The NFL is currently in the process of renegotiating its major full-season television packages, while also exploring the sale of a five-game mini-package for the 2026 season. According to a source familiar with the negotiations, streaming platforms YouTube and Netflix, along with traditional broadcaster Fox, are all in contention for the rights to air the standalone slate.
The league has reportedly presented a selection of more than five potential games, giving bidders the flexibility to choose the specific matchups they wish to broadcast. The menu of options includes high-profile fixtures such as the Week 1 game in Australia, a Thanksgiving Eve contest, a second Black Friday game, and a Christmas Eve matchup, among others.
Fox’s interest in the package is thought to be influenced by the network’s ownership under Australian-born media mogul Rupert Murdoch. However, the bidding process could be complicated by ongoing antitrust scrutiny of the NFL by the U.S. federal government, particularly given Murdoch’s Wall Street Journal’s participation in public relations efforts challenging the league’s antitrust exemption.
Amid growing criticism over the NFL’s shift toward streaming services, there may be strategic value in keeping the five-game package on traditional broadcast television or offering it as a free stream on YouTube. Doing so could help the league mitigate backlash from fans and policymakers concerned about accessibility and the increasing move of sports content behind paywalls.
