Netflix is now streaming live NFL games. San Francisco's 49ers face the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday Night Football, broadcast live from Melbourne, Australia, marking the first regular-season NFL game played outside North America. According to Decider, Netflix will stream the matchup at no additional cost to subscribers. This arrangement positions Netflix as a direct competitor for premium live sports content, joining other streaming platforms in the escalating battle for sports broadcasting rights. Amazon Prime Video launches its own Thursday Night Football coverage next week, with the Buffalo Bills hosting the Detroit Lions.
The 49ers and Rams both concluded their 2025 seasons with identical 12-5 records, making this early divisional matchup particularly consequential for the entire 2026 campaign ahead. The NFC West has established itself as one of professional football's most competitive divisions, with teams regularly battling down to the final week of the season for playoff positioning. This Week 1 game will test both rosters after offseason roster moves and coaching adjustments, providing early indicators of divisional hierarchy. For Netflix and streaming platforms broadly, hosting such high-stakes matchups is critical to attracting and retaining subscribers who might otherwise rely on traditional cable or satellite television services for access to live sports.
Fans can watch Thursday's game either through Netflix or via the NFL+ app, providing multiple streaming options and flexibility for viewers. Netflix subscription pricing starts at $8.99 per month for an ad-supported plan, while those seeking ad-free viewing can choose between the standard tier at $19.99 monthly or the premium option at $26.99 monthly. According to Decider, Netflix is not currently offering a free trial for new subscribers, meaning prospective viewers will need an active paid subscription to watch the game live.
Netflix's foray into live sports reflects a broader industry strategy among streaming services to compete for premium content against traditional cable and satellite television. As these legacy services continue to lose subscribers, streaming platforms view live sports as essential to their growth and long-term viability, with major events like Thursday Night Football serving as anchor programming to attract and retain audiences.