The debate over where to watch NFL games is heating up, and Netflix's co-CEO Ted Sarandos isn't backing down. After President Donald Trump slammed exclusive streaming deals for making football less accessible, Sarandos fired back during an interview with Fox Business Network, arguing that streaming is actually more affordable than traditional cable.
“Remember, most folks are paying for television through pay-television packages that are much more expensive than Netflix,” Sarandos said. “As viewers move a little bit from linear more and more into streaming and on-demand, if the games aren’t there, it seems kind of ridiculous. You don’t run in the opposite direction of the American consumer.”
The clash comes as Netflix continues its partnership with the NFL, a move that has drawn ire from some fans and political figures alike. Trump, in an appearance on “Full Measure with Sharyl Attkisson,” warned that such deals could backfire. “There’s something very sad when they take football away from many, many people,” he said. “You’ve got people that love football. They’re great people. They don’t make enough money to go and pay this. It’s tough and they could be killing the golden goose.”
But Sarandos countered that the landscape is shifting. As more viewers cut the cord, he argues that streaming platforms are the natural home for live sports. The streaming giant will air up to five games this season, including a Week 1 showdown between the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams. That's a far cry from the full-season packages that some critics feared.
“We’re not bidding on whole season of sports, including the NFL,” Sarandos clarified, offering a sigh of relief to fans worried about a total shift to streaming. This limited approach aligns with Netflix's broader strategy: dipping a toe into live sports without committing to a full season of broadcasts. The company has already tested the waters with events like a roast of Draymond Green and other live specials.
Meanwhile, the NFL is doubling down on streaming. The league recently added more games to platforms like Netflix and YouTube, even as ESPN dropped its Monday Night doubleheaders. This shift has sparked ongoing negotiations over the 2026 schedule, as the league balances traditional broadcast deals with streaming revenue.
For now, Sarandos is standing firm. He believes that as millions of Americans ditch cable, the NFL must follow its audience. “You don’t run in the opposite direction of the American consumer,” he repeated. Whether that logic wins over critics or fuels more backlash remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the golden goose is learning to stream.
