Brief

NFL eyes future media rights amid broadcaster shake‑ups, says exec

Hans Schroeder says the NFL is assessing how broadcaster restructurings could affect future rights deals.

By Felo News Desk · Published Wed, 21 Oct 2026 23:02:27 GMT

The NFL is reassessing its media‑rights strategy as three major broadcast partners undergo significant corporate changes, executive vice president and chief media officer Hans Schroeder told reporters on Wednesday.

Schroeder said the league is "trying to look into a media landscape that probably has more change to it than ever before," noting that Fox, CBS and NBC are each dealing with transactions that could reshape their future business models. He added that these shifts are "very interesting to us" as the NFL evaluates how partners might package and distribute games going forward.

Schroeder referenced recent comments from Fox CEO Lachlan Murdoch, who in August said his company would seek an early renegotiation of its NFL deal and revisit the matter in a few years as the current agreement expires. He also mentioned that RedBird founder Gerry Cardinale, involved with Skydance, made similar remarks earlier in the month about ongoing partner discussions.

The league is also exploring opportunities with digital platforms. Schroeder said the NFL sees potential in "eventizing" games and working with global streaming services such as YouTube and Netflix, which have previously secured NFL game rights. He highlighted a recent collaborative effort involving the New Orleans Saints, ESPN and the league that celebrated the team's return to the Superdome as an example of creating special calendar moments.

While traditional broadcasters still command large audiences, Schroeder emphasized that the NFL is focusing on how to make its game distribution "better, both tomorrow and in the future," and is monitoring how partner companies' structural changes may influence future rights negotiations.

Key facts

• NFL executive Hans Schroeder said the league is reviewing its media‑rights landscape amid partner changes. (hollywoodreporter.com)
• Fox, CBS and NBC are each undergoing major corporate transactions that could affect future NFL deals. (hollywoodreporter.com)
• Fox CEO Lachlan Murdoch said the company may seek an early NFL rights renegotiation and revisit it in a few years. (hollywoodreporter.com)
• The NFL is considering deeper collaborations with streaming platforms like YouTube and Netflix. (hollywoodreporter.com)
• Schroeder cited a recent "magical" event celebrating the Saints' return to the Superdome as an example of "eventizing" games. (hollywoodreporter.com)

Sources

• [1] hollywoodreporter.com — originally reported as “The NFL Plays a Long Game as Skydance and Netflix Reshape Media — and the Race for Rights”