NFL Audio Pass
Encyclopedia
NFL Audio Pass is a subscription Internet radio
Out-of-Market Sports Package
provided by the National Football League
that provides live and archived audio broadcasts of NFL games throughout the regular season and playoffs at a price of $9.95 (US) per month or $29.95 (US) per season.
Prior to 2002, NFL.com offered free broadcasts of its NFL games by special agreement with approximately 20 of its member teams. However, about the same time as the first Internet radio bust, the NFL decided to join the RealOne
SuperPass system, a subscription multimedia service that provided various channels from major broadcast providers for a fee (hence the word "Pass" in the name). RealNetworks no longer manages NFL Audio Pass.
NFL Audio Pass provides audio feeds from the flagship English-language radio stations of all 32 NFL teams, broadcasting every preseason, regular season, and postseason game. To direct listeners to the service, the NFL has banned local affiliates from streaming NFL games on the Internet, although several stations still broadcast the games anyway and enforcement of this ban is inconsistent.
NFL Audio Pass coverage of the Super Bowl
is unique. Because the NFL only allows one station to air a local broadcast for each team in the contest, NFL Audio Pass and Sirius Satellite Radio
are the only options for those who want to listen to their home team but live outside of the flagship station's listening range. In addition to the team broadcasts, the NFL Audio Pass Super Bowl package includes various foreign language broadcasts, live feeds from the stadium PA announcer, archives, and "press box" stat play-by-play.
In the past, from spring until August 1, NFL Field Pass opened up its archives to "free preview." All games from the past years were available for free during this window, as is live coverage of the NFL Draft
and other live multimedia. This was not the case in 2009, though the free preview returned in 2010. Until its demise in 2007, NFL Europe
live video broadcasts were also available on the service.
Prior to 2009, the national radio broadcasts on the Westwood One
network (including the Pro Bowl
, a Westwood One exclusive) were not available on NFL Field Pass. As part of a renegotiation of the broadcast contract, national Westwood One games, including all prime-time games, the Pro Bowl, and all playoff games, became available on Field Pass beginning in the 2009 NFL season
. (Westwood One's Sunday afternoon doubleheader broadcasts, which are negotiated with individual teams separately from the national package, remain unavailable on NFL Audio Pass, as do those of the rival Sports USA Radio Network
and Compass Media Networks
.) Spanish-language broadcasts from Univision Radio
and United Stations Radio Networks
are also now available on NFL Audio Pass, although they are available for free on the Univision-NFL joint project, NFLatino.com.
An Internet television
spinoff service, NFL Game Pass, debuted in 2008
for online users outside of North America.
NFL Field Pass and Game Pass had a poor start to the 2009 season
, when a major outage on the season's opening Sunday (September 13) left its subscribers without access to the service.
NFL Field Pass was renamed NFL Audio Pass prior to the 2010 season
.
Internet radio
Internet radio is an audio service transmitted via the Internet...
Out-of-Market Sports Package
Out-of-Market Sports Package
In the North America, an Out-of-Market Sports Package is a form of subscription television that broadcasts sporting events to areas who are unavailable to see them because the games are not broadcast in their local market....
provided by the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
that provides live and archived audio broadcasts of NFL games throughout the regular season and playoffs at a price of $9.95 (US) per month or $29.95 (US) per season.
Prior to 2002, NFL.com offered free broadcasts of its NFL games by special agreement with approximately 20 of its member teams. However, about the same time as the first Internet radio bust, the NFL decided to join the RealOne
RealNetworks
RealNetworks, Inc. is a provider of Internet media delivery software and services based in Downtown Seattle, Washington, United States. The company is the creator of RealAudio, a compressed audio format; RealVideo, a compressed video format; RealPlayer, a media player; RealDownloader, a download...
SuperPass system, a subscription multimedia service that provided various channels from major broadcast providers for a fee (hence the word "Pass" in the name). RealNetworks no longer manages NFL Audio Pass.
NFL Audio Pass provides audio feeds from the flagship English-language radio stations of all 32 NFL teams, broadcasting every preseason, regular season, and postseason game. To direct listeners to the service, the NFL has banned local affiliates from streaming NFL games on the Internet, although several stations still broadcast the games anyway and enforcement of this ban is inconsistent.
NFL Audio Pass coverage of the Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
is unique. Because the NFL only allows one station to air a local broadcast for each team in the contest, NFL Audio Pass and Sirius Satellite Radio
Sirius Satellite Radio
Sirius Satellite Radio is a satellite radio service operating in North America, owned by Sirius XM Radio.Headquartered in New York City, with smaller studios in Los Angeles and Memphis, Sirius was officially launched on July 1, 2002 and currently provides 69 streams of music and 65 streams of...
are the only options for those who want to listen to their home team but live outside of the flagship station's listening range. In addition to the team broadcasts, the NFL Audio Pass Super Bowl package includes various foreign language broadcasts, live feeds from the stadium PA announcer, archives, and "press box" stat play-by-play.
In the past, from spring until August 1, NFL Field Pass opened up its archives to "free preview." All games from the past years were available for free during this window, as is live coverage of the NFL Draft
NFL Draft
The National Football League Draft is an annual event in which the National Football League teams select eligible college football players and it is their most common source of player recruitment. The basic design of the draft is each team is given a position in the drafting order in reverse order...
and other live multimedia. This was not the case in 2009, though the free preview returned in 2010. Until its demise in 2007, NFL Europe
NFL Europe
NFL Europe was an American football league which operated in Europe from 1991 until 2007. Backed by the National Football League , the largest professional American football league in the United States, it was founded as the World League of American Football to serve as a type of spring league...
live video broadcasts were also available on the service.
Prior to 2009, the national radio broadcasts on the Westwood One
NFL on Westwood One
The NFL on Westwood One is the brand name given to weekly National Football League games carried on the radio over the Dial Global Radio Network...
network (including the Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
, a Westwood One exclusive) were not available on NFL Field Pass. As part of a renegotiation of the broadcast contract, national Westwood One games, including all prime-time games, the Pro Bowl, and all playoff games, became available on Field Pass beginning in the 2009 NFL season
2009 NFL season
The 2009 NFL season was the 90th regular season of the National Football League.The preseason started with the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game on August 9, 2009, and the regular season began September 10. The season ended with Super Bowl XLIV, the league's championship game, on February 7, 2010 at...
. (Westwood One's Sunday afternoon doubleheader broadcasts, which are negotiated with individual teams separately from the national package, remain unavailable on NFL Audio Pass, as do those of the rival Sports USA Radio Network
Sports USA Radio Network
The Sports USA Radio Network is the largest independent nationwide sports broadcasting radio network, specializing in live broadcasts of American football, specifically of the NCAA football Division I-A and National Football League...
and Compass Media Networks
Compass Media Networks
Compass Media Networks is an American radio network.The company launched in January 2009. It is owned by former Westwood One CEO and former COO of Connoisseur Media, Peter Kosann...
.) Spanish-language broadcasts from Univision Radio
Univision Radio
Univision Radio is the radio division of media giant Univision Communications, Inc., which also ownsthe Univision television network. The company was formerly known as Hispanic Broadcasting Corporation. It is the eighth largest radio company in the United States, and the largest Hispanic radio...
and United Stations Radio Networks
United Stations Radio Networks
United Stations Radio Networks is a radio network providing a wide range of programs and programming services for radio stations across the US and elsewhere...
are also now available on NFL Audio Pass, although they are available for free on the Univision-NFL joint project, NFLatino.com.
An Internet television
Internet television
Internet television is the digital distribution of television content via the Internet...
spinoff service, NFL Game Pass, debuted in 2008
2008 NFL season
The 2008 NFL season was the 89th regular season of the National Football League, themed with the slogan "Believe in Now."Super Bowl XLIII, the league's championship game, was at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida on February 1, 2009, with the Pittsburgh Steelers coming out victorious over the...
for online users outside of North America.
NFL Field Pass and Game Pass had a poor start to the 2009 season
2009 NFL season
The 2009 NFL season was the 90th regular season of the National Football League.The preseason started with the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game on August 9, 2009, and the regular season began September 10. The season ended with Super Bowl XLIV, the league's championship game, on February 7, 2010 at...
, when a major outage on the season's opening Sunday (September 13) left its subscribers without access to the service.
NFL Field Pass was renamed NFL Audio Pass prior to the 2010 season
2010 NFL season
The 2010 NFL season was the 91st regular season of the National Football League.The regular season began with the NFL Kickoff game on NBC on Thursday, September 9, at the Louisiana Superdome as the New Orleans Saints, Super Bowl XLIV champions, defeated the Minnesota Vikings 14–9.Tom Brady,...
.