Netflix has ventured into NFL broadcasting with two games in 2024 and 2025, and plans to increase that to five games in 2026. However, the streaming giant has no intention of acquiring a full-season package of professional football games. In a recent appearance on Fox Business, CEO Ted Sarandos made it clear that Netflix is focused on what he called “eventized events” rather than committing to an entire season of sports, including the NFL.
According to reports from Puck and Sports Business Journal, the NFL had pitched Netflix a Sunday morning package of games, primarily consisting of international contests that would align with a global streaming platform. But Netflix passed on the offer.
Sarandos’ stance narrows the potential bidders for a full-season package, leaving only current partners like CBS, Fox, NBC, ABC/ESPN, and Prime Video. This could become a key factor if any of these networks decide to delay renegotiations until 2029—or 2030 for ABC/ESPN—rather than paying more now for deals that still cover four more seasons. Meanwhile, other platforms such as Apple and YouTube could theoretically step in, and Prime Video could expand to two games per week.
The league and its current partners are now engaged in a strategic game of negotiations, with Fox attempting to preserve the status quo by leveraging political influence.
