NFL sportswriter Mike Florio used his NBC platform to defend the network-owned Peacock exclusive broadcast of the Kansas City Chiefs Wild Card matchup with the Miami Dolphins.
Peacock will show the Kansas City Chiefs game to most fans
Outside of Kansas City And Miami, fans must sign up to watch the over-the-top streaming service Peacock to watch the playoff game. Fans have been upset at the league for making them subscribe to a platform they don’t use to watch a game that should be on national television.
Florio responded to a letter New York representative Pat Ryan submitted to NFL Commissioner Rodger Goodell Friday. Ryan called the decision to air the Wild Card game on Peacock a “disgrace” and said Congress’s decision to give the NFL an anti-trust exemption in broadcast deals was a mistake.
NBC partner Mike Florio doesn’t think the network is out of bounds
Florio wrote the NFL should be careful not to push over-the-top streaming services for more playoff games than in the Wild Card round. The NFL’s generous anti-trust exemption allows for parity in the television market. Without the exemption, more popular teams would strike deals that would crush smaller market teams.
And the NFL is all about parity.
But Florio didn’t make an argument for parity in the network market. He went on to defend Peacock’s right to broadcast the Chiefs game, saying it didn’t go far enough to warrant the end of the anti-trust exemption:
Taking games away from three-letter networks in local markets would imperil the antitrust exemption.
“The NFL surely knows the stakes for taking streaming too far. Personally, I doubt it will expand beyond wild-card weekend. If/when it does, there will be more voices calling for the league to lose the legal exception that has helped fuel the goose that has been laying golden eggs for more than 60 years.”
Fair enough about the expansion in future postseasons–even if Florio doesn’t want to acknowledge the gravity of the situation, the league is allowing a three-letter network to push the boundarythis weekend by taking away an important game between the NFL’s most valuable player and an exciting Dolphins offense.
But what happens when Fox and CBS try to broadcast Wild Card games on over-the-top streaming services along with Peacock in the future?
Florio ended the article as an outright advertisement for NBC and Peacock:
Here’s where I say that PFT’s content is exclusively licensed to NBC (PFT remains independently owned), PFT Live is televised by Peacock, and yours truly works for NBC’s Football Night in America. And here’s where I say that for a limited time you can get Peacock for $29.99 for one full year. That’s $2.50 a month.
Or give it a try for one month at $5.99. There’s a ton of great content. Just today, for example, a new series debuted based on the Ted movies.
The Office is on Peacock. Plenty of Universal movies end up on Peacock not long after the start of their theatrical run. Plenty of live sports are on Peacock.
So give Peacock a try. Enjoy the Dolphins-Chiefs game.
Fans on X called Florio out on the advertisement.
Love how this article turns into a Peacock endorsement at the tail end.
— Mason Whitman (@thisismasonwhit) January 12, 2024
Regardless of whether the NFL, NBC or its partners want to admit it publicly, they crossed a line by putting a playoff game on Peacock. And now the NFL could lose some feathers.
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3 Comments
I will NEVER forgive Florio for calling the Chiefs cheap over the Mahomes contract. He was insighting hate and disrespect when there was None and conflict. He was a cheapshot when there is nothing but LOVE for the man. Weak
NFL showed how little they care about their customers. Next season I won’t be buying Sunday ticket. You and NBC show contempt for your customers over and over so buh bye.
The NFL/Peacock streaming MONOPLY 0F THE CHIEFS GAME was a second-class piece of crap!!! The broadcast picture was crystal clear for “one stinking minute” then fuzzy images blurred movements and constant buffering!!! BULLSHINE!!!!! The broadcast instant replays were worthless.!!!! BULLSHINE!!! I cannot rewind the play and stop for focused views. BULLSHINE!!! I am a new subscriber to the Peacock CRAP APP and am seriously considering canceling. I dislike being forced to watch “pathetic puke” commercials. I will never buy any products they advertise.!!!! I used the mute button so I don’t have to listen to their bull shine!!! I will never buy the NFL/NFL+ app or Sunday ticket as long as the managerial misfit Roger Goodell is still demonstrating managerial malfeasance toward the Kansas City Chiefs fans!!!
GOODELL DID THIS “MONOPOLY BROADCAST” AS REVENGE TO GET EVEN WITH CHIEFS FANS FOR BOOING HIM IN LASTS YEAR’S DRAFT IN KANSAS CITY!!!