Netflix subscribers will be able to watch exclusively live NFL coverage after the streamer confirmed recent rumours.
- Global deal to make live NFL available to fans
- Deal to run three years
- Announcement comes ahead of the end of current NFL deals with Sky and ITV.
A three year deal between Netflix and the NFL means the streamer will be the home of two Christmas Day games this year, and at least one game for the following two years.
The news follows a number of rumours in recent days that Netflix was preparing to make its first major foray into live sport streaming.
Exactly which games will be shown on Netflix will be announced shortly by the NFL.
The NFL launched Yuletide games in 1971 before bringing them back on a semi-regular basis in 1989. Last year’s three Christmas games ranked among the top 25 most viewed TV programmes in the USA of 2023.
Break from Sky
There’s been confusion about how the Netflix-NFL deal will affect UK and Ireland viewers, where Sky Sports holds the rights to screen games. ITV and Virgin Media TV Ireland are secondary rights holders, screening a limited number of live games, plus highlights.
The NFL has confirmed that Netflix will be “the global home” of Christmas Day games. As a result, viewers won’t need Sky Sports to follow the action over the next three Christmases.
In any case, Sky and ITV’s current broadcast deals with the NFL expire at the end of the 2024/2025 season. The NFL has already joined up with DAZN in a ten-year live streaming deal that also includes the UK/Ireland. However, the NFL may yet agree to allow some games to be shown on traditional TV from 2025/26.
Meanwhile, from January 2025, Netflix will also be the home of WWE coverage in the UK and a number of other territories worldwide.
Corporate comment
Hans Schroeder, NFL executive vice president of media distribution commented:
“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. 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.”
By: Marc Thornham | Image: RXTV Composite Netflix/NFL