SouthernWorldwide.com – Netflix, the global streaming behemoth, has been making significant inroads into the world of live sports, showcasing events ranging from WWE and Formula 1 to select Major League Baseball and National Football League games.
This strategic expansion into live sports programming has, however, garnered a degree of criticism. In response, Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos has clarified the company’s position, emphasizing that their strategy is not geared towards acquiring exclusive, full-season broadcasting rights for any sports league.
“We are not bidding on entire seasons of sports, including the NFL,” Sarandos stated during an interview on Fox Business Network’s “Mornings with Maria” on Tuesday. This assertion aligns with Netflix’s current approach, which prioritizes high-profile, standalone events. Notable examples include the highly anticipated boxing match between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson, as well as the New York Yankees’ opening-day shutout victory over the San Francisco Giants.
Sarandos’ firm stance on this matter comes at a time when the NFL, and the broader sports broadcasting landscape, are under increasing federal scrutiny. The trend of sports rights becoming increasingly fragmented has led to concerns that it is becoming more expensive and ultimately more challenging for fans to access the games they wish to watch.
The federal examination into the fragmentation of sports rights has brought the issue of live sports being streamed on various platforms to the forefront of public discussion.
“It’s important to remember that most people are currently paying for television through pay-television packages that are considerably more expensive than Netflix,” Sarandos pointed out. He elaborated that while broadcast network games may appear to be free, they are typically bundled within these more costly paid services.
As of May, Netflix offers an ad-supported subscription tier starting at $8.99 per month. Their standard plan is priced at $19.99 per month, while the premium tier begins at $26.99 per month. These prices can increase for subscribers who wish to add additional members to their accounts. The basic plan has since been discontinued.
“As viewers increasingly shift from traditional linear television towards streaming and on-demand content, it would be counterproductive if these games were not available on these platforms. We cannot move in the opposite direction of the American consumer’s preferences,” Sarandos continued.
This upcoming fall season, Netflix is set to once again host an exclusive Christmas Day NFL doubleheader. Furthermore, the streaming service is expanding its commitment to the league, with plans to stream a total of five NFL games during the 2026 season.
The NFL’s inaugural game in Australia during Week 1 of the 2026 season will be exclusively streamed on Netflix. Additionally, a Thanksgiving Eve matchup will be part of Netflix’s expanded NFL rights package from the California-based company.
“This is a positive development for consumers, as it offers an inexpensive and highly affordable way to watch sports, as well as television, movies, children’s programming, podcasts, and even games. Having all of these offerings for $8.99 is an incredible value proposition for consumers,” Sarandos remarked, addressing the regulatory scrutiny surrounding sports streaming rights and the potential need for exemptions when non-linear platforms acquire a portion of a league’s broadcast inventory.
“It’s also beneficial for the leagues, as it fosters an active and competitive bidding environment for these broadcasting rights, which drives up their value. I believe this is an important element of the American economic success story, where businesses can invest, compete, and ultimately deliver for consumers.”
In response to concerns that a limited number of tech companies might eventually dominate the premium entertainment market, Sarandos countered by drawing a parallel to the advent of pay television. “I would argue that people likely expressed similar sentiments when pay-television, which many of you watching this program right now are probably using, replaced over-the-air antenna television. This represents a natural evolution driven by technology and consumer demand,” he stated.
NFL fans who desire access to every game are currently required to subscribe to YouTube TV for “NFL Sunday Ticket.” This is in addition to the already substantial costs associated with subscriptions to all the various streaming services that broadcast NFL games.
These streaming services include Amazon Prime, Peacock, and Netflix. The combined annual cost of these services alone exceeds $1,500, and this figure does not even account for the fees associated with basic cable packages or the high-speed internet required to effectively utilize these platforms.
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According to a report by Front Office Sports, the annual NFL Honors ceremony, which traditionally takes place in the days leading up to the Super Bowl in the host city, is expected to move to Netflix starting in February. The 2027 Super Bowl is scheduled to be played on February 14 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
