The upcoming Black Friday game between the Miami Dolphins and New York Jets is being hailed as Amazon's equivalent of the Super Bowl. As part of their push to establish an annual tradition, Amazon will stream the game on Prime Video. The decision to schedule a game on Black Friday, the busiest shopping day of the year, was seen as a natural fit for the online retail giant. The NFL had been considering adding a game on Black Friday for some time, as the Thanksgiving Day tripleheader has consistently drawn high viewership. By airing the game on Amazon, the NFL gains another day to capture the attention of football fans and consumers alike.
While Amazon will feature some deals and promotions during the game, it will not overpower the viewing experience. The company plans to highlight certain deals during commercials and provide a QR code for viewers to scan and shop. There will also be promotions during the pregame, postgame, and halftime shows. The game will be available for all fans to stream for free, which could contribute to higher viewership. NFL games have seen a 6% increase in viewership this season, potentially leading to the highest viewership since 2015.
In addition to the game, Amazon will also air a concert by Garth Brooks following the game. This move by Amazon to make the game and accompanying promotions accessible to everyone is seen as a new frontier in sports and commerce. The potential for viewers to watch the game and simultaneously shop for Christmas presents is an intriguing concept.
With a total of 16 matchups this week, including three on Thanksgiving, a Black Friday game, and a Monday night game, the NFL aims to ensure that half of the week's games have national appeal. This strategy mirrors the league's successful scheduling of games across multiple days during Christmas last year.
While college football has traditionally taken center stage on the day after Thanksgiving, the NFL's Black Friday game provides an early window for colleges and prime time for the NFL. The Dolphins, led by quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and wide receiver Tyreek Hill, have gained national prominence and will face the Jets, who will be starting Tim Boyle at quarterback instead of Aaron Rodgers.
Overall, the addition of a Black Friday game on Amazon's Prime Video platform represents an innovative and potentially successful collaboration between the NFL and a major online retailer. It remains to be seen how viewers will respond to the game and accompanying promotions, but there is optimism that this could be a spectacular event.