Amazon Wins Exclusive Streaming Rights for NFL Playoff Game, Another Streaming Milestone Reached
Amazon has secured an exclusive streaming deal for one National Football League game next season, further solidifying its presence in the streaming market. The playoff game will be available for viewers on Amazon’s Prime Video platform, showcasing the company’s growing influence.
This announcement comes on the heels of NBCUniversal’s streaming service, Peacock, becoming the first platform to exclusively stream an NFL playoff game just under a month ago. The Wild Card matchup playoff between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Miami Dolphins proved to be a historic event, garnering over 20 million viewers and making it the most streamed event in U.S. history.
Furthermore, another Wild Card game between the Cleveland Browns and Texas Houston Texans brought in an impressive average viewership of 29.2 million across various platforms including NBC, Peacock, NBC Sports Digital, NFL Digital, and Telemundo, according to a news release from NBC Sports.
While Peacock did not lose its exclusive rights to stream a playoff game, Amazon has earned the deal by meeting specific performance criteria in their 2021 streaming agreement with the NFL. This grants them the sole right to stream “Thursday Night Football,” a privilege they have held since last season.
In a Nielsen report, Amazon revealed a significant 24% increase in viewership year-over-year for this season’s “Thursday Night Football.” One prime example of this success was the November 30 matchup between the Seahawks and Cowboys, which attracted a whopping 15.3 million viewers, making it the most-watched TNF game on Prime Video to date.
Amazon’s triumph in securing exclusive streaming rights for an NFL playoff game underscores their growing dominance in the streaming industry. With their successful track record and a loyal user base, Amazon is poised to continue pushing the boundaries of streaming and redefining the way viewers consume live sports.
Analyst comment
Positive news. As an analyst, the market can expect increased competition among streaming platforms as Amazon solidifies its presence with exclusive NFL playoff game rights. Amazon’s growing influence and success in streaming suggest continued growth and innovation in the streaming industry.
