NFL on Prime Video latest foray by leagues into streaming

Roger Bennett remembers calling his father in Liverpool, England, and having his father hold the phone next to the television so he could experience his beloved Everton in the FA Cup semifinals.

To say those days are long, thankfully gone, is an understatement. Technology, streaming packages, and the value of sports programming have allowed fans to view their favorite teams or leagues live or on demand.

“We are living in a golden age. You could make a case for soccer that there’s nowhere better to follow or be a fan than the United States just because of the sheer volume of games broadcast and accessible,” said Bennett, the co-host of the “Men in Blazers” podcast.

With streaming services eager to acquire live content, professional sports leagues in the U.S. are taking the next steps. The NFL will be the latest with Amazon Prime Video’s debut of “Thursday Night Football” when the Los Angeles Chargers take on the Kansas City Chiefs.

More than half of this season's 103 games in the Walt Disney Co.’s agreement with the NHL will be exclusively on ESPN+ and Hulu this season. Turner Sports has the option to add games to air on HBO Max as part of its seven-year deal.

MLB began a Friday night doubleheader this year with AppleTV+. A Sunday afternoon slate of games on Peacock ended on Labor Day weekend.

While the NHL and MLB deals were transformative, the NFL’s branching out into streaming has garnered more attention, much like when it signed its first cable deal with ESPN in 1987.

“The NFL deal with Amazon signals what’s ahead for coveted live-action sports content in streaming,” said Jon Christian, the EVP for Qvest, a technology consulting firm specializing in media and entertainment. “Consistent accessibility for desired sports programming on streaming apps is the next step...