The NFL and Netflix are “close to a deal for at least five NFL games next season,” including the two Christmas games already under contract, according to sources cited by PUCK. The additional games are “likely to include” the league’s Week 1 game in Australia, a new Thanksgiving Eve game and “a Saturday game on the final week of the season, which would lead into ESPN’s doubleheader.” Sources said this development is “slightly different” from earlier reports that these “orphaned games will be distributed between Netflix and YouTube.” In fact, it is “possible that YouTube -- which was once favored to pick up a new five-game package -- will wind up with nothing.” Additionally, sources said that the league “has started shopping two extra games, which would have been part of that package, to its broadcast partners: CBS, NBC, ESPN, and Fox.” Negotiations “are ongoing, the deals aren’t signed, and YouTube has more capital than anyone else.” But it is a “stunning result for a hyperscaled streamer that seemed to be in pole position for a package.” The NFL is “ready for any regulatory blowback that results from doing a deal with Netflix,” especially since “some of the games are coming from linear TV channels -- namely, ESPN and NFL Network” (PUCK, 5/7).