Netflix’s Strategic Push into Live Sports Broadcasting

omidbasir- Netflix has made significant strides in the realm of live sports broadcasting, investing nearly £4 billion ($5 billion) in WWE and also securing rights to high-profile boxing events. Following Paramount’s acquisition of Champions League broadcasting rights in the United Kingdom for a reported £1 billion ($1.3 billion), Netflix is poised to compete with Sky and TNT for domestic Premier League contracts, according to The Times.

The streaming giant is also expected to challenge NBC for the American rights to the English Premier League. As per reports, the current domestic broadcasting agreements are set to expire in 2029, while NBC’s contract concludes a year earlier. This lucrative deal, valued at $2 billion (£1.5 billion), is recognized as the Premier League’s largest overseas contract. Bidding for the next round of rights is anticipated over the coming year.

A source informed The Times that Netflix’s interest in acquiring football broadcasting rights is a significant development for the sport, both at the European and domestic levels. With Paramount also entering the market, this increased competition for rights is promising for football. The Premier League, being the most coveted domestic league worldwide, represents a primary target for both Netflix and Paramount.

Moreover, last month, UEFA expressed its openness to the involvement of streaming giants like Netflix and Disney in the broadcasting sector. UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin emphasized the organization’s dedication to innovation in media rights during the European Football Clubs General Assembly in October. He stated, “Through this joint venture, the game will grow. With [marketing agency] Relevent at our side, we have the strongest team to make it happen. Together, we are building something unique, with ambition, to deliver the most engaging football.”

Ceferin further noted the importance of expanding core revenue streams, attracting new fans, and enhancing engagement with diverse audiences in the evolving media environment. He asserted that leveraging digital platforms will bring the game closer to fans than ever before, thereby strengthening clubs and maintaining European football’s prestige.

Netflix has previously seen success in streaming live sports, notably attracting 65 million viewers for the boxing match between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson in 2024. The platform holds rights to the Women’s World Cup in 2027 and 2031 in the United States, but the potential acquisition of men’s football broadcasting rights remains uncertain.