Netflix has occasionally acquired rights to sporting events. The platform's live sports strategy has focused primarily on broadcasts that can be promoted as television events, including one-off competitions (such as combat sports cards, and isolated rights to specific events held by professional leagues) and tournaments, rather than pursuing rights to full, season-length packages.[1][2]

History

Initial involvement in sports content by Netflix was primarily focused on reality-style docuseries following specific leagues and competitions; its Formula One documentary series Drive to Survive has received critical acclaim, and has been credited with helping expand interest in F1 among new audiences, especially in the United States.[3][4] Netflix would later commission similar series from its producers following professional golf (Full Swing) and tennis (Break Point).[5][6][7]

In November 2023, Netflix streamed its first live sporting event, the Netflix Cup—a celebrity match play golf event from Las Vegas featuring teams of drivers and golfers from Drive to Survive and Full Swing respectively.[8][9]

In January 2024, Netflix announced a ten-year agreement with professional wrestling promotion WWE beginning in January 2025, under which its weekly show WWE Raw would move exclusively to Netflix worldwide. In addition, Netflix would hold global rights outside of the United States to all three of WWE's main weekly programs (including Raw, SmackDown, and NXT), all WWE pay-per-view and livestreaming events, and library content.[10][11][12]

In March 2024, Netflix announced that it had acquired a package of National Football League Christmas Day games, featuring two games in 2024 and at least one annual game in 2025 and 2026.[13][14] Production of the telecasts were subcontracted to CBS Sports, using NFL on CBS personnel.[15] As per NFL television rules, these games are simulcast on free-to-air television stations in the participating teams' home markets.[14]

In November 2024, Netflix streamed the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson boxing match from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, along with its co-main event of Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano for the WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO, and The Ring women's light welterweight titles. With a peak concurrent viewership of 65 million viewers claimed by Netflix, it overtook the 2023 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup final (57 million concurrent streams in India on Hotstar) as the most concurrent streams on a live-streamed sporting event, although Netflix faced criticism for technical faults and stability issues during the broadcast.[16][17] With an average minute audience of 47 million, Netflix also stated that the Taylor vs. Serrano match was the most-watched professional women's sporting event in U.S. history.[18] The following month, Netflix acquired exclusive U.S. rights to the 2027 and 2031 FIFA Women's World Cup. Netflix would also acquire exclusive Canadian rights to both tournaments.[19][20]

In June 2025, Netflix acquired global rights to the Canelo Álvarez vs. Terence Crawford boxing match, the inaugural event promoted by Zuffa Boxing.[21]

In August 2025, Netflix acquired exclusive rights to the 2026 World Baseball Classic in Japan, with Nippon Television subcontracted to produce the broadcasts.[22][23] In November 2025, as part of a realignment of Major League Baseball's broadcast rights following a renegotiation of ESPN's contract, Netflix acquired rights to selected MLB special events under a three-year deal beginning in 2026, including a primetime "Opening Night" game, the Home Run Derby, and the MLB at Field of Dreams games.[24][25] The telecasts are produced by MLB Network.[26]

In February 2026, in conjunction with Formula One's new U.S. broadcast rights held by Apple TV, Netflix announced that it would sublicense the eighth series of Drive to Survive to Apple TV, with all episodes premiering simultaneously with its premiere on Netflix. Apple would, in return, sublicense rights for Netflix to simulcast the 2026 Canadian Grand Prix in the United States.[27]

In April 2026, Netflix announced its acquisition of rights in Mexico to the CONCACAF Nations League final and CONCACAF Gold Cup beginning in 2027. [28]

Current sports properties

Canada

Mexico

United States

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Netflix co-CEO says focus around sports on big live events, not season packages". Sports Business Journal. 2026-03-26. Retrieved 2026-03-26.
  2. ↑ Castrovince, Anthony (November 19, 2025). "MLB announces new 3-year rights deals with ESPN, NBC, Netflix". MLB.com. Retrieved November 20, 2025.
  3. ↑ "Formula 1 Drive to Survive review: Can F1 capture Netflix?". Crash. 9 March 2019. Archived from the original on 16 January 2021. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  4. ↑ Smith, Luke (16 July 2021). "'Drive to Survive' on Netflix Has Ignited Formula 1". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 28 July 2021. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  5. ↑ White, Peter (2023-03-07). "'Full Swing' & 'Break Point' Sports Docuseries Renewed For Season 2 At Netflix". Deadline. Retrieved 2026-03-26.
  6. ↑ "Behind the scenes of the new PGA Tour/Netflix docuseries". Golf Digest. Archived from the original on April 26, 2022. Retrieved April 26, 2022.
  7. ↑ Petski, Denise (January 14, 2022). "Netflix Orders Tennis Docuseries From 'Formula 1: Drive To Survive' Producer". Deadline. Archived from the original on January 14, 2023. Retrieved April 26, 2022.
  8. ↑ "Netflix's golf flop still delivered one massive winner". Golf. 2023-11-17. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
  9. ↑ Herzig, Gabrielle (2023-11-14). "Collin Morikawa Withdraws From Netflix Cup, Replaced By Tony Finau". Sports Illustrated Golf: News, Scores, Equipment, Instruction, Travel, Courses. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
  10. ↑ Hayes, Dade (January 23, 2024). "Netflix Gets In The Ring, Locking Up WWE's 'Monday Night Raw' In 10-Year, $5B-Plus Deal For Longtime TV Staple". Deadline. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  11. ↑ Sherman, Alex; Pramuk, Jacob (January 23, 2024). "Netflix to stream WWE's Raw starting next year in its biggest jump into live entertainment". CNBC. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  12. ↑ Otterson, Joe (January 23, 2024). "Netflix, WWE Strike Deal to Move 'Monday Night Raw' to Streamer Beginning in 2025 for $500 Million per Year". Variety. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  13. ↑ "NFL to play two games on Christmas Day Wednesday in 2024". ESPN. March 26, 2024. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  14. 1 2 Spangler, Todd (May 15, 2024). "Netflix Scores Two NFL Christmas Day 2024 Games Under Three-Year Deal With League". Variety. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  15. ↑ Hayes, Dade (2024-08-14). "CBS Production Deal With Netflix For NFL Games Isn't Aiding A Rival, Sports Chief David Berson Says; Instead, It's "Welcome To The Party!"". Deadline. Retrieved 2026-03-26.
  16. ↑ Otterson, Joe (November 16, 2024). "Jake Paul, Mike Tyson Fight Viewed by 60 Million Households, Netflix Says". Variety. Retrieved November 25, 2024.
  17. ↑ Mastrangelo, Dominick (November 18, 2024). "Netflix says 60 million watched Tyson, Paul fight". The Hill. Retrieved November 25, 2024.
  18. ↑ Seitz, Jose Alejandro Bastidas and Loree (November 19, 2024). "Jake Paul-Mike Tyson Fight Scores Over 108 Million Viewers Worldwide, Netflix Says". TheWrap. Retrieved November 25, 2024.
  19. ↑ "Netflix, FIFA sign deal to show Women's World Cup". ESPN. December 20, 2024. Retrieved December 20, 2024.
  20. ↑ Davidson, Neil. "Netflix secures broadcast rights in Canada to 2027 and 2031 Women's World Cups". CBC Sports. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 2025-09-02. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
  21. ↑ "Inside a wild weekend with Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford". ESPN.com. June 25, 2025. Retrieved August 21, 2025.
  22. ↑ "日本テレビが「2026年ワールドベースボールクラシック」の中継制作を受託 独占ライブ配信するNetflixとプロモーションで連携、地上波で関連特番放送へ｜プレスリリース｜企業・IR情報". Nippon TV Network Corporation (in Japanese). Retrieved January 29, 2026.
  23. ↑ Steinberg, Brian (August 25, 2025). "Netflix Takes New Swing With Japanese Rights to 2026 World Baseball Classic". Variety. Retrieved August 25, 2025.
  24. ↑ Castrovince, Anthony (November 19, 2025). "MLB announces new 3-year rights deals with ESPN, NBC, Netflix". MLB.com. Retrieved November 20, 2025.
  25. ↑ McCaskill, Steve (2025-09-26). "Netflix gets 2026 MLB season opener and Home Run Derby in 'three-year deal'". SportsPro. Retrieved 2026-03-26.
  26. ↑ Maglio, Tony (2026-03-25). "With 'MLB Opening Night,' Netflix Is Messing With the Wrong Fans". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2026-03-26.
  27. ↑ Weprin, Alex (2026-02-26). "Apple Strikes F1 Deal With Netflix: Will Share Canadian Grand Prix, New 'Drive to Survive' Season". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2026-03-26.
  28. 1 2 Vlessing, Etan (2026-04-14). "Netflix Plans Next Big Live Soccer Game Offering in Mexico". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2026-04-16.
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sports_on_Netflix