F1 Drivers and Professional Golfers to Compete in Upcoming Netflix Livestreamed Golf Tournament

Netflix is reportedly in discussions to livestream a celebrity golf tournament that would bring together Formula 1 drivers and professional golfers. This would mark the streaming service’s first foray into live sports broadcasting. The event is expected to feature personalities from Netflix documentaries Full Swing and Drive to Survive, which follow F1 drivers and pro golfers. However, talks are still in the early stages, according to The Wall Street Journal.

A celebrity golf event would be a small bet for Netflix as a way to plan the format and resolve any technical issues that may arise with future live sporting events. It famously messed up the live stream of its Love is Blind reality show, with technical problems causing an hour-long outage – although its first live streaming event, a Chris Rock comedy special, went off without a hitch.

The company may also have noticed the popularity of golf YouTube channels like Rick Shiels and Bob Does Sports. They often feature top pros like Max Homa playing rounds and competing with average players, talking trash and swearing like the rest of us play golf. A similar format, with F1 drivers and players competing but also having fun, could attract casual viewers who would otherwise never watch golf – just like Full Swing did.

Netflix has been exploring streaming live sports for over a year. It previously bid for US streaming rights to Formula 1, but lost out to ESPN. It has also reportedly looked into offering tennis, cycling and other lower-profile sports rights.

Earlier this year, CEO Ted Sarandos said “we’re not anti-sports, we’re for-profit,” implying that Netflix doesn’t think the cost of sports rights makes financial sense. At the same time, he said that the company leaves the possibility open. Meanwhile, competitors like Amazon Prime Video have streamed live sports for years from leagues including the NFL, Major League Baseball, ATP, Premiere League and others.