Netflix’s recent forays into live sports programming not expected to create any big waves soon

Irwin Kishner, co-chair of Herrick's Sports Law Group, was interviewed by the Associated Press on Netflix's recent uptick in broadcasting live sports and the competition for live sports rights. Over the past few months, the article notes that Netflix has aired exhibition events in golf and tennis and beginning next year will start carrying a flagship show from World Wrestling Entertainment.

The article further reports that Netflix has been using "live sports [to] serve as shoulder and support programming for the documentaries and series, which is the opposite of what usually happens." They have focused on compelling story lines in both sports and entertainment. 

In discussing the bout Netflix is slated to air this summer between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul, Kishner said “[t]hey’ve been totally around the edges (with live sports), but I still think this is going to get a lot of eyeballs.” He further stated that he thinks “it’s just a matter of time before they become much heavier players in this space.”

Read the full article in the Associated Press here. Access may require a subscription.