"Netflix picked up the rights to three more NFL contests amid government scrutiny over the migration of games from free TV to streaming. The NFL's first-ever regular season game in Melbourne, Australia, featuring the Los Angeles Rams and the San Francisco 49ers, will stream Sept. 10 on Netflix, the company Wednesday announced at its upfront presentation in New York. Netflix will present another NFL game first on Nov. 25 with a Thanksgiving eve game between the Rams and the Green Bay Packers at SoFi Stadium."
"The streamer is also picking up a Saturday game in the final week of the regular season. With the Christmas double header Netflix has carried since 2024, the additions bring the total to five games next season. The five games were a part of ESPN's NFL package. ESPN relinquished the rights after the league took a 10% stake in the Walt Disney Co.-owned entity."
"It was widely believed throughout the sports media business that all five games would go to streamers, split between Netflix and YouTube. But the other two will go to Fox, an international game that will air in the morning in the U.S., and NBC. The two additional games are going to its traditional TV partners after politicians in Washington, including President Trump, raised concerns about the number of NFL contests that are moving off broadcast and behind streaming paywalls."
"The Wall Street Journal reported last week that Fox Corp. Chairman Emeritus Rupert Murdoch visited Trump at the White House in February to warn how traditional TV networks could be priced out of the NFL due to competition from deep-pocketed streamers. The Department of Justice has also inquired about whether the NFL is violating the antitrust status given to leagues when their teams collectively negotiate TV rights deals. A NFL executive familiar with the deal who was not authorized to comment publicly said the added broadcast games are not related to the issues raised in Washington."
Netflix acquired rights to three additional NFL contests, including the league’s first regular-season game in Melbourne, Australia, featuring the Los Angeles Rams and the San Francisco 49ers on Sept. 10. Netflix will also stream a Thanksgiving-eve game between the Rams and the Green Bay Packers on Nov. 25 at SoFi Stadium. In the final week of the regular season, Netflix will add a Saturday game, bringing its total to five games next season, including the Christmas doubleheader carried since 2024. The five games originally came from ESPN’s NFL package, after ESPN relinquished rights when the NFL took a 10% stake in the Walt Disney-owned entity. Two other games are expected to go to Fox and NBC after political concerns about NFL games moving from free broadcast to streaming paywalls and related antitrust inquiries.
#nfl-media-rights #netflix-streaming #broadcast-television #government-antitrust-scrutiny #sports-broadcasting
Read at Los Angeles Times
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