Getty Image / David Eulitt
Peacock, the streaming service that hosts NBC content, has an NFL playoff game this year that is exclusively on the streaming service behind a paywall.
Whatever fan bases got selected for this game were definitely going to be angry. But, someone has to do it, and the powers that be decided it would be the Kansas City Chiefs hosting the Miami Dolphins on Saturday night at 8PM ET on Peacock.
Why would NBC Universal and the NFL want this game on Peacock to help drive subscriptions to the streaming service? The answer could have to do with Taylor Swift.
In case you’ve been living under a rock for the past four months, Taylor Swift, international pop megastar and Time Person of the Year, is dating Kansas City Chiefs star tight end Travis Kelce. Her nine appearances at Chiefs games this year have sent social media into a frenzy and had NFL ratings soaring, especially earlier in the season.
I’m not sure anything or anyone in the world has a more loyal fan base than Taylor Swift does, and her fans are all-in on rooting not just for their relationship, but for the Kansas City Chiefs as well. These fans paid well over $1000 oftentimes this Summer for concert tickets to Swift’s record-setting Eras Tour, and I bet they will pay the $5.99 for a month’s access to Peacock to watch Travis Kelce play. I’m sure that Taylor Swift will be in attendance, as well.
Plus, the bulk of the viewership will be fans of the two teams as well as general NFL fans who wouldn’t dare miss an NFL game. NBC Universal is going to make a ton of money off of this game.
Say what you want about Roger Goodell, but the guy knows how to make money for the league and its partners.