NBC and Peacock partner Peter King discussed the NFL’s perspective on over-the-top (OTT) streaming services, particularly highlighting the success of Peacock during the Kansas City Chiefs Wild Card matchup against the Miami Dolphins. King, a renowned sports writer, shared his insights in his Football Morning In America column, emphasizing the league’s deliberate efforts to provide Peacock with a significant game, given NBC’s $110 million investment in the streaming service.
King expressed his surprise at the impressive ratings Peacock garnered for the game, despite the Dolphins’ 26-7 loss to the Chiefs. The NFL, under the leadership of Commissioner Roger Goodell, aimed to make Peacock’s streaming experience memorable, featuring star players like Patrick Mahomes and creating a unique atmosphere with Taylor Swift and a minus-30 windchill.
NBC disclosed the viewership numbers for the game, stating that the average audience across streaming and over-the-air in the Kansas City and Miami markets totaled 23 million. This figure exceeded the audience for the Saturday night Wild Card game between the Chargers and Jaguars the previous year by 6 percent, according to NBC. The success of Peacock in attracting viewers indicated a significant interest in streaming football content.
Despite some backlash on social media from disgruntled fans, a considerable number of people subscribed to Peacock to watch the game. This trend highlighted the enduring popularity of football, overshadowing concerns about non-live-violent entertainment in freezing conditions.
King suggested that the NFL sees streaming as a crucial component of its future media landscape. While acknowledging the resistance from fans who have been accustomed to cable or over-the-air TV broadcasts, King emphasized the inevitability of the NFL’s presence on streaming services. He noted that, despite initial reluctance, fans were signing up and subscribing to Peacock, underscoring the undeniable allure of football content.
Addressing concerns raised by fans about potential exploitation by streaming services, King pointed out that, despite anti-trust discussions in Congress, the NFL’s streaming future is unlikely to be derailed. The league is confident that viewers will continue to engage with football content, even if it means adapting to streaming platforms. The data provided by NBC served as evidence that the love for football is robust enough to overcome the challenges associated with transitioning to streaming services.
In essence, the report suggests that Peacock’s success in streaming NFL content indicates a shift toward OTT services for football viewing, with the league acknowledging and embracing this trend as an integral part of its future media strategy.
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