The NFL is gearing up to make a bold move in its evolving partnership with digital media giants. According to recent reports, YouTube is on the verge of securing exclusive streaming rights to a rare Friday night NFL game during the league’s opening weekend this year. If the deal goes through, it will mark a significant moment not just for YouTube, but for the entire sports streaming landscape.
Exclusive NFL game might stream on YouTube in Week 1
Traditionally, the NFL’s opening week kicks off with “Thursday Night Football” and stretches into the weekend, culminating in “Monday Night Football.” Friday night games are almost unheard of during the regular season, aside from select international matchups or special events like Amazon’s Black Friday game. But this new Friday game, reportedly scheduled for Week 1 and set to take place in São Paulo, Brazil, would be the first of its kind to stream on YouTube—and potentially for free.
“YouTube has emerged as the heavy favorite to stream its first exclusive NFL game on Friday of the opening week,” The New York Times reported, citing unnamed sources. The outlet added, “The deal would represent another landmark agreement between the league and a behemoth digital platform that is redefining how fans watch games.”
If finalized, the deal would allow YouTube to stream the game globally without requiring a paid subscription. That’s a major departure from other streaming partnerships. Amazon’s Thursday Night Football, Netflix’s Christmas Day games, and NBC’s Peacock have all typically operated behind paywalls or subscriptions. YouTube’s plan, in contrast, leans into accessibility—an effort that could broaden the NFL’s reach in untapped markets.
The game, set to be held at Corinthians Arena in Brazil, will feature the Los Angeles Chargers, with their opponent yet to be announced. The matchup is expected to be part of the NFL's international series, which continues to gain traction among fans worldwide. The official announcement is likely to be made next week during the Advertising Upfronts, a crucial time when media networks roll out their biggest projects and initiatives.
While this would be YouTube’s first exclusive game, the platform is already a key NFL partner. Its $14 billion, seven-year deal for the NFL Sunday Ticket has reshaped how out-of-market games are consumed. That package allows fans to catch every Sunday afternoon game aired on CBS and FOX, regardless of local broadcasting restrictions. The partnership also enables YouTube to distribute game clips and content created by football-focused influencers and creators.
Unlike its digital rivals, YouTube hasn’t yet ventured into full game broadcasts in the U.S. This upcoming Friday opener, however, would change that narrative. And it could be just the beginning. As the NFL eyes future opt-outs with legacy broadcasters post-2029, and with NBA’s massive digital deals on the horizon, the league seems poised to lean even harder into the streaming revolution.
As for the production, it’s still unclear who will call the game or oversee the broadcast. Streamers like Netflix have previously outsourced production duties—paying CBS to handle their Christmas games. Prime Video uses its own announcers but relies on NBC for production. Whether YouTube follows a similar route remains to be seen.
Though the final price tag for the rights hasn’t been disclosed, industry chatter suggests it could rival or exceed the $105 million that NBCUniversal paid for last year’s Peacock-exclusive game between the Eagles and Packers. One thing’s certain: if YouTube lands this deal, it’ll mark a turning point in how and where fans watch NFL football.
Also Read: Jerry Jones risks turning the Dallas Cowboys into the NFL's “island of misfits” with controversial trade dividing analysts and fans
Exclusive NFL game might stream on YouTube in Week 1
Traditionally, the NFL’s opening week kicks off with “Thursday Night Football” and stretches into the weekend, culminating in “Monday Night Football.” Friday night games are almost unheard of during the regular season, aside from select international matchups or special events like Amazon’s Black Friday game. But this new Friday game, reportedly scheduled for Week 1 and set to take place in São Paulo, Brazil, would be the first of its kind to stream on YouTube—and potentially for free.
“YouTube has emerged as the heavy favorite to stream its first exclusive NFL game on Friday of the opening week,” The New York Times reported, citing unnamed sources. The outlet added, “The deal would represent another landmark agreement between the league and a behemoth digital platform that is redefining how fans watch games.”
Via @AndrewMarchand, YouTube is the "heavy favorite" to secure the streaming rights to the Week 1 Friday night game Chargers game from Brazil. The game likely will stream at no charge. https://t.co/HXUYQoxL1Z
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) May 9, 2025
If finalized, the deal would allow YouTube to stream the game globally without requiring a paid subscription. That’s a major departure from other streaming partnerships. Amazon’s Thursday Night Football, Netflix’s Christmas Day games, and NBC’s Peacock have all typically operated behind paywalls or subscriptions. YouTube’s plan, in contrast, leans into accessibility—an effort that could broaden the NFL’s reach in untapped markets.
The game, set to be held at Corinthians Arena in Brazil, will feature the Los Angeles Chargers, with their opponent yet to be announced. The matchup is expected to be part of the NFL's international series, which continues to gain traction among fans worldwide. The official announcement is likely to be made next week during the Advertising Upfronts, a crucial time when media networks roll out their biggest projects and initiatives.
While this would be YouTube’s first exclusive game, the platform is already a key NFL partner. Its $14 billion, seven-year deal for the NFL Sunday Ticket has reshaped how out-of-market games are consumed. That package allows fans to catch every Sunday afternoon game aired on CBS and FOX, regardless of local broadcasting restrictions. The partnership also enables YouTube to distribute game clips and content created by football-focused influencers and creators.
Unlike its digital rivals, YouTube hasn’t yet ventured into full game broadcasts in the U.S. This upcoming Friday opener, however, would change that narrative. And it could be just the beginning. As the NFL eyes future opt-outs with legacy broadcasters post-2029, and with NBA’s massive digital deals on the horizon, the league seems poised to lean even harder into the streaming revolution.
As for the production, it’s still unclear who will call the game or oversee the broadcast. Streamers like Netflix have previously outsourced production duties—paying CBS to handle their Christmas games. Prime Video uses its own announcers but relies on NBC for production. Whether YouTube follows a similar route remains to be seen.
Though the final price tag for the rights hasn’t been disclosed, industry chatter suggests it could rival or exceed the $105 million that NBCUniversal paid for last year’s Peacock-exclusive game between the Eagles and Packers. One thing’s certain: if YouTube lands this deal, it’ll mark a turning point in how and where fans watch NFL football.
Also Read: Jerry Jones risks turning the Dallas Cowboys into the NFL's “island of misfits” with controversial trade dividing analysts and fans
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