Sky and TNT could face major disruption as Netflix eyes Premier League rights

November 24, 2025 Oliver Obel

A significant shift may be coming to Britain’s football-broadcasting landscape, with Netflix now exploring whether to bid for Premier League rights. If the company steps in, it would mark another challenge to Sky and TNT Sports—and signal how quickly live sports are becoming central to the streaming economy.

For years, Netflix distanced itself from traditional sports coverage. That stance is changing.

A broader sports strategy takes shape

The company has tested the waters with select live events, most notably high-profile boxing. Its broadcast of Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson drew enormous global attention; the fight has been widely reported as one of the most-watched live sporting streams to date.

In football, Netflix’s moves have been more deliberate. According to FIFA announcements and reporting from The Guardian, the platform has secured exclusive U.S. and Canadian rights to the 2027 and 2031 FIFA Women’s World Cup. FIFA described the agreement as a “landmark moment,” saying fans will receive “unparalleled access to every match live.”

Those deals, industry analysts say, point to a longer-term shift rather than a series of isolated experiments.

Netflix reassessing the Premier League

Rumours of Netflix entering the Premier League bidding cycle have circulated for years. But The Times reports that the company is now evaluating specific rights packages more seriously after failing to secure UEFA’s Super Cup a one-off match between the winners of the Champions League and Europa League that often serves as a barometer for a broadcaster’s interest in European competitions.

A source involved in recent negotiations told The Times that Netflix’s presence alone has changed expectations across the European rights market. “The important thing for football both European-wide and domestic leagues is that Netflix has shown for the first time that it is interested in buying rights,” the person said. The source added that Paramount’s arrival has heightened competition for premium packages, especially in England, widely considered the most lucrative domestic league in the sport.

One area Netflix may focus on, according to The Times, is the Premier League’s Christmas fixture schedule—holiday matches that traditionally deliver some of the season’s strongest TV audiences and command a premium from broadcasters.

Paramount shakes up the Champions League race

Netflix’s exploratory move coincides with a separate upheaval in European broadcasting. The Guardian reported that Paramount has secured most UK rights to the Champions League from 2027 to 2031, submitting what one industry figure described as a bid “well beyond” the roughly £1 billion TNT Sports currently pays.

Under the arrangement, Paramount will air every match except the top Tuesday-night pick, which Amazon Prime won in a separate auction held across Europe.

What this means for viewers

For fans, the trend points toward greater fragmentation and potentially higher costs. Sky holds most Premier League matches, TNT Sports retains Saturday lunchtime kick-offs and two midweek rounds, Amazon has carved out both domestic and Champions League slots, and Paramount is preparing to add another subscription to the mix.

Industry executives say that if Netflix joins the fray, the result could be a marketplace where major competitions are spread across more platforms than ever before.

Sources: The Times, FIFA, The Guardian.