As “NFL Sunday Ticket” which has made its season debut this weekend, the ongoing rights controversy has caused confusion among the fans.
Nonetheless, the NFL has now partnered with DirecTV to have a platform for its Fans in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands to book tickets.
In both markets, DirecTV will provide out-of-market services to residential customers.
It was inevitable that NFL "Sunday Tickets" would pause for minor hurdles as It was within the last 24 hours that an agreement between the two sides was reached.
In spite of the recent YouTube deal that came through early this year, eliminating the DirecTV deal that had been in motion since 2008.
The deal with YouTube has been kept on standby with no certain duration for the deal with DirecTV as the word has been that YouTube won’t be ready to offer NFL Sunday Tickets in these areas until November at the earliest.
No specific financials has been out as well for the deal with DirecTV yet.
So the deal was pushed back and DirecTV was brought on board, who have had the rights to this company since 2008. Who better to approach in times like this than the ones the company had dealt with for years?
Belkys Mata, VP Sales Operations at DirecTV Puerto Rico, said:
“Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands are very unique in having avid fans for all the different teams across the NFL,”
“Retaining exclusivity to NFL Sunday Ticket in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands reaffirms our commitment to strengthening the live sports we offer to families and businesses, and putting customers first is always the motivation to how we go about our daily business.”
To make this possible in such a short duration DirecTV is expected to have signed a deal with EverPass, a media company funded by NFL Strategic Investment Arm 32 Equity as well as RedBird Capital Partners, just like it does for its commercial businesses.
DirecTV also carries rights to “NFL Sunday Ticket” for restaurants and bars in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. This was decided in a multiyear deal at the beginning of the year.
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