Netflix Eyes NFL Events

Netflix said on its April 16 earnings call that it wants more National Football League games, but only in small, event-style packages rather than a full weekly season. (ir.netflix.net) (cordcuttersnews.com) Cord Cutters News reported co-chief executive Ted Sarandos said Netflix is in discussions with the NFL and sees “an opportunity to expand the relationship,” while still insisting any deal must work on viewing and ad value. The company made those comments during its first-quarter 2026 results presentation on April 16. (cordcuttersnews.com) (ir.netflix.net) That position fits Netflix’s recent sports push, which has centered on one-off live events instead of full-season rights. Netflix carried Major League Baseball Opening Night on March 25 and said that game averaged 3 million U.S. viewers, with two more MLB events scheduled for July 13 and August 13. (about.netflix.com) The company already has a three-season deal for NFL Christmas Day games, and those broadcasts have given it a test case for football without taking on a weekly package. Netflix and the NFL said the first Christmas doubleheader on Dec. 25, 2024 averaged 26.5 million U.S. viewers and drew viewers from 218 countries and territories. (about.netflix.com) (nfl.com) The 2025 Christmas games gave Netflix another data point. Netflix said its Lions-Vikings game on Dec. 25, 2025 averaged 27.5 million U.S. viewers, which it called the most-streamed NFL game in U.S. history. (about.netflix.com) (variety.com) Netflix’s interest comes as the NFL is carving out smaller digital packages alongside its larger broadcast deals. NBC Sports reported on April 16 that YouTube and the NFL had moved toward a deal for a five-game 2026 package after Netflix, YouTube, and Fox were all in the mix. (nbcsports.com) (cordcuttersnews.com) The league has also already committed more Christmas inventory to streaming next season. NBC Sports reported on March 31 that NFL owners approved a 2026 Christmas setup with two games on Netflix and a third on Fox. (nbcsports.com) Netflix has a second reason to like live sports: advertising. Cord Cutters News reported the company told investors it expects to roughly double its ad business to about $3 billion in 2026, and live games give it large audiences watching at the same time instead of on demand. (cordcuttersnews.com) For now, Netflix is describing football as a selective add-on, not a shift into being the NFL’s every-Sunday home. The company’s recent pattern is two Christmas games, a few baseball events, and a public search for more tentpole broadcasts that can pull big audiences on specific dates. (cordcuttersnews.com) (about.netflix.com)