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Netflix are believed to be mulling a bid for some Premier League rights after failing to land a slice of Champions League action.
The streaming behemoth were believed to have circled a deal for a share of the European top-flight rights for the 2027 to 2031 cycle, with sources telling the Times that Netflix had been vying for the Uefa Super Cup, and for German rights to air the Champions League.
Netflix ultimately missed out, while streaming rivals Paramount+ seized control of UK rights for the competition at the expense of long-term broadcasting partners TNT Sports in a bumper deal believed to be an excess of £1billion and covering France, Italy, Germany, and Spain as well.
Additionally, Sky Sports will take up the mantel of Europa League and Uefa Conference League rights hosting.
Netflix is thought to have been outbid by Paramount+ for German rights, while extricating the Super Cup from the existing package proved too challenging.
But Netflix's appetite for a move into live sport remains unabated, and the broadcaster could yet take a slice of Sky Sports' output in a bid to position itself in the slate of rights holders.
Netflix's experience in the sports world is predominantly focused on one-off events, like Jake Paul's clash with Mike Tyson last November
In particular, the broadcaster is believed to be targeting an opening play for the festive fixtures, which have been aired by fellow streamer Amazon Prime over recent seasons.
Having already added to their rights-holding collection in Europe, Paramount+ are also thought to be interested in branching out into the English top flight.
This move would likely go down well with fans, who face the prospect of paying for yet another streaming service when the cycle begins in two years' time.
Netflix have been tentatively airing live sporting events on their streaming service in recent years, with a preference for one-off boxing fights or shortened exhibitions like Saudi Arabia's Six Kings Slam tennis tournament.
The broadcaster streamed the eye-catching if controversial clash between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson over the summer, attracting 65 million viewers for the contest, and will hope to increase that number with the former YouTuber's upcoming fight against former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua in December.
Netflix also hosted the NFL's Christmas Day games last year, and will again this year, after drawing 26.5m viewers in the United States and a further 30m viewers internationally.
