Amazon could pay the NFL $2.5 billion to stream 'Sunday Ticket' games - and is seen as the frontrunner among bidders, reports say

• Amazon is seen as the favorite to win the rights to NFL's "Sunday Ticket" package, CNBC reported.
• The NFL is expected to ask for as much as $2.5 billion per year for the package, the report said.
• Other competitors that have reportedly shown interest include Apple and Disney.

Amazon is in talks to acquire the rights to the NFL's "Sunday Ticket" streaming package under a multi-year deal, CNBC reported on Friday, citing sources.

The tech giant is said to have expressed a "serious interest" in the package that allows subscribers to stream out-of-market football games.

The NFL is expected to set an annual price tag between $2 billion and $2.5 billion, and wants to settle discussions on the deal before the season winds down in February, CNBC said, citing two sources.

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Amazon isn't the only interested party. Apple has also requested exclusive rights to the package, according to The Information. But it's reportedly not seen as a serious contender due to its "reluctance to invest heavily in entertainment."

Disney has also had related discussions with the NFL, ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro told Bloomberg recently. Meanwhile, NBCUniversal's streaming service Peacock is not expected to make a bid, CNBC reported, citing a source.

Satellite pay-TV operator DirecTV, which AT&T spun out as a standalone video entity last month, has owned the package for 27 years.

For the past seven years, DirecTV paid $1.5 billion a year to stream the package. It renewed its latest partnership with the NFL in 2014, but that's set to expire after the 2022 season. CNBC's sources said it may not have as sturdy a balance sheet as Amazon or Apple.

Amazon is seen as the favorite to win the rights. Its Prime Video service became the first all-streaming provider to agree to become the exclusive home of NFL's "Thursday Night Football" in a significant step in the streaming wars. The company is paying $1 billion a year under the 11-year agreement.

Amazon didn't immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.