What Display Daily thinks: The National Football League (NFL) is one of American televisions biggest money machines generating $113 billion in rights alone from broadcasters and streamers over the next 11 years. No doubt TCL jumped into a sponsorship deal with the league knowing how much clout the league’s brand has among audiences. But, you have to give credit to Amazon for making its Thursday Night Football (TNF) broadcasts into a virtual showcase of all the reasons a fan might need a new TV.
Did Amazon have a plan here, one that may actually end up with it selling more TVs? I certainly hope so. On the cautious side, Amazon Prime Video, which is a great service on its own merits, doesn’t get the love that a Netflix or Hulu might get. That’s a shame, but I doubt Amazon cares about what anyone says as long as the data is pointing in the right direction. So, again, I really hope that TNF on Prime is pointing more people towards searches for TVs on Amazon because it just feels like that is what it is meant to be doing.
When Amazon first got the rights for TNF it seemed to be an anomaly, maybe even a desperate attempt to raise the profile of Amazon’s streaming, but if the company can make its live streams feature rich enough to attract new hardware purchases then it seems like a spark of genius.
Amazon Prime Video Delivers Thursday Night Football with HDR
Last night was the first game of the NFL season for Amazon’s Prime Video TNF broadcast, which will be delivered in HDR this season. service will be introducing native High Dynamic Range (HDR) for its TNF broadcasts this season. Those who have an existing Amazon Prime subscription will have access to these games as part of their package.
There are plenty of streaming subscriptions that users have to pick to view all NFL games, but there are a host of features offered to Prime viewers of TNF that are meant to create greater value for Amazon’s subscribers. The company has a central command center responsible for producing each game in native HDR video and Dolby surround sound audio. And the company is using all the power of its Prime Video and AWS proprietary technology for ultra-low latency streaming, synchronization and quality streams, ensuring delivery from the stadium to viewers’ screens in 10 seconds or less, matching or surpassing traditional broadcast and cable networks.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| 1080p HDR Picture Quality | First-time delivery of TNF in HDR promises consumers better contrast and more vivid colors. |
| Key Plays | Uses AI and machine learning for on-demand viewing of in-game highlights and pivotal moments. |
| Rapid Recap | For viewers joining in-progress, this feature compiles up to 13 highlights in a recap lasting no more than two minutes, enabling them to catch up quickly. |
| X-Ray Prime Video Feature | Provides additional information layers, tracks advanced Next Gen Stats, offers on-demand replays with enhanced player metrics, presents team and player details, facilitates NFL merch shopping, and allows game outcome predictions through Fan Polls. |
| Prime Vision with Next Gen Stats | Offers a weekly alternate stream. Combines on-screen graphics, AI insights, and AWS-powered Next Gen Stats for real-time insights like player ID tags, receiver routes, open receiver identification, blitz potentials, and in-depth player-tracking data. |
| Defensive Alerts | An AI-driven feature tracking defensive player movements. Identifies potential blitzes and highlights them in real-time. |
| Prime Targets | Enhanced version of the Open Receiver feature. Uses RFID chips to track and highlight open receivers likely to convert a first down in real-time. |
| 4th Down Decision Guide | Uses Next Gen Stats and machine learning to help fans understand real-time fourth-down decisions by coaches. Offers an overlay line indicating where the ball should be advanced to receive a strong “go for it” recommendation on the subsequent fourth down. |
| Field Goal Target Zones | Provides context on drives with crucial field goals, overlaying multiple lines on the field to indicate the statistical probability that a kicker will make a field goal. |
