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Thursday Cheese Curds: The Packers are a test case for streaming
TL;DR
The NFL has announced that the Green Bay Packers will play the Los Angeles Rams in the league's first-ever Thanksgiving Eve game, streamed exclusively on Netflix. This game serves as a test case for the NFL's new primetime streaming strategy.
Key points
- Packers will face Rams in Thanksgiving Eve game
- Game streamed exclusively on Netflix
- First-ever Thanksgiving Eve matchup in NFL history
- Packers are a trusted television brand despite small market
- NFL uses teams with national appeal for experimental broadcasts
Green Bay PackersLos Angeles RamsNFL
It’s schedule release day — or as my podcast cohost Alex Petakas sarcastically refers to it: “the day we learn the days.”
No doubt you’ll be inundated with schedule-related content, so I thought I’d offer a slightly different take on a related topic.
On Wednesday, the NFL announced that the Packers will face the Los Angeles Rams in the league’s first-ever Thanksgiving Eve game, streamed exclusively on Netflix. The Packers remain one of the NFL’s most trusted television brands. So, much to my dismay, it makes sense that they’d use the team to pilot a new primetime streaming slot.
The NFL does not hand out experimental showcase games randomly. When the league wants to dabble in a new broadcast idea (think holiday games, streaming exclusives, international showcases), it tends to rely on teams (or at least one team) that reliably draw national audiences. Despite being the league’s smallest market, Green Bay continues to fit that category.
That has become increasingly important as the NFL pushes deeper into streaming. Netflix already carries Christmas Day games, but the platform’s partnership with the league is expanding to include more major standalone events across the calendar, and it seems like the Packers are one of a few key teams at the center of that strategy.
The Packers consistently put an entertaining product on the field, but I think much of the appeal for the league is rooted in the fact that Packers fans consistently follow the team not just across the country and world, but across platforms. Consider me among those fans — someone who, over the years, has had to find ways to watch live Packers games in about 15 states and 2 countries. And, despite my grumbling, I always made it work. Touché, Roger. Touché.
One shameless plug on the way out: tonight, our own Tex Western will be recording a podcast to break down the full schedule release on Friday morning. You can check that out here, or subscribe to Frozen Tundra Frequencies wherever you get your podcasts.
– Leave it to the NFL to invent a new holiday: Thanksgiving Eve.
Q&A
What is the significance of the Packers' Thanksgiving Eve game?
The game marks the NFL's first-ever Thanksgiving Eve matchup, streamed exclusively on Netflix, showcasing a new broadcasting strategy.
Why was the Packers vs. Rams game chosen for streaming on Netflix?
The Packers were selected due to their strong national audience appeal, making them a reliable choice for the NFL's experimental broadcast initiatives.
When will the Packers play the Rams on Thanksgiving Eve?
The exact date for the Packers vs. Rams game on Thanksgiving Eve has not been specified, but it will occur during the NFL's Thanksgiving week schedule.
