FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 12, 1998

NFL AND FOX AGREE TO RECORD EIGHT-YEAR CONTRACT

The National Football League has reached agreement on a new eight-year television contract with Fox, NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue announced tonight.

Fox will continue to televise the NFC package of Sunday afternoon games it acquired in 1994.

The new contract also includes three Super Bowls to be carried on Fox, including two in the first five seasons. Super Bowl XXXIII, which will be played on January 31, 1999 at Pro Player Stadium in Miami, will be the first of these three Super Bowls.

This new agreement with Fox is firm and unconditional for the first five years (1998-2002). However, at the NFL’s option, the contract may be reopened prior to the sixth season (2003). If the contract were reopened, the NFL is then entitled to negotiate new television terms above the already guaranteed financial levels.

"This reopening option would enable the NFL clubs to benefit from future positive changes in marketplace conditions, ratings, audience demographics, changes in technology and other factors," said Commissioner Tagliabue.

No financial information was released for this agreement that covers the 1998-2005 NFL seasons.