DirecTV and EverPass announced a multiyear agreement Friday, allowing for bar owners to continue showing NFL Sunday Ticket via satellite or streaming, after months of discussion about the league’s out-of-market package for commercial establishments.
The agreement goes beyond Sunday Ticket, making DirecTV the go-to sales, marketing and distribution partner for all of EverPass’ content, including Netflix and Peacock’s exclusive NFL games, in non-residential settings.
DirecTV’s status as a Sunday Ticket distributor came into doubt after the two sides failed to agree upon an extension of their previous three-year agreement, which expired this offseason. As EverPass advocated to bar owners about the benefits of switching from satellite to the company’s streaming architecture, some proprietors complained about the cost and hassle of making the jump. In July, a representative from the National Restaurant Association testified in front of lawmakers about the issue. Financial details of the new agreement were not disclosed.
Under the new deal, restaurant operators will have the option to receive the package via the internet or satellite dishes. DirecTV will also coordinate with locations that changed their subscription or back-end setups in recent months. On Reddit, some business owners had begun discussing not paying for Sunday Ticket at all this season. Pricing varies based on location size.
The ongoing shift in sports media rights towards streaming has created layers of complexity for businesses. The latest tie-up allows DirecTV, which already manages relationships with restaurants across the country, to offer a more complete package of events for its customers. The company serves more than 300,000 commercial establishments.
EverPass was founded in 2023 with backing from the NFL’s strategic investment arm and RedBird Capital, shortly after YouTube landed the consumer Sunday Ticket rights that DirecTV previously controlled. Going forward, EverPass will continue developing rights arrangements, a streaming platform and related tools for commercial venues.
“This agreement is about creating greater availability for bars, restaurants and other commercial businesses so they can offer NFL Sunday Ticket—and other live sports content—with flexibility in how they receive the service,” EverPass Media CEO Alex Kaplan said in a statement.