Future Netflix Price Increases Might Have The NFL To Partially Blame

[Update] Netflix has confirmed a deal with the NFL to air the two Christmas Day football games this year. Netflix and the NFL signed on for a three-year deal that will see Netflix host at least one holiday game every year.

"There are no live annual events, sports or otherwise, that compare with the audiences NFL football attracts. We're so excited that the NFL's Christmas Day games will be only on Netflix," Chief Content Officer Bela Bajaria said.

The NFL's Hans Schroeder said, "The NFL on Christmas has become a tradition and to partner with Netflix, a service whose biggest day of the year is typically this holiday, is the perfect combination to grow this event globally for NFL fans."

The NFL will announce its full schedule today, May 15, so we'll find out soon what matchups Netflix will host on Christmas Day this year.

The original story follows below.

Netflix's push into live sports programming could expand in a very big way this year, as a new report said the streaming giant could air the Christmas Day NFL games on its platform this December.

Puck News reports (via CBS Sports) that the NFL is in the middle of a "high-stakes negotiation" with Netflix about this. The report said it's not a done deal yet and that conversations could break down, as is normal in any negotiation

The report was published not longer after former NFL MVP and NFL media veteran Boomer Esiason said on his radio show, "Do not be surprised if the NFL and Netflix get in bed for a nice little Christmas Day football games."

2023's Christmas Day football games aired on CBS, Fox, and ABC, but in March this year, the NFL announced it was opening things up for 2024 and taking bids for this year's games. According to the Puck News report, Netflix has emerged as a contender for the rights.

The NFL and Netflix are already in business together, as Netflix is the home of the Quarterback TV series from Peyton Manning's Omaha Productions (the next series, Receiver, is in the works now).

Should Netflix land the rights to the Christmas Day NFL games, Netflix would become just the latest subscription service that NFL fans will need to have to watch all the games this year. Beyond games on CBS, Fox, and ABC, Peacock, ESPN+, and Prime Video all are hosting games for the 2024 season.

The 2024 NFL schedule release is coming up on May 15, so it shouldn't be long until all becomes clear regarding who is airing the NFL's Christmas Day games. The schedule was previously expected to be released on May 9.

Netflix already airs live sports programming. In 2023, the streamer aired the Netflix Cup, a golf tournament featuring PGA Tour professionals and F1 drivers. In March this year, Netflix aired the Netflix Slam, an exhibition match between tennis superstars Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz. This July, Netflix will host the highly anticipated fight between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul. In 2025, Netflix will be the home of WWE Raw.

All of this is to say that Netflix is taking big steps into the live sports programming world. And what could that mean for you? Netflix no doubt is paying serious money for these rights, and those costs could eventually be passed along to you in the form of a Netflix subscription price hike.