'Quarterback,' which debuted earlier this summer, was the most-watched show on Netflix for more than a week in July
The NFL is embarking on an “ambitious strategy to try to maintain its dominance" by "getting into the production business in a big way,” according to a front-page piece by Emmanuel Morgan of the N.Y. TIMES. The NFL will work with partners to "bring new programming to streaming services in an effort to extend its reach in a fractured media environment and remain relevant for younger viewers." The league already has "more than 50 productions in the pipeline." Netflix's "Quarterback” was the "most-watched series" on the platform for more than a week in July. Upcoming projects include this month’s “Bye Bye Barry,” an Amazon Prime Video release about Pro Football HOFer Barry Sanders, and a "coveted documentary" on Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. The NFL is hoping to capture an "even larger audience interested in the off-field lives of players through its partnership with Skydance," which began last November and has resulted in documentaries on Prime Video and Roku. NFL Chief Media & Business Officer Brian Rolapp said that the league is “also interested in working with other services like Apple and Hulu.” Morgan noted as streaming distributors "clamored for more sports documentaries, which are relatively cheap to produce," NFL Films was "convinced to diversify its portfolio." The "robust online conversations over documentaries about other sports were also hard to ignore." Skydance Media President & COO Jesse Sisgold said that the company has "sold nine unscripted projects and taken four scripted projects to market." But Colts owner Jim Irsay said that he was "against" the Skydance deal as the league "could achieve its ambitions independently and avoid splitting the profit with an outside agency" (
N.Y. TIMES, 11/15).
WORLD PREMIERE: In Detroit, Adam Graham noted “Bye Bye Barry” will have its world premiere on Friday at Detroit’s Fox Theatre. The 7:30pm ET screening is "not available to the public” and will “only be available to Lions season ticket holders.” Sanders is "expected to attend the premiere and walk the red carpet along with members of the Lions organization," including coach Dan Campbell, QB Jared Goff, RB Jahmyr Gibbs and adviser Chris Spielman (DETROIT NEWS, 11/14).
