Home / Sports / NFL, The Athletic In Talks For Website Content Deal
NFL, The Athletic In Talks For Website Content Deal
24 Aug
Summary
- NFL and The Athletic are discussing content integration on league platforms.
- The Athletic faces scrutiny over a reporter's conflict of interest.
- Financial implications arise from potentially free content distribution.
Discussions are underway between the NFL and The Athletic regarding the potential inclusion of the sports publication's content on the league's official website and app. This collaboration, if finalized, could see written articles from The Athletic appearing on NFL.com and the NFL+ application, adding another layer to the evolving relationship between the league and its media observers.
However, the timing of these discussions coincides with a reportedly ongoing internal investigation by The Athletic. This probe centers on a former NFL reporter and alleged conflicts of interest with an NFL coach, raising concerns about journalistic integrity. The situation presents a complex scenario where The Athletic might be entering into an agreement with the NFL while simultaneously addressing internal ethical questions.
Further complications arise from the financial model. The Athletic operates on a subscription basis, while NFL.com is freely accessible. Offering content without charge on the league's platform could lead to financial conflicts and may impact The Athletic's perceived credibility among its paying subscribers. The potential for such a partnership to influence editorial coverage on sensitive NFL issues also remains a point of concern.
