With its $48.5 billion decision to acquire DirecTV over the weekend, AT&T wants to go deep and try to pass its competitors in the pay television market. The telecommunications giant can back out of the deal, however, if the satellite service doesn't maintain the exclusive rights to NFL Sunday Ticket.
The out clause in the proposed deal specifically mentions Sunday Ticket, the crown jewel of DirecTV's sports packages.
"The parties also have agreed that in the unlikely event that DirecTV’s agreement for the NFL Sunday Ticket service is not renewed substantially on the terms discussed between the parties, AT&T may elect not to consummate the merger," it says.
Because NFL fans can get only get NFL Sunday Ticket on DirecTV, it's something that cable networks and online streaming hubs can't offer (legally). That would give AT&T an immediate, important leg up in unique programming.
DirecTV's contract with the NFL is set to end after the 2014 season, but the parties are likely to settle on a new deal soon. It comes with a cost of about $1 billion a season, which doesn't look like (and isn't) much in the bigger picture of the new mega media company.
