Netflix bets big on live sports with NFL and MLB expansion plans

Netflix is expanding its live sports coverage with new deals for NFL and MLB events. The streaming platform will add the MLB Home Run Derby and the Field of Dreams game in 2026. Meanwhile, talks are underway to increase its NFL broadcasts, including a Thanksgiving Eve match and an international fixture.

Fans, however, have criticised recent changes, particularly the new scorebug display and the need for extra subscriptions to watch games. Netflix has already secured 18 NFL games under its current agreement. This includes eight Christmas Day fixtures spread across 2024, 2025, and 2026, with five alone in the final year. An additional ten games were confirmed for 2027 in a deal announced in March 2026. The company paid $75 million for the three-year Christmas Day package.

The NFL has also taken back rights to four games and may sell a fifth international match to streaming platforms like YouTube or Amazon. Netflix remains in discussions to double its NFL offering by adding the Thanksgiving Eve game and another overseas contest.

Beyond football, the platform recently streamed the MLB season opener, though viewers complained about needing a separate subscription. For 2026, Netflix will also carry the MLB Home Run Derby and the Field of Dreams game. These moves follow earlier experiments with live events, including Jake Paul's boxing matches and WWE programming.

Yet not all changes have gone smoothly. Fans have slammed Netflix's new scorebug for being hard to read and distracting. The complaints add to frustration over fragmented viewing options, as traditional broadcasters and streaming services split coverage. Netflix's push into live sports continues with more NFL and MLB events on the way. The company has invested heavily, securing games through 2027 and exploring further expansions. However, viewer dissatisfaction with the scorebug and subscription demands highlights ongoing challenges in the shift to streaming.