Overview
- Netflix, which The Wall Street Journal reported Monday is seeking to expand its NFL package to four games, is targeting a Thanksgiving Eve matchup and an international season opener.
- The pursuit is meant to lift ad sales and keep viewers, with Netflix in the final year of a $75 million‑per‑game Christmas Day deal as YouTube and Amazon compete for the same rights.
- The company raised U.S. prices Thursday, March 26, lifting the ad plan to $8.99 and premium to $26.99 to help fund a 2026 content budget of $20 billion.
- Netflix guides 2026 ad revenue to $3 billion after ad sales grew about 2.5 times in 2025, and Needham estimates the price hike adds nearly $1.7 billion with roughly 40% of new FY26 sign‑ups choosing the ad tier.
- Investor signals are mixed, with Oppenheimer raising its target to $135 and keeping an Outperform rating, Citizens starting at Market Perform, and hedge funds D. E. Shaw and Tudor reporting larger Q4 2025 stakes.