The NFL is defending its expanded lineup on broadcasting and streaming networks amid criticism from President Donald Trump and a Wisconsin Senator.
The scrutiny comes after the NFL announced a third Netflix-exclusive game on Thanksgiving evening.
Loving the Model
While discussing the upcoming season’s schedule release with reporters, NFL executive vice president of media distribution Hans Schroeder said the league has no intention of pulling back on partnerships. This applies to streaming services.
Schroeder commented, “We love our model. We think we have the most fan-friendly model there is of any sport or entertainment as far as distribution.”
As of now, the NFL airs 87% of its games on free broadcast networks like CBS, NBC, FOX, and ABC, according to league officials.
Schroeder believes that adding games on platforms is meeting consumers in the middle, especially those who are going through with cord-cutting.
Broadcasts and Platforms
Schroeder talked about the importance of broadcast networks and platforms within their new viewing model.
We think broadcast [networks] have been an incredible home,” he shared. “And, now, we also know fans are increasingly spending their time on other platforms as well. They tune into broadcast for the NFL and that’s where we want to be. But we also want to be on these platforms with a limited amount of our games where we know our NFL fans are already as well.”
He added, “When we’re going onto Netflix, we’re going onto a platform that is already massively adopted and a huge number of viewers on that platform already, including a huge number of NFL fans.”
Criticism from Trump
President Trump criticized the new NFL expansion onto streaming platforms.
He told the news program “Full Measure” that “you’ve got people that love football. They’re great people. They don’t make enough money to go and pay this. It’s tough.”
When asked if the government would intervene, Trump replied, “I don’t know, but I don’t like it.”
Trump has commented on this in the past, condemning the expansion and likening it to a form of “price gouging” that burdens average fans who must pay for multiple services to enjoy all games.
The Justice Department has reportedly begun reviewing the NFL’s broadcast distribution decisions for potential anticompetitive tactics related to the Sports Broadcasting Act (SBA) of 1961.
The SBA gives the NFL limited antitrust protections and allows the league to negotiate TV rights packages. As of now, there is not a lot of information about the review.
Issues in Wisconsin
It’s not just the President who’s angered by the expansion, either.
For Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), making fans pay for a Netflix subscription to watch the Packers play is just wrong.
She said in a statement, “As the cost of just about everything continues to rise, the NFL is once again asking Wisconsinites to spend their hard-earned money on another streaming service. Enough is enough.”
Baldwin has since submitted a bill to prevent Wisconsin families from being “forced” to pay to watch football.
Netflix has reiterated that the games will also be available on local, over-the-air broadcast television within the team’s markets; however, this may not be good enough for Packers fans. Baldwin claims that since the Packers are so popular, millions of fans live outside the “local” TV market.
She said, “For the NFL in Wisconsin, our local market is only defined as Green Bay and Milwaukee, leaving the majority of Wisconsin’s media markets (Wausau, La Crosse, Eau Claire, Madison, and Superior) forced to pay to watch the game on streaming.”
Continuing to Push Back
While they may be getting criticism from several sides, the NFL is continuing to push back and believes in their current model.
NFL executive vice president of communications and public affairs and policy Jeff Miller said, “We’re committed to being on broadcast television in ways that other content is not and continue to be in the hopes of reaching our fans. …So, if the NAB or FOX or others are questioning the merits of that, I’m not sure I really understand where that comes from. But we’ll continue to do what’s best for our fans and that means continue to stay on broadcast television.”