Imagine Christmas Day, home with your family, beer or eggnog in hand, and streaming a live football game on Netflix. How nice does that imaginary situation sound? Well, here’s the thing; this is about to change from a simple imagination to a reality.

Netflix and NFL has announced that they are broadcasting two games on Christmas Day, December 25^th, including a game involving the Kansas City Chiefs, current Super Bowl winners.

The question now is this: will this development have any implications on NFL betting odds or the league itself? What does this partnership mean for the future of the game?

A Quick Background Check On NFL Broadcasting Rights

Due to the fact that not every NFL fan can appear at the stadium to watch a live football match, there arose a need for a live broadcast for those watching from home. As such, the NFL had to partner with network TV channels such as NBC, FOX, ESPN, and CBS. In addition, some other cable networks like the NFL Network also joined in the mix of broadcasting channels.

But even at that, all those networks weren’t enough to satisfy the viewing demands of fans of this sports event. As a result, the NFL had to partner with streaming platforms like Amazon Prime Video, while also offering their own service called NFL Game Pass. These platforms soon became popular for streaming live and on-demand NFL games.

Netflix And Its Interest In Sports Content

Here comes Netflix, a streaming platform well-known for its wide range of movies and TV shows. But beyond that, it’s no longer news that this platform has delved into streaming live sports-related programs in the past, albeit not so successful. At best, Netflix only succeeded in producing sports-themed documentaries and miniseries like “The Last Dance”.

So, with that said, it’s obvious that Netflix has always had a longstanding interest in streaming sports content live.

Thus, it was only a matter of time until they started doing so. The question now is this: Is Netflix finally ready for this? Apparently, they are, as they announced recently they would broadcast two games on Christmas Day. You will be able to watch the Chiefs vs Steelers and Ravens vs Texans from your streaming platform anywhere in the US.

The Rumors, Speculations, And Potential Announcement

In recent years, rumors have been flying around claiming a partnership between the NFL and Netflix is in the works. And of course, there’s no smoke without fire. These speculations were based on reports that Netflix executives had expressed interest in expanding their sports content coverage.

To further bolster this claim, the NFL was meant to officially declare the fixtures for the 2024 schedule, but they postponed it. And word on the street is that this postponed publication is to give the NFL board more time to negotiate the terms of the contract with Netflix.

Now it finally happened and Hans Schroeder, NFL Executive Vice President of Media Distribution assumed that “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 Possible Impact Of This Potential Partnership

Presently, the coverage of NFL games is more dominated by cable streaming services. As a result, the potential arrival of football games on Netflix would mean intense competition for sports rights among streaming platforms. Also, this could affect how viewers consume NFL games as it provides more flexibility and is more convenient.

Furthermore, with respect to the league itself, such a partnership means a huge payday for them. And with that huge stream of revenue, it means more growth all-round for the league.

What Challenges Lie In The Way?

As is common to everything with an advantage, some obstacles lie in the way of this potential partnership. Some of these challenges include:

• Licensing Agreements and Restrictions: When it comes to deals like this, a complex web of agreements and contracts is usually involved. Moreover, seeing as how Netflix is not the first to sign such a deal with the football association, there will be a need to reevaluate their terms with the other platforms. As such, it’s not something that can be rushed and Netflix would need to navigate the contractual obligations with utmost discretion.
• Logistics Requirements: As mentioned earlier, this is not the first time Netflix has dabbled in live sports broadcasts. But considering that this is the platform’s first time attempting to stream to a vast coverage, the question of logistics is paramount. Such an endeavor would require a huge investment in tech and infrastructure to ensure viewers have a seamless experience.

Reactions From Fans And Stakeholders

Other streaming platforms that are also stakeholders in the league may obviously view this potential move as a threat to their interests. This is because it means more people would be less inclined to subscribe to their content seeing as there soon will be an alternative.

As for the fans, they are more than ecstatic about this news. It means an easier prospect of accessing NFL games through a platform they already subscribe to and enjoy.

Final Whistle

So, now you just have to wait for December to enjoy some football with your family on Netflix and chill. This partnership also opens possibilities for Netflix to broadcast more NFL games and perhaps we will see the Super Bowl making it into the streaming giant in the near future.