The National Football League and YouTube today announced a partnership that will deliver NFL content to fans around the world, combining the world's most popular sports league with the world's largest video platform. Through a newly launched official NFL channel on YouTube, and video directly viewable for Google Search users, this partnership will enable fans to engage with NFL video content on PCs, tablets, and mobile phones.
This deal represents the latest in a series of partnerships that the NFL has struck with leading digital platforms to continue to increase the accessibility and consumption of some of the most valuable content in the entertainment business.
Located at YouTube.com/NFL, the NFL's official channel on YouTube allows viewers to access a uniquely packaged, seven-day-a-week NFL content programming schedule. Content posted to the NFL's official channel on YouTube will include game previews, in-game highlights, post-game recaps as well as clips featuring news, analysis, fantasy football advice, and other select content from NFL Network and NFL.com.
Additionally, official NFL game highlights and content will be available through Google Search. A simple Google search will display official NFL video along with related news and information all delivered to the user in one distinct box at the top of the search results. Kickoff time and broadcast information for every NFL game will also be prominently displayed in Google Search.
Days from the kickoff of Super Bowl XLIX, the newly launched NFL channel will contain clips of many of the top plays, games, and performers from the 2014 season, as well as content featuring the sights and sounds from Arizona and previewing the matchup between the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks. The official NFL channel on YouTube and Google search results will also contain in-game highlights from Super Bowl XLIX.
"Partnering with YouTube and Google provides the NFL unique access to millions of highly engaged fans through the global leader in video and search," said Hans Schroeder, Senior Vice President, Media Strategy, Business Development, & Sales for the National Football League. "We continue to see an insatiable appetite for digital video content, and this partnership further expands fans' ability to discover and access NFL content throughout the year."
NFL content has never been more popular across the media landscape. According to The Nielsen Company, the 2014 regular season reached 202.3 million unique viewers, representing 80 percent of all television homes and 68% percent of potential viewers in the U.S. In the fall of 2014, 17.6 million viewers tuned in per game telecast, making it the second most-watched season ever behind the 2010 season (17.9 million). NFL games accounted for the top 20, and 45 of the 50 most-watched TV shows among all programming last fall and for the third consecutive year, an NFL game was the week's most-watched TV show in all 17 weeks of the season.