Baseball fans learned the harsh reality last week that streaming is here to stay. Many high-profile games on opening day were streaming-only affairs that had fans and viewers scrambling to find ways to watch.
The NFL has been eyeing this model more and more over the past several seasons. They have been placing games on platforms such as Amazon Prime, Hulu, YouTube, and Netflix, and that could be a trend that may gain momentum going forward.
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At the annual league meetings in Phoenix this week, owners are expected to discuss leaning into streaming even further. According to The Athletic, preseason games could be pushed to streaming services in search of gaining larger viewing audiences.
Preseason games might no longer be as easy to find in local markets. The NFL is considering allowing teams to sell preseason games, along with original shows, to streaming platforms, a league source confirmed to The Athletic.
There are details to sort out, but the idea is expected to be discussed at the league meetings in Arizona next week. One thing that is currently unclear is whether the streaming platform to which a team sells its game will have exclusive rights or if the game will also be allowed to air on local channels.
The New York Giants, in recent years, have been broadcasting their preseason games on WNBC-4 New York, which has also picked up any simulcast from ESPN or the NFL Network.
That could all be going away. The Giants are a big-ticket draw, despite their recent nosedive in the standings. They have a large following that is spread throughout the country, and WNBC-4 only broadcasts in the New York-Metro Area.
With more viewers cutting the cord to cable services and turning to streaming, it only makes sense for the NFL and its teams to capitalize on the new landscape.
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This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: Could Giants’ preseason games be pushed to streaming platforms?