Amazon Prime is set to pay a record $150MILLION to stream an NFL playoff game next season, source tells DailyMail.com… as league’s popularity continues to soar amid Taylor Swift-Travis Kelce romance

The cost of airing an NFL playoff game continues to surge, following the league’s record-breaking Super Bowl viewership. Amazon Prime is set to pay over $150 million for exclusive rights to a postseason game after the 2024 season, according to a source familiar with the agreement. This nine-figure price tag surpasses the $110 million NBC paid in the previous season for exclusive rights to an AFC Wild Card game, broadcast on its streaming service, Peacock.

Despite fan dissatisfaction with Peacock’s subscription fees, viewership remained robust, with the game averaging 23 million viewers, making it the most-watched live-streamed event in U.S. history. The upcoming exclusive postseason game on Amazon Prime reflects the increasing value and demand for digital streaming rights in the sports broadcasting landscape.

The NFL, which currently has four broadcast partners – NBC, CBS, Fox, and ESPN/ABC – each receiving at least one Wild Card game, has not yet commented on the new deal. Amazon Prime’s success in airing Thursday Night Football has contributed to its ability to secure additional rights, with an average of 11.86 million viewers per game during its second season.

Super Bowl LVIII set a record with an average of 123.4 million viewers, making it the most-watched telecast in U.S. history. Taylor Swift’s presence and influence were credited with boosting viewership among women, with five million more female viewers tuning in compared to the previous year’s Super Bowl. The NFL’s popularity among women has been linked to Taylor Swift, as acknowledged by Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce.

The previous Super Bowl record of 115.1 million average viewers was surpassed, with CBS Sports announcing the staggering figures within 24 hours of the Kansas City Chiefs’ victory over the San Francisco 49ers. The Super Bowl’s immense viewership extends beyond individual networks, with over 200 million viewers watching at least part of the game across all networks and streaming platforms. This extraordinary viewership underscores the enduring popularity and cultural significance of the NFL, solidifying its position as a premier sports entertainment spectacle.