Select a region
Twitter will broadcast 10 NFL matches for free after reaching an agreement to show Thursday night games online.
The social networking site beat a number of companies to win the rights, including Yahoo and Amazon. Facebook was also in the running until dropping out of the bidding last week.
It is a significant announcement and was enough for the NFL Commissioner, Roger Goodall, to post his first tweet for 18 months.
This fall Thursday Night Football will be streamed live @twitter so fans will see more of this. https://t.co/s6tbr9FjvY
— Roger Goodell (@nflcommish) April 5, 2016
The matches, as well as in-game highlights and analysis before the games, will be available via the site’s live streaming app, Periscope.
The news went down well among Twitter users, with a nod to the fact that the deal seems to have been made primarily with fans – and Twitter – as the winners.
Perfect Twitter/NFL deal. For me.
— Keith Rabois (@rabois) April 5, 2016
Pretty excited about the growing Twitter + NFL partnership! As @RABlank says: #mustlovesports #LIVE
I didn't even know the twitter could stream and now its gonna stream NFL games on Thursday nights
— Tony Phillip Rouhana (@TPRx11) April 5, 2016
Twitter will make more in ad sales then NBC on TNF…. well done #nfl #Twitter
— Seth Frankenthal (@sfrankenthal) April 5, 2016
Twitter going big on the NFL reminds me of FOX stealing the NFC from CBS back in the day. Big move form a company trying to make its mark.
— Aaron Nagler (@AaronNagler) April 5, 2016
Thursday Night Football will stream on Twitter. Men: "One sec honey, just gotta finish this important 3 hour work email." #NFL @absrdNEWS
— Will Presti (@WillPresti) April 5, 2016
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell added: “Twitter is where live events unfold and is the right partner for the NFL as we take the latest step in serving fans around the world live NFL football.
“There is a massive amount of NFL-related conversation happening on Twitter during our games and tapping into that audience, in addition to our viewers on broadcast and cable, will ensure Thursday Night Football is seen on an unprecedented number of platforms this season.”
