NFL Enters a Three Year Partnership with Netflix
NFL ENTERS A THREE YEAR PARTNERSHIP WITH NETFLIX – The NFL has a new streaming partner: Netflix. The streaming giant has agreed to a three-year deal with the league that will allow it to stream its Christmas games starting in December.
This groundbreaking agreement marks Netflix’s first foray into live sports broadcasting, demonstrating its commitment to expanding its content offerings. This year’s NFL Christmas doubleheader will feature exciting matchups between the Baltimore Ravens and Houston Texans, the Kansas City Chiefs, and another team yet to be determined.
By securing the rights to these highly anticipated games, Netflix aims to attract the massive NFL fanbase to its platform.
This partnership with Netflix significantly adds to the NFL’s extensive streaming portfolio. The NFL currently has streaming partnerships with major platforms such as Amazon Prime, which broadcasts Thursday Night Football; NBC’s Peacock, which streams select Sunday Night Football games; and ESPN+, which offers Monday Night Football games.
Wheeling and Dealing
Additionally, the NFL has a comprehensive deal with YouTubeTV to distribute NFL Sunday Ticket, providing fans access to out-of-market games. These partnerships illustrate the NFL’s strategic approach to making its content accessible across various digital platforms, catering to the diverse viewing preferences of its global audience. With the addition of Netflix, the NFL keeps on innovating, ensuring fans can enjoy the excitement of football through multiple streaming services.
“Last year, we decided to take a big bet on live — tapping into massive fandoms across comedy, reality TV, sports and more,” said Bela Bajaria, Netflix chief content officer. “There are no live annual events, sports or otherwise, that compare with the audiences NFL football attracts. We’re so excited that the NFL’s Christmas Day games will be only on Netflix.”
“We couldn’t be more excited to be the first professional sports league to partner with Netflix to bring live games to fans around the world,” said Hans Schroeder, NFL executive vice president of media distribution. “The NFL on Christmas has become a tradition and to partner with Netflix, a service whose biggest day of the year is typically this holiday, is the perfect combination to grow this event globally for NFL fans.”
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The Milestone
This groundbreaking partnership between Netflix and the NFL marks a significant milestone in the evolution of sports broadcasting.
By offering live NFL games, Netflix is poised to attract a new segment of viewers while enhancing its appeal to existing subscribers. This collaboration intends to enrich Netflix’s content portfolio and amplify NFL games to a global audience, making Christmas Day a highly anticipated event for NFL fans worldwide.
Netflix has been building its sports portfolio with a mix of live sports content, ranging from tennis matches to the upcoming fight between Mike Tyson and YouTube star Jake Paul to original sports content series, which included “Quarterback,” featuring Patrick Mahomes, Kirk Cousins, and Marcus Mariota.
This show quickly gained a lot of traction after its release last summer, even becoming the most-watched show on Netflix. It also garnered significant praise for showcasing Cousins’ personality and Mahomes’ journey to Super Bowl LVII victory. Additionally, Netflix will do a spinoff of “Quarterback” called “Receivers” featuring Davante Adams (Raiders), Justin Jefferson (Vikings), George Kittle and Deebo Samuel (of the 49ers), and Amon-Ra St. Brown (Lions).
Stream Away
The streaming industry remains a crucial platform for professional sports leagues, as demonstrated by Netflix’s new partnership with the NFL. This partnership marks a significant milestone for both Netflix and the NFL, enabling Netflix to stream the NFL’s Christmas games, starting with this year’s doubleheader featuring the Baltimore Ravens vs. Houston Texans and the Kansas City Chiefs.
This move is poised to influence how other major leagues, such as the NBA, approach streaming partnerships. With plans to offer WWE’s Raw series to its subscribers, Netflix is rapidly expanding its sports content offerings, solidifying its position in the sports streaming space by providing an even greater variety of sports content.
This strategic move diversifies Netflix’s content and sets a precedent for future collaborations between streaming services and sports leagues. By offering live NFL games and expanding into other sports content, Netflix is positioning itself as a premier destination for sports fans.
This partnership is expected to attract a new segment of viewers while enhancing its appeal to existing subscribers. Including live sports content, such as NFL games and WWE’s Raw series, showcases Netflix’s commitment to becoming a significant player in sports broadcasting. As streaming becomes more integral to sports broadcasting, viewers can expect innovative and engaging ways to enjoy their favorite sports, with Netflix leading the charge in offering a comprehensive and dynamic sports viewing experience.
