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May 8, 2026 6:22 am  #1


Why Some Of The NFL's Biggest Games May Not Be On Cable Or Free TV

It's because of Netflix and its big chequebook, which could take some of the NFL's most iconic games - including the first ever played in Australia, two Christmas Day scrimmages, and a possible pre-Thanksgiving tilt - off of your screens. (I believe the streamer's games are worldwide exclusives, which likely means they won't hit TSN or CTV here.)

Netflix lands NFL Week 1 Australia game, reportedly getting Thanksgiving Eve game as well

 

May 8, 2026 8:17 am  #2


Re: Why Some Of The NFL's Biggest Games May Not Be On Cable Or Free TV

Correct. The NFL has a different contract with Bell, so we get to see All the Black Friday/Christmas/Thursday games on CTV or TSN. However, even though the current TV contract ends in 2033, there is a clause that allows the League to open contract negotiations in 2029. Definitely, Netflix and Amazon won't be happy with a few select games. They want one or both of the Sunday afternoon packages. I suspect the NFL  will want to keep one of those packages on broadcast tv, for now. My prediction is CBS will pay anything to keep their AFC  Package. They haven't forgotten how they lost the NFC rights to FOX in 1993. It took them years to recover. A special note to RA. Deep down, you will be hoping that CBS is outbid by either Netflix or Amazon. That way 60 Minutes is guaranteed its 7pm start through football season.

 

May 8, 2026 8:38 am  #3


Re: Why Some Of The NFL's Biggest Games May Not Be On Cable Or Free TV

One can only hope!

     Thread Starter
 

May 8, 2026 11:08 am  #4


Re: Why Some Of The NFL's Biggest Games May Not Be On Cable Or Free TV

mace wrote:

My prediction is CBS will pay anything to keep their AFC  Package. They haven't forgotten how they lost the NFC rights to FOX in 1993. It took them years to recover.

Problem: Paramount/Skydance overpaying for Warner, which will probably end in disaster as mergers with Warner always seem to. Couple that with political interference bleeding audience for news and late-nights....eek. 

 

May 8, 2026 11:18 am  #5


Re: Why Some Of The NFL's Biggest Games May Not Be On Cable Or Free TV

mace wrote:

Correct. The NFL has a different contract with Bell, so we get to see All the Black Friday/Christmas/Thursday games on CTV or TSN. However, even though the current TV contract ends in 2033, there is a clause that allows the League to open contract negotiations in 2029. Definitely, Netflix and Amazon won't be happy with a few select games. They want one or both of the Sunday afternoon packages. I suspect the NFL  will want to keep one of those packages on broadcast tv, for now. My prediction is CBS will pay anything to keep their AFC  Package. They haven't forgotten how they lost the NFC rights to FOX in 1993. It took them years to recover. A special note to RA. Deep down, you will be hoping that CBS is outbid by either Netflix or Amazon. That way 60 Minutes is guaranteed its 7pm start through football season.

As things move forward, once contracts run out, what's to stop Bell from gaining a Crave contract to move the games there (in Canada) instead?  
 


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RadioWiz & RadioQuiz are NOT the same person. 
RadioWiz & THE Wiz are NOT the same person.

 
 

May 8, 2026 11:23 am  #6


Re: Why Some Of The NFL's Biggest Games May Not Be On Cable Or Free TV

If it means we got the weekend 6PM local news back instead of it being shunted to CP24 for four months in a row, I could live with it!

     Thread Starter
 

May 8, 2026 11:26 am  #7


Re: Why Some Of The NFL's Biggest Games May Not Be On Cable Or Free TV

Radiowiz wrote:

mace wrote:

Correct. The NFL has a different contract with Bell, so we get to see All the Black Friday/Christmas/Thursday games on CTV or TSN. However, even though the current TV contract ends in 2033, there is a clause that allows the League to open contract negotiations in 2029. Definitely, Netflix and Amazon won't be happy with a few select games. They want one or both of the Sunday afternoon packages. I suspect the NFL  will want to keep one of those packages on broadcast tv, for now. My prediction is CBS will pay anything to keep their AFC  Package. They haven't forgotten how they lost the NFC rights to FOX in 1993. It took them years to recover. A special note to RA. Deep down, you will be hoping that CBS is outbid by either Netflix or Amazon. That way 60 Minutes is guaranteed its 7pm start through football season.

As things move forward, once contracts run out, what's to stop Bell from gaining a Crave contract to move the games there (in Canada) instead?  
 

The NFL deciding they don't need separate deals for different countries 
 

 

May 9, 2026 7:35 am  #8


Re: Why Some Of The NFL's Biggest Games May Not Be On Cable Or Free TV

Radiowiz wrote:

mace wrote:

Correct. The NFL has a different contract with Bell, so we get to see All the Black Friday/Christmas/Thursday games on CTV or TSN. However, even though the current TV contract ends in 2033, there is a clause that allows the League to open contract negotiations in 2029. Definitely, Netflix and Amazon won't be happy with a few select games. They want one or both of the Sunday afternoon packages. I suspect the NFL  will want to keep one of those packages on broadcast tv, for now. My prediction is CBS will pay anything to keep their AFC  Package. They haven't forgotten how they lost the NFC rights to FOX in 1993. It took them years to recover. A special note to RA. Deep down, you will be hoping that CBS is outbid by either Netflix or Amazon. That way 60 Minutes is guaranteed its 7pm start through football season.

As things move forward, once contracts run out, what's to stop Bell from gaining a Crave contract to move the games there (in Canada) instead?  
 

The current "Long Term" contract Bell signed with the NFL began in 2022. The length of the contract was never announced.