In a recent report by The Wall Street Journal, it has been revealed that Netflix is considering entering the world of live streamed sports by organizing a celebrity golf tournament. While still in the preliminary stages, the proposed tournament is expected to feature professional golfers and Formula One drivers and is slated to take place in Las Vegas during the upcoming fall.
The tournament aims to bring together celebrities from two of Netflix’s popular docuseries, “Drive to Survive” and “Full Swing.” The former focuses on the thrilling world of Formula One auto-racing, while the latter delves into the world of golf through a captivating docudrama format. By combining the star power and appeal of both series, Netflix hopes to attract a wide audience and create a unique sporting event.
This venture into live streamed sports aligns with a growing trend among streaming services to incorporate live sporting events as part of their offerings. Competitors like Amazon have already partnered with the NFL to stream Thursday Night Football, and Apple TV streams Friday Night Baseball with MLB. It seems Netflix wants to tap into the lucrative market of live sports to further engage its subscriber base.
While Netflix has seen success with live events in the past, such as the live comedy special featuring Chris Rock, it has also faced challenges. The live reunion special for the series “Love Is Blind” encountered difficulties, resulting in delays and a less-than-live viewing experience for the audience. Nevertheless, the streaming giant seems determined to explore and refine its approach to live events.
The plans are still in the early stages of development, and further details and confirmation may be forthcoming.