Amazon’s Strategy to Dominate Black Friday with Football

Football, family, tradition, and turkey were the perfect combo on Thanksgiving Day. But Amazon Prime Video is aiming to make Black Friday the next big thing in sports. They’re going all out with their second year of airing a Black Friday game, trying to make it a new holiday.

According to Spoon Daftary, a senior coordinating producer at Prime, they want to make it more than just a football game day. They’re embracing it as a new holiday for football lovers. Prime won’t just stop at football, though. In 2025, they plan to stream an NBA game on Black Friday too, turning it into an NFL/NBA doubleheader on one of the biggest shopping days of the year.

From a business perspective, it makes sense for Prime to challenge traditional retailers like Walmart directly. Imagine avoiding the mall crowds and shopping from your couch while catching live NFL and NBA action. Pretty enticing, right?

The NFL is also on board with this new tradition. With the Super Bowl champion Chiefs facing the Raiders on Nov. 29 for the Black Friday game, it’s a safe bet that the viewership numbers will be high, especially with the Chiefs becoming the new popular TV team.

To ensure a top-notch production, Prime is setting up a grand outdoor set outside Arrowhead Stadium for pre- and post-game shows. Fans can expect stars like Charissa Thompson, Tony Gonzalez, and Marshawn Lynch to make appearances. Comedian Nikki Glaser will bring her humor to the pregame show, adding a fresh twist to the broadcast.

During the holiday-themed coverage, expect live turkeys, rib-eating contests, and special deals only available to viewers during the game. And don’t worry if you’re not a Prime member – anyone with an Amazon account can stream the game for free.

With over 200 million Prime subscribers globally, Prime aims to create an immersive shoppable TV experience during the game. Expect exclusive deals on various products and custom NFL apparel designed by Amazon creators. The show will also feature chef David Chang exploring local food and presenting a special post-game sandwich celebration.

Amazon promises a seamless streaming experience, building on their expertise from previous seasons of exclusively streaming Thursday Night Football. As they strive to make Black Friday a celebration of football, family, food, and shopping, it’ll be interesting to see if this tradition becomes an official sports holiday. Let’s tune in on Nov. 29 to find out!