The NFL and its major broadcasting network partners announced a new agreement that will run for nine more seasons through 2022, the longest TV contract lengths in league history.
CBS, FOX and NBC were all granted new nine-year contracts from the NFL, according to Sports Illustrated's Richard Deitsch. ESPN reached an agreement earlier this year to broadcast Monday Night Football through 2022.
In all, the three networks are expected to pay close to $28 billion to the league over the next nine seasons.
With the new deal, CBS will begin broadcasting NFC games. It will be the first time the network, which traditionally handles AFC games, will broadcast NFC and AFC games in the same season. The traditionally NFC-oriented FOX will similarly have the opportunity to broadcast AFC games starting in 2014.
In addition, the NFL Network will no longer broadcast the primetime game on Thanksgiving, with those duties given to NBC beginning in 2012. NBC will also produce a morning pregame show on Sundays starting in 2014.
