Netflix May Inherit Premier League Rights in War for Warner Bros Discovery, Boosting Football Footnote.
In the high-stakes battle between rival streaming giants, Netflix's surprise move into the market for Warner Bros Discovery's (WBD) global assets is casting a long shadow over football broadcasting rights. The US president Donald Trump appears to be backing Paramount Skydance in its hostile takeover bid for WBD, but it remains unclear whether this would put Netflix in the driving seat.
A recent $108.4 billion bid by Paramount Skydance has reignited interest from the Premier League and UEFA regarding broadcasting rights, potentially placing Netflix's acquisition of WBD at the center of a bidding war. The streaming service had initially rebuffed Premier League and UEFA entreaties to purchase their TV rights, but now finds itself in a position where it may secure these coveted assets.
While no one knows exactly what Netflix plans for its newly acquired rights portfolio, including those of TNT Sports' UK operation, industry insiders are convinced that the acquisition would be transformative for football broadcasting. With the current domestic deals set to expire post-2029, the Premier League's timing couldn't be more opportune.
In the high-stakes battle between rival streaming giants, Netflix's surprise move into the market for Warner Bros Discovery's (WBD) global assets is casting a long shadow over football broadcasting rights. The US president Donald Trump appears to be backing Paramount Skydance in its hostile takeover bid for WBD, but it remains unclear whether this would put Netflix in the driving seat.
A recent $108.4 billion bid by Paramount Skydance has reignited interest from the Premier League and UEFA regarding broadcasting rights, potentially placing Netflix's acquisition of WBD at the center of a bidding war. The streaming service had initially rebuffed Premier League and UEFA entreaties to purchase their TV rights, but now finds itself in a position where it may secure these coveted assets.
While no one knows exactly what Netflix plans for its newly acquired rights portfolio, including those of TNT Sports' UK operation, industry insiders are convinced that the acquisition would be transformative for football broadcasting. With the current domestic deals set to expire post-2029, the Premier League's timing couldn't be more opportune.