Advertisers May Push Back on Netflix’s Christmas NFL Games

Netflix’s plan to broadcast two NFL games on Christmas Day next season is facing resistance in the advertising market. The streaming service is looking to attract sponsors for the games, with discussions indicating a potential cost of $400,000 for a 30-second ad. However, initial talks have not been successful in securing advertisers for the games. Netflix has not yet presented a formal advertising offer for the Christmas Day NFL games.

The NFL contests featuring the Kansas City Chiefs vs. the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens vs. the Houston Texans are set to be streamed on December 25, 2024. The deal, announced in May, has sparked anticipation that Netflix may pursue more live sports rights in the future, showcasing the platform’s interest in creating content that draws large live audiences as it expands its ad-supported subscription tier.

Despite the excitement surrounding the NFL games, some executives caution that they will air after the peak holiday shopping period, potentially reducing demand from advertisers needing to spend in the fourth quarter. Netflix’s strategy of bundling advertising packages across multiple properties instead of offering stand-alone game sponsorships may face challenges in the competitive market.

The debate over oversaturation in the streaming era, particularly with sports broadcasts, has been highlighted by the early pushback Netflix is experiencing. Major League Baseball’s struggles in securing broadcast deals and ESPN’s decision to sub-license College Football Playoff games to Warner Bros. Discovery reflect the complexities of the current media landscape.

The introduction of new game inventory by the NFL, such as “Thursday Night Football” and special games for streaming platforms like Amazon Prime Video and NBCUniversal’s Peacock, illustrates the league’s efforts to adapt to evolving viewing habits. With other leagues exploring similar initiatives to expand their content offerings, the competition for sports rights continues to intensify in the media industry.

[NFL on Netflix Trailer](https://www.youtube.com/embed/)