'September 5' Covers Its Streaming Date

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  Have a few Munich knacks. Paramount announced on Monday morning that Best Original Screenplay Oscar and Critics Choice nominee September 5 is headed to Paramount+ tomorrow, Tuesday February 25 in the United States and Canada. International rollout will, as usual, be revealed at a later date, but it never quite gets the coverage the domestic arrival to the platform does. The film was first given a limited release on December 13, and considering Sony Pictures ’s Saturday Night ’s limited release on September 27 was what brought it to Sony’s typical 120-day window for its films when it landed on Netflix on January 25 despite a wide release on October 11, it’s clearly the best way to gauge speed. And for Paramount’s 2024 slate, it’s actually a pretty slow 74 days, as even Sonic the Hedgehog 3 demonstrated a week ago that everyone else tends to be around 60 days, with a few films going 53. Sonic 3  opened a week later on December 20 and arrived on February 18. September 5 ...
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Can Netflix Fit In Between CBS and FOX or Force Them A Breakup with the League?

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As we wait for President Trump and friends to stop trolling around with Paramount and Skydance’s merger with the $20b 60 Minutes interview lawsuit and the FCC’s long-ass review of both the merger and that transcript, keeping them in limbo until at least the end of March or April, we have another round of news that spurred the sports business industry last week.

As of 2025, the rights for airing NFL games on Sunday afternoon are split between CBS and FOX. Previously, CBS had AFC and AFC visiting NFC games in the afternoon and vice versa for FOX. With the current deal, those networks are allowed to choose which game they prefer.

In a recent interview with Matt Belloni at Puck News, Netflix’s CCO Bela Bajaria discussed potentially pursuing and getting NFL games on the service, with Sunday afternoon being mentioned as a preferred package. But those comments by the CCO had been spun into misleading headlines by many outlets, including Mike Florio of NBC Sports and Cord Cutters News, claiming the fact that Netflix is taking those games away from the networks, which as of right now heading towards 2029 is partially true.

Yes, I will admit that Netflix will eventually become a new broadcast partner for the league, despite their worst efforts of hiding that they wouldn't, but at what cost? The current deal for all of the NFL’s broadcast partners minus Google expires in 2033. The league, however, has the right to opt out of their current deal for every company outside Disney (ESPN/ABC) and start renegotiations. CBS and FOX should of course be scared but the question is, which company would Netflix want to steal from?

CBS has had the most muttered to lose their rights from Netflix. Currently, Paramount pays $2.1b a year for afternoon games; the AFC playoffs and championship games; the 2023, 2027, and 2031 Super Bowls; and the ability to stream the game by market on Paramount+. (Keep the last part in mind) But with the Skydance merger, the new leadership has made it aware that they want to prioritize CBS and its sports properties, most importantly the NFL. CBS would also assume Skydance Sports’ projects, which include NFL Films duties. It’s very unlikely for the league to break up with the Tiffany network again.

But what about FOX? The studio-less company doesn’t get the most talk about its future ever since the Murdochs sold their entertainment and international businesses of FOX to Disney in 2019. Sports and far-right news coverage has helped the company throughout the past 5 years. Yet, FOX by itself does not look suitable to survive the next two waves of NFL rights negotiations. FOX alone pays $2.2b every year for its own Sunday afternoon games; NFC playoffs and championship games; and the 2024, 2028, and 2032 Super Bowls. They’re also the only broadcaster without a streaming companion outside of their one-time Tubi simulcast of the Super Bowl. 

FOX won’t give up without a fight. None of their general programming breaks the Top 10s regularly in the Nielsen ratings chart (in broadcast) and they don’t have a true streaming home. Their shows are split between Hulu and Tubi, determined by the studio; exclusive news is on FOX Nation, the rest is exclusively on FOX News, and their marque sports programs don't go beyond the FOX and FS1 channels. FOX’s CEO did hint at a new streaming service but who knows? Richard Greenfield also speculated that FOX could partner with Paramount to put its sports program on Paramount+. So sports are a must for FOX’s survival and longevity. 

Could they add a third package for Sunday afternoons? Yes, but it makes game finding even more difficult, especially if it conflicts with Sunday Ticket on YouTube TV. Netflix could take those rights and leave those two networks’ current deal when Google’s rights expire in 2029. The big question is will Google let their exclusive negotiation window lapse for such a bidding war and how much will both give out to splurge?

All we can do is wait and see how willing the league’s commissioner is to break up with their long-term partners. Will we have another television reassignment because those networks lost the NFL (unlikely with the current state of television)? Go get some beer ready after Super Bowl LXIII because it could either be FOX’s last Super Bowl and/or the start of the biggest breakup of this decade.

Founder and head of What's on Paramount+, KP writes articles on what's new and upcoming to the Paramount streaming service, Paramount+.

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