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Add Charles Barkley to the list of fans who are upset that the NFL is airing a playoff game exclusively on Peacock.
Assuming there isn’t so much snow that you can’t actually see the players on the field, the Miami Dolphins will take on the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday night. However, unless you are a Peacock subscriber, you’re SOL, if you want to tune in and find out how the game is going.
Many folks out there believe the NFL is only putting this game on Peacock because they will draw thousands of Taylor Swift fans’ eyeballs (and dollars) to the fledgling streaming service.
Truth be told, it’s really all about money.
NBC Universal paid the NFL $110 million last year for the right to air a playoff game exclusively on Peacock. The Taylor Swift factor is just a bonus.
None of that matters to many NFL fans though. They’re just angry that, yet again, they are being forced to subscribe to a streaming service just to watch one game.
Charles Barkley, during an appearance on ESPN Chicago’s Waddle & Silvy show on Thursday, expressed the same frustration.
“Oh, man. Can I take a shot at the NFL? Showing this game not on cable, that’s low class,” Barkley said. “That’s not cool, they’re just being greedy pigs. I’m glad some NFL players are taking some shots at them.”
He said he can’t watch the game because he will be busy, but if he could he would boycott it.
“I know the NFL is the biggest thing in the world, but to put this game on Peacock and make people have to buy Peacock, that’s just low class. I’m disgusted.”
Chuck wasn’t done.
“They sold the game for 110 million. And I know that’s a lot of money, but the NFL is making $20 billion a year,” he added. “To screw your fans like that, it’s just not cool at all. That’s just flat out greedy and I’m disappointed in the NFL.”
Barkley added that it just shows that the NFL doesn’t care about the fans.
Even one of the Kansas City Chiefs’ players, Charles Omenihu, can’t believe the NFL is doing this.
The defensive end even went so far as to start giving away free Peacock subscriptions to fans this week to try and help soften the blow.