OT: NetFlix jumps into Live "Sports"

[4th&long]

Well Netflix finally folded as I knew they would, how could they not jump into live sports especially now that they have ADs any way.

https://www.sportsmediawatch.com/2024/0 ... announced/

>> Netflix has made its biggest live programming play yet with a multi-billion dollar deal for WWE Raw.

Netflix and the WWE have reached a ten-year media rights deal said to be worth more than $5 billion that will move the weekly “WWE Raw” series to the streamer effective next year, it was announced Tuesday. “WWE Raw” has been a basic cable staple since its 1993 debut, airing on Comcast-owned USA Network for nearly all of that time.

While the WWE does not qualify as traditional live sports, the deal nonetheless indicates that Netflix may finally be a real player for sports rights down the line. <<

The transformation of Streaming into nothing more than cable-company "independent" (meaning not specific to any cable company) ALA CART cable service are beginning. Streaming is much clumsier than cable to change "channels" and the costs are Opaque to the customer.

NF sees that their days are numbered as being "special" - they aren't and they don't have the deep pockets of an Amazon or Apple. They do have a lead on the other services but Content is King, and theirs is lacking. Would not be surprised if they make a play for a Studio and/or TV net (the cheapest being Paramount and Fox). Paramount has the sports and studio so I'd see that as 1st on list. Just a thought.

Meanwhile Big Cable Comps may have to finally offer ala cart of their own and will likely treat Streaming services to customers no differently than the Premium Channels they've been offering for years.

The UFL angle here may be that NF may be looking for more content and that could help UFL especially in expansion. And this deal also means that there's one less big live 'sporting' event on regular TV opening door for traditional broadcasters to look at UFL.

[4th&long]

https://www.outkick.com/netflix-is-sudd ... r-wwe-raw/

>> Traditional television networks like ESPN, CBS, NBC, Fox Sports, and TNT do not have the financial resources to compete with Netflix — or any member of the FAANG tech titans.

Netflix can outbid any of the television networks for the sports properties it prefers.
And while the likes of Amazon and Apple have the resources to outbid Netflix, they lack the reach.

A recent chart published by Wrestlenomic details the wide lead in subscribers Netflix holds over other streaming services:

For all of the talk about the Streaming Wars, no streamer has been able to successfully threaten Netflix's superiority. pic.twitter.com/nCC7weA20z
— Bobby Burack (@burackbobby_) January 23, 2024

Translation: the sports leagues will favor partnering with Netflix over the others, so long as the money is equal or close to it.

And that ought to be concerning for services like Amazon Prime, Peacock, and AppleTV+, whose strategy to compete with Netflix included topping the industry leader in live sports. <<

They may have the reach - but how long will they have the $$? Depends on how things play out. NF playing possum on Live Sports makes sense... never show your hand to competition.

[MGB01]

I think there might be something to Netflix' self-readiness issues, cause if they had been ready for live sports no doubt they would jumped in hardcore for Sunday Ticket (not that they would have won it but at least made a strong bid). Also remember Netflix and CW are under the same umbrella, so this could be a thing going forward as CW builds up their sports division (and, as with Netflix, will air a WWE property when they get NXT in October).

Ah the days of the accusations from the IWC that Vince was burying Smackdown to keep RAW the A show, and yet come this time next year Smackdown and NXT will be the only two on linear TV, heh

[4th&long]

I think there might be something to Netflix' self-readiness issues, cause if they had been ready for live sports no doubt they would jumped in hardcore for Sunday Ticket (not that they would have won it but at least made a strong bid). Also remember Netflix and CW are under the same umbrella, so this could be a thing going forward as CW builds up their sports division (and, as with Netflix, will air a WWE property when they get NXT in October).

Ah the days of the accusations from the IWC that Vince was burying Smackdown to keep RAW the A show, and yet come this time next year Smackdown and NXT will be the only two on linear TV, heh

How are NF and CW under the same umbrella?

[MGB01]

I think there might be something to Netflix' self-readiness issues, cause if they had been ready for live sports no doubt they would jumped in hardcore for Sunday Ticket (not that they would have won it but at least made a strong bid). Also remember Netflix and CW are under the same umbrella, so this could be a thing going forward as CW builds up their sports division (and, as with Netflix, will air a WWE property when they get NXT in October).

Ah the days of the accusations from the IWC that Vince was burying Smackdown to keep RAW the A show, and yet come this time next year Smackdown and NXT will be the only two on linear TV, heh

How are NF and CW under the same umbrella?

Maybe not, I thought Nexstar owned part of Netflix.......................disregard and continue

[4th&long]

I think there might be something to Netflix' self-readiness issues, cause if they had been ready for live sports no doubt they would jumped in hardcore for Sunday Ticket (not that they would have won it but at least made a strong bid). Also remember Netflix and CW are under the same umbrella, so this could be a thing going forward as CW builds up their sports division (and, as with Netflix, will air a WWE property when they get NXT in October).

Ah the days of the accusations from the IWC that Vince was burying Smackdown to keep RAW the A show, and yet come this time next year Smackdown and NXT will be the only two on linear TV, heh

How are NF and CW under the same umbrella?

Maybe not, I thought Nexstar owned part of Netflix.......................disregard and continue

You have NF on one end, the "pay" streaming service now apparently getting into sports. And on the other end CW and ION offering free broadcast service sports. I think both will survive in some notable capacity.

[MarkNelson]

Times are changing. 

[Rmbay]

Speaking of WWE kind of surprised no one has mentioned Dwayne Johnson getting a seat on the Board of Directors at TKO Group.  Not that it may mean anything imminently for the UFL, but if Ari Emanuel is serious about branching out his empire there could be some type of tie-in or even ownership stake in the future. 

[mnrlgrey]

I do wonder what rights Disney/ESPN still holds for streaming games. Fox did no streaming last year as NBC did  all of it (for their games at least?) and obviously ESPN+ was the only option on the XFL side. I would imagine going forward they retain those rights since they seem to be part of the merger as far as having their contract honored.At least for the next four seasons they supposedly signed up for. Though who knows how that contract is worded, perhaps streaming isn't part of it for every last year. 

But assuming the league lasts long enough to see that contract run out I could absolutely see Netflix or Apple getting in on the UFL. Obviously football is a different beast since there are so few games in a season, but last year the XFL and USFL both still beat the MLB, NHL and MLS in per-game viewer average. 

[GDAWG]

Speaking of WWE kind of surprised no one has mentioned Dwayne Johnson getting a seat on the Board of Directors at TKO Group.  Not that it may mean anything imminently for the UFL, but if Ari Emanuel is serious about branching out his empire there could be some type of tie-in or even ownership stake in the future. 

As long as Vince McMahon stays away from the UFL, Ari Emmanuel will be fine.