NFL fans must pay $1,600 a year to watch every game on Netflix
Netflix to Broadcast NFL Games: Fans Face $1,600 Annual Cost
After the success of shows like "Drive to Survive," "Full Swing," and "The Roast of Tom Brady," Netflix is extending its reach into live sports broadcasting. On Wednesday, the company announced it will broadcast two NFL games on Christmas Day during the 2024 season, with at least one additional Christmas game planned for 2025 and 2026.
While Netflix has previously hosted one-off events in tennis, golf, and boxing, this marks its first live partnership with a major US sports league. Netflix's content chief, Bela Bajaria, emphasized the significance, stating, «There are no live annual events, sports or otherwise, that compare with the audiences NFL football attracts.»
Although financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, Bloomberg News reported that Netflix will pay less than $150 million per game for exclusive international rights. This move aligns with Netflix's strategy to retain users and bolster its advertising business amid saturated growth in the US market.
Netflix's gradual entry into NFL coverage began in 2023 with the release of the popular "Quarterback" series featuring Patrick Mahomes, Kirk Cousins, and Marcus Mariota. This summer, they will debut a "Receiver" series, highlighting stars like Davante Adams and Justin Jefferson during the 2023 season.
As the NFL pivots towards streaming platforms, the cost for fans continues to rise. Adding Netflix to the mix will bring the total number of services required to watch all NFL games to seven. Fans will need subscriptions to cable or YouTube TV, Sunday Ticket, Amazon Prime Video, Peacock, ESPN+, NFL+, and Netflix.
Cord-cutting fans will face a hefty bill of about $1,600 annually based on last season's pricing and Netflix's current lowest subscription cost. This amount does not include the necessary internet service, which averaged $64 per month in 2022 according to OpenVault. Consequently, the total expenditure to watch the NFL's regular season, playoffs, and Super Bowl will surpass $2,000.
Cable subscribers will incur even higher costs, needing additional subscriptions to NFL+, ESPN+, Peacock, Amazon Prime, and Netflix to watch all games. Four streaming platforms will feature exclusive games in 2024.
Consumers might find some cost-saving strategies. Free trials and short-term sign-ups can mitigate expenses. For instance, customers could subscribe to Netflix just for December to watch the Christmas games and then cancel in January. However, the spread of games across various platforms is intended to keep consumers subscribed for longer periods. Unlike Netflix's Christmas Day deal, Amazon Prime's "Thursday Night Football" runs throughout the season, and Peacock will air three exclusive games in 2024, including the first regular season game in S�o Paulo in September, a December matchup, and a playoff game in January.
Streamers are betting on customer retention from one-off events, hoping subscribers remain or forget to cancel. Last season, the NFL's first streaming-exclusive playoff game on Peacock attracted three million new sign-ups, making it the «most streamed event in US history» with 21 million viewers. NBC reported that 71% of users who signed up remained subscribers through February 2024.
As seen Here -
| POLL | ||
18 MAI | 91 ANSWERS NFL fans must pay $1,600 a year to watch every game on Netflix Will you pay for all the streaming services to watch every NFL game? | ||
| Yes | 8 | 8.8 % |
| No | 83 | 91.2 % |
| List of polls | ||
