Regardless of who may, Netflix’s decision to eliminate the possibility of sharing accounts has gone very well for the streaming giant, at least in the United States and Canada its two main markets where, after applying this measure, the number of registrations has skyrocketed to levels higher than those of the pandemic, where this platform became one of the most used entertainment channels. To further expand the catalog it offers, it seems that the platform wants to delve into live sports transmission.
It is not the first time that a streaming video platform is interested in broadcasting live sports (Apple TV and Prime Video), which would mean a new source of income and potential customers, and according to The Wall Street Journal, Netflix is considering the possibility of start streaming sports live.
According to sources related to this Netflix project to this newspaper, the streaming giant is in negotiations to create a golf tournament whose players would be Formula 1 drivers, professional golfers and some of the journalists who are part of the PGA Tour broadcast. and the documentary series Drive to Survive, an event that could be held in the fall of this year in Las Vegas.
Will live sports come to Netflix?
The catalog currently available on Netflix has managed to attract the interest of more than 200 million users and is currently in a stabilization phase, since growth possibilities are limited. It should be remembered that Netflix is available in all countries where the United States government does not prevent it from reaching, so the possibility of opening new markets is not an option.
Starting to broadcast live sports could be a new way to increase the number of subscribers that the platform currently has. Although it is true that this Golf tournament would be a specific case, it could be a test for the company to assess whether live sports arouse interest, however, last December, one of Netflix’s top managers stated that it was not they were interested in broadcasting live sports.
However, they were also not in favor of introducing a plan with adsa plan with ads that had been on the Netflix table for several years and was launched for the first time at the end of 2022, so the statements by Ted Sarandos stating the low interest in the broadcast of live sports, could be perfectly a maneuver of distraction.
Regarding whether it is possible that La Liga, Premiere League or any other European league end up in the hands of Netflix, we cannot rule it out considering that they would be important ways to gain new subscribers. Apple TV+ currently has the rights to the professional soccer league in the United States, while Amazon Prime Video bought the rights to broadcast Thursday Night Football from the NFL a few years ago, a move that has not triggered the number of subscribers in any of are.