Apple TV, NFL Streaming Rumors: Twitter Deal Could Open Up Possibility Of Live Game Video

Ah, the old NFL watching tradition: sink the in the Lay-Z-Boy, grab the tiny Apple TV remote and fire up the Twitter app. Hold up, what?

That scenario isn't yet possible, but things could be moving that direction. Twitter won in April the rights to stream 10 Thursday Night NFL games, but the non-exclusive video feeds will compete with traditional television broadcasts. It was largely play for local ad revenue by Twitter, and a sign that the micro-blogging site was gravitating toward streaming, a key area of interest under re-installed CEO Jack Dorsey.

Mike Isaac of the New York Times reported that more could be on the way: Twitter has locked up deals with the NBA, MLB, the NHL, Wimbledon, CBS News and the Pac-12 Networks and is reportedly in talks with MLS and the PGA. And with live programming obviously important to Twitter, it could now have its sights set on a deal with Apple. Wrote Isaac Sunday:

"To bolster the effort, Twitter is in talks with Apple to bring the Twitter app to Apple TV, which would potentially let millions of Apple TV users watch the streaming N.F.L. games, according to the two people briefed on the discussions."

Apple had previously been tied to NFL content. As the league ramped up streaming talks for Thursday Night Football games last year, Apple was reportedly among the big-name companies who were sent requests for proposal. Some NFL content, in fact, is already available on Apple TV for subscribers to NFL Gamepass, which shows live out-of-market preseason games and replays of regular games.

The move to bring the Twitter app to Apple TV could end up being a win for both major tech companies. "Getting a Twitter app onto platforms like Apple TV would help deliver this content to more people, and traditionally, people love watching live sports on their TV — not on a mobile app or desktop," wrote the Verge. "Such a partnership might also complement Apple's plans for the TV business, with the iPhone-maker reportedly shelving its ambitions to sell users its own TV subscriptions in favor of creating a new interface that makes it easier to find digital content."