Los Angeles, October 2025 — The news sent ripples through both the entertainment and sports industries: Netflix is reportedly preparing to make its long-anticipated move into live sports broadcasting, with the UEFA Champions League as its flagship target. Multiple international outlets report that the platform plans to submit a formal bid to stream one match per round, under UEFA’s new licensing model designed to attract streaming platforms.
For Netflix, the move would represent a dramatic shift from its on-demand legacy toward a more diversified content model. With subscriber growth slowing, the company is exploring new revenue streams — especially live content, interactive entertainment, and potentially, sports betting integration.
Streaming meets wagering: Netflix’s cautious play in the sports arena
Analysts from Variety and Yahoo Sports suggest that this initiative could blend sports, real-time data, and user engagement tools, opening the door to experiences that combine live viewing, predictions, and micro-betting. While Netflix has made no official statements, industry insiders speculate that the company may seek strategic partnerships with U.S. or European sportsbooks to integrate interactive features within its app — a model gaining traction in the United States and the United Kingdom.
The timing aligns with UEFA’s experimental new media-rights structure, which allows combined global or regional packages — paving the way for non-traditional players like Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, and now Netflix. According to sources, the 2026–2029 broadcast cycle could exceed €7 billion (≈ $7.6 billion), setting a new record for European football.
If the deal goes through, it could redefine not only sports media but also how fans experience the game — merging viewing, engagement, and wagering into a single digital ecosystem. For Netflix, this might be more than just a new business line; it could be the streaming giant’s next great gamble.
