Confusion reigns over 'one-billion NFL exclusivity deal'
Bogus, it would seem...
The Sports Business Journal, America's most prominent sporting industry magazine, has been reporting on an extraordinary new four-year deal in their latest May edition, in which they claim to reveal a one-billion dollar exclusivity deal between Players, Inc. and EA. For the uninitiated, Players, Inc. is the NFL Players' Association's marketing arm, and the deal reportedly covers all player likenesses and names at $250 million per year. Such a deal would be a major blow for the Madden series' competitors, such as ESPN NFL Football.
The size of the deal is immense however, and we even have our doubts about whether the sums add-up for EA, who's Madden series does very nicely (thank you very much) even without total exclusivity over player names and appearances. Now however, both Players, Inc., and even The Sports Journal (we're told), have denied the rumours.
EA also refused to be drawn - and all in all it looks like these rumours were very unsubstantiated, no matter how juicy they might at first appear. More as we get it.
