Sen. Tammy Baldwin Criticizes NFL's Netflix-Only Packers-Rams Thanksgiving Eve Game

A U.S. senator criticized the National Football League after it announced its first Thanksgiving Eve game, set for exclusive broadcast on Netflix.

The Green Bay Packers will play the Los Angeles Rams in Inglewood, California, on Thanksgiving Eve. The game requires a paid Netflix subscription.

Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisconsin, called the move unacceptable. Last month, she introduced the For the Fans Act, which would provide fans free live broadcasts of their home state's professional sports teams.

Shortly after the NFL's announcement, Baldwin issued a statement. "As the cost of just about everything continues to rise, the NFL is once again asking Wisconsinites to spend their hard-earned money on another streaming service. Enough is enough," she said. "My For the Fans Act would stop this exact scenario and prevent Wisconsin families from being forced to pay for Netflix just to watch the Packers play this Thanksgiving."

Games on other streaming services or NFL Network have appeared on local television, but Netflix has not.

The NFL announced the matchup as its inaugural Thanksgiving Eve contest. A few years ago, the league added Black Friday games, with fans also watching at hometown bars the night before Thanksgiving. The NFL has expanded into holidays and now dominates Christmas Day games.

Netflix holds rights to five NFL games in 2026, including the league's first game in Australia. The service will air five regular-season games plus the NFL Honors through 2029. It has carried two Christmas Day games since 2024.

Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos addressed the company's live sports push. "We’re not bidding on whole season of sports, including the NFL," he told FOX Business Network's "Mornings with Maria" on Tuesday. Netflix has focused on events like Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson and the New York Yankees' opening-day shutout of the San Francisco Giants.

Federal scrutiny of sports broadcasting fragmentation has highlighted live sports on streaming services.

Fox News' Chantz Martin and The Associated Press contributed to this report.