Yahoo Will Stream the NFL’s First Web Game, for Free

A couple of months ago, when the NFL announced that for the first time ever, it would show a regular season game (almost) exclusively on the Internet, it didn’t know who would handle the streaming or how much it would cost fans to watch the game.

Industry executives familiar with the NFL’s negotiations think Yahoo paid at least $20 million for the rights to stream the game; in return it has exclusive ad rights for the game.

If you had a third hand, you could also factor in the appeal of a free NFL game for curious audiences in Europe, where it will air in the afternoon.

Other unknowns for the game (which will also air on conventional broadcast and cable TV in Buffalo and Jacksonville) include the streaming quality, and the overall experience for digital viewers, who are supposed to be able to watch the game on a variety of devices: Phones, PCs, and TVs with built-in Internet connections or those connected to devices like Apple TVs, Google Chromecasts and Xbox 360s.

Brian Rolapp, who heads up the NFL’s media business, says the game will be produced by CBS, at the same quality level the network uses for its traditional broadcasts.