This Christmas, the NFL may be competing with Netflix and Cha-ching.
With the league passing the Santa hat in search of between $50 million to $100 million for broadcast rights for both games scheduled for Dec. 25 in 2024, WFAN's Boomer Esiason floated an interesting theory on Wednesday.
“Don't be surprised then The NFL and Netflix are in bed “For nice little soccer games on Christmas Day,” Esiason said via AwfulAnnouncing.com. “I wouldn't be surprised.”
I won't be. No one should enter. Although the NFL and Netflix had not previously struck a live deal for games, the tentacles are starting to spread. Netflix has proven it can deliver live events, as it did Sunday night with Tom Brady's only-when-unblocked show.
It's an awkward spot for the NFL, as Wednesday's schedule will be drawn from a two-game smash from CBS and/or Fox. In theory, they should already have the rights to those games.
The contracts may have been written to give the NFL the flexibility to grab two games from Sunday and move them to Wednesday. However, the reality is that the NFL is calling the shots in broadcast relations, and the phrase “the customer is always right” has been turned on its head for years.
This is one of the benefits of having a high value product with limited supplies. Big Shield is calling the shots, and Christmas 2024 could bring a new client to the table. Along with a lot of money for the league.
