Why 49ers-Rams NFL 'Thursday Night Football' game is only on Netflix | Sporting News
The Sporting News · David Suggs · 2026-09-10T08:00:55+00:00 · nguồn gốc
"Thursday Night Football" has rarely looked like it will in Week 1 of the 2026 season.
The broadcast has long found a home on the penultimate day of the work week, straddling between NFL Network and Amazon Prime over the years. This Thursday, the famous — or infamous — program finds a new host: Netflix.
When the 49ers take on the Rams in Australia, they will do so on streaming's biggest platform. The matchup should prove captivating for several reasons — both teams fancy themselves to be Super Bowl contenders and sack specialist Myles Garrett is set to make his long-awaited Los Angeles debut.
The Netflix appearance is certain to add to the intrigue, albeit in a different way. Here's what you need to know.
Why is 49ers-Rams NFL 'Thursday Night Football' on Netflix?
In March 2024, Netflix agreed to a deal with to broadcast select NFL games on the streaming platform. Broadcasts were initially limited to Christmas Day affairs. They proved high-profile affairs; musical supernovas Beyonce, Mariah Carey and Snoop Dogg took hold of the Netflix's airwaves, sparking record streaming figures.
In May 2026, Netflix announced it had renewed its contract with the NFL. The revised terms of the pact allowed the streaming giant to air games outside of the Christmas Day window for the first time.
Niners-Rams is the first of five games set to be aired on Netflix this season. Two more of those fixtures will take place outside of the holiday season.
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MORE: NFL predictions 2026
What time is 49ers-Rams?
| Date | Matchup | Time | Venue |
| Thurs., Sept. 10 | 49ers vs. Rams | 8:35 p.m. ET / 5:35 p.m. PT / 10:35 a.m. AEST | Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia |
49ers-Rams will air exclusively on Netflix. Pregame coverage from Melbourne Cricket Ground will begin at 6:30 p.m. ET on Thursday.
How to watch 49ers vs. Rams
- TV Channel: N/A
- Live stream: Netflix
Those hoping to watch San Francisco and Los Angeles' opening night game will need a Netflix subscription to do so. Thursday's game is being aired exclusively on the streaming platform.
Noah Eagle and Luke Kuechly will serve as the game's broadcasters, serving as play-by-play and lead analyst, respectively.
Elle Duncan, Michael Irvin, Nick Foles and Clay Matthews will offer musings as part of the pregame, halftime and postgame crew. Tom Pelissero and MJ Acosta-Ruiz will serve as the game's sideline reporters.