NFL 'Game Pass' With On-Demand Game Broadcasts Coming to Apple TV

[MacRumors]

The NFL has long offered various packages that let football enthusiasts watch games on their mobile devices, but it's always been difficult to get that content on the Apple TV. That may be changing, however, according to a website dedicated to a revamped Game Pass program that the NFL plans to debut later this summer.

For viewers in the United States, the NFL currently offers Game Rewind, with access to on-demand NFL games after they air on broadcast television. As of July 31, 2015, Game Rewind is being discontinued in favor of Game Pass, a consolidated service that will offer all 256 NFL season games on-demand as well as access to live out-of-market preseason games.

Game Pass access will be added to the existing NFL Mobile app on the iPhone and the iPad, and the website indicates Game Pass content will also be available on "select connected TV devices" including the Apple TV. When the new Game Pass service is made available on the Apple TV, it'll be the first time the NFL has allowed full game broadcasts on Apple's set-top box, which is big news for football fans who are also cord cutters.

At the current time, there's an NFL Now channel on the Apple TV, but this is limited to historic videos, breaking news, and game highlights, rather than complete games due to contracts with television providers. With the prior Game Rewind service, the NFL went so far as to disable AirPlay mirroring to the Apple TV in an effort to keep broadcasts limited to iOS devices.

The new Game Pass works a lot like the former Game Rewind service. It includes live access to most preseason games, aside from those that are nationally broadcast, plus on-demand regular season, playoff, and Super Bowl games that are available after they air on broadcast television.

Game Pass is available in the United States, Bermuda, Antigua, the Bahamas, any U.S. territories, possessions and commonwealths (including American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands), and Mexico. Pricing for the Game Pass is not yet listed.

NFL fans outside of the United States already have access to an international "Game Pass" service that offers up live games and on-demand content, and while it confusingly shares the same name as the new service available in the U.S., it appears the international service will continue to be available.

(Thanks, Tyler!)

Article Link: NFL 'Game Pass' With On-Demand Game Broadcasts Coming to Apple TV

 

[expectdelay]

If it's not live then who cares? Sports don't age very well ...

 

[NachoGrande]

The NFL has long offered various packages that let football enthusiasts watch games on their mobile devices, but it's always been difficult to get that content on the Apple TV. That may be changing, however, according to a website dedicated to a revamped Game Pass program that the NFL plans to debut later this summer.

For viewers in the United States, the NFL currently offers Game Rewind, with access to on-demand NFL games after they air on broadcast television. As of July 31, 2015, Game Rewind is being discontinued in favor of Game Pass, a consolidated service that will offer all 256 NFL season games on-demand as well as access to live out-of-market preseason games.

Game Pass access will be added to the existing NFL Mobile app on the iPhone and the iPad, and the website indicates Game Pass content will also be available on "select connected TV devices" including the Apple TV. When the new Game Pass service is made available on the Apple TV, it'll be the first time the NFL has allowed full game broadcasts on Apple's set-top box, which is big news for football fans who are also cord cutters.

At the current time, there's an NFL Now channel on the Apple TV, but this is limited to historic videos, breaking news, and game highlights, rather than complete games due to contracts with television providers. With the prior Game Rewind service, the NFL went so far as to disable AirPlay mirroring to the Apple TV in an effort to keep broadcasts limited to iOS devices.

The new Game Pass works a lot like the former Game Rewind service. It includes live access to most preseason games, aside from those that are nationally broadcast, plus on-demand regular season, playoff, and Super Bowl games that are available after they air on broadcast television.

Game Pass is available in the United States, Bermuda, Antigua, the Bahamas, any U.S. territories, possessions and commonwealths (including American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands), and Mexico. Pricing for the Game Pass is not yet listed.

NFL fans outside of the United States already have access to an international "Game Pass" service that offers up live games and on-demand content, and while it confusingly shares the same name as the new service available in the U.S., it appears the international service will continue to be available.

(Thanks, Tyler!)

Article Link: NFL 'Game Pass' With On-Demand Game Broadcasts Coming to Apple TV

Need full Sunday ticket.

 

[thekeyring]

Apple seems to have an interesting strategy with services compared to hardware.

Hardware is worked on in secret for ages and then released en mass. Services used to be like the (iCloud launch) but now seem to be more, continually and quietly worked on/improved until the product is a lot better than launch (see: Maps).

 

[selliott]

So close to being awesome until this " NFL Game Pass does not include live regular season, playoff, and Super Bowl game broadcasts"

 

[Lostanddamned]

I really, really hope this translates internationally; I’m a Game Pass subscriber (and NFL international series season ticket holder) and I’d love to watch straight through tv.

 

[jacobh101]

finally progress...price will be expensive.

 

[Lord Hamsa]

Remember, folks, the reason you can't get live games on this service (yet) is the NFL's exclusive deal with DirecTV, which runs through this upcoming NFL season. Once that expires, all sorts of options open up, depending on who strikes a deal with the NFL and what those terms will be.

 

[quagski]

Not live... worthless.

 

[gugy]

The day when I can buy LIVE sports will be the day I can cut cable/satellite for good.
I hope Apple can persuade but I doubt it will happen because these sports organizations just make too much money on TV deals.

 

[chukronos]

Remember, folks, the reason you can't get live games on this service (yet) is the NFL's exclusive deal with DirecTV, which runs through this upcoming NFL season. Once that expires, all sorts of options open up, depending on who strikes a deal with the NFL and what those terms will be.

DTV extended their contract through 2022 for about $1.5 billion annually.

 

[seamusk]

Tape delayed games lol. I have zero respect for the NFL. The worst of the major pro leagues. The sad thing is that I was a big fan for the longest time. But it's just a terrible organization.

 

[Mike_Trivisonno]

NFL Game Pass is not all it's cracked up to be. You still have to watch local channels. You think you will be getting "every game" like they say but you only get the games you don't want to watch. To follow your team, you will have to tune in to the local broadcast. A real let down.

 

[dugbug]

So close to being awesome until this " NFL Game Pass does not include live regular season, playoff, and Super Bowl game broadcasts"

I subscribe each year. You can watch the game the next day, and its typically the only way I can see it. I also get a kick out of watching some of my team's classic games.

 

[TsMkLg068426]

Another app to hide on Apple TV.

 

[mattopotamus]

I almost **** bricks thinking it was going to be live games. The only reason I still have basic cable.

 

[TsMkLg068426]

Blame Direct TV for the monopoly with Sunday Ticket.

 

[Khalanad75]

I don't mind waiting the day to watch the games. As long as the quality is still as good as Rewind was, I will pay for it.

It sucks being out of market for your team.

 

[mattopotamus]

what needs to happen is NFL Redzone as a standalone service!

 

[BornAgainMac]

This isn't golf or bowling. People want "live" games for all NFL teams all season long.

 

[iJandro]

if "out-of-market only" is somewhere in sight, not interested...

 

[RickInHouston]

Blame Direct TV for the monopoly with Sunday Ticket.

Why blame Direct TV? They were the highest bidder. Blame the one selling the service and making it exclusive.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

Wooo. LIVE preseason games. Oh boy!! /sarc.

Other than coaches and players who wants to see a game after its played? The highlights are all over TV by then.

Not really sure who in the U.S. would buy into this service. ATT/DirecTV have the Sunday day game streaming locked up. so "live" regular season isn't happening w/o its permission.

 

[bbeagle]

If it's not live then who cares? Sports don't age very well ...

Fantasy Sports are a HUGE market.

Each NFL game can be reduced to 30 minutes. Say you watched 2 games that week live, you can watch every other game for the week in just 7 hours. This is a huge market for people who want to rule their fantasy leagues by watching every player in every play and not just read numbers in the paper.

 

[bbeagle]

NFL Game Pass is not all it's cracked up to be. You still have to watch local channels. You think you will be getting "every game" like they say but you only get the games you don't want to watch. To follow your team, you will have to tune in to the local broadcast. A real let down.

It appears that you did not read the article.

You're getting 'every game', just tape-delayed. If you want to watch live, you need to watch other channels, not this service. None of the regular-season games are live.