The Kansas City Chiefs are set to host the Miami Dolphins in a wild-card playoff game on Saturday, but the decision to exclusively air it on Peacock, NBC’s streaming service, has left fans discontented.
This marks the first time in NFL history that a playoff game will be aired solely on a streaming platform, requiring viewers to pay if they aren’t already subscribed to Peacock.
The dissatisfaction stems from the perception that the league is capitalizing on Taylor Swift’s presence at Chiefs games, speculating that Swifties (Taylor Swift fans) would purchase the streaming service for a chance to see her supporting Travis Kelce.
Football enthusiasts took to humorously expressing their thoughts on the NFL seemingly leveraging Swift’s fanbase to boost streaming revenue. Some even incorporated a clip of Selena Gomez conversing with Taylor Swift at the Golden Globes into the narrative.
RELATED: Selena Gomez’ Alleged Travis Kelce Shade Explained
Swift’s regular attendance at Chiefs games, courtesy of her relationship with Travis Kelce, has coincided with improved ratings for the NFL. Peacock reportedly paid the NFL around $110 million for the rights to broadcast the first-ever exclusive live-streamed NFL playoff game, strategically placing one of the league’s most popular teams in a prime-time slot for enhanced viewership.
While the decision appears to be a business move, the association with Taylor Swift has sparked polarizing opinions among NFL fans.
