- The league reportedly received $110 million from NBC for exclusive media rights
- NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and NBC were ripped by one congressman
- READ MORE: Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce have an icy reunion in Kansas City
NBC invited NFL fans to witness “history being made” by subscribing to the company’s streaming platform, which exclusively featured Saturday’s Chiefs-Dolphins playoff game.
Of course, paying a monthly fee for Peacock might not be every NFL fan’s idea of history, even if this is the first playoff game to be made available exclusively through a streaming service.
“I know the Peacock app deal was confusing, but I still think it’s cool that we get to be a part of history,” the Ringer’s Ryen Russillo joked on X. “Thanks NFL Owners!”
“I have to admit how funny it would be if I paid about $1,700 in my lifetime to watch the Chiefs lose a playoff game 6-5 because I forgot my Peacock season ticket,” added Secret’s Jon Bois Base added.
NBC reportedly paid $110 million to release the game exclusively on Peacock, which typically charges $5.99 per month for a subscription but offered a one-year deal for $30 ahead of the Chiefs-Dolphins game.
Fans had a choice Saturday: brave the historic cold in Kansas City or pay a fee for Peacock
The Ringer’s Ryen Russillo took advantage of NBC’s bizarre claim that Saturday’s game was historic
Comedian Bill Burr addressed NBC’s invitation to “Sign on to Peacock and witness history!”
Aside from the discount, fans objected to the measure mainly on principle.
“Someone’s going to convince themselves tonight that it’s better to spend $100 at the bar to watch the Chiefs-Dolphins game for free instead of paying $6 a month for Peacock – and I respect that,” Sports Reporter wrote Joe Pompliano.
Buffalo Wild Wings, a national chain of sports bars, took the opportunity to respond to dozens of complaints on X to remind fans that they can watch all the action during “b-dubs.”
“No to Peacock,” one angry fan wrote. “I hope their NFL viewership sucks. I’m really getting tired of trying to make money programming.”
BWW’s social media team wasted little time in responding, “Yes, I’m watching the game on b-dubs.”
Buffalo Wild Wings took the opportunity to invite fans to watch the game during ‘B-dubs’
NFL fans weren’t alone on Saturday, as Swifties also had to subscribe to Peacock
Earlier this week, Democratic New York Congressman Pat Ryan ripped both NBC and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell in an open letter.
“It is a shame,” Ryan wrote in the letter to Goodell and NBC Sports President Rick Cordella. “Fans are already facing exorbitant prices to watch every game during the regular season; they don’t deserve to be further pressured by greedy corporations.
“This bait-and-switch is especially egregious for consumers who already pay for NBC as part of their cable package. Because Peacock is a subsidiary of NBCUniversal, this exclusive deal essentially double-charges loyal fans for watching games they thought they had already paid for.
Goodell (pictured) sold the exclusive rights to the Wild Card game for a reported $110 million
Congressman Pat Ryan (left) excoriated NBC Sports president Rick Cordella (right) in the letter
“Enough is enough,” Ryan wrote. “The NFL raked in $12 billion in 2022, while NBCUniversal made nearly $40 billion. It’s time we put the power back where it belongs: to the fans.
“The NFL and NBC need to fix this. I urge you to offer the game on television, end the exclusive and exploitative streaming deals for good, and commit to making games more affordable and accessible for fans to watch throughout the season.”
Since 1961, the NFL has taken advantage of Congress’ antitrust exemption regarding the leagues’ broadcast deals, creating the economic landscape that has allowed sports properties to make ever-larger media rights deals.
“Congress granted the NFL an antitrust exemption in its broadcast agreements on the expectation that you wouldn’t use it to screw fans,” Ryan wrote. “That was clearly a mistake.”