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Four tech giants bidding for online streaming of Thursday games

TEC--Twitter-NFL Streaming

FILE - In this Wednesday Nov. 6, 2013, file photo, the Twitter logo appears on an updated phone post on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. A new Twitter app is coming to Xbox One, Apple TV and Amazon Fire TV, where viewers will be able to watch the NFL’s Thursday night games. The short-messaging service secured the rights to stream 10 Thursday night NFL games during the 2016 season as it attempts to broaden its appeal. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)

AP

When owners meet in Phoenix next week, they’re expected to get an update on the bidding for the online streaming package for Thursday Night Football, and it’s apparently a competitive process.

According to Kurt Wagner of Recode, four tech giants are bidding for the package, with Twitter, Facebook, Amazon and YouTube expressing interest.

Twitter paid $10 million for the rights to 10 games last year, chosen from offers from the other three. This year, others could join the mix, and the added interest could drive that higher, which will be sweeter music to the ears of owners than any birds chirping.

The deal is more interesting for its potential for growth and worldwide reach than current value, because $10 million is bar tab money compared to what the league is getting from broadcast networks.