YouTube’s discounting Sunday Ticket by $100–for now

Back in December, YouTube sealed a seven-year deal that’ll see it pay $2 billion annually for the rights to the NFL‘s Sunday Ticket, a subscription package that gives viewers access to all out-of-market games.

And, as the pre-football season fervor ramps up, it’s becoming pretty clear YouTube is keen to make a return on all that cash. The actual 2023 season is a long way off yet, but the NFL Draft hits later this month, and YouTube is already hyping up the season’s Sunday Ticket with a discounted “inaugural pricing” preorder sale.

It’s offering a variety of deals that give early birds $100 off the full season cost of Sunday Ticket:

• YouTube TV subscribers with a base plan can get the Sunday Ticket for $249 (the regular price is $349)
• YouTube TV subscribers who have NFL RedZone can bundle Sunday Ticket for $289 for the season (reg. price $389)
• YouTube users who subscribe to Sunday Ticket through Primetime Channels will get it for $349 for the season (reg. $449) and can bundle RedZone and Sunday Ticket for $389 (reg. $489)

The preorder sale ends June 6.

Regardless of whether people subscribe before or after June 6, YouTube wants subscribers to know exactly what they’re getting into with the Sunday Ticket. Its blog post today talks up a bunch of new features, like multiview, in-stream NFL Fantasy data, real-time stats, the ability to hide game spoilers, and the ability to view key plays from games.

YouTube added that Primetime Channels subscribers “will see live NFL games featured prominently in their feeds, so they can quickly jump into the action on game days, directly on YouTube.” It’s also working on merch integrations (so people can buy team merch right next to game streams) and social features like chat and polls.

“With only a few more months until football is back, we’re nearing the end zone. We can’t wait to show you what we’ve been working on,” YouTube said.