The NFL’s audience is massive compared to other sporting leagues.
Super Bowl LVI alone drew 112.3 million viewers who tuned in via NBC or Peacock.
To put that number in perspective, the last 11 MLB World Series games pulled a total audience of 105 million.
Meanwhile, the last 12 NBA Finals games had a total of 106 million viewers.
That said, revenues from the NFL’s coverage are also increasing.
In March 2021, Amazon signed a ten-year deal to stream 15 games per season via Prime Video.
These games coincide with Thursday Night Football which will now be carried by the streaming service.
But while Amazon is set to start its NFL coverage, the man on the microphone for those games is a legend.
Al Michaels has agreed to call Thursday Night Football on Amazon Prime, per @AndrewMarchand
He will partner with Kirk Herbstreit pic.twitter.com/7Ufgrd7ZMb
— PFF (@PFF) March 21, 2022
Pro Football Focus revealed, “Al Michaels has agreed to call Thursday Night Football on Amazon Prime, per @AndrewMarchand.”
NBC used to have Thursday Night Football but focused on Sunday Night Football instead.
Amazon will be getting a highly-respected sports broadcaster who has covered the biggest games not only in football but also in other sports.
Terms of Michaels’ deal were not disclosed but it could be comparable to what Troy Aikman is set to earn when he joins ESPN next season.
Who Is Michaels’ Booth Partner?
Michaels will deliver the games on Amazon with Kirk Herbstreit.
Herbstreit has experience calling games, and appearing on ESPN’s College Gameday.
He has also called Monday Night Football games with Chris Fowler and Rece Davis.
Michaels and Herbstreit should deliver the excitement in every NFL game on Amazon.
With Amazon entering the NFL landscape and TV deals going live next year, the salary cap will increase to give teams more buying capacity.
That said, expect player deals to escalate.
