Netflix Co-CEO Clarifies Marquee NFL Focus Amid Expansion, DOJ Streaming Probe

Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos clarified the streamer will carry five NFL games in 2026—including an exclusive Week 1 Australia opener (49ers-Rams, Sept. 10), Christmas Day doubleheader, and Thanksgiving Eve—eschewing full-season rights amid DOJ and FCC scrutiny of league streaming deals. Initial reports on May 7 highlighted Netflix talks for the Australia game and existing Christmas rights as probes into NFL's antitrust exemption intensify, with the league's $25B revenue under spotlight. Expansion deepens fragmentation, forcing fans to stack subs like Netflix ($8.99-$26.99/mo), Peacock ($10.99), Amazon amid 88% OTA availability and 72% fans preferring free broadcast TV.