Business

NFL’s gamble pays off

The NFL’s bid to boost distribution for its own network is paying off nicely.

After striking deals with Time Warner Cable and Cablevision, the NFL Network will see its average subscriber fee jump nearly 60 percent next year, according to SNL Kagan estimates.

That will make it the third-most expensive sports net, costing pay-TV providers on average $1.29 per subscriber, up from 81 cents this year.

The NFL made the decision to add five games to its Thursday night schedule for a total of 13 — a gamble that it could gain broader distribution for its own network rather than selling those games to competitors. The network has been beating major broadcasters on that night, racking up ratings that rival popular dramas.

This year, Time Warner Cable and Cablevision finally capitulated and agreed to carry the NFL Network on their most widely distributed packages instead of a special sports tier.