Streaming Platforms Continue To Snatch NFL Games, Forcing Fans To Make A Cost Decision

If you are the resistance fighting the advance of streaming platforms invading your NFL watching experience, you just took another hit.

You and your wallet are in retreat.

The NFL on Wednesday announced a new deal to sell games to Netflix the next three seasons. So the streaming service will feature two games on Christmas Day this year, and then it will stream at least one holiday game in 2025 and again in 2026.

The two games this year, per multiple sources and reports, are the Ravens at the Texans and the Chiefs at the Steelers.

The NFL will announce its 2024 schedule at 8 p.m. but there are already some tidbits out there.

Dec 17, 2023; Jacksonville, Florida, USA;  fans watch with a Merry Christmas sign during a game between the Baltimore Ravens and Jacksonville Jaguars in the third quarter at EverBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

Netflix Wins The Christmas Sweepstakes

Netflix outbid multiple platforms for the rights to the Christmas Day games, per an NFL source.

"Last year, we decided to take a big bet on live — tapping into massive fandoms across comedy, reality TV, sports and more," Netflix chief content officer Bela Bajaria said in a news release. "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."

And here's the thing:

Anyone wanting to watch a full slate of NFL games this season must now subscribe to three streaming services. Three.

Anyone wanting a greater reach, such as having the chance to view out-of-market games every Sunday, has to purchase the Sunday Ticket on YouTubeTV – another streaming platform.

(The other option is finding a local sports bar that is fine with you sitting around for three hours while ordering club sodas.)

CLEVELAND, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 22: Thursday Night Football trucks are seen with Amazon Prime signage prior to a game between the Cleveland Browns and the Pittsburgh Steelers at FirstEnergy Stadium on September 22, 2022 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images)

Streaming Advances On NFL

Consider that Amazon Prime streams Thursday night games. It streams a wild card game. And it streams a game on Black Friday, a new addition last season that is now expected to continue in perpetuity.

Peacock joined the NFL partnership band last year and will stream the Eagles versus Packers regular-season opener on Friday, Sept. 6 from São Paulo, Brazil.

And, of course, the two Christmas Day games to be streamed on Netflix.

That's a lot of streaming the NFL is doing, and it's likely not going to go away anytime soon. The horse (or cow, or sheep) is out of the proverbial barn.

Why? Because the NFL doesn't mind you having to pay for an extra viewing service to watch its product as long as it makes more money from the product.

And the league reportedly sold the Christmas package this year for an estimated $300-$400 million. That's this year alone. The entire three-year deal is easily adding more than half-a-billion dollars to the NFL's coffers over three years.

The streaming platforms are paying handsomely for the right to sell you NFL games. And that's the point. They're selling you the games by forcing you to subscribe if you want to watch.

And That's Not All …

Hey, um, did I mention the NFL on Wednesday also announced it will have a Hard Knocks offseason series featuring the New York Giants?

There will still be a Hard Knocks series during training camp, as has been tradition, with the team to be named later. That will be broadcast on HBO.

But the New York Giants Hard Knocks offseason series will be on Max.

Another streaming service.