTV
Apple wants exclusive rights to the NFL Sunday Ticket streaming package, The Information reported.
The tech giant reportedly expressed interest in the NFL package that allows subscribers to stream out-of-market football games. DirectTV currently broadcasts the Sunday Ticket package, but its partnership with the NFL will expire after the 2022 season.
The Information reported Apple is one of numerous TV networks and tech firms that requested to stream NFL Sunday Ticket. But sources tell The Information that Apple is not a serious contender due to its "reluctance to invest heavily in entertainment."
Apple declined to comment.
The company released streaming service Apple TV in November 2019 for $4.99, a price slightly lower than rivals Netflix and Hulu. But Apple's subscriber growth has been significantly slower compared to Disney Plus, which also launched in 2019.
Though Apple has not released subscriber numbers, a JustWatch report obtained by 9to5Mac found Apple TV Plus had just 3% of market share in the fourth quarter of 2020. Disney Plus, in comparison, amassed 100 million global subscribers within 16 months.
NFL has already inked a partnership with fellow tech giant Amazon. Amazon and the NFL are close to signing a new deal that gives the retailer streaming rights to numerous Thursday night games, per The Wall Street Journal.
