Netflix plans massive NFL Sunday Game deal as streaming giant eyes up UFC and F1 agreements

Netflix could bring more NFL games to UK audiences in a seismic move after the success of its Christmas Day games.

The streaming giant's chief content officer Bela Bajaria also refused to rule out deals for the UFC and Formula One as it ramps up plans to become the number one in live sports streaming. Netflix became a broadcast partner of the NFL last year with a three-year global rights deal for at least one live game on December 25. The two fixtures in 2024 scored a combined viewership of more than 30 million international viewers.

Sunday afternoon NFL games are currently shown by CBS and Fox in the US as part of the NFL’s $110 billion rights deals in place until 2033. However, the league retains an opt-out option for its domestic rights contracts, which can be activated after the 2029 campaign.

Bajaria told The Ringer’s ‘The Town’ podcast that this provides Netflix with a golden opportunity. He said: “I definitely want the Sunday [afternoon] games.”

In the UK, all NFL games are currently broadcast on Sky Sports with the Super Bowl free-to-air on ITV and ITVX. Bejaria was also asked if Netflix would consider bidding on rights belonging to the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) or Formula One.

She revealed: “Our job is to understand what is out there in every single way. We’re going to meet with leagues, we’re going to meet with people, we’re going to understand what the marketplace is. We’re going to look at what might be opportunistic for us.”

The streamer has recently secured the exclusive US rights to the next two editions of the Fifa Women’s World Cup, as well as World Wrestling Entertainment’s (WWE) Monday Night Raw. While any initial deal would involve US viewers only, it would open the gateway to broadcast