The NFL is about to retire Game Rewind, a paid service for users in the US that offers online streaming and apps for on-demand NFL games, and replace it with a revamped version of its Game Pass service that will bring full, on-demand games to Apple TV for the first time. Previously the Game Pass service was only available to users internationally and not available on Apple TV.
A note on the NFL’s webpage for Game Rewind warns users that “as of July 31, 2015 Game Rewind will no longer be available.” The message, however, notes that users will be able to access games with “the all new NFL Game Pass,” and more importantly, promises that the service will soon arrive on Apple TV.
Game Pass is already available for users through apps on mobile devices (the existing NFL Mobile app), but the NFL’s website for the revamped service coming July 31st notes that apps are coming to “Xbox One, Xbox 360, Apple TV, and more.”
The new Game Pass service coming to Apple TV will mark the first time that users have access to watch full NFL games on the device, although the service won’t offer any live streams of regular season, playoff, and Super Bowl game broadcasts. Currently, the Apple TV has an app called “NFL Now” that only offers access to breaking news, analysis, and on-demand highlights and video archives.
The service includes all 256 regular season games on-demand, some live out-of-market preseason games, and archives of games from 2009-2015 including Super Bowls. Pricing doesn’t appear to be listed yet for the US, but here in Canada the service offers a Season plan for $244.99 with every Preseason and Regular Season game, or a Season Plus plan for $305 that adds replays of 2015 playoff games and Super Bowl 50.
As for when you’ll get access to watch games on-demand: “Sunday morning and afternoon games (9:30am ET, 1pm ET & 4pm ET) are available at the conclusion of all Sunday 4pm ET games, and Sunday night, Monday night, Thursday and Saturday NFL games are available following the conclusion of the applicable game telecast”
The new NFL Game Pass service is available in the United States, Bermuda, Antigua, the Bahamas, any U.S. territories, possessions and commonwealths (including American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands), and Mexico.
(Thanks, Tyler!)
