The NFL has had discussions with the world leader in streaming: Netflix.

Intrigued by the popularity of hit sports docuseries such as the Formula 1-focused “Drive to Survive,” the league has reportedly engaged Netflix regarding its NFL Media properties.

While Netflix has eschewed live sports, it could work with the league on reality shows, documentaries, and other programming.

• Netflix had 221.8 million subscribers at the end of 2021.
• “Drive to Survive” is credited with boosting F1’s popularity. The series saw average Grand Prix viewership rise 13% year-over-year to reach 70.3 million in 2021. Its social media platform followers grew 40% to 49.1 million.

Last year, the NFL enlisted Goldman Sachs to find partners for its media properties, including the NFL Network, NFL RedZone, and NFL.com. It is also auctioning rights to its out-of-market package NFL Sunday Ticket, which could reel in $2.5 billion per season.

Sports on Netflix

The popularity of the F1 series and ESPN co-produced “The Last Dance” docuseries on Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls have inspired other leagues to tap Netflix for in-depth docuseries.

Netflix and “Drive to Survive” producer Box to Box are working on a series on the men’s and women’s tennis Grand Slam tournaments and one on golf’s PGA Tour. 

It is also working with Box to Box and Quad Productions on a series following the Tour de France.

Before he unretired to rejoin the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on March 13, Tom Brady nearly signed with another NFL team as a player and owner.

After he announced his retirement on Feb. 1, Brady was reportedly near a deal to join the Miami Dolphins in a rare combined role. 

Those plans were scuttled by Brian Flores’ lawsuit, filed the same day, against the Dolphins, the NFL, five other named teams, and 26 “John Doe” teams.

Flores alleged racist hiring, retention, and termination practices by the league, and that Dolphins owner Stephen Ross offered him $100,000 for every game the team lost to improve Miami’s draft position. Flores also said that Ross tried to make him break league tampering rules to recruit a top quarterback.

That quarterback was reportedly Brady, as he was nearing the end of his tenure with the New England Patriots. 

• The Dolphins were reportedly prepared to announce the deal on Super Bowl weekend, Feb. 12-13.
• They were also planning to announce the hiring of Sean Payton as head coach. The Dolphins have acknowledged contacting the New Orleans Saints about a deal for Payton.

Maybe Next Year?

While Brady is back with the Bucs for the upcoming season on a one-year, $25 million deal, the possibility of a deal with the Dolphins, as a player, owner, or both, remains open for next season. 

Brady has a clause in his contract that prevents the Bucs from using the franchise tag to retain him for an additional year.

As Raine Group nears the April 11 deadline for final Chelsea FC bids, the potential investors are doing their best to make a mark.

The Ricketts family’s investment group, which has been considered by some as the leading bidder, has faced criticism after Islamophobic emails from patriarch Joe Ricketts resurfaced from three years ago.

But Laura Ricketts, Joe’s daughter, says that it’s her “life’s work to fight against discrimination and bigotry of any kind.” 

• She and Ken Griffin, also a part of the group, have met with numerous Chelsea fan groups in London this week to diminish concerns they may have. 
• Laura also confirmed meetings were held with Chelsea Price’s Tracy Brown and the Chelsea Women’s Supporters Group’s Kerrie Evans.

The Chelsea Supporters Trust found that 77% of its members do not support the bid. Tom and Todd Ricketts, who own the Chicago Cubs with Laura, are also leading the consortium.

Deadline Due Diligence

Todd Boehly, another one of the four preferred bidders, was in London for Chelsea’s game against Madrid in the Champions League quarter-final on Wednesday. ESPN says he is set to meet with the team’s senior figures.

The remaining two bidders, Sir Martin Broughton and Steve Pagliuca, are expected to receive similar opportunities to meet in London. 

Raine Group will choose a single preferred bidder by April 18 and is reportedly looking to sell for $4.5 billion — a record amount for a sports institution.

Formula 1 has struck yet another new media rights deal as viewership skyrockets in several countries.

F1 has extended its current deal with French network Canal+ until 2029, the two announced Wednesday. 

The rights fee will see a major increase, according to a report from L’Equipe. 

• Canal+ first began broadcasting F1 in 2013 and signed its most recent deal in 2021. 
• L’Equipe reported that the current deal is worth about $65 million.
• One new addition to the programming will include access to F1TV Pro.

The news comes as F1 parent company Liberty Media is also expecting major competition for U.S. rights to the league. Earlier this week, president and CEO Greg Maffei told CNBC that “we have a lot of interest.”

Ratings Frenzy

Since at least 2019, F1 viewership has steadily increased on Canal+. In 2021, an average of 1.14 million viewers tuned in to each Grand Prix, up 18% compared with the 2020 season. 

The first two Grand Prix this year have also rated in the top five in Canal+ history for F1.

In fact, ratings across all of France increased 48% last year. The trend also extended to the Netherlands, Italy, and the U.S.