YouTube's could be shut out of NFL games for 2026
NBC Sports • • sports
Key Points:
- YouTube was initially reported to be negotiating a five-game NFL package for 2026 but now faces the possibility of ending up with no games for the upcoming season.
- Netflix is expected to secure a five-game NFL package, including three new games alongside its existing two Christmas games, while the remaining two games will be allocated to one of the traditional three-letter networks.
- The NFL is shifting towards broader weekly packages with a few additional games offered to various partners, creating more complex and unpredictable distribution deals.
- Netflix’s 2026 NFL lineup likely includes the two Christmas games, the Week 1 Australia game, the Thanksgiving Eve game, and a Saturday game on the final regular season weekend.
- The two remaining games from the former Monday night doubleheaders are being pitched to CBS, NBC, ESPN, and Fox, explicitly excluding YouTube from this round of negotiations.
