CBS Sports selected to produce Netflix's Christmas Day NFL games

Netflix has reportedly chosen a production partner for its two Christmas Day NFL games.

According to the Wall Street Journal, CBS Sports will produce the two games (Ravens-Texans and Steelers-Chiefs) that will be available exclusively on Netflix this Christmas Day.

Reports earlier this month suggested that the company was in negotiations with both CBS and Fox to produce the games.

With four AFC teams participating and CBS broadcasting the lion's share of AFC games each season, the decision makes sense for CBS. The network also reportedly receives a production fee for the games, while also receiving commercials during the games and being able to sell ads in the local markets where the games are televised.

In 2024, CBS is scheduled to broadcast ten Texans games, eight each involving the Ravens and Steelers and seven involving the Chiefs.

The NFL has reportedly advanced talks between Netflix and CBS, and the network plans to produce the games like its main national games of the week.

As this is Netflix's first foray into the NFL, CBS plans to treat the game like its own national Sunday game, but with larger crews and cameras than a typical NFL broadcast, the person familiar with the plans said.

The NFL played a role in the formation of the partnership between Netflix and CBS, according to a person familiar with the league's deliberations. The person said the league was confident that CBS would bring high production quality to the games.

The channels for the two Netflix games have yet to be announced.

[Wall Street Journal]