Apple, Amazon in discussion for College Football Playoff broadcasting rights
Apple and Amazon have had discussions with the College Football Playoff about broadcasting the 12-team event, Front Office Sports is reporting.
The CFP, which will debut the 12-team format in 2026, has started talks for media rights deals. Front Office Sports, citing sources, reports Amazon was one of the networks in attendance of the first formal meeting last week.
It has been reported that ESPN, Fox and NBC have had representatives in talks with the CFP. Executive director Bill Hancock said, per the report, there is a “mutual interest in a streaming element” to the CFP.
RELATED: Here’s what Prime offers all sports fans
It is being reported it’s unlikely that the streaming services will get the semifinals or championship game. But first-round games are very much on the table.
Of course, Amazon Prime has the NFL’s “Thursday Night Football,” but the lineup also includes basketball, baseball, golf, soccer and more.
Prime Video supports a growing lineup of live sports globally, including “Thursday Night Football,” the WNBA, the Seattle Storm, the New York Yankees and Overtime Elite in the United States. There is also ONE Championship in the United States and Canada. Don’t forget Premier League in the United Kingdom.
Prime Video is included with an Amazon Prime membership. You can also sign up for Prime Video as a standalone service for $14.99 monthly. Don’t have a Prime membership? Amazon offers a 30-day free trial.
Apple Insider reported Apple is looking for more sports content for Apple TV+, and it seems to want more control and rights than some franchises want to give up. It was for this reason that Apple passed on NFL Sunday Ticket.
Apple TV brings you MLS Season Pass, which offers every match – regular season and playoffs – to stream. There are no blackouts.
If you are already an Apple TV+ subscriber, it’s $12.99 a month or $79 for the season. If you aren’t an Apple TV+ subscriber, it is $14.99 a month or $99 a season.
Included with your subscription, you get Matches will feature English and Spanish broadcast crews, and a club’s home radio broadcast
Hundreds of live MLS NEXT Pro and MLS NEXT matches, exclusive live match whip-around show, game replays, highlights, analysis, and other original programming.
MLS kicked off a 10-year partnership with Apple with the launch of Season Pass on Apple TV+ this season. Apple has made previous forays into sports streaming, but this is its first significant involvement with a league.
Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily.