Netflix to expand its streaming genre as they bid for right to stream UEFA Champions League football games

Netflix could be taking a significant leap that has been discussed among sports fans for quite some time now: making an entrance into live European football. It is reported that the streaming giant intends to bid for the right to air the UEFA Champions League matches. According to the new rights plan by UEFA, the deal may allow Netflix to stream one match per round globally.

In case this is passed, it will not be just another sports deal. It will be a major challenge for Netflix, to find out whether a platform that has become so popular, thanks to its successful shows and series, can also make live football a worldwide affair. A subscription could, in turn, make live football a world-watching event.

In the near future, we can be watching Champions League nights and screaming at referees using the same app that recommended our preferred crime documentaries.

How the Champions League is shaping the future of sports streaming

UEFA is changing how it markets TV and streaming rights for football. It previously sold them country by country, but this time around, it is putting together larger packages that can cover multiple countries or even the entire world. With this new system, international streaming services, such as Netflix, can purchase the rights and broadcast matches across national borders without excessive legal and technical challenges.

This change may see UEFA make billions of dollars annually through club competitions which will raise the stakes for teams, tournaments, and streaming firms. By allowing a global streamer to pick the first choice of matches, they might end up choosing the most interesting game of the round and stream it globally, turning any match into a massive media event.

To fans, this implies that they can access the games with ease, regardless of their residential location. However, it also raises concerns for local broadcasters and regulators regarding fairness, competition, and sharing the money without damaging domestic markets.

How Netflix would play it

It has been reported that Netflix is interested in purchasing a smaller targeted deal with the UEFA Champions League, that is, only one match per round, but with the right to decide which game to air first. It’s a smart move. Rather than paying a fee on every fixture, Netflix could own the biggest match every week, and make it a world-renowned event.

Netflix has already experimented with live sports a few times, so it is aware of the impact that one high-profile game can have on the whole world. If they get the rights, Netflix can put their spin on it, with short pre-match videos, behind the scenes content, quick social media bites, and post-match highlights which keep the fan talking even after the match has finished.

Yet, it is not so easy to stream live sports. It demands rapid, low-delay streaming, multi-language commentary, and strong regional rights management, all of which Netflix would need to expand immediately. There are also UEFA regulations to prevent a bidder from always selecting the same top clubs, to ensure that other broadcasters are not discriminated against.

If Netflix is able to manage these issues, it could demonstrate that streaming services can now generate must-watch sports events, without being like conventional TV channels.

What it means for fans, broadcasters, and the future of live TV

The impact would be mixed. Some fans would have wider access to big matches globally, whereas others would need to manage more subscriptions. The established broadcasters would find it more difficult to compete, increasing rights prices and redefining the local content.

To finance teams and facilities, UEFA and clubs might make more money, yet increasing bids might raise ticket and streaming costs. Depending on the terms of the deal, smaller broadcasters could either achieve worldwide coverage or be at a loss, so the advisers of UEFA have to strike a balance between international popularity and local safeguarding.

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