NFL Netflix Deal for First Australia Regular-Season Game
The NFL has reached a deal with Netflix to broadcast its first regular-season game in Australia, pitting the San Francisco 49ers against the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday, September 10, 2026, at Melbourne Cricket Ground. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:35 p.m. ET, with NBC handling production.
The matchup marks a milestone in the league's global expansion, which includes nine international games that season in cities such as Paris, Rio de Janeiro, Mexico City, Madrid, Munich and London. Viewers outside the Los Angeles and San Francisco markets will need a Netflix subscription to watch the game live, while local over-the-air broadcasts will be available in those areas, consistent with NFL policy for national games.
This agreement builds on Netflix's existing three-year partnership, valued at about $150 million annually, to air two Christmas Day games each season through 2026. Reports indicate the streamer is also in discussions for a Thanksgiving Eve game, a new primetime slot the league is introducing that year. Teams in that Wednesday contest would likely play the prior Saturday to accommodate the schedule.
The deal reflects the NFL's growing reliance on streaming platforms amid...