Report: NFL Sunday Ticket deal between DirecTV, league expected soon

Retaining the rights to Sunday Ticket is a key part of DirecTV's impending acquisition by AT&T. (Carlos Osorio/AP)

While AT&T has continued to publicly put the finishing touches on its reported $48.5 billion acquisition of DirecTV, many football fans have been wondering what's going to happen to DirecTV's prized NFL Sunday Ticket package.

One might assume Sunday Ticket would be made available to AT&T subscribers once the deal is completed. However, DirecTV still needs to renew the rights to Sunday Ticket before any deal is signed off.

The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday that such a deal between DirecTV and the NFL is expected soon, via Pro Football Talk.

BURKE: Minnesota selected to host Super Bowl LII in 2018 over New Orleans, Indianapolis

However, until the paperwork is finalized, it's still within the realm of possibility that another company could come up with a last minute pitch to secure rights to the incredibly popular football package, which in some cases is the sole reason many football fans subscribe to DirecTV over other satellite/cable companies.

If DirecTV fails to renew the rights, AT&T could back out of the deal, according to The Los Angeles Times.

Keeping Sunday Ticket is so important to DirecTV's future it is a condition of the deal with AT&T.

"The parties also have agreed that in the unlikely event that the company’s agreement for the 'NFL Sunday Ticket' service is not renewed on substantially the terms discussed between the parties, AT&T may elect not to consummate the merger," the companies said in a government filing.

All that said, it's believed the two sides will be able to find a middle ground.

FARRAR: How Jadeveon Clowney fit in Houston's hybrid defensive fronts?