Netflix, the popular streaming service, is reportedly setting its sights on acquiring a package of Premier League rights after missing out on UEFA’s club competitions. This move signifies the company's growing interest in sports broadcasting and its potential to disrupt traditional sports media landscapes.
According to The Times, Netflix had made competitive offers for the global rights to the UEFA Super Cup and German rights to the Champions League. The Super Cup is contested by winners of previous season’s UEFA Champions League and Europa League. However, UEFA was unable to separate the Super Cup into a separate package. In Germany, Paramount narrowly outbid Netflix for Champions League matches.
Shifting focus
Following this setback, it appears that Netflix may now turn its attention towards English football's top-tier competition - The Premier League. A domestic rights package of Christmas fixtures could potentially lure the platform into making an approach at next year’s auction.
Amazon Prime Video has previously streamed Boxing Day games as part of their deal for Premier League matches from 2018-2024. This precedent suggests that there might be room for other streaming services like Netflix in this space. The current set of domestic deals with Sky Sports and TNT Sports are worth UK£6.7 billion (US$8.79 billion) and will run until 2029.
In addition to domestic opportunities, there may also be potential openings in international markets such as America where NBC's contract worth around US$2.7 billion expires in 2028 with bids expected next year.
Demonstrated interest & investment in sports broadcasting
Netflix has shown increasing interest in soccer broadcasting recently by securing exclusive rights to broadcast FIFA Women’s World Cup editions of 2027 and 2031 exclusively within US and Canada territories.
Moreover, demonstrating an increased willingness towards sports broadcasting, Netflix has recently added a Major League Baseball (MLB) package to its portfolio. This is in addition to the National Football League (NFL) games that are scheduled for Christmas Day.
Netflix's move towards sports broadcasting could potentially revolutionize how fans consume their favorite sports. With its global reach and popularity, it could provide an alternative platform for sports leagues looking to expand their audience base. However, whether Netflix will be successful in securing Premier League rights remains to be seen.
