TV networks last week "still were preparing to negotiate billions of dollars worth of media rights deals with the NFL in the coming months," despite speculation that the league and networks would "wait until the coronavirus scare abates before focusing on these deals," according to sources cited by John Ourand of SPORTS BUSINESS JOURNAL. NFL execs "held informal conversations with media executives last week," leading those in the media business to "prepare to start more formal negotiations at some point in the next three months." Media execs "are not expecting the NFL's original timetable to move much," so it is "likely deals will be finalized before the end of the year." Such a move "would fit with the NFL's approach to conduct as much offseason business as possible" during the shutdown. One "impetus for the league to start negotiations this year" is that it must now "negotiate rights for the two extra playoff games that will be added this season." ESPN currently pays $100M for "rights to its wild-card playoff game, which simulcasts on ABC." Sources said that the league is "expecting about the same amount for those two extra games." Meanwhile, the coronavirus has "caused stocks to crash, which has hurt the financial standing for the media companies prepared to bid on NFL rights." Still, sources said that those companies are "sticking with the plans they developed months ago, which could see a rights fee increase in the 60-70% range" (SPORTS BUSINESS JOURNAL, 3/23 issue).
