We watched — and shopped — Amazon’s first Black Friday NFL broadcast

I just experienced something completely new as a sports fan on Friday.

No, I didn’t get to see the Seattle Mariners win a World Series. No, I didn’t make a hole-in-one on the golf course.

Click here to read the story at geekwire.com.

Discussion Questions:

1. What are broadcast rights?
2. According to this story, how much did Amazon pay for the rights to NFL Thursday Night Football?
3. Why would Amazon invest so much in the rights to the NFL’s Thursday Night Football broadcasts?
4. Why do you think they wanted to turn the Thanksgiving game broadcast into a Black Friday broadcast?
5. How might the NFL benefit from a Black Friday game?
6. What are shoppable advertisements?
7. What is a QR code?
8. How did Amazon use QR codes to create shoppable ads during the Black Friday broadcast?
9. Why do you think some of the codes took viewers to Amazon while others were directed directly to the advertiser’s website (like Priceline or Carnival)?
10. What is advertising inventory?
11. According to this story, Amazon sold out of its Black Friday game ad inventory. Why do you think so many businesses and brands wanted to advertise during the broadcast?
12. According to this story, how much was Amazon charging for a 30-second ad during the game?
13. How does that compare to its typical Thursday Night Games?
14. What are industry trends?
15. Do you think this is the future of advertising during sporting events? Why or why not? How might that represent an example of an industry trend?