Netflix appears to be expanding its interest in sports broadcasting.
The streaming powerhouse is reportedly negotiating to double its existing NFL broadcast package from two games to four, as detailed by The Wall Street Journal. The additional games under discussion include the NFL’s new Thanksgiving Eve event and one of its international games.
When reached for comment by the Daily Mail, a representative for Netflix declined to elaborate, noting that the company ‘did not participate in the [Wall Street Journal] story.’
The Daily Mail has also reached out to the NFL for further comments on this development.
The financial details of Netflix’s potential expansion remain undisclosed, but the company previously secured a three-year Christmas Day game package, valued at $75 million, which is now approaching its last season.
This move underscores Netflix’s growing appetite for live sports, following high-profile events like Jake Paul’s 2024 boxing showdown with a 58-year-old Mike Tyson, along with its existing NFL content and some WWE programming.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) and tight end Travis Kelce (87) are interviewed by Netflix reporter Stacey Dales following a win against the Pittsburgh Steelers
Former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver and Netflix host Michael Irvin celebrates while eating a steak after an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders on Christmas Day
Most recently, the Major League Baseball season opened on Netflix, although fans were largely upset at the prospect of having to navigate and pay another streaming service.
‘Netflix broadcasting a baseball game to the whole country in an absurd marketing stunt at the start of the MLB season,’ one critic wrote on X.
‘It was a bad decision to put the mlb opener on netflix,’ another added. ‘[For] the first time in thirty years I [don’t] get to see opening day. thanks guys.’
‘Looking forward to NOT being able to watch my Giants play the Yanks on opening day tonight thanks to Netflix, despite paying the annual fee for the baseball app,’ one fan wrote on X, referring to MLB.TV’s $29.99 monthly plan. ‘MLB is just as bad as football. Gotta have like 4 diff streaming services if you wanna actually see all games.’
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) and wide receiver Kavontae Turpin (9) are interviewed by Kay Adams and Michael Irvin after the game against the Commanders
Netflix Broadcaster and NFL Quarterback Jameis Winston interviews Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees before the game against the San Francisco Giants on Opening Day
Baseball fans’ agitation extended to the platform’s new scorebug, a digital scoreboard fixed to the bottom right-hand corner of the screen.
‘This score bug is AWFUL,’ read a post from the popular X account, @SleeperMLB.
‘I didn’t think a scorebug could get worse than the Bally Sports one,’ another added, referring to what is now known as FanDuel Sports Network. ‘Netflix may have just proven me wrong.’
It’s a criticism Netflix and other streaming platforms have faced as they’ve dipped their toes into live sports. But in this case, baseball fans were remarkably specific.
‘… I like the aesthetic and concept, but the text is shockingly small,’ one fan noted during the Yankees’ 7-0 win. ‘The pitcher and batter text is the smallest I have ever seen on any sports scorebug/lower third.’
Some kept it fairly simple: ‘This scorebug has me squinting.’
‘What on God’s green Earth is this Netflix scorebug,’ asked one fan of the icon at the bottom of the screen.
‘That Netflix scorebug is irritating me,’ another added.
And the complaints didn’t end with the scorebug. Fans also offered other production notes to the Netflix crew in San Francisco.
‘Relax on the zoom with the cameras,’ read one suggestion. ‘Can’t see much of anything when the balls (sic) in play.’
And Netflix isn’t done with the 2026 MLB season. The service will also stream the Home Run Derby and the annual ‘Field of Dreams’ game from Iowa between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Minnesota Twins.
As is often the case when a network or streaming platform tries its hand at sports, fans were initially confused by the scorebug, the digital icon that displays the game’s pertinent details
Although the NFL is in the midst of an 11-year, $110 billion deal with its media partners, the league did reclaim rights to four games in its new joint partnership between NFL Network and Disney’s ESPN.
The Journal further reports that a fifth game is up for grabs, this one being a part of the NFL’s international series. A source told the newspaper that the league is taking a flexible approach to selling its stand-alone games.
Potential buyers include Google’s YouTube, which carried an international game last season, as well as Amazon.
Meanwhile, the NFL is reportedly eyeing new negotiations for its media deal after seeing the NBA’s $77 billion contract with ESPN, Amazon and NBC.
The NFL can opt out of its current media deal before the 2030 season.
