The streaming giant Netflix is known for always offering the latest series and films on the platform. But now the service has announced that a live sports event will be shown for the first time. But the concept is quite surprising.
Live sports are becoming more and more present and more and more streaming providers are offering all kinds of sports on their respective platforms. Netflix is also getting on the bandwagon and will soon be streaming its first live sports broadcast, which will be called “Netflix Cup”. But TECHBOOK editor Isa Kabakci is less surprised by the sport and more surprised by the concept.
Golf meets Formula 1 on Netflix
The streaming service Netflix is venturing into uncharted waters and will broadcast a sporting event live on the night of November 14th to 15th (midnight German time). This is a golf event in which four golf professionals and Formula 1 drivers each compete. To be more precise, a golfer and a Formula 1 driver form a duo. This results in a total of four teams.
With Rickie Fowler, Max Homa, Collin Morikawa and Justin Thomas, four PGA Tour professionals or Ryder Cup participants from the US team are there. From Formula 1, Alex Albon (Williams Racing), Pierre Gasly (Alpine F1 Team), Lando Norris (McLaren Racing) and Carlos Sainz (Scuderia Ferrari) are golfing. Overall, one can speak of a well-known field of participants. The tournament will be held at the Wynn Golf Club in Las Vegas and will be played over 18 holes. The first trailer for the “Netflix Cup” has also already been published.
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One would have expected something more exciting
TECHBOOK editor Isa Kabakci is a big sports fan and would have liked something bigger and more exciting. While other streaming platforms such as Amazon Prime Video and Sky have been streaming various sports events live for a long time (mostly in cooperation with other sports streaming services such as Magenta, Dazn, etc.), Netflix has not yet been active in the live sports sector . So far, the service has had sports documentaries on its own platform.
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The concept that is now starting is therefore surprising. One could have used spectator magnets from US sports. American football, for example, or more specifically the NFL, is becoming increasingly popular in Germany and now has a huge fan base. Or the NBA would have been a good start. The broadcaster ProSieben MAXX only recently secured the NBA rights and will in future show selected top games live and free to air on Sundays. Films, series and live sports on Netflix – such an offer would have certainly enhanced the service and probably persuaded some sports fans to subscribe. Netflix would certainly be happy about an increase in customers – especially if you observe the current developments:
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That could be the reason for the combination
As already mentioned, you can find some sports documentaries on Netflix. For example, the golf documentary “Full Swing” and “Formula 1: Drive to Survive”. Both documentaries are becoming increasingly popular. You can see this above all in the Formula 1 documentary, which will enter its sixth season.
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So it’s surprising why Netflix has chosen these sports. Even if it is marketed as the first live sports broadcast, it will probably be more of a shallow entertainment show. Because of the field of participants, it quickly becomes clear that this is more of a promotional event than a serious competition. Formula 1 drivers are not golfers and can in no way compete with PGA professionals. Even Netflix is calling the event its own website not as a sports broadcast, but as “reality TV”.