• Loading stock data...
Wednesday, February 19, 2025

Netflix Raises Its Sports Profile With Docuseries On Dallas Cowboys Owner

  • Forthcoming Jerry Jones project is latest high-profile sports event from prominent streamer
  • Effort already drawing comparisons to “The Last Dance”
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

One of the NFL’s most powerful and prominent team owners is getting the Netflix star treatment, and boosting the streamer’s sports ambitions in the process.

Netflix is reportedly paying $50 million for the rights to produce a 10-part documentary series on Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. In beating out rival entities such as ESPN and Amazon, Netflix will gain another prominent piece of sports content, which has already drawn comparisons to highly regarded series such as the Michael Jordan-focused “The Last Dance.”

The Jones project won’t advance Netflix’s extremely limited efforts to date in live sports. But with 232.5 million subscribers as of the end of the first quarter and existing hits such as “Drive to Survive” and “Full Swing,” Netflix still holds sizable sway over the entire business of streaming.

The $50 million price tag for the Jones project remains a mere fraction of the cost of any top-tier live sports rights, and would remain within the strategy of Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos, who told an investor conference late last year, “we’re not anti-sports, we’re pro-profit.”

The Jones-Netflix project is also slated to be a key early effort between the NFL and Skydance Media, which late last year struck a broad-based content deal. The documentary is expected to focus heavily on the Cowboys’ three Super Bowl titles under Jones in the 1990s and feature interviews with former stars Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, and Michael Irvin.

Though the Cowboys haven’t reached the NFC title game since the 1995 season, the team is still the NFL’s most valuable franchise.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Joe Mixon Wins Appeal of NFL Fine for Criticizing Refs

Mixon was fined $25,000—initially for something someone else said.

NBA, MLB Join Bluesky: Will Other Leagues Follow?

A Patriots VP said NFL teams were not allowed to have Bluesky.

Super Bowl LIX Sets Yet Another TV Ratings Record

A record 182.8 million unique viewers watched at least one minute of the game.

Scott Boras Calls Out MLB Owners As Vlad Guerrero Jr. Faces Free..

Boras and Guerrero Jr. are among those looking for bigger spending by teams.

Featured Today

Feb 15, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team United States forward Matthew Tkachuk (19) and Team Canada forward brandon Hagel (38) fight in the first period during a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game at the Bell Centre.

Inside the Push for the NHL’s Next Era of International Competition

Players have been clamoring, and the league is all in.
Aug 11, 2024; Paris, France; Medals are carried out on Louis Vuitton trays after the women's volleyball gold medal match during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at South Paris Arena
February 16, 2025

LVMH’s New Push: World’s Most Powerful Luxury Group Is Coming for Sports

LVMH is making long-term deals—and they’re not done.
Feb 18, 2024; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Eastern Conference guard Damian Lillard (0) of the Milwaukee Bucks reacts after a play during the second half of the 73rd NBA All Star game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
February 15, 2025

The NBA’s Latest Attempt To Solve the All-Star Game Conundrum

A new mini-tournament on a lame-duck network may not solve the problem.
Jan 9, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid (97) checks Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) during the third period at PPG Paints Arena
February 11, 2025

‘Important’ 4 Nations Face-Off Can Be NHL’s All-Star Antidote

“The stars have been lobbying the league for an event like this.”

Netflix Evolves Strategy: Pursuing NFL Sunday Rights

Robust NFL viewership and ad sales help prompt a significant pivot.
Cristina Daglas
exclusive
February 17, 2025

ESPN Executive Editor on Leave After HR Complaints: Sources

Cristina Daglas has overseen ESPN.com since 2021.
February 18, 2025

Roku’s Live Sports Expansion Continues With Bassmaster Rights 

Roku is going further into live sports. 
Sponsored

How UBS Crafts Impactful Partnerships Across Sports, Arts, and Culture

As UBS continues to expand its impressive array of sports and entertainment partnerships, the company solidifies its position as a leader in wealth management.
Feb 15, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team United States forward Dylan Larkin (21) plays the puck and Team Canada forward Nathan MacKinnon (29) defends in the first period during a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game at the Bell Centre
February 16, 2025

NHL Has Huge Ratings Hit With U.S.-Canada 4 Nations Face-Off

The ratings mark a massive hit for the league’s new event.
February 16, 2025

YouTube TV, Paramount Agree on New Deal

The multiyear distribution agreement resolves an increasingly fractious carriage dispute.
Feb 13, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team USA forward Brady Tkachuk (7) celebrates with his teammates his goal against Team Finland in the third period during a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game at Bell Centre
February 14, 2025

NHL 4 Nations Face-Off Viewership Outstrips ESPN All-Star Games

In Montréal and on their TVs, hockey fans are buying in.
Formula-1-cars-USA-Grand-Prix
February 14, 2025

ESPN Reportedly Losing F1 Rights; NBC and Netflix in Talks

The network has broadcast the sport in the U.S. since 2018.