CBS today announced a new deal with the NFL to bring its coverage of the league to its All Access streaming service available across a variety of devices including iPad, Apple TV, and the web.
Starting this weekend on December 4th, CBS All Access users will be able to view all of the network’s regular, preseason and postseason games going forward. But Verizon continues to have an exclusive on streaming NFL games to mobile devices apart from tablets, which means the new deal won’t open up the content to iPhone and other smartphone users.
The company’s press release notes that All Access subscribers will be able to stream “all NFL ON CBS games, including Thursday Night Football on CBS, as well as pregame and halftime coverage live.” The content will be available in 150 markets (you can check availability here) and subscribers will be able to see any games that are being broadcast locally.
“We are very pleased that our partnership with the NFL has been expanded to include CBS All Access,” said Leslie Moonves, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the CBS Corporation. “Adding the most watched programming on television, to the most watched network on television, will be a powerful combination as we continue to grow CBS All Access into the future.”
As part of the new deal, All Access users will also find some content from the NFL Game Pass subscription video service as a bit of cross promotion between the two, and beginning next season some NFL ON CBS coverage will show up on NFL properties.
Back in August, CBS added a $9.99/month commercial-free option to its ‘All Access’ streaming service to go alongside the $5.99/month ad-supported subscription. The company also launched a new All Access app for Apple TV back in July with live streaming content and Siri support.
NFL COMES TO CBS ALL ACCESS
“NFL on CBS” Games to Be Available Beginning Sunday, Dec. 4
Addition of NFL Bolsters Already Powerful CBS All Access Programming Lineup
DEC. 1, 2016 – NFL ON CBS games are coming to CBS All Access thanks to a new deal announced today by CBS Corporation and the National Football League. The multiyear deal begins this Sunday, Dec. 4, and continues with all NFL ON CBS coverage of regular, preseason and postseason games.
“CBS has been one of our most trusted and valuable partners for over 50 years, and we’re happy to extend our relationship with them in new and exciting ways,” said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. “Distribution of our games on CBS All Access is a win for the millions of NFL fans across the country, especially those looking to watch our games on these emerging digital platforms.”
“Bringing the NFL to CBS All Access is a very significant step in our digital strategy and provides additional value to our subscribers,” said Marc DeBevoise, President and Chief Operating Officer of CBS Interactive. “We look forward to a terrific 2017 for CBS All Access with the NFL and the launch of our new original programming.”
“This deal is a great addition to our ongoing strategy of expanding availability of NFL games to fans on as many platforms as possible,” said Hans Schroeder, Senior Vice President, Media Revenue, Strategy, and Development for the NFL. “By including all NFL ON CBS games on CBS All Access, we have the opportunity to reach more NFL fans in more places than ever.”
Beginning next season, the deal also provides the opportunity for CBS All Access and eligible pay TV subscribers to stream NFL ON CBS content on NFL digital properties. All NFL ON CBS games remain available on mobile devices exclusively through the NFL Mobile app for Verizon Wireless customers.
CBS All Access will also allow users to sample content from NFL Game Pass, the NFL’s digital video subscription service which makes games and other programming available on-demand.
In addition to the NFL ON CBS, which is available to CBS All Access subscribers through the service’s live streaming offering of local CBS stations, CBS All Access offers more than 8,500 on-demand episodes, spanning current shows from CBS Television’s primetime, daytime and late night lineup, as well as past seasons of select series and classic TV hits. CBS All Access also offers exclusive original series including the new edition of “The Good Wife,” THE GOOD FIGHT, premiering in February, STAR TREK: DISCOVERY, coming this spring, and fall’s digital edition of BIG BROTHER: OVER THE TOP.
