The Wall Street Journal has an interesting exclusive on how Netflix has tried to score in the vast world of sports streaming, much like Apple. So far, we’ve seen Apple air a full season of Major League Baseball games on Friday nights, and the company has bought a decade of football streaming rights, which begins next year. Plus, Apple TV+ already competes with the old DVD rental service on original shows and movies.
Meanwhile, Netflix has been looking for inexpensive ways to diversify its own catalog with streaming sports. The Journal reports that Netflix considered bidding or made an offer on specific sports streaming rights in Europe:
The company recently made a bid for the streaming rights to the ATP Tennis Tour for select European countries, including France and the UK, but backed out, one of the people said. He also discussed bids for a range of other events, including UK rights to the Women’s Tennis Association and cycling competitions, the people said.
What’s even more intriguing is the possibility of a subscription video service outright buying a sports league. This is apparently what Netflix attempted to do with surfing:
Late last year, the company was in talks to buy the World Surf League, but talks broke down because the two organizations couldn’t reach an agreement on a price, people familiar with said. the potential deal.
The Journal goes on to explain how sports streaming could create new opportunities for Netflix:
Some Netflix executives believe that given the size of its platform, Netflix could turn lesser-known sports like surfing into big franchises and create new tournaments or sporting events, the people said.
This strategy has sort of played out for Formula 1 racing before. The Netflix documentary series Drive to Survive has certainly increased interest in the sport of racing.
Unfortunately for Netflix, it’s Disney’s ESPN that benefits the most as it outbids Netflix for Formula 1 streaming. Clearly, some folks at Netflix still see an opportunity for other sports.
Apple, of course, still hasn’t been ruled out as the company that wins the streaming rights to NFL Sunday Ticket in the United States. The package is estimated at $3 billion a year, and Apple competed with Amazon and Disney for the deal. Separately, Apple TV+ includes sports documentaries and scripted series in its catalog. Ted Lasso’s success might even be a driving factor in Apple’s investment in Major League Soccer.
Read the complete form in The Wall Street Journal.
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