The NFL might start renegotiating its media rights offers as quickly as 2026, 4 years forward of the present settlement’s opt-out clause, Commissioner Roger Goodell informed CNBC in an unique interview.
A brand new media rights deal might doubtlessly add billions of {dollars} to the league’s coffers. The league wants settlement from its present media companions — Disney, Comcast’s NBCUniversal, Paramount, Amazon and Fox — to start out discussions on any new deal.
The NFL signed an 11-year, $111 billion media rights deal in 2021 that incorporates a league opt-out clause after the 2029-30 season for all of its media companions besides Disney, which has one further 12 months of rights.
Each side could also be incentivized to strike new rights agreements if it means the league can enhance annual income and media companions can lengthen management of NFL rights for years to come back.
“I feel our companions would wish to sit down and speak to us at any time, and we proceed to dialogue with them. I like that chance,” Goodell mentioned. “Clearly it is not going to occur this 12 months. However it might occur as early as subsequent 12 months. That might occur.”
NFL programming is essentially the most watched content material on conventional tv. Final 12 months, 72 of the highest 100 applications have been NFL video games, in line with information collected by Nielsen. The 12 months earlier than, 93 of the highest 100 have been NFL video games.
“The explanation why we felt so strongly in regards to the possibility is the panorama is altering. It may very well be a long-term cope with the advantage of having that stability and safety of it. However I feel the truth of it’s it modifications so shortly that you just wish to have the power to maneuver. I feel these choices are going to present us a variety of flexibility to doubtlessly go earlier,” mentioned Goodell.
Different main skilled leagues, such because the NBA and NHL, have dramatically elevated their TV income within the final 12 months by putting new offers with media companions. Goodell admitted to watching different current sports activities’ media offers and mentioned, compared, the NFL is leaving cash on the desk.
Representatives for Amazon, Disney’s ESPN, Fox, NBCUniversal and Paramount-owned CBS declined to remark.
Accelerating to 2026
Accelerating media talks could also be difficult within the early a part of 2026 from a regulatory perspective, as ESPN has a pending cope with the NFL that may see the league purchase a ten% stake within the community. Renegotiating a media rights deal whereas that acquisition remains to be pending could current a battle of curiosity each side wish to keep away from.
If that deal goes by means of, ESPN could also be extra open to play ball with the NFL on a future media deal given the league’s minority possession.
One other delay to expedited renegotiations might come courtesy of a possible 18th week of standard season play. The league might want the extra week earlier than it locks in new media offers, however such a change would require approval by the NFL Gamers Affiliation, which at the moment solely has an interim chief.
The NFL will wish to weigh any new cope with flexibility so as to add new companions, resembling YouTube and Netflix. Each firms have now carried video games for the NFL. YouTube streamed a Week 1 recreation this 12 months, and Netflix made its NFL debut on Christmas Day final 12 months and can proceed that custom this season with two extra video games.
Accelerating new media offers for skilled soccer might have an effect on MLB as properly.
That league plans on renegotiating its media rights on the finish of the 2028 season. If the NFL strikes first and scores massive will increase from media companions, it is doable media firms will really feel extra constrained to spend on different sports activities. It is also doable MLB might use a big NFL enhance as proof for why its content material ought to get an even bigger bump in charges as properly, given the worth inherent in reside sports activities the place commercials cannot be skipped.
A brand new deal for the NFL might additionally enhance the league’s wage cap in future seasons, giving groups more cash to spend on gamers and doubtlessly resulting in roster enlargement.
NFL group valuations are additionally largely tied to the league’s TV offers. Franchise valuations have soared lately, with the common NFL group now price $7.65 billion, in line with CNBC’s Official 2025 NFL Staff Valuations — up 18% from final 12 months.
A big bump in income would doubtless preserve that momentum going.
Disclosure: Comcast is the mum or dad firm of NBCUniversal, which owns CNBC. Versant would change into the brand new mum or dad firm of CNBC upon Comcast’s deliberate spinoff of Versant.
