US regional sports-focused TV service Spectrum has announced an agreement with EverPass Media, the NFL’s media platform for commercial business game distribution, to distribute live games to its customers.
The deal will allow Spectrum Business customers to access NFL Sunday Ticket and Peacock Sports Pass via EverPass Media.
As EverPass' first official channel partner, Spectrum will offer new and existing business customers such as bars, restaurants, and hotels access to stream NFL Sunday Ticket and Peacock Sports Pass throughout the 41 states that Spectrum Business is present in.
Additionally, Spectrum has announced it will once again carry Thursday Night Football for Spectrum Business customers this season, while also launching a new ‘high-value’ sports video tier aimed at commercial establishments.
NFL Sunday Ticket is a sports package that broadcasts all out-of-market Sunday afternoon NFL games not available on local CBS or Fox affiliate stations.
EverPass holds the exclusive rights to distribute NFL Sunday Ticket to commercial establishments across the United States, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands.
Alex Kaplan, EverPass’ chief executive, added: “EverPass was founded with the goal of innovating the out-of-home sports and entertainment viewing experience while also empowering business owners to have complete control of the content their customers desire.
“This strategic relationship allows us to tap into Spectrum Business' extensive network and expand access to NFL Sunday Ticket and Peacock Sports Pass for commercial establishments, further positioning EverPass as the preeminent live sports and entertainment content platform for businesses across the US."
The partnership follows last month’s announcement by EverPass of the acquisition of in-venue marketing platform Upshow, a move that allows the NFL’s Sunday Ticket to enter more commercial venues for the first time.
EverPass was launched as a joint venture between the investment arm of the NFL and private equity group RedBird Capital Partners.
TKO Group, the combined ownership group of wrestling’s WWE and mixed martial arts’ UFC, recently invested in the EverPass service.
It was announced yesterday (August 1) that a judge in the US has overturned a jury ruling that levied $4.7 billion in damages against the NFL over its Sunday Ticket broadcast offering, after an appeal from the league.
The initial ruling had ordered the NFL to pay the damages for an antitrust lawsuit relating to Sunday Ticket after a federal jury in California found that the league had conspired to inflate the price of Sunday Ticket and that it was liable for damages to its 2.4 million subscribers and 48,000 commercial business customers.
