
Sunday afternoon NFL games could soon be heading to Netflix in potential seismic shift in sports TV viewing
Netflix is interested in bidding on the NFL 's Sunday afternoon games in a hail mary move that could disrupt cable TV, according to a report.
Bela Bajaria, chief content officer of Netflix, told the Puck in a podcast interview that the streaming giant will bid on Sunday afternoon games.
CBS and Fox are currently the homes of Sunday afternoon football games. NBC hosts Sunday night games, Amazon hosts Thursday night games, and ABC/ESPN hosts Monday night games.
These current broadcast deals are up in 2033, but the NFL can end the deal four years early in 2029, making Netflix a potential player, according to NBC Sports.
Fox and CBS have been hanging onto their slices of football coverage since the 1990s. Fox acquired the National Football Conference package from CBS in 1994, while CBS acquired the American Football Conference package from NBC in 1998, NBC Sports reported.
Netflix boasts a global audience, which could give the NFL a chance to expand its reach. The streaming service hosted the NFL's Christmas Day games, drawing 65 million viewers from 218 countries, the company said based on Nielsen data.
This could be a major touchdown for the streaming service, as the NFL made up 72 of the top 100 most-watched broadcasts of 2024, Sportico reported.
Even the contentious election coverage didn't really make a dent. The top two broadcasts were the Super Bowl, which welcomed 123 million viewers, followed by the second presidential debate, which welcomed 67 million.
2024 Nielsen data obtained by Variety perhaps illustrates the magnitude of the draw of airing football coverage. CBS, which hosted last year's Super Bowl, topped the charts as the most-watched network of 2024. NBC, ABC and Fox trailed.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Daily Record
2 hours ago
- Daily Record
BBC licence fee cost may now be determined by value of house in new proposal
BBC Chairman Samir Shah has suggested that the current fee of £174.50 should be revised for some households. TV license fees may start increasing based on the value of your home, as proposed by a BBC boss. Charmain Samir Shah has urged that the £174.50 fee be scrapped to make way for a progressive payment structure that is based on assets. Speaking in an interview earlier this year, Mr Shah explained the fee would be tied to property bands and collected at the same time as council tax, which would come as his first major shake-up since taking over from Richard Sharp. He also shut down speculation that the TV licence would be scrapped for a Netflix subscription-style service, stating that it would "not meet the BBC's key role to offer something for everyone in the country.' Viewers living in higher council tax bands would pay more for BBC service while those in lower bands may end up paying less than the current rate. Those who opt out of paying a TV licence would no longer be able to do so. The chairman believes this policy would reduce the need to prosecute people for not paying. He told The Sunday Times: "It gets rid of the enforcement issue, which is a problem. The idea that not paying the licence fee is a criminal offence seems too harsh." In Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, where there is no Council Tax, an alternative would have to be implemented. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy may also be open to it, having described the current model as "harder for poorer households to pay". In the interview, he answered questions about changing the model of the BBC and rejected the proposal of a hybrid structure, which would see the broadcaster offering its basic services such as news for free and charging for content like drama or comedy series. He continued to say that the advertising on the BBC would "kill off ITV", and dismissed the idea that the broadcaster should be funded solely by general taxation because it would "leave the BBC open to influence from the government of the day". Samir Shah, 73, took over as BBC chairman in February 2024 after he replaced Richard Sharp, who resigned in April 2023. At the moment, although there are concessions or free licences for certain groups, such as those over 75 who receive Pension Credit, the licence fee does not take personal assets into consideration. The standard fee is charged at £174.50 per annum with a reduced rate of £58.50 for black and white subscriptions. For viewers who are blind or severely sight-impaired, a 50% discount is available, bringing the cost down to £87.25.


Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Disgraced NFL star Greg Hardy slams 'rumors' after shocking arrest for allegedly assaulting family member
Disgraced former NFL star and UFC fighter Greg Hardy is calling for privacy after his latest domestic violence arrest in Texas. On Tuesday, the 36-year-old posted video of himself at a trampoline park with a woman and two young children, presumed to be Hardy's partner, son and daughter. Hardy is seen kissing the woman in the video while the smiling children are playing on the trampoline. 'Please stop spreading what these chaos machines post, they don't know any facts then fuel the fire that effects (sic) my kids and my wife,' he wrote. 'Things get emotional but has never and will never be what you clowns are trying to spread. I ask with all my heart please, My family and I are all perfectly fine.' Hardy ended the post: 'Please stop spreading lies and rumors and give our family the time and space to work through it all in private.' Although he refers to her as his 'wife,' it's unclear if Hardy and the woman are actually married. Daily Mail has reached out to the Richardson (Texas) Police Department for further information and an incident report. Last week, the department reported Hardy allegedly put his hands on his partner after she accused him of infidelity. The one-time Dallas Cowboys defensive end is accused of pushing the woman and putting his hands around her neck. Police also reported scratches and redness on her body they believed to be 'consistent with a physical altercation,' according to police documents obtained by TMZ. Tai Tuivasa of Australia (top) takes down Greg Hardy in the first round in their heavyweight bout during UFC 264: Poirier v McGregor 3 at T-Mobile Arena on July 10, 2021 in Las Vegas Hardy admitted to police he was involved in a dispute with his partner, but claimed he simply moved her out of his way. He was arrested on a charge of 'assault causing bodily injury family member.' Hardy was infamously arrested on domestic violence allegations in May of 2014 when he was accused of assaulting his then-girlfriend in Charlotte during his time with the Carolina Panthers. As the woman told Charlotte Mecklenburg Police, Hardy threw her down on a sofa that was covered in 'assault rifles and/or shotguns.' Hardy was found guilty of assault and communicating threats. He sentenced him to 18 months' probation, but appealed the decision, requesting a jury trial. When the accuser did not show in court, prosecutors dropped the charges. The prosecutors later claimed to have received 'reliable information' the two sides reached a settlement. Hardy was ultimately suspended 10 games, but that ban was then reduced to four games. He went on to sign with the Cowboys before embarking on a combat career in 2016. In total he has 13 MMA fights and four boxing bouts, although he's failed to distinguish himself in either arena.


Time Out
2 hours ago
- Time Out
Fanatics Fest will have $200 million of Michael Jordan, LeBron James memorabilia on display in NYC
Start spreading the sports-nerd news: Fanatics Fest is returning to New York City this June, and it's not showing up empty-handed. The three-day mega-convention will include a showstopping exhibition called the "Museum of Greatness," a $200 million pop-up sports shrine filled with ultra-rare memorabilia from athletic legends like Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Tom Brady and more. Running June 20–22 at the Javits Center, this year's Fanatics Fest is taking over Manhattan's West Side with even more star power and collectibles than its debut last summer, which drew more than 70,000 attendees. But the main event this time is a 10,500-square-foot museum packed with iconic gear, jaw-dropping trading cards and one-of-a-kind treasures collectors thought they'd never see in person. Among the crown jewels: LeBron's $10 million Ultimate Rookie Logoman card, MJ's 'Last Dance' jersey from the 1998 NBA Finals and a one-of-a-kind Fleer Metal Gem Masters card valued at $4.5 million. You'll also find Kobe Bryant's NBA Finals jersey, Ohtani's 2024 All-Star uniform and more than 30 Tom Brady cards (some featuring game-worn Super Bowl fabric, no big deal). Organizers say the Museum of Greatness will have over 20 themed zones—from 'GOATs' to 'Rising Stars'—highlighting players across eras and sports. It's basically the Louvre for collectors, if the Mona Lisa wore cleats. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Topps (@topps) But this isn't just for hardcore hobbyists. With over 500 athletes, celebs, and creators appearing throughout the weekend, the fest doubles as a who's-who of sports culture. Expect autograph sessions, live panels, merch drops, and interactive brand activations from leagues like the NFL, NBA, MLB and WWE. And yes, security will be tighter than a Knicks playoff schedule. With millions on display—including Babe Ruth and Messi memorabilia—round-the-clock surveillance is a given.