Last year, for the first time, YouTube served as the exclusive broadcaster for a regular-season NFL game. In 2026, the platform’s football slate is set to expand, and Netflix is in line for a touchdown of its own.
Those two streamers are likely to split a set of Monday night matchups that previously belonged to ESPN. According to a report from CNBC, both YouTube and Netflix will claim some of those broadcasts as part of multi-game deals that will cover the 2026 NFL season.
As part of ESPN’s deal to acquire the NFL Network, the Worldwide Leader in Sports surrendered four broadcasts that were previously part of Monday Night Football doubleheaders. Per the CNBC report, YouTube and Netflix will each get two of those games — and that won’t be the end of their respective deals. Front Office Sports previously reported that YouTube was in advanced talks to secure a five-game package, while Netflix will air Christmas Day football for the third season in a row.
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If these deals do go through, NFL football will be split across many streaming services in 2026. Amazon Prime Video will retain its claim as the exclusive home of Thursday Night Football, and platforms like Peacock, Paramount+, and ESPN Unlimited will offer digital coverage of games that will also air on network channels.
That diversified setup serves the NFL’s needs. The U.S. Justice Department is currently investigating the league to determine whether the practice it uses to distribute broadcast rights is anticompetitive. In theory, a longer list of broadcast partners shows that there is stiff competition for NFL rights packages. And as creators become more influential across the pro sports landscape, the NFL is keen to welcome YouTube into its orbit.
YouTube can benefit from that increased presence as well. Its strategy on TV screens revolves around big-name live events like the Oscars and the Eurovision Song Contest. The NFL certainly fits that bill.
Confirmation of these deals is expected to come during the second week of May. That’s when broadcasters will deliver their upfront presentations and reveal the football fun they have planned for the coming season.
