NFL's Roger Goodell Rejects Idea of Streaming-Only Super Bowl: 'Not in My Time'

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell does not anticipate the Super Bowl becoming a streaming-only event any time soon.

"Certainly not in my time," Goodell told reporters Monday. "One of the secrets of our success is we are really committed to broadcast television. Ninety percent 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. Twenty-three million people watched that NFL Wild Card Game."

Peacock broadcast the first streaming-only playoff game in January. While there were some understandable expressions of frustration from fans, the game drew 23 million viewers—a major boost for Peacock and more evidence that streaming-only events have viability in the marketplace.

The NFL entered a relationship with Amazon to broadcast Thursday Night Football starting in 2022. Games averaged 11.86 million viewers this season, which was a 24 percent increase from a year ago.

Even if more people are cutting the cord, the vast majority of people still watch NFL games on traditional broadcast/cable networks. Last year's Super Bowl drew 112.17 million viewers. There is no way to even come close to replicating that number on a streaming service.

Netflix, Amazon and Disney+ are the only three streamers that can even boast 100 million total subscribers—and that's worldwide, not just in the United States.

One could argue live sports is one of the only reasons to maintain a live cable/satellite/etc. subscription in the modern economy, so networks are going to continue sending massive checks to leagues to avoid losing their rights. It would likely take broadcast television folding entirely for an event as large as the Super Bowl to move off traditional mediums.