In the Venn diagram of football fans and Sling TV subscribers there should be some very happy people this week. The internet television service has announced that it's cut a deal to broadcast the NFL Network and NFL RedZone — just in time for the start of the regular football season. NFL content is also returning to subscribers of satellite TV service Dish, which owns Sling TV.
A dispute between Dish and the NFL over license fees meant that 7 million Dish subscribers have been locked out of NFL content since mid-June. The terms of the new deal aren't clear, but the NFL has been making a concerted effort in recent months to reach younger viewers who prefer to watch TV delivered over the internet. The company has struck new deals with Twitter and Sony's PlayStation Vue streaming service, as well as strengthening ongoing partnerships with sites like YouTube. Reaching Sling TV's subscribers is evidently part of this strategy.
Here's what Dish and Sling TV subscribers can look forward to watching, via the NFL. Details regarding pricing and packaging are not yet known.
NFL Network will provide comprehensive coverage throughout August of all 32 training camps with Inside Training Camp Live and will deliver fans all 65 preseason games – including a record 16 live. During the regular season, NFL Network will deliver exclusive Thursday Night Football games, popular shows such as NFL GameDay Morning, A Football Life, and Timeline, and the new morning show, Good Morning Football, which airs live each weekday morning from New York City.
Additionally, Sling TV subscribers will have access to NFL Network and NFL RedZone, starting with the 2016 regular season. Sling TV is available across mobile phones, tablets, computers, TVs and streaming devices.