FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 13, 1998

NFL COMPLETES NEW EIGHT-YEAR TELEVISION AGREEMENTS;
ABC, ESPN JOIN FOX AND CBS AS NFL’S TV PARTNERS

The National Football League completed its new eight-year television contracts with four networks today when ABC was awarded the rights to continue televising Monday Night Football and ESPN won the rights to broadcast a complete schedule of Sunday night prime-time games for the first time, NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue announced tonight.

The NFL on Monday announced an agreement with Fox on a new eight-year contract to televise the National Football Conference package of Sunday afternoon games and CBS earlier today acquired the rights to televise the American Football Conference package of Sunday afternoon games. All four contracts cover the 1998-2005 seasons. "NFL fans will continue to receive the broadest television coverage in sports, with all regular season and playoff games being carried on over-the-air television," Commissioner Tagliabue said. "Our commitment to present the highest quality television coverage in sports will continue, and we are pleased that CBS returns as one of our partners."

The new agreements with ABC, CBS, ESPN and FOX provide for rights fees at guaranteed levels through the NFL’s 2005 season. While the contracts are firm and unconditional for the first five years (1998-2002), the contracts may, at the NFL’s option, be reopened prior to the sixth season (2003). If the contracts were reopened, the NFL is then entitled to negotiate new financial terms above the already increased and guaranteed levels for the 2003-2005 seasons.

"This reopening option would enable the NFL clubs to benefit from future positive changes in marketplace conditions, ratings, audience demographics, technological changes and other factors," said Commissioner Tagliabue. "There is no downside for us."

No financial information was released for these new agreements.