It's Your Fault The NFL Will Continue To Stream Games Exclusively on Peacock, Amazon, Etc.

NFL fans groaned in January about the Chiefs-Dolphins playoff game airing exclusively on the Peacock, the first-ever streaming-only broadcast of a postseason NFL matchup.

Some fans posted on social media that they'd boycott the game in protest. Of course, such threats proved more bark than bite. 

An average minute audience of 23 million viewers streamed the game, according to NBC. 

More importantly, per a new Antenna study, around 3 million users engaged in paid sign-ups for Peacock in the three-day window surrounding the wild card broadcast. And get this: 71 percent of those new users remain paying subscribers today, almost three months later. 

So, not only did users watch the game, but they were willing to sign up for a paid service to do so.

Peacock paid $110 million to air the matchup, a rather exorbitant rate. But with over 20 million viewers and millions of new signs up, NBC almost certainly applauds its investment.

In fact, NBC is likely kicking itself for losing out to Amazon for the exclusive playoff window next season. Amazon reportedly outbid the competition at a rate of $120 million.

Nonetheless, the success of the Peacock broadcast signals more streaming is on the way. A lot more…

PEACOCK STREAMING SERVICE BUFFALO BILLS NFL

The NFL has exhausted and drained its television partners for every last dollar, from NBC to CBS to Fox to ESPN/ABC. The league knows it must rely on the tech giants to generate even more revenue. 

Luckily, the tech giants are willing to partake and have the means to satisfy the NFL – be it Amazon carrying Thursday Night Football or the newly-minted window on Black Friday, or YouTube TV taking over exclusive distribution of NFL Sunday Ticket.

The NFL has already scheduled an international game for the first time during the opening week of the regular season. The Philadelphia Eagles will play the Cleveland Browns in Brazil on Friday, Sept. 6, the night after the Chiefs open the NFL season. 

The league did not announce which partner would broadcast the match-up, yet you can almost guarantee the NFL will sell off the game to a steamer for tens of millions of dollars.

Mark us down for Amazon Prime as the favorite.

Assuming that game also proves successful, expect the international series to become a fixture during Week 1 of the season moving forward

Anything for an extra buck, amirite?

NFL Fans Will Complain About Playoff Game On Peacock, But They're Going To Watch It Anyway

The advent of streaming has, at times, resulted in rocky viewership for professional leagues. 

For example, the number of consumers willing to subscribe to a streaming service for MLB or NHL on ESPN+ is negligible. But the NFL is the exception. 

Of course, it is. 

Americans will watch, stream, and pay for NFL football no matter when or where it airs. NFL football might be the last monocultural entity remaining in American culture. 

The NFL knows that. 

See, you and your obsession with football are why games are moving exclusively to streaming. It's your fault; not the NFL's fault. The NFL just plans plays to take advantage of your obsession.