NFL’s streaming service push should make all fans nervous

It’s only going to get more obnoxious from here NFL fans

The Los Angeles Rams will have two games available on streaming services throughout the 2024 campaign. LA will play the Vikings (Week 8) and the 49ers (Week 15) exclusively on Amazon Prime. Streaming is normalized across the NFL landscape and its presence will grow even stronger (and more obnoxious) this upcoming season.

During the NFL schedule release, it was announced that the league will broadcast Christmas day games exclusively on Netflix. Meaning, a potential AFC playoff preview like Texans-Ravens will only be available via streaming this Christmas. Bah humbug!

Netflix will air at least one holiday game each year until 2026, per its three-season deal with the NFL. That’s all fine and dandy, but what about the minority of fans who do have access to the streaming service? It’s easy to tell those fans to create an account if they care to watch. Well, not everyone wants a Netflix account like very few people wanted a Peacock subscription to watch the Dolphins-Chiefs playoff matchup in January.

How many fans canceled their Peacock subscriptions after the Wild Card Round? At least keep it around to watch reruns of The Office. Either way, those fans better create a new account as the Packers and Eagles will play a Week 1 game in Brazil on the service.

The Christmas slate will still broadcast on network TV — but only in the competing team cities. It’s okay, I didn’t want to see Taylor Swift adorning a festive Santa hat anyway. Congrats NFL, you became the Grinch who stole Christmas, leaving a lump of coal in the stockings of traditional fans who prefer watching football away from their families while enjoying some spiked eggnog.

Steaming services are rapidly becoming the norm in the NFL which is a gut punch to those who resist it. Aside from Netflix, Peacock, YouTube TV and Amazon Prime, ESPN+ will get in on the action in Week 7 with the Chargers at Cardinals. Actually, the league might have done everyone a solid there. Streaming services were once a relatively cheaper option compared to cable. It won’t be anymore given all the services required to watch the games you love.

It’s only a matter of time before Max or those money-grubbers at the House of Mouse get in on the action. Disney and the NFL? I’d say that’s a match made in monopoly heaven! Again, it’s easy to tell people, “It’s only a few dollars, quit your complaining,” yet nothing about this is affordable in the long run. The NFL has turned fandom into a chore and believe me when I say, it’ll only get worse from here. Plus, everyone hates chores so WTF NFL?

Pretty soon — perhaps in the not-so-distant future — the league will make the Super Bowl a pay-per-view event. Probably coming much sooner than we think. Streaming services are the way of the future for fan engagement in all the sporting world, not just the NFL. Due to the NFL’s success with various platforms, sports leagues from all over will toss their hats into the ring. This is no longer a risky venture, it’s a way of life. Basically the league’s message is to either embrace these services or risk getting left behind.

The NFL’s streaming service push has every right to make fans nervous and I can’t be the only one feeling wildly pessimistic about it.