[Alpha Economy=(Chicago) Kim Ji-sun, Correspondent] You can now watch live sports broadcasts on Netflix.
Bloomberg reported on the 15th (local time) that Netflix is finalizing a deal to purchase exclusive rights to stream two National Football League (NFL) games on Christmas, doubling its efforts to add more live broadcasts to its streaming service.
This will grant Netflix the rights to one of the world’s largest sports leagues and present live football broadcasts for the first time.
According to Bloomberg, Netflix will pay less than $150 million per game, and the NFL is expected to announce the 2024–25 season schedule.
Netflix focuses on live events and sports to retain its user base and expand its advertising business. This strategy is perceived as a crucial growth driver as streaming growth in the top U.S. market enters saturation.
In January, it signed a contract worth more than $5 billion to broadcast World Wrestling Entertainment’s RAW starting in 2025 exclusively.
Also, it live-streamed the tennis match between Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz in March.
Competitors have also secured control of major sports leagues over the past few years.
Amazon Prime holds the rights to Thursday Night Baseball, and Apple TV+ broadcasts Friday Night Baseball and Major League Soccer.
On the other hand, until last year, Netflix insisted that it had no plans to compete for exclusive sports broadcasting rights, believing it saw little return on investment in sports rights.
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