Football Fans Upset Over Paywall Game

In a move that has left many fans frustrated, the NFL chose to air the AFC wild-card game between the Steelers and Ravens exclusively on Amazon Prime Video. This isn't the first time the league has dealt with backlash over streaming deals, but it certainly hasn't made the situation any better. The game, which took place last Saturday night, was only available to those with a Prime subscription, leaving many fans feeling left out. "This is just another reason to stop watching the NFL, " one fan complained. "Having playoff games on Prime is a joke. " Another fan echoed these sentiments, stating, "The NFL is ruining the sport. Not everyone can afford Prime Video. " Some fans even went as far as to suggest collective action against the NFL and streaming services.

The NFL isn't new to these deals. Last season, they signed a $100 million contract with Peacock to stream a wild-card game. That game set a record with 32. 1 million viewers, becoming the most-streamed live event in U. S. history. Amazon upped the ante this time, paying $120 million for the Steelers-Ravens game. This follows their $100 million payment for the Black Friday game between the Dolphins and Jets in November. Amazon's deal with the NFL isn't limited to one-off games. They also stream "Thursday Night Football, " a deal that costs around $1 billion per season and runs through 2033.

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