EA Extends NFL Contract To 2012 Season

Publisher Electronic Arts has announced that it has extended its official NFL license -- covering teams, stadiums, and players -- through the end of the 2012 season, also giving it access to NFL Films, and the NFL Network. The new contract, the terms of which were not disclosed, is an extension of those it originally set up in December of 2004, and covers "all aspects of the interactive experience," from console and handheld games to "console-based online features." EA notes that its Madden franchise is seeing its 20th anniversary this year, and has generated more than $2 billion in retail sales. It also notes that aside from its console and handheld titles, it has produced two NFL arcade titles with the 2006 release of NFL Head Coach and the 2008 release of NFL Tour. Said new EA Sports president Peter Moore, "We are excited about the opportunity to extend and expand our relationships with the NFL and NFL Players. For nearly two decades, EA Sports has been bringing sports fans closer to the great game of football through the breakthrough interactive experiences of our video games. Game quality is our top priority, and we’re committed to pushing our gameplay innovation, connecting football fans via rich online experiences and delivering the most visually stunning sports games on the market.”