New Challenges and Opportunities in Live Sports

In a recent interview with Variety, Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos explored the company’s growing venture into live sports, highlighting the significant $5 billion deal with WWE to stream Monday Night Raw. This collaboration marks Netflix’s strategic expansion in the sports domain, which includes notable events like last year’s record-setting NFL Christmas Day doubleheader.

Taylor Swift and NFL Games: A Potential Collaboration

During the discussion, Sarandos was prompted about the potential for Taylor Swift to perform at an NFL Christmas Day game, particularly in light of her rising prominence at football matches over the past two seasons. He acknowledged the challenge presented, responding with enthusiasm: “That’s a good challenge! We did get her in the stadium this year.”

However, reports indicated Swift was not physically present at the last Christmas game, where the Kansas City Chiefs triumphed over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Despite this, Sarandos expressed optimism that the streaming service could secure her for a future holiday performance.

The Economic Landscape of Live Sports on Netflix

As the conversation shifted towards the Super Bowl, Sarandos elaborated on Netflix’s capability to handle events of such magnitude, referencing the successful streaming of the Jake Paul-Mike Tyson match in November. He cautioned, however, that the financial model for such high-profile events remains complex due to the lucrative deals the NFL has with traditional networks.

“It’s a tough economic model to thread,” Sarandos stated, emphasizing that while Netflix will introduce additional live events annually, they will comprise a small portion of Netflix’s overall viewing and budget.

Looking Forward: Netflix’s Commitment to Live Events

While immediate plans for a Super Bowl appearance seem unlikely, Sarandos did not rule out the possibility of Taylor Swift gracing a Christmas Day game in the potentially near future. “We’ll have a few more [live events] we will pepper in annually,” he noted, hinting at Netflix’s commitment to exploring live sports programming while maintaining a balanced economic approach.