The Powers That Be: Daily Media Monday: The NFL Bidding War
Feb 16, 2026
Jon Kelly, co-founder and executive at Puck who breaks down media and sports business, offers insider perspective on NFL rights talks. He maps out negotiation timing and stakes. He weighs broadcasters versus streamers, existential risks for networks, production models, and how leagues bundle rights globally and across platforms.
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Betting On Nate Silver's Model
- Jon Kelly recounts meeting Nate Silver at a Super Bowl event and asking about models predicting the game's outcome.
- He left to bet on FanDuel after Nate's model suggested taking the Seahawks with the points.
NFL Rights Will Force A Loser
- Jon Kelly says the upcoming NFL rights fight will force someone out of the current cohort of broadcasters and streamers.
- He predicts the league will cut partners to get higher bids and that "someone's going to lose."
Streamers Can And Will Master Live Sports
- Kelly argues broadcasters and streamers approach live sports differently and streamers will learn concurrent streaming and ad tactics.
- He believes tech platforms can replicate live distribution and will compete head-on with legacy TV.
