In a bid to expand their reach in the sports media landscape, tech giants Apple and Amazon have expressed their interest in acquiring rights to the College Football Playoff’s 12-team slate, according to sources.
Apple and Amazon reportedly are interested in acquiring the rights to the College Football Playoff, but is moving games to streaming a smart idea?
Also, can ESPN compete with the deep pockets of Amazon and Apple?
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While both companies having already secured media rights for professional sports events, this would mark their first raid into college sports media rights.
With the College Football Playoff seeking media partners for the expanded playoff starting in 2026, the potential collaborations have attracted the attention of not only traditional broadcasters ESPN and Fox but also NBC, signaling a mutual interest in incorporating streaming services into the broadcast.
Apple and Amazon have already established themselves as key players in professional sports media rights, having successfully secured exclusive deals for events such as the NFL’s “Thursday Night Football,” Major League Baseball (MLB), and Major League Soccer (MLS).
Despite their successes in the professional realm, these tech giants have yet to obtain rights for college sports media. However, there have been signs that they are actively pursuing such opportunities.
Amazon was previously rumored to be interested in bidding for the next media deal of the Pac-12 Conference, while Apple came close to finalizing an exclusive partnership with the same conference before it fell through.
While it is unlikely that Apple and Amazon will be able to secure the rights to broadcast the high-profile semifinals or championship game of the College Football Playoff, there may be opportunities for experimentation with streaming services during the new first round.
Under the expansion plans, the first round will feature four games played on college campuses.
This presents an ideal testing ground for streaming platforms to showcase their capabilities.
The NFL has already recognized the importance of streaming platforms in the sports media landscape and has entered into an exclusive streaming agreement with NBC for a wild card game in January 2024.
In order to potentially increase the payout for the College Football Playoff, introducing multiple rights partners, as done by the NFL, could be a viable approach.
While no streaming service has yet outbid a traditional broadcaster for Tier 1 inventory, the addition of multiple partners could lead to a higher revenue generation for the playoff.
Initial estimates had suggested that the expanded 12-team format could be valued at $2 billion annually, but insiders now believe that the actual figure may be lower.
The involvement of Apple and Amazon in the bidding process could bring valuable competition and innovation to the table.
