Earlier this week DIRECTV announced a deal with the National Football League and NFL RedZone, renewing a multi-year affiliate agreement with NFL Media. The new agreement announced today will extend existing coverage of NFL Networks on DIRECTV in addition to adding DIRECTV STREAM and U-Verse to NFL Network’s distribution, which already averages 16.7 million people tuning in per game.
Update: DIRECTV has sent Cord Cutters News the following statement. “After the most recent announcement, NFL Network will be available to both DIRECTV and DIRECTV STREAM customers who subscribe to a Choice package or higher. In addition, DIRECTV and DIRECTV STREAM customers can add NFL RedZone as part of the Sports Pack add-on. DIRECTV Sports Pack also includes NFL Network for those who don’t have Choice or higher. Details for customers with certain legacy packages will be announced in the coming weeks.”
“DIRECTV was an initial launch partner of NFL Network over 20 years ago and we’re thrilled to continue our long-standing partnership which caters to millions of DIRECTV customers who are NFL fans,” said Hans Schroeder, Executive Vice President of Media Distribution for the NFL. “This renewal will provide fans across all DIRECTV platforms the ability to watch NFL Network’s award-winning coverage of America’s most popular sport while also giving greater access to the wildly popular NFL RedZone.”
Sadly though, DIRECTV has now confirmed that grandfathered DIRECTV STREAM customers will not get these new channels. These are customers who signed up when DIRECTV NOW first launched. They have been able to keep their packages, but now, if they want the new channels, they will need to switch over to one of the new DIRECTV STREAM plans that are Choice or higher and get the Sports Pack add-on.
“With this agreement, DIRECTV continues a long-standing partnership with the NFL and maintains our sports leadership position by delivering the best of sports content to our customers,” said Rob Thun, chief content officer of DIRECTV. “This deal strengthens our NFL relationship as it includes expanded carriage of NFL Network and all the best action from Sunday’s games with NFL RedZone, which is now available to customers across all three DIRECTV platforms.”
Within the next few weeks, DIRECTV subscribers will have year-round access to an enhanced DIRECTV Sports Pack along with a DIRECTV STREAM Sports Pack alongside NFL RedZone coverage. U-Verse subscribers with an HD Premium Tier plan will get NFL Redzone content as well.