DirecTV inks deal to keep delivering ‘NFL Sunday Ticket’ to companies

DirecTV will continue to provide “NFL Sunday Ticket” for businesses. The company announced a deal Thursday with EverPass Media, which holds the “Sunday Ticket” rights for commercial establishments.

YouTube TV controls the main rights to sell “NFL Sunday Ticket” directly to consumers, while EverPass, which is partially funded by the National Football League, distributes the product to businesses.

“NFL Sunday Ticket” lets viewers in any market watch NFL games from any market.

DirecTV was formerly the holder of the rights to broadcast “NFL Sunday Ticket” to consumers and businesses from 1994 through last season. The cost of the broadcast rights outstripped DirecTV’s revenue to the tune of $500 million yearly, and the company did not move to strike a new deal with the NFL when it lapsed. 

DirecTV for Business, an imprint of the main company, has a network of over 300,000 casinos, restaurants, bars, hotel lounges and shops. EverPass will use that network and DirecTV’s satellites to broadcast “Sunday Ticket,” much as DirecTV itself used to do.

“We’re thrilled to partner with EverPass and continue carriage of ’NFL Sunday Ticket,’” DirecTV Chief Sales and Service Officer Mike Wittrock said.

DirecTV for Business also has the exclusive commercial venue broadcast rights for “Thursday Night Football” via Amazon Prime Video. The two companies signed a deal for those rights in August.

The DirecTV-EverPass deal will start with the 2023 season and last for multiple years, although the companies did not specify the exact length of their agreement. Businesses will be able to find “NFL Sunday Ticket” on DirecTV channels 9552 to 9565.

The DirecTV-EverPass deal is not exclusive. EverPass will be able to seek out other providers to broadcast “NFL Sunday Ticket” to venues outside the DirecTV for Business network, according to CNBC.

YouTube TV has a $2 billion, seven-year deal for the main “NFL Sunday Ticket” rights starting this season; the first Sunday games are Sept. 10. Consumers can buy “NFL Sunday Ticket” as YouTube TV customers for as low as $249 until June 6, after which the minimum price will jump to $349.