CBS' Moonves Believes Next NFL Broadcast Bidding Will Include Google, Facebook

CBS Chair, President & CEO Les Moonves has "resigned himself to the idea that the next bidding war" for NFL broadcast rights will "pit the networks against the likes of Google and Facebook," according to Anthony Crupi of AD AGE. However, Moonves said that the league will "very much remain a TV staple." He said, "The tech giants all want to be involved in the NFL. It's the best product in television. There's going to be a lot of activity. As we head toward that large deal, I think these companies are going to be part of it, (but) I think the NFL still believes in the sanctity of broadcasting." The current NFL broadcast deals extend through '22. Moonves added that broadcast TV "remains the most surefire and efficient way to reach a mass audience." Moonves: "There's a reason there's been no Super Bowl on cable, that the three major packages are still on network (TV). ... There's the belief and the knowledge that you can't get 115 million people watching the Super Bowl online." Crupi noted it would be "unthinkable for the NFL to hammer out a new set of rights deals that doesn't include at least one digital behemoth." Moonves said, "They'll be part of any further deal that we do." Meanwhile, Moonves said that he would be "willing to re-up for the shared package" for "TNF." Moonves: "We lose a bit of money, you know, on paper on Thursday night, we make money on Sunday, but there are so many added benefits with the rest of the schedule. Outside of 'Sunday Night Football,' it's the highest-rated program on television, so it's still important, we would like to have it" (ADAGE.com, 3/8).