Paramount is merging with Skydance. This means CBS will change hands.
Which apparently means the NFL could open up its current deal with CBS.
Which the Commissioner did not rule out on Thursday.
Appearing on CNBC, Goodell was asked whether an ownership change at CBS would allow the NFL to renegotiate the CBS contract.
“Do you plan?” Goodell was questioned. “What do you expect to happen?”
“Well, listen, CBS has been a great partner for us since 1956, I think,” Goodel said. “They’ve been extraordinary, right up until last year’s Super Bowl, where we had record Super Bowl viewership with over 200 million people watching.
“Obviously, we’ll be paying close attention to the process. We know Skydance. We partner with Skydance. They’ve done a great job in our relationship. So we’ll look at the structure of the deal. We’ll see how it impacts us. We’ll see how it impacts our business and we will make the best decision for the NFL at this time.”
The best decision for the NFL often takes the form of one word: More. Opening the contract will inevitably result in more for the NFL.
Currently, the league can terminate all broadcast deals four years early, putting all packages back on the market after the 2029 season. If the NFL could put half of the Sunday afternoon package up for bid, the league would definitely not receive less than CBS is paying.
If someone paid more, CBS could leave. Just like it happened from 1994 to 1997, after Fox stole the NFC package.
