https://www.nbcnews.com/media/apple-early-talks-stream-nfl-sunday-ticket-games-rcna1380

With DirecTV's $1.5 billion deal for Sunday Ticket set to expire after the 2022 season, Apple is exploring whether the package that allows NFL fans to watch every early and late afternoon Sunday NFL game is worth paying for to boost subscriptions. Still, as The Information reports, "Apple isn't seen as a serious contender for the rights (https://twitter.com/jyarow/status/1413534194324619267), given its reluctance to invest heavily in entertainment programming in the past."

Apple and Amazon are the frontrunners who will likely pay more than $2 billion a year for NFL Sunday Ticket (https://sportsbusinessjournal.com/Journal/Issues/2022/02/28/Insiders/Sports-media.aspx)

According to Sports Business Journal's John Ourand, "because negotiations are ongoing, it’s difficult to determine exactly where the bids are, but sources said it’s likely that the NFL will get more than $2 billion per year for Sunday Ticket." DirecTV, which has held the rights to Sunday Ticket since 1994, currently pays $1.5 billion a year with its contract expiring after the 2022 season.

Apple TV+ is reportedly the frontrunner for NFL Sunday Ticket (https://awfulannouncing.com/nfl/apple-tv-plus-nfl-sunday-ticket-is-deal-done.html)

Puck News' Matthew Belloni reports Apple TV+ is the only media platform willing to shell out $2.5 billion per year (https://puck.news/ruperts-age-apple-nfl-and-the-bomb-of-the-pandemic/) for the NFL Sunday Ticket package, up from the $1.5 billion DirecTV is currently paying. One source tells Belloni that the deal is actually done, but he hasn't been able to confirm it.