While streaming services such as Amazon Prime Video and ESPN Plus made the mosi noise from the just-inked National Football League and National Hockey League television rights deals, broadcast networks also scored valuable live content under the long-term pacts. The Big Four broadcasters-ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC, considered long past their prime as major live-sports distributors - retained their status as the pre-eminent outlets for NFL regular season and playoff games, including the Super Bowl (see Business, page 26). And ABC leveraged its corporate Disney connection to ESPN to add Monday Night Football doubleheaders and a pair of Super Bowls, as well as four Stanley Cup Finals over its seven-year deal with the NHL.
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