The NFL is about to kick off its first Black Friday football game, which will air on Friday, November 24 at 3 pm ET when the Miami Dolphins take on the New York Jets. Considerable planning has gone into the game, which will be available for free on Amazon Prime Video as part of its media rights deal with the NFL and will include a variety of activities in and around the game.
Coverage begins at 1:30 p.m. ET and includes an extended pregame show Tumor necrosis factor tonight broadcast crew, which will lead to the kickoff at MetLife Stadium.
Amazon Prime Video has averaged 12.27 million total viewers so far this year, as measured by Nielsen Media Research, with the top 10 games on the platform up 26% year over year. Nielsen’s enhanced streaming report, which incorporates Amazon’s viewing data, has averaged 13.43 million viewers per minute across its media platforms.
The NFL’s overall viewership increased 6% year over year, attracting an average of 17.1 million viewers, its highest single-season viewership since 2015. Now, the NFL will look to instantiate a new holiday tradition through: An online retailer has launched a growing streaming platform and is reportedly exploring more ways to participate in the sports media space.
“The timing really goes back to last spring when we had to make the decision to play the game on Black Friday,” NFL executive vice president of media distribution Hans Schroeder said Tuesday. “I think it felt right for us. moment is when we have had a full season Thursday night football on Amazon. “
The goal of the partnership with Amazon is not to synchronize TV products on digital OTT streaming platforms, but to innovate within the broadcast industry and enhance the viewing experience. Building on the company’s impressive first year, the two sides came to an agreement and began planning for special additions to the schedule and game roster.
“It feels like the perfect marriage and intersection has really come together, and I think we have a great plan,” Schroeder said. “The 3 o’clock time slot allows us to do some building work before it and then on Amazon Do something entertaining.”
Throughout the game, Amazon will offer exclusive offers scannable via on-screen QR codes, including play-by-play announcer Al Michaels, color commentator Kirk Herbstreit and reporter Kaylee Hartung.
Additionally, award-winning celebrity chef David Chang will join the livestream and explore the tailgate scene surrounding the Meadowlands Sports Center.
YouTube sports comedy group Dude Perfect will also perform an alternative broadcast during the time slot, joining other live streams showcasing Prime Vision with next-gen statistics and Spanish-language viewing options. Following the game, Prime Video will bring all fans an exclusive concert by country music artist Garth Brooks.
“We’re pushing back hard on promotion and marketing, but we’ll have to wait and see,” Jay Marine, vice president of Prime Video and head of global sports at Amazon, said of expected viewership. “It’s a new one. window, so I expect it to continue to grow year after year in the same way.”
Last Thanksgiving, Fox Sports’ game between the New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys was the most-watched regular season game on record, averaging 42 million viewers. Despite the success of that game, coupled with the 60-year tradition of the Cowboys and Lions playing on the holiday, the league is looking at the upcoming Black Friday games differently. Schroeder expects NFL Black Friday football games to be played year-to-year and include different venues, rather than designating one team to play during that period.
“We’ve had multiple teams contact us asking if they could be the annual host of this game,” Schroeder said. “… Our focus is more on rotating this opportunity and providing another market and an NFL market with the opportunity to host a truly unique and exciting event.”