Sportsnet can’t get digital rights, doesn’t renew
TORONTO – While we’ve yet to get official confirmation from Amazon, the road seems clear for Canadian Amazon Prime members to be able to watch the NFL’s 10-game Thursday Night Football package online.
As has been widely reported, Amazon has agreed to pay the NFL US$50 million for the rights to stream Thursday Night Football games (which are also available to watch on the NFL Network and CBS).
Last year, Twitter live-streamed the games (paying just US$10 million) but Rogers Media prevented the stream from happening legally in Canada because it owned the rights to TNF for the Canadian market, airing it on Sportsnet in simulcast with the other channels.
However, when Cartt.ca asked if it would demand the same from Amazon, Scott Moore, president of Sportsnet and NHL Properties told Cartt.ca in an email that it has not renewed the contract because the games are available in so many other places – and it could not secure the digital rights for Canada.
“Sportsnet takes great pride in delivering the most unique and immersive sports experiences to fans by making our content available across all platforms,” wrote Moore. “Our contract for Thursday Night Football expired at the end of last season, and we chose not to renew because the overall NFL package had been significantly diluted without inclusion of the digital rights.”
TSN confirmed to Cartt.ca that it has not picked up the TNF package for Canada, meaning the games are likely now able to be streamed via Amazon – while also appearing on the usual U.S. broadcast outlets.
