Restaurant Unstoppable

Why Some Bars May Stop Showing NFL Games

The NFL is ending its 30‑year partnership with DirecTV, moving the Sunday Ticket to a new streaming‑only service called EverPass. The change forces bars and restaurants to replace the single satellite dish setup with multiple internet‑based streams. To carry all ten 1 p.m. games, a venue now needs ten separate streaming boxes, a video distribution system, and sufficient internet bandwidth to handle simultaneous feeds alongside POS, security cameras and guest Wi‑Fi. Owner Jim Haller estimates the upgrade will cost $30,000‑$40,000 per location. Haller, who runs several Houston bars, says many small establishments are already deciding to stop showing football because the expense is prohibitive. He points out the NFL still sells residential Sunday Ticket subscriptions for $400 a year, raising questions about who benefits from pricing bars out. If bars drop NFL games, they could lose a major source of foot traffic and revenue, while the league may shift viewership to home subscribers. The issue has prompted Haller’s testimony before Congress, signaling potential regulatory scrutiny and a rallying point for the hospitality industry.