THE NFL could renegotiate their media rights deal “as early as next year”.
The commission was expected to begin talks regarding the agreements in four years’ time at the earliest.
That is when the league can exercise opt-outs in their current contracts that run until 2034.
However, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is opening the door for earlier negotiations.
That would help the league to capitalize on an increase in rights revenue.
Goodell told CNBC Sport: “I think our partners would want to sit down and talk to us at any time, and we continue to dialogue with them.
“I like that opportunity. Obviously it’s not going to happen this year.
“But it could happen as early as next year. That could happen.
“The reason why we felt so strongly about the option is the landscape is changing.
“It could be a long-term deal with the benefit of having that stability and security of it.
“But I think the reality of it is it changes so quickly that you want to have the ability to move.
“I think those options are going to give us a lot of flexibility to potentially go earlier.”
This comes on the precipice of the NBA starting its own new set of media rights deals.
