Having lost a billion and a half in a quarter, combined with all their other problems, Disney passed long ago and is just now confirming this.
Amazon is staying silent. Not surprising. The NFL likes being in business with “all of the above” throughout its history, being on all networks at the same time, etc. The preference for Apple is born of that same desire. From Amazon’s side, the failing TNF package seems to have soured it on more NFL.
Apple seems to have some really great idea. Which it can discuss when the next contract is available, starting with the 34 season. Right now, the right to show Fox and CBS produced games in markets where the local affiliate has chosen a different game, with the package being sold at a “premium price” thus to discourage too many subscribers and cut into network and affiliate revenues, is all that is available for purchase.
I imagine that Fox and CBS have pretty good lawyers. Imagine if the NFL actually did sell Apple the right to produce the games in VR or some yet undiscovered way.