Netflix Reportedly Closing In On Two Christmas Day NFL Games
- by Wayne Friedman , May 10, 2024
Heavyweight streamer Netflix in a surprise negotiation now looks to upset the NFL TV/video business dynamic by securing two high-profile exclusive live Christmas Day games, according to reports.
A Netflix representative did not return messages from Television News Daily by press time.
The in-process negotiations are one reason, according to analysts -- which is why the NFL has been delaying the release of its 2024-2025 NFL schedule for all TV rights holders.
Executives suggest, however, that Netflix's motive in making a splash with two high-profile NFL games is not a change in policy with regard to live sports, but a continuing effort to selectively air live sports events.
Last October, Netflix aired a live golf competition -- The Netflix Cup -- featuring Formula 1 drivers/athletes in competition.
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Streamers continue to make inroads into exclusive NFL game. Last year, two streaming platforms made exclusive deals.
Amazon was reported to have paid $100 million for an exclusive day-after-Thanksgiving "Black Friday" game -- featuring the New York Jets vs. the Miami Dolphins. Then, NBCUniversal’s Peacock had an exclusive, first-round “wild card” game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Miami Dolphins, paying $110 million for the game.
In March of this year, the NFL confirmed that Amazon will begin to air wild-card NFL playoff games as part of its multi-year contract with the league.
This move would seem to devalue the over- the-air networks position after they have paid enormous rights fees. In the long run where will the NFL get the most money? Do you think FOX, CBS, NBC & Disney will keep paying more and more for fewer games ? Or will streamers make up the difference? And will this hurt overall NFL popularity if the fans acccess to the product gets more expensive?
It will be a flop TNF has been an epic fail on Prime Video which NFL Network should also be airing live along Amazon. And the Wild Card game should be on linear TV only as it was a flop on Peacock as they spinned how many watched which was overinflated. And the Christmas games should also be linear only as well and will be a flop on Netflix should be on, Fox, CBS, or NBC in my opinion.