Netflix is ​​reportedly getting ready to stream its first sporting event

Netflix’s first live-streaming sporting event could be coming this fall. wall street journal The report says the company is in talks to create a new, celebrity-powered golf tournament in Las Vegas that will feature some of the stars from other sports content on the service drive to survive And full swing, (Disclosure: Produced by Vox Media Studios full swingAnd ledge recently produced a series with Netflix.)

Talks are clearly early, but a custom, talent-driven golf tournament makes perfect sense as Netflix’s first foray into sports streaming. Streaming live sports is high-stakes, difficult and expensive, and deals for big-name events are ever more cutthroat. (Netflix was reportedly trying to snatch Formula 1 coverage from ESPN, but failed to do so.) There’s a reason why ESPN’s first broadcast , and aired the London NFL game in the American morning hours before Yahoo attempted something more complex. And even those more conservative efforts aren’t always good.

Netflix’s own live-streaming reputation isn’t exactly sterling. in april its love is blind The live reunion shows were such a spectacular failure that the service canceled the live aspect of the shows entirely. However, it did manage to stream Chris Rock comedy specials without any hiccups.

Netflix has been interested in live content since at least 2022, and has indicated its interest in sports over the years, but has always said it’s looking for the right time to get into sports. So far, the company has invested heavily in documentaries for great success: many people credit drive to survive single-handedly popularizing Formula 1 in the United States, and full swing And break point Also a hit for golf and tennis. The company is also signed up to do an NFL version, called QuarterbackWhich is set to drop this summer.

The one-off golf tournament could be a test case for Netflix to prove to leagues and advertisers that it can handle more complex events. It could also be a sign of strategy: The company has shown it can use documentaries and behind-the-scenes content to get people to care about games they knew nothing about before, so maybe Netflix The game’s strategy would be more underwater hockey than NHL hockey and more toe wrestling than WWE. They’ll give Netflix lots of content to stream and lots of cool intellectual property to make shows on. Don’t be shocked by what Netflix’s sports network looks like drive to surviveBut for every sport you can possibly imagine.