YouTube Loses NFL Games to Netflix in 2026 Broadcast Shakeup

Just weeks after reports suggested YouTube was in advanced talks with the NFL for a five-game package in 2026, the streaming giant now faces the possibility of walking away empty-handed. According to CNBC, the four games the league reclaimed from ESPN will be split between YouTube and Netflix.

However, new reporting from John Ourand of Puck indicates YouTube may end up with nothing for the upcoming season. Instead, Netflix is set to secure its own five-game package, including three new games alongside its existing Christmas Day broadcasts.

The remaining two games from the previously ill-fated Monday Night doubleheaders are now being shopped to CBS, NBC, ESPN, and Fox—but not YouTube. This development suggests YouTube’s prospects for additional NFL content in 2026 have rapidly diminished.

Netflix’s 2026 NFL Package: What’s Included

According to Ourand, Netflix’s five-game package for 2026 will feature:

• The two Christmas Day games
• The Week 1 game in Australia
• The Thanksgiving Eve game (now confirmed)
• A Saturday game on the final weekend of the regular season, leading into ESPN’s doubleheader

NFL’s Evolving Broadcast Strategy

The league’s approach to game distribution is shifting. With broader weekly packages serving as the foundation of the schedule, the NFL is reserving a small number of back-pocket games to offer to partners in pursuit of deeper revenue streams. This strategy has already led to unexpected turns, including YouTube’s potential exclusion from new game packages.

If YouTube fails to secure any additional games in 2026—beyond its existing Sunday Ticket deal—it would mark a significant reversal from earlier expectations. The streaming platform’s involvement in NFL broadcasts had been seen as a growing trend, but the latest developments suggest a more cautious approach from the league.