Sports world reacts to huge NFL Sunday Ticket news

NFL Sunday Ticket could be on the move very soon.

The NFL streaming giant is reportedly “near a deal” to move to YouTube. News broke Tuesday night that Sunday Ticket could move to the Google platform from DirecTV, its handler since it first launched in 1994.

The Wall Street Journal reported the huge news. The WSJ’s Joe Flint tweeted, “WSJ is reporting that NFL is near a deal with Google’s YouTube for Sunday Ticket rights.”

WSJ is reporting that NFL is near a deal with Google's YouTube for Sunday Ticket rights. Story coming on https://t.co/tOtyVE4vSI

— Joe Flint (@JBFlint) December 20, 2022

According to Flint, an agreement could be reached as early as Wednesday.

The news is massive in the sports media world. Some anticipated Amazon or Apple as contenders for the Sunday Ticket packages. However, Apple wound up dropping out of the race and ESPN didn’t have any skin in the game either. By process of elimination, Google lands the package.

It’s a fascinating moment for DirecTV, as the package has been a perennial bargaining chip in the satellite TV and now the streaming world. Without it, the brand will simply need a new selling point. So it’s the end of an era.

Reactions poured in after the news broke. Twitter user @DYK88 shared a thought that had to be communal. “I would have no problem switching to YouTube TV to get the new Sunday Ticket….” they tweeted.

I would have no problem switching to YouTube TV to get the new Sunday Ticket…. https://t.co/IPsty3zziT

— Dan (@DYK88) December 21, 2022

John Ourand of Sports Business Journal offered an instant reaction to the news. Ourand tweeted, “Google/YouTube will have to carry ‘Sunday Ticket’ on a tier at a premium price, which will be similar to how DirecTV offers it currently. Google/YouTube can’t sell commercials around the games. CBS and Fox commercials will run int hose games even on Sunday Ticket.”

Google/YouTube will have to carry "Sunday Ticket" on a tier at a premium price, which will be similar to how DirecTV offers it currently.

Google/YouTube can't sell commercials around the games. CBS and Fox commercials will run in those games even on Sunday Ticket.

— John Ourand (@Ourand_Puck) December 21, 2022

New York Post sports media columnist Andrew Marchand delivered instant reactions also. Marchand tweeted, “If YouTube TV deal with NFL goes through, it will be in large part because Apple, ESPN and Amazon felt like the price was far too great for what they would have got.”

If YouTube TV deal with NFL goes through, it will be in large part because Apple, ESPN and Amazon felt like the price was far too great for what they would have got.

— Andrew Marchand (@AndrewMarchand) December 21, 2022

Marchand continued with another tweet on the situation. He tweeted, “This could be a very tough haul for YouTube TV because I’ve heard DirecTV has 1.5 million subscribers. YouTube TV will start at zer. That’s a lot of conversion it must do.”

This could be a very tough haul for YouTube TV because I've heard DirecTV has 1.5 million subscribers, YouTube TV will start at zero. That's a lot of conversion it must do.

— Andrew Marchand (@AndrewMarchand) December 21, 2022

Jimmy Traina of SI made a plea himself. Traina tweeted, “I don’t mind paying for Sunday Ticket. If they make it $500, I’ll pay $500. But I’m not subscribing to YouTubeTV in addition.”

I don't mind paying for Sunday Ticket. If they make it $500, I'll pay $500. But I'm not subscribing to YouTubeTV in addition.

— Jimmy Traina (@JimmyTraina) December 21, 2022

[Joe Flint; The Wall Street Journal]