Netflix Pushing For Premier League Rights After Champions League Setback

Netflix is weighing up a move for future Premier League TV rights after missing out on two major UEFA packages.

It’s the strongest indication yet that the world’s biggest streamer is ready to enter top-level football broadcasting.

Netflix’s failed Champions League bid

Netflix lodged competitive offers for the global UEFA Super Cup contract and for Germany’s 2027-31 Champions League rights. But UEFA was unable to separate the Super Cup from wider bundles, and Netflix was narrowly outbid by Paramount+ for the German Champions League package.

Paramount+, which also beat TNT Sports to the main UK Champions League deal, is now seen as a major new player in European football broadcasting.

Will Netflix compete with Sky Sports for Premier League rights?

Insiders believe Netflix’s interest in the Premier League is real and growing. The current domestic rights cycle runs to 2029, but the next tender process is expected to draw more competition than ever.

Industry figures say Netflix could target a smaller bundle at first, such as the Premier League’s Christmas and festive fixtures, which Amazon Prime last took up, attracting high demand and strong viewing figures.

Could Netflix challenge NBC for US Premier League rights?

The Premier League’s US rights, held by NBC in a £2 billion six-year deal, expire in 2028. The next bidding round begins next year, and Netflix’s recent activity suggests it could enter the contest, bringing fresh pressure to a market long dominated by NBC.

Why Netflix wants live football now

Until recently, Netflix avoided long-running sports rights. Its early dabbling focused on one-off events: last Christmas’s NFL game, and blockbuster numbers for the Mike Tyson v Jake Paul bout, which peaked at 65 million streams. It will also stream Jake Paul v Anthony Joshua on 19 December.

But the platform is now pursuing larger, recurring tentpole events. It has secured rights to the 2027 and 2031 Women’s World Cups in the US and tested men’s football demand by competing for Germany’s Champions League contract. It also holds rights for live and on-demand coverage for WWE.

UEFA’s New Rights Deals

UEFA’s latest rights sales have delivered significant uplifts: around 20 per cent in the UK, 30 per cent in Germany and Italy, and 10 per cent in Spain. Rights values for European competitions are now expected to exceed UEFA’s original target of €5 billion per year.

This surge has increased confidence across European club football, particularly after a decade in which domestic rights values plateaued.

Why private equity is backing English clubs

The renewed interest from global streamers is one reason private equity groups believe football rights still have major growth potential. That belief has led to a wave of investment in English clubs, where international rights remain the most lucrative in world sport.

Key broadcasters in the 2027-31 cycle

From 2027, the UK market will look different. Sky Sports has picked up the Europa League and Conference League, while Paramount+ takes the Champions League. Amazon is also still involved in the cycle, while the BBC has retained its Wednesday highlights show. The combined value of the new four-year UK deals will exceed £1.9 billion.

As for Netflix, its bids, albeit unsuccessful, have already sparked discussion. Football executives now expect the streamer to return for the next round of Premier League rights, with Christmas fixtures considered the most likely starting point.