Netflix is breaking into live sports – but probably not in the way you imagined
Netflix is looking to capitalize on the growing global popularity of F1 racing and its own recent success with it Formula 1: drive to survive series with a first for the streamer: a live sporting event. But it’s not Formula 1 racing.
No, Netflix is doing the unthinkable: combining F1 with golf in a live pro-am golf tournament called The Netflix Cup. Netflix’s first-ever live sporting event will feature F1 drivers from the Drive to Survive series against players from the PGA Tour.
The Netflix Cup will stream on November 14 from Wynn Golf Club in Las Vegas, Nevada. Not only is this a sporting first for Netflix, but it is also Netflix’s first major livestream event since its launch. failed Season 4 reunion of Love is blind.
“We’re excited to see how our sports series (F1 and PGA) have brought more fandom to sports leagues around the world,” said Gabe Spitzer, vice president of nonfiction sports at Netflix, in a statement.
Netflix is the latest streamer to enter the world of live sports broadcasting, joining Amazon with its Thursday Night Football and Apple with its MLB and MLS contracts.
From Formula 1, Alex Albon, Pierre Gasly, Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz will participate. On the PGA TOUR side Rickie Fowler, Max Homa, Collin Morikawa and Justin Thomas.
Following the first international livestream, Netflix plans to keep the Cup available as video-on-demand on the platform. No details have been released about the duration of the stream. However, most 18-hole golf games last four to five hours.
This is ambitious because the platform has limited experience with international live streaming and this expected number of viewers. With the reunion of Love is blind season 4viewers wouldn’t be able to access the stream until after 9:00 PM Eastern, which is more than an hour after the stream was scheduled to begin.
We asked Netflix about its plans to ensure network stability, but have not heard back at this time. We will update this post with Netflix’s response.
The cup will be opened the week of the inauguration Grand Prix of Las Vegas. This is the newest course in the United States after the Miami and US Grand Prix.
While some are excited about the golf, others are excited about the subsequent golf cart races that are sure to take place between the holes.