NBC, NFL in 'Sunday Night' Talks, Higher Premium Expected (CMCSA)
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NBC may need to shell out more cash if it wants to keep "Sunday Night Football" (SNF) rolling.
NBC, a unit of Comcast (Nasdaq: CMCSA), and the NFL may currently be in talks for future SNF programming. NBC has been broadcasting SNF since 2006, and its current deal doesn't expire until 2013.
But the NY Post reports that NBC wants to get a deal done as soon as possible, so it'll be able to start retransmission rights with cable operators and satellite providers.
Comcast may also be looking to lock-in SNF before it loses exclusive contract talks next year, and Comcast may look to utilize football as a way to boost its Versus network, which is slated to re-launch in January.
The deal may come at a price for Comcast; Disney (NYSE: DIS) recently secured rights for "Monday Night Football" on ESPN, but paid 70 percent more to a reported $15 billion.
But it almost seems as if Comcast/NBC needs to keep SNF. The Post said a source told them that SNF is basically the only prime-time programming worth anything to NBC, giving the NFL a ton of leverage, and the NFL knows it.
Currently, NBC pays about $600 million per year for rights to carry NFL games. But the recent departure of NBC sports head Dick Ebersol -- who negotiated the last contract -- puts Comcast/NBC in a tough spot. Which just might cost them.
Comcast is trading 18 percent higher Friday.
NBC, a unit of Comcast (Nasdaq: CMCSA), and the NFL may currently be in talks for future SNF programming. NBC has been broadcasting SNF since 2006, and its current deal doesn't expire until 2013.
But the NY Post reports that NBC wants to get a deal done as soon as possible, so it'll be able to start retransmission rights with cable operators and satellite providers.
Comcast may also be looking to lock-in SNF before it loses exclusive contract talks next year, and Comcast may look to utilize football as a way to boost its Versus network, which is slated to re-launch in January.
The deal may come at a price for Comcast; Disney (NYSE: DIS) recently secured rights for "Monday Night Football" on ESPN, but paid 70 percent more to a reported $15 billion.
But it almost seems as if Comcast/NBC needs to keep SNF. The Post said a source told them that SNF is basically the only prime-time programming worth anything to NBC, giving the NFL a ton of leverage, and the NFL knows it.
Currently, NBC pays about $600 million per year for rights to carry NFL games. But the recent departure of NBC sports head Dick Ebersol -- who negotiated the last contract -- puts Comcast/NBC in a tough spot. Which just might cost them.
Comcast is trading 18 percent higher Friday.
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