Roger Goodell Bluntly Addresses Possibility of Streaming-Only Super Bowl

Goodell says the NFL remains committed to broadcast television.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell was asked Monday about the possibility of bringing the Super Bowl exclusively to a streaming service at some point in the future following the league’s first-ever Peacock-exclusive playoff game during the wild-card round this season.

During his media address ahead of Super Bowl LVIII, Goodell made clear that he had no plans for a streaming-only Super Bowl during his time as commissioner.

“Could we see a streaming Super Bowl in the future?” asked CBS’s Tracy Wolfson.

“Certainly not in my time,” said Goodell. “One of the secrets of our success is we are really committed to broadcast television. 90% of our games are on broadcast television. I think it’s the reason why you will see over 200 million people watch this game here in the United States, because it’s on broadcast television and the broadest possible platform.

“We’ll see Super Bowl continue to be on the broadest possible platform, and I think we’ll continue to see the NFL on the broadest possible platform. 23 million people watched that NFL wild-card game,” he said.

The wild-card matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and Miami Dolphins required viewers to have a Peacock subscription in order to tune in, with no broadcast television options available. NFL fans weren’t too thrilled about having a postseason game behind a paywall, but Goodell said that there were no plans to explore a similar route for the Super Bowl.

Although streaming figures to be prominent in the NFL given the shifting media landscape, the Super Bowl appears set to remain on broadcast television for the foreseeable future. 


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Karl Rasmussen
KARL RASMUSSEN

Karl Rasmussen is a staff writer for the Breaking and Trending News team for Sports Illustrated. A University of Oregon alum who joined SI in February 2023, his work has appeared on 12up and ClutchPoints. Rasmussen is a loyal Tottenham, Jets, Yankees and Ducks fan.