EA Extends NFL Exclusivity Rights

It seems like it has been forever since EA signed their exclusivity deal with the NFL in 2004. With the next NFL season in flux due to a potential lockout EA has signed an extension of the deal lasting until the end of the 2013 football season.

The new deal not only gives Electronic Arts the exclusive rights to NFL player and team licenses but the new deal will reportedly cost them much less than the original deal did six years ago.

"It's the number one sport in the country. The Super Bowl was the most-watched television program in history. It's part of America. It's part of what we want to see happen." - EA Ceo John Riccitiello Speaking with IGN XBox 360.

The current deal between the National Football League and the Players Association expires on March 3rd. Should a new deal not come to fruition early spring training camps could be put on hold. As fan blog fanhouse.com points out the expiration of the bargaining agreement will also cause trouble with the NFLs sponsors such as Gatorade, Nike and Abdias. Let's also not forgot the television companies who make prime profits for Super Bowl advertisements every January.

Even if the lockout does occur it has not slowed down production on the next installment of the Madden franchise. EA Sports is expected to release the game this coming August with or without an 2011/2012 football season.

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