Builds on the past, offers a glimpse into the future
Homeschooling parents open The Homie Hub in Oshkosh
August 29, 2022
GREEN BAY – NFL+, a new streaming service option geared specifically toward football fans, has officially arrived.
On July 25, the National Football League introduced NFL+, which gives fans additional options to watch games.
Aaron Popkey, director of public affairs for the Packers, said the new streaming service option helps fill the niche of on-the-go viewing when watching the game on TV isn’t an option.
“If you’re out and about and can’t watch Packers games in a traditional manner, NFL+ would allow you to watch the game on your phone/tablet – but only if you’re in your home area or market,” he said.
But, there are limitations to the service.
For starters, NFL+ is only available on tablets and cell phones, so the service won’t work through computers and TVs, because the app doesn’t allow it.
Additionally, NFL+ doesn’t allow fans to watch out-of-market regular-season games – only out-of-market preseason games.
In other words, if you’re a Packers fan living in Miami, this service might not be for you.
You’d be able to watch the Packers play the 49ers, Saints and Chiefs this preseason, but once regular-season games start in September, you’d need another option.
“If you’re a Packers fan who consumes Packers content, you’ll be able to continue to do that like you normally would,” Popkey said. “If you’ve watched Packers games in the past in a traditional way, you’ll still be able to do that – whether that’s over the internet, through a cable system or satellite TV.”
However, Popkey said if fans watched Packers games on a phone/tablet through the Packers app in the past, that will no longer be an option.
“That has now shifted to NFL+,” he said. “Last season, for instance, you could watch Packers games on your phone/tablet through the Packers app.”
He said the service through the Packers app – which also didn’t allow casting to a computer/TV – was free for users, NFL+, however, won’t be.
Two tiers
The service is broken up into two tiers.
Tier one offers live streaming of the radio broadcasts of all NFL games, streaming of local television broadcasts of in-market/primetime/postseason games, streaming of out-of-market preseason games and library content from NFL Films and NFL Network.
The cost is $4.99 per month or $29.99 per year.
NFL+ Premium, the tier two option which costs $9.99 per month or $79.99 per year, offers on-demand replays of NFL games and coaches’ film, plus all the features of tier one.
“I think the full-game replays and the coaches’ film are nice options,” Popkey said. “It gives you more.”
Like in the past, Popkey said if you’re a Packers fan living in another area of the country, you’d have to use one of the other NFL tools to watch games – if the games weren’t being broadcast nationally.
NFL Sunday Ticket, which offers fans the opportunity to watch their favorite team for all games – preseason or regular season – is one choice.
?
?
Aaron Popkey, director of public affairs for the Green Bay Packers. Submitted Photo
Currently, the NFL is negotiating its NFL Sunday Ticket rights.
Popkey said he hasn’t heard much from Packers fans about the service – at least for now.
“If you look at the NFL, the league has been pretty consistent in maintaining the ability for fans of teams in a home market to watch the games over the air for free on a local channel,” he said. “The NFL has differentiated itself from other leagues in that aspect.”
Popkey said he doesn’t see an end to that any time soon.
The future of what else NFL+ might offer – including whether out-of-market games will ever be an option – is not yet known.
Popkey said it’s great Packers fans have so much variety of content.
“From Packers programming via packers.com, Connected TV and the Packers app, to the expanded NFL options through the new NFL+ platform, we are excited Packers fans can stay up-to-date on the team,” he said.
